ASVAB Basics
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a standardized, multiple-aptitude test administered by the Department of War. It measures abilities critical to success in the military and helps predict future occupational performance. The ASVAB measures abilities across several areas, including math, verbal, science and technical, and spatial and mechanical reasoning.
The ASVAB serves two primary purposes: 1) determining an applicant’s overall eligibility to enlist in the United States Armed Forces (via the AFQT score) and 2) identifying which specific military occupational specialties or jobs they are most qualified for (via service-specific composite scores). Additionally, when administered in high schools through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), it helps students explore both civilian and military career paths based on their individual skills and interests.
No, taking the ASVAB does not obligate you to enlist in the military. While the test is a mandatory requirement for those who ultimately decide to enlist, millions of students take the test each year through the high school ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) in order to discover their academic strengths and explore potential career fields without any military service commitment.
Yes, you must complete the entire battery of tests. The ASVAB is comprised of 10 individual subtests, and examinees cannot pick and choose which specific subtests to take. Even if you only want to improve part of your score or qualify for a specific career field, you are required to take all subtests during a single testing session to receive valid results.
Scoring Basics
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is the enlistment-eligibility score derived from four of the ASVAB subtests: Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), and Mathematics Knowledge (MK). The AFQT is reported as a percentile (1–99) comparing results with a national reference group.
An applicant’s Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score is derived from four of the ASVAB subtests, where the Verbal Expression (VE) score contributes the critical verbal component. The VE score is a composite of scores formed from a weighted combination of the Word Knowledge (WK) and Paragraph Comprehension (PC) standard scores, rather than a simple sum of the scores. Ultimately, VE feeds into the AFQT and many other service-specific composites, working together with Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) and Mathematics Knowledge (MK) to determine the overall AFQT percentile used to establish an applicant’s basic enlistment eligibility.
Services generally use an applicant’s most recent score. The scores are typically valid for up to two years from the last time the ASVAB was taken. To check when an applicant last tested, they can contact a recruiter directly.
To take the ASVAB a second time, an applicant must wait one calendar month after taking the test the first time. For example, if they take the ASVAB on July 16, they must wait until August 16 before retaking it. To take the ASVAB a third time, an applicant must wait another calendar month before the retest; after the third time, they must wait six months between any further retests. The same rules apply whether the first test was taken through the Career Exploration Program (CEP) or taken at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) or a Military Entrance Test (MET) site. For more information, click on the link below.
https://www.officialasvab.com/recruiters/asvab-retest-policy/
Service Composites
Each service branch builds validated composites (combinations of ASVAB subtest scores) to classify applicants into job families. While the AFQT composite determines enlistment eligibility, service-specific composites determine which jobs an applicant qualifies for. For more information, click on the link below.
The AFQT composite determines enlistment eligibility. Service-specific composites determine job (occupation) classification (i.e., which jobs an applicant qualifies for) and are sometimes called line scores or aptitude area scores.
There is not one single ASVAB minimum score, or cut score, for each military job across all the services. An applicant’s AFQT score is used to help determine basic eligibility to enlist, but job qualification is usually based on service-specific line scores or composite scores derived from a composite of an applicant’s scores from different ASVAB subtests.
Each service determines its own job qualification standards. These standards may vary by military occupation, change over time, or extend beyond ASVAB scores to include medical standards, physical fitness, citizenship, security clearance eligibility, education, training availability, and current service needs.
After an applicant takes the ASVAB, the recruiter can review their scores and determine which jobs they currently qualify for. For the most current job-specific requirements, contact a service-specific recruiter or visit the service-specific websites below.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs
https://www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve
Meeting score requirements does not guarantee enlistment into military service. You must also meet medical and physical standards, security clearance or background requirements, citizenship requirements (where applicable), and other administrative criteria. Available training seats and service needs also drive final decisions.
Yes, services periodically review and update composite formulas and job cut scores (minimum scores that are required) based on validation studies and occupational analyses. Always reference the most current, official information found on the service-specific websites or by visiting https://www.careersinthemilitary.com/composite-scores.
Testing Logistics & Policies
Enlistment testing is conducted at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) or at satellite Military Entrance Test (MET) sites. Participating schools host ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) testing on campus. An unproctored version of the ASVAB, the PiCAT, is also available, which can be taken online at home. The PiCAT requires a short, proctored, in-person verification test (taken at a MEPS or MET site) to validate the accuracy of your PiCAT scores. For more information, click on the link below.
How can a school or district be set up to participate in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP)?
Go to the CEP website homepage, www.asvabprogram.com, and select “Bring the ASVAB CEP to your school.” Here, you can learn more about the CEP program, schedule an appointment, or request more information.
If you are affiliated with a homeschool association or network that can provide a testing facility, the CEP program can be provided. Go to the CEP website homepage, www.asvabprogram.com, and select “Bring the ASVAB CEP to your school” to request more information or schedule an appointment. If you or your association/network are unable to provide a facility, an area school might be able to help. Contact a local Education Services Specialist by calling 800-323-0513. If a school is available in your area, you can make arrangements with the school counselor to participate in the CEP program, which is free to schools and students. Because the CEP program is group administered, individual testing is unavailable.
Tests taken in schools, as well as college entrance exams, are achievement tests, which assess what you have already learned. So, using a calculator may be appropriate when taking these types of tests. The ASVAB, however, is an employment test, whose goal is to assess, not what you have learned, but whether you can correctly apply principles to solve problems you might have to do in your job. In other words, the primary goal of the ASVAB is to assess not what you have learned, but what you can do. Knowledge of basic math and the ability to do hand calculations (without a calculator) may be required on the job, so it’s important that the ability to do math without a calculator is assessed on the ASVAB. The video below has more information about calculators and the ASVAB.
There are several reasons the ASVAB is given only in English.
- English proficiency is a military requirement. All military members must be able to communicate in English. A Spanish version of the ASVAB might allow applicants to demonstrate their general aptitude, but it would provide evidence of their ability to perform the same tasks in English.
- Spanish is not a single, uniform language. There are many dialects of Spanish, and an applicant whose dialect differs from the one used in a Spanish version of the ASVAB might still have difficulty understanding the test.
- Scores may not be comparable across languages. It is unlikely that Spanish and English versions of the ASVAB would measure exactly the same constructs. Scores would likely carry different meanings across the two versions, which would require separate evaluation standards and make it difficult to ensure that all applicants are held to a consistent standard.
The ASVAB serves a different purpose from the ACT and SAT.
- The tests are designed with different goals in mind. The ASVAB is designed to predict success in the military, while the ACT and SAT are designed to predict success in college. Because of this, the content of each test differs significantly.
- The tests are often taken by different populations, which means performance on one test is not a reliable indicator of how someone would perform on the other.
- Consistent standards require a common assessment. To ensure that all military applicants are evaluated on equal footing, everyone is required to take the ASVAB.
Taking core courses in mathematics, English, and science will help performance on many of the subtests. Taking technical courses will also help with performance on the Auto Information, Shop Information, Electronics Information, and Mechanical Comprehension subtests. The official ASVAB website provides sample questions and descriptions of each subtest, which can help familiarize you with some of the expected content. Additionally, the Army offers free, online courses and test-prep programs. For more information, click on the links below.
https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/prepare/
https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/sample-questions/
https://www.march2success.com/
No. The ASVAB testing program does not endorse any third-party test preparation service or site.
Report an incident immediately by contacting the nearest MEPS or USMEPCOM. Visit https://www.mepcom.army.mil/ and select “Locate a MEPS” or “Contact Us.” For CEP-only issues, you can notify the CEP team at https://www.asvabprogram.com/contact-us.
Accessing Scores
If you took the test to enlist within the last two years (at a MEPS or MET site), contact your recruiter, who can provide your official scores. If you took the test at your school (ASVAB CEP), use the access code on your score sheet to view results online. If you need help, your school staff can also request CEP scores for you.
Yes, but only if you participate through the high school ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP). While schools typically select one of several score-release options for their students, parents and students always have the right to opt out of sharing their information with military recruiters. You can ensure your scores remain private by completing a military recruiter opt-out form or by requesting “Option 8” (No Release) in accordance with your specific school district’s policies.
If the ASVAB was taken at school through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), and the results were not used for enlistment, the scores are no longer available. Per Department of War policy, CEP results are deleted if they are not used for enlistment within two years from the date the CEP was taken. However, if the scores were used for enlistment, follow the process below:
If you took the ASVAB at a MEPS or MET site, regardless of whether the scores were used for enlistment (or if you used your CEP scores to enlist), a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request is required to retrieve the results. To make a FOIA request for your ASVAB scores, go to https://www.foia.gov/ and select “Start a request with a specific agency.” Then select “Department of Defense” and the appropriate link for the service you joined (e.g., Department of the Air Force). Select “Continue the FOIA request process” and “Start FOIA request,” then follow the instructions for filling out the form.
In some states, yes. Several state departments of education recognize the ASVAB as an approved alternative assessment to fulfill high school graduation requirements or to demonstrate career and college readiness. However, these educational policies vary widely by state and local school district, so you should consult directly with your high school guidance counselor to confirm whether your ASVAB scores satisfy your state or district’s graduation criteria.
Joining the Military
We recommend visiting the Careers in the Military website at www.careersinthemilitary.com/home. You can research various military careers or click the “Options” link, www.careersinthemilitary.com/options, to review your options for military enlistment, requirements and process, pay, and benefits.
When you are ready to take the next step toward enlistment, you should contact a recruiter to help with the process. To locate a recruiter in your area, go to www.careersinthemilitary.com/options-contact-recruiter.
Lawful, permanent residents may be eligible to enlist. Officer roles generally require U.S. citizenship. Always confirm current policy with a recruiter.
Versions of the ASVAB
The Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) is the same test as the ASVAB, but it is administered exclusively to service members who are already serving in the military. While the ASVAB is used for initial enlistment or high school career exploration, the AFCT is used by current military personnel who want to improve their previous scores to qualify for different military jobs or occupations, apply for warrant officer programs, or pursue commissioning opportunities (i.e., earn an officer’s rank).
Your AFCT scores are typically uploaded directly to your official military personnel file shortly after testing. You can retrieve them by logging into your service branch’s specific personnel portal (e.g., IPPS-A, vMPF, or MyNavy portal), or by consulting with your installation’s education center or your unit’s retention NCO.
The Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test (PiCAT) is an unproctored, full-length version (2–3 hours) of the ASVAB that applicants can take online on their personal computers or tablets at their own pace. The PiCAT can be taken only once and is available only to those who have never taken the ASVAB. An applicant must contact a recruiter for an access code to take the PiCAT. To convert a PiCAT score into an official ASVAB score for enlistment, the applicant must complete a short, proctored verification test, taken at a MEPS or MET site, to confirm their results. For more information, click on the link below.
The Verification Test, or Vtest, is a short, proctored exam (typically 25–30 minutes), specifically designed to validate an applicant’s PiCAT scores. Because the PiCAT is taken at home without supervision, the Department of War uses the Vtest to confirm an applicant’s unproctored, PiCAT scores and ability level. If the Vtest confirms the initial PiCAT results, the PiCAT scores can be used to enlist; if the scores do not align, the applicant must take the full-length, proctored ASVAB to earn the official scores, which could then be used to enlist. The Vtest is administered at a MEPS or MET site. For more information, click on the link below.
Both versions of the ASVAB are equally valid, but they may feel different depending on your ability level. Here’s why:
- The CAT-ASVAB adapts to you. Unlike the paper-and-pencil (P&P) ASVAB, which presents a fixed set of questions ranging from easy to hard, the computer-administered version (CAT-ASVAB) adjusts in real time to your ability level, serving you questions that are best matched to your performance as you go.
- Your experience will vary based on your ability level. If you are above average in ability, the CAT-ASVAB will present more difficult questions, which may make it feel harder than the P&P version. If you are below average in ability, it will present easier questions, which may make it feel easier.
- Your scores will be comparable regardless of format. Even though the two versions differ in how questions are delivered, scores are statistically linked across both formats. You would be expected to receive a similar score whether you take the CAT-ASVAB or the P&P-ASVAB.