What is the AFQT?
While the ASVAB is designed to determine a potential recruit’s occupational fit in the military, there is no actual “overall” ASVAB score. When people talk about getting a score of, say, a 75 or 80 on the ASVAB, they are really talking about something called the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score. A candidate’s score on the AFQT determines that candidate’s eligibility for all branches of the Armed Services. The AFQT score is derived from your performance on just the verbal and math subtests of the ASVAB, as explained below.
What is an AFQT Score?
The military determines your AFQT score by first adding your Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension scores together to get your “Verbal Expression” or “VE” score. The formula to derive the AFQT “raw score” is 2VE + AR (Arithmetic Reasoning) + MK (Mathematics Knowledge) = AFQT score.
2 x [Word Knowledge + Paragraph Comprehension]
+
[Arithmetic Reasoning + Mathematical Knowledge]
= AFQT RAW SCORE
The AFQT raw score you receive is then translated into a percentile score that tells you how well you did on the AFQT compared to a base group of approximately 6,000 other test takers ages 18–23. For instance, if your percentile score is 63, you scored and or better than 68 percent of the base group. This AFQT percentile score is used to determine your eligibility for the armed forces.
AFQT Qualifying Scores for Different Branches of the Military
The requirements below are minimum standards and are subject to change. They are primarily oriented toward high school graduates. The requirements may be more stringent for those who have earned their high school equivalency diplomas by taking the GED® test, the TASC™, or the HiSET™ exam. Any applicant without a high school degree or equivalent can only be accepted into military service in special circumstances.
You should refer to the services’ websites or publications for more specific information or contact a military recruiter. Applicants who possess special skills or experience (for example, fluency in a certain language or computer programming experience) may be eligible for waivers of AFQT current minimums. Also, if you score well on any subtest(s) that relate to particular occupations that are recruiting targets, you may be able to get a waiver.
What is the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System (TAPAS)?
The military is currently piloting the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System as a potential additional entrance assessment alongside the ASVAB. This computer-adaptive personality test consists of 120 questions and is designed to measure noncognitive characteristics, such as motivation and other traits that indicate whether a recruit will be successful after enlistment. The primary goal of the TAPAS is to identify high-potential candidates who may perform well in service even if they do not quite meet the standard threshold AFQT scores.
How Long Are ASVAB Scores Valid?
Your official ASVAB results remain valid for two years from the date of the examination. If you choose to retake the test to improve your score, you must wait one calendar month after your initial attempt. Following a first retest, you may take a second retest after another calendar month has passed. However, once you have completed two retests, you are required to wait at least six months before you are eligible to take the ASVAB again.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Jacob Zampier. Jacob is College & STEM Commercial Manager at Kaplan, overseeing several products including ASVAB, Police and TOEFL.
