ARMY and ASVAB

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is used to identify whether a candidate is qualified to enlist in a particular branch of the U.S. Military. If you want to join the ARMY then you are going to be taking the ASVAB.

The ASVAB test is also used to determine which jobs (referred to as Military Occupational Specialty or "MOS" in the ARMY), enlistment bonuses and salary-level a candidate is eligible for. A high score will improve your chances of getting the job and signing bonus you want.

The ASVAB is a large test containing a total of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions that cover a wide variety of topics or categories. In fact, the ASVAB contains questions from nine (9) specific categories or sub-tests as shown below.

Your scores on these individual sub-tests are used by the ARMY to calculate 2 (two) important types of scores: your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score and your Composite Scores. Your AFQT score is used to determine if you are eligible to enlist in the ARMY. Your Composite Scores (or Line Scores in the ARMY) will determine which jobs you are eligible to hold. Let's go through each of these separately.

ARMY AFQT Scores

Please take a look at our AFQT Overview for a full review of the AFQT and how it is calculated. In short, the ARMY will evaluate your scores on four (4) of the ASVAB sub-tests to calculate your AFQT. The sub-tests used to calculate your AFQT are:

Review these sub-tests in detail.

ARMY AFQT Minimums

Each branch of the military sets its own standards for enlistment. For most branches, a much higher AFQT score is required from applicants with a GED than their counterparts with a high school diploma. The ARMY is the exception and has the same minimum for both. The minimum AFQT scores to enlist in the ARMY are:

Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 31
Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 31

ARMY Composite Scores (Jobs)

Jobs in the ARMY are called "MOS" (short for Military Occupational Specialty). To find what jobs you qualify for, the ARMY breaks down your ASVAB sub-test scores into groups known as "Line Scores".

The 9 total ASVAB sub-tests are:

Review these sub-tests in detail.

The Army Line Scores are:

Line Score	ASVAB Sub-tests
CL - Clerical	VE+AR+MK
CO - Combat	AR+CS+AS+MC
EL - Electronics	GS+AR+MK+EI
FA - Field Artillery	AR+CS+MK+MC
GM - General Maintenance	GS+AS+MK+EI
GT - General Technical	VE+AR
MM - Mechanical Maintenance	NO+AS+MC+EI
OF - Operators and Food	VE+NO+AS+MC
SC - Surveillance and Communications	VE+AR+AS+MC
ST - Skilled Technical	GS+VE+MK+MC

For a full list of all available jobs within the ARMY and the minimum scores required on the Line Scores listed above, please visit:

Prepare for the ARMY ASVAB

If you are serious about earning high scores on the ASVAB and jump-starting your career you need to prepare wisely for the ASVAB. No system produces better results than ASVAB Prep Tests.