ASVAB AFQT and Line Scores: How to Read Them & Get the Score You Need

Understanding ASVAB Scores

Reading your ASVAB scores sheet might be confusing. Your results will be divided in different categories, and your performance can be interpreted in various ways depending on the military branch you apply for and your individual requirements.

There are four ways to interpret your results:

1. Standard Scores
2. Line Scores
3. AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test)
4. Career Exploration Scores (only for high school students who took the ASVAB CEP).

ASVAB Standard Scores

Standard Scores are calculated for each one of the individual ASVAB subtests and are used to assess your relative strengths and weaknesses in various knowledge and skill areas. These scores are used to compare your performance on ASVAB subtests to a reference group, this helps standardize the results making it easier to evaluate and compare candidates.

ASVAB Test Sections

AS - Auto & Shop Information

GS -General Science

AR - Arithmetic Reasoning

MC - Mechanical Comprehension

VE - Verbal Expression (combination of the grades of PC+WK)

EI - Electronics Information

MK - Mathematics Knowledge

PC - Paragraph Comprehension

WK - Word Knowledge

Standard Scores are measured on a scale of 0-100. A Standard Score of 60 would be above average, and most candidates score between 30 and 70. Although these scores are good for reference and comparison, they don't really say much by themselves. Standard Scores are combined in different ways to give a composite or Line Score. 

ASVAB Line Scores 

The military combines the standard ASVAB subtest scores of each of the ASVAB subtests to calculate the Composite Scores, also called Line Scores. Then, these line scores are used to help classify military occupations best suited for you and help determine eligibility for specific military jobs and roles. 

Each branch develops its own set of line scores based on the combination of subtests that are most highly correlated with on-the-job performance for various occupations.

To learn more about the line scores of each branch and how they’re computed, check out this chart on the ASVAB official site.

Take a look at this ASVAB Score chart according to the different jobs and what subjects of the ASVAB test influence the score:

AFQT Scores

The AFQT is probably the most important score you get in your ASVAB Test.  

The scores you get from only four of the ASVAB subtests are combined to calculate one general raw score. Then, your AFQT raw score is translated into a percentile score between 1 to 99. This tells you how well you did on the AFQT compared to a base group of approximately 6,000 other test-takers.

For example, if you got a 70 on your AFQT it means you scored as well as or better than 70% of that base group.

Finally, these AFQT scores are used to determine your eligibility for enlistment in the each military branch.

AFQT scores are divided into 8 categories, shown in the ASVAB score chart below:

The highest the ASVAB score you get on the AFQT, the more attractive the jobs you’ll be offered. That’s because military jobs in the AFQT categories 1 and 2 are usually the most desirable and prestigious. Scoring between 0-9 will disqualify you from being considered for enlistment. The minimum score is different depending if you have a High School Diploma or GED.

The chart below shows the minimum score for each military branch:

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Career Exploration Program Scores

This version of the ASVAB Test is given to high school students in grades 10-12 to help them explore military and civilian career paths.

Students take the ASVAB CEP at no cost and it may be administered in computer-adaptive forms or in paper and pencil format. The ASVAB CEP test results are then sent to school counselors so students can learn more about career options that correlate with their abilities and preferences.

Moreover, each participant receives valid AFQT scores that can be used for enlistment if you’re in the 11th grade and above (since they’re valid for only 2 years).

To learn more about the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, visit the ASVAB CEP official site.

When Can I Expect the ASVAB Scores Results?

The time it takes to receive your ASVAB scores can vary based on several factors, including the version of the test you took (CAT-ASVAB, P&P ASVAB, or CEP ASVAB) and the specific administrative processes in place at the testing center:

1. CAT-ASVAB (Computerized Adaptive Testing ASVAB): Scores for the CAT-ASVAB are often available relatively quickly due to the automated nature of the testing process. You might receive your scores within a few days to a couple of weeks after taking the test.

2. P&P ASVAB (Paper and Pencil ASVAB): Scores for the P&P ASVAB might take a bit longer to process since they are collected on paper and then need to be scored manually. You could typically expect to receive your scores within a few weeks.

3. CEP ASVAB (Career Exploration Program ASVAB): Scores for the CEP ASVAB, which is often administered to high school students, might also take a few weeks to be processed and delivered.

It's important to note that the specific timelines can vary, and changes might have occurred after my last update. Additionally, the procedures and processing times might differ based on the testing center and the volume of tests being processed.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information about when you can expect to receive your ASVAB scores, we recommend contacting the testing center or organization that administered the test. They will be able to provide you with the most current information based on their procedures and resources.

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