ASVAB Scores and Air Force Jobs

To enlist in the military, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and get a good score. In the Air Force, career roles are represented by Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). Determining your eligibility for specific jobs depends on a breakdown of your ASVAB subtest scores into qualification areas.

First, let’s explore what a good ASVAB score is, and what AFSC your ASVAB score qualifies you for.

What Is a Good ASVAB Score?

It depends. Each military branch has a minimum AFQT score to enlist. For enlistment into the Air Force, you must get a minimum ASVAB score of 31. If you hold a GED or nontraditional diploma, you need a score of 50+.

However, meeting the minimum score does not mean that it’s a good score. Let’s first look at the AFQT score a bit closer.

Your AFQT score comes from answers to questions in four sections:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

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

Your score is obtained from these sections and is shown as a percentile from 1 to 99, comparing you with other test-takers. So, if you received an AFQT score of 50, it means you did better than half of the people who took the ASVAB.

In general, a good AFQT score is between 50 and 64. This demonstrates a solid understanding of the ASVAB sections. If you scored 65 and above, it is considered an excellent score and it will open up many more job opportunities, especially in specialized, technical programs.

AFSCs and ASVAB Scores

Your AFQT score gets you into the Air Force, but a combination of the AFQT and other subareas get you the job.

The Subtests of the ASVAB are:

• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• Electronics Information (EI)
• Auto and Shop Information (AS)
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

Air Force Qualification Areas and the ASVAB

Qualification scores are composite scores calculated from a combination of your AFQT section scores and the four subtest areas to qualify you for a specific AFSC.

The four qualification areas are:

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

For example, if you are looking for a career as a Cyber Systems Operations Specialist, you will need a minimum line score in two categories, Electronics (60) and Mechanical (45).

Electronics (E) is a score based on a composite of the following subsets:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Electronics Information (EI)
• General Science (GS)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

Mechanical (M) is based on these subsets:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Auto & Shop Information (AS)
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
• Word Knowledge (WK)

Air Force Qualification Areas and Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC)

See the table below for Air Force jobs and the corresponding qualification area minimum scores.

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.}

FAQ

Q: What is the minimum ASVAB score required to enlist in the Air Force?

To enlist with a high school diploma, you must have a minimum overall AFQT score of 31. For a GED or a nontraditional diploma, the minimum required score is 50.

Q: What is considered a good ASVAB score?

A good score on the AFQT is between 50 and 64, and an excellent score is 65 and above. Higher scores open up more career opportunities, particularly in specialized and technical military programs.

Q: How is my AFQT score calculated?

Your AFQT score (from 1 to 99) comes from how you did in four sections:

1. Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
2. Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
3. Word Knowledge (WK)
4. Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

Note: PC and WK are combined to create a Verbal Expression score.

Q: What are the Air Force Qualification Areas (Line Scores)?

Beyond your overall AFQT score, the Air Force groups your subtest results into four distinct qualification categories to determine which specific jobs you are best suited for.

• General (G): Word Knowledge + Paragraph Comprehension + Arithmetic Reasoning
• Mechanical (M): Arithmetic Reasoning + Auto and Shop Information + Mechanical Comprehension + Paragraph Comprehension + Word Knowledge
• Administrative (A): Word Knowledge + Paragraph Comprehension + Mathematics Knowledge
• Electronics (E): Arithmetic Reasoning + Electronics Information + General Science + Mathematics Knowledge

Q: Can I Retake the ASVAB?

Yes. According to the official ASVAB website, you can retake the ASVAB as many times as you wish, however, there are time requirements after you take each test.

To take the ASVAB a second time, you must wait one month, and for any additional retests, you must wait six months between tests. Remember, only the latest test counts, so if you receive a lower score than on a previous test, that lower score becomes your current official ASVAB score.