Required ASVAB Scores
Everyone wishing to enlist in the Army must take the ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) and receive a passing score in the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), which is a composite score of several subtests of the ASVAB. Many Military Occupational Specialties also require a specific line score.
The ASVAB contains 9 subtests. The subtest scores are then converted into 10 composite scores, known as line scores. The line scores determine which jobs an individual qualifies for. The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is an additional composite score that determines overall eligibility to join the military.
The ASVAB subtests are the following:
General Science(GS)
Arithmetic Reasoning(AR)
Word Knowledge(WK)
Paragraph Comprehension(PC)
Auto & Shop Information(AS)
Mathematics Knowledge(MK)
Mechanical Comprehension(MC)
Electronics Information(EI)
Verbal, a composite of Word Knowledge & Paragraph Comprehension(VE)
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) takes the results of the Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Math Knowledge (MK), and the composite Verbal (VE) subtests and converts it into a composite score with a maximum score of 99. Those wishing to enlist in the Army must score a 31 in the AFQT. However, those possessing a GED or still attending high school must score a 50 or above to be eligible to join the Army.
The line scores are determined as follows:
CL—Clerical: VE+AR+MK
CO—Combat: AR+AS+MC
EL—Electronics: GS+AR+MK+EI
FA—Field Artillery: AR+MK+MC
GM—General Maintenance: GS+AS+MK+EI
GT—General Technical: VE+AR
MM—Mechanical Maintenance: AS+MC+EI
OF—Operators & Food: VE+AS+MC
SC—Surveillance & Communications: VE+AR+AS+MC
ST—Skilled Technical: GS+VE+MK+MC
*Officers are not required to take the ASVAB but enlisted soldiers wishing to go green to gold must score a 110 line score in General Technical (GT) to apply for Officer Candidate School (OCS).
Article Last Modified: February 11, 2011