ASVAB Scores and Coast Guard Job Qualifications

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To enlist in the military, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test and get a qualifying score. In the Coast Guard, every member is given a rating that describes your job in the Coast Guard. To qualify for that rating, you have to get a minimum score on your ASVAB.

The ASVAB tests your knowledge of basic concepts and skills and produces two types of scores. One determines what branch of the military you are eligible for through the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), and the other determines specific jobs you are qualified for through line scores.

Let’s explore what a good ASVAB score is, and what Coast Guard rating that 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 Coast Guard, you must get a minimum ASVAB score of 32. 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 more closely.

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.

Here is how your AFQT is calculated:

2 x WK + PC + (AR + MK) = AFQT Raw Score

Your raw score is turned into a percentage that tells you how well you did compared to other test takers and is shown as a percentile from 1 to 99, where 50 is the national average. It does not mean you answered a specific percentage of questions correctly. In general, a good AFQT Score is between 50 and 64. This demonstrates a solid understanding of the ASVAB sections. If you score 65 or higher, it is an excellent score, and it will open up many more job opportunities, especially in specialized, technical programs.

Coast Guard Ratings and ASVAB Scores

The Coast Guard does not use weighted composite line scores. Instead, they evaluate candidates using the direct standard scores of nine individual ASVAB subtests.

​For example, if a job requires a combined Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Electronics Information (EI), and General Science (GS) score of 171, your actual scores on those two tests must add up to 171 or higher.

So, if you want to be a Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technician (AET), you need a minimum ASVAB subtest score of AR+MK+EI+GS=171.

Note: Score requirements vary by year and recruiting needs. Always confirm current requirements with a recruiter.

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FAQ

Q: What is the minimum ASVAB score required to enlist in the Coast Guard?

To enlist with a high school diploma, you must have a minimum overall AFQT score of 32. 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. An excellent score is 65 and above. Higher scores open up more career opportunities, particularly in specialized and technical military programs.

Q: Which sections of the ASVAB make up the AFQT score?

The AFQT score is determined by your score in these test areas:

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

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

Q: Can I Retake the ASVAB?

Yes. According to the official ASVAB website, you canretake 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. 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 test score.

Q: Do ASVAB line score requirements change?

Yes. The Coast Guard adjusts rating line score requirements based on recruiting needs and force structure changes. Always confirm current requirements with a recruiter.

Q: How can understanding ASVAB scores help me prepare?

Knowing how AFQT and line scores are calculated helps you study strategically, focusing on the subtests that impact both enlistment eligibility and rating qualification.