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Taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the first major step toward launching your military career. Your test performance directly impacts your eligibility for enlistment through your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score and determines which specific jobs you qualify for across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard using service-specific line scores.

Understanding how the ASVAB is structured and how your scores are calculated will help you maximize your potential and land your desired military occupation.

What is the ASVAB & AFQT?

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests your knowledge of basic concepts and skills and produces two types of scores:

  • AFQT Score: Determines what branch in the military you are eligible for through the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT).
  • Line Scores: Derived from subtest combinations to determine specific jobs you are qualified for.

AFQT Four Core Subtests:

  • Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)

  • Word Knowledge (WK)
  • Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
  • Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

Note: WK and PC are combined to determine a scaled Verbal Expression (VE) Score.

AFQT Calculation & Scoring:

  • Formula: 2 x WK + PC + (AR + MK) = AFQT Raw Score
  • Score Interpretation: Raw scores are converted to a percentile from 1 to 99 (where 50 is the national average).
  • Score Ranges: A good AFQT Score is generally between 50 and 64. Scoring 65 or higher is an excellent score that opens up specialized, technical programs.

Military Job Terms by Branch

Jobs across the different military branches are referred to using specific titles and abbreviations:

Branch

Term for Job

Abbreviation

Army

Military Occupational Specialty

MOS

Marine Corps

Military Occupational Specialty

MOS

Air Force

Air Force Specialty Code

AFSC

Space Force

Space Force Specialty Code

SFSC

Navy

Rating

Rating

Coast Guard

Rating / Rate

Rate

ASVAB Subtests & Line Scores

Standard Scores are given for each of the nine sections of the ASVAB. Each military service combines skills from certain subtests to arrive at line scores (composite scores) to qualify you for specific military occupations.

ASVAB Subtests:

Subtest

Description

General Science (GS)

Knowledge of physical and biological sciences

Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)

Ability to solve Arithmetic Word problems

Word Knowledge (WK)

Ability to select the correct meaning of Words presented in context and to identify the best synonym for a given Word

Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

Ability to obtain information from written passages

Math Knowledge (MK)

Knowledge of high school mathematics principles

Electronics Information (EI)

Knowledge of electricity and electronics

Auto Information (AI)*

Knowledge of automobile technology

Shop Information (SI)*

Knowledge of tools and shop terminology and practices

Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

Knowledge of mechanical and physical principles

Assembling Objects (AO)

Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put together

*In the paper-and-pencil version of the ASVAB, AI and SI are combined into one single subtest (labeled AS), and Assembling Objects (AO) is not administered.

Which Military Jobs Do You Qualify For?

Check the links below to see which jobs you will qualify for.

Note: The data listed here is subject to change and is only an example of how ASVAB scores are related to job selections for each of the service branches listed below.

Interested in Joining the Military?

We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths, and more: sign up now and hear from a recruiter near you.

Military.com may receive compensation from service branches of the Department of Defense for providing a form on site for those interested in being contacted by a recruiter.

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6 Comments

  1. Interesting update on Your Military Job Can Depend On Your ASVAB Test Score. Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

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