Army ASVAB scores: the minimum and the line scores for Army jobs

Last checked October 14, 2026 · Sources: GoArmy ASVAB page, Oregon Army National Guard 11B page and the Department of Defense ASVAB FAQs

The Army needs an AFQT score of at least 31 to enlist. After that, your Army ASVAB scores are turned into 10 line scores, and each Army job (MOS) sets a minimum on one or more of them. Infantry, for example, requires a Combat (CO) line score of 87.

Minimum AFQT

31

To enlist, per goarmy.com

Line scores

10

Each Army job sets its own minimums

Prep course entry

21+

AFQT for the Future Soldier academic track

Score that counts

Latest

Your most recent, not your highest

The two kinds of Army ASVAB scores

The Army says every enlisted Soldier takes the ASVAB, and that you receive two types of scores. The first is the AFQT, a percentile from 1 to 99 built from four subtests, which decides whether you can join at all. The Army’s minimum is 31. The second is your set of line scores, also called category scores, which decide which jobs you can choose.

A high AFQT doesn’t guarantee a particular job, and a modest AFQT doesn’t rule one out. What matters for the job is whether the line score that job uses clears its minimum. Our ASVAB scores guide explains the AFQT and how other branches set their minimums.

Army line scores and the subtests behind them

The Army lists 10 line score categories. The table shows the subject areas the Army says each one depends on, with an example job from the Army’s own list. VE (Verbal Expression) combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension.

Source: goarmy.com ASVAB page, checked October 14, 2026.

Watch out for outdated line score formulas

Many prep sites still write the Combat score as AR+CS+AS+MC. CS stands for Coding Speed, which is not one of the 10 subtests on today’s ASVAB, according to the Department of Defense. The Army’s own page lists Verbal Expression, Auto and Shop, and Mechanical Comprehension for Combat. If a guide’s formula includes Coding Speed or Numerical Operations, treat its other numbers with caution too.

Line score minimums for Army jobs

Each Army job page lists the line score it requires. The Oregon Army National Guard’s 11B Infantryman page, for example, lists a Combat (CO) score of 87. Minimums can change, so check the current figure on the job’s own page or with a recruiter. A useful approach is to pick two or three target jobs first, note which line scores they use, and then focus your study on the subtests that feed those line scores.

For Combat jobs that means reading and vocabulary (VE, built from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension), Auto and Shop, and Mechanical Comprehension. For General Technical, it means VE and Arithmetic Reasoning; our Arithmetic Reasoning guide covers that subtest in detail. Our free ASVAB resources page lists official sample questions for each subtest.

If your score is too low: the Future Soldier Preparatory Course

The Army offers a route for applicants who fall short. According to goarmy.com:

• AFQT of 21 to 30: you may qualify for the academic track of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, a 90-day program covering all ASVAB subjects with chances to retake the test.
• AFQT of 31 to 49: you could qualify for a second option, 30 days of classes with one chance to improve your score. You may then pick a new job based on the higher score, depending on the Army’s needs.
• Body fat above the Army standard: an expanded course lets you do the academic track first and then move to the fitness track.

Ask your recruiter which option fits your scores.

Retaking the ASVAB for the Army

The Department of Defense rule is one calendar month before your first retest, another calendar month before the second, then six calendar months before each later attempt. The Army’s own page phrases it slightly differently, saying a third attempt comes no earlier than six calendar months after the second. Confirm your dates with a recruiter. Either way, the Army uses your most recent score, not your highest, so retest only when you are ready to improve.

How Army applicants take the test

A recruiter schedules your test and explains scoring, but the Army says recruiters can’t help you study. You can ask for the pre-ASVAB test or use the free U.S. Army ASVAB Challenge app to practice. You take the real test at a registered testing site or a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). The Army notes that around 70% of applicants take the computer version, which on average takes about half the time of the paper version. The test is given only in English. Applicants who have never tested can also ask about the PiCAT, an at-home version confirmed later by a short supervised test.

See our ASVAB test day guide and our PiCAT guide for the details.

Common questions about Army ASVAB scores

What is the minimum ASVAB score for the Army?

31 on the AFQT, according to goarmy.com. Individual jobs then set their own line score minimums.

What ASVAB score do I need for Army infantry?

The Oregon Army National Guard lists a Combat (CO) line score of 87 for 11B Infantryman. Confirm the current figure with a recruiter.

Do Army officers take the ASVAB?

Not in the same way. The Army says you don’t take the ASVAB if you commission through ROTC, West Point or a direct commission. If you enlist first and later attend Officer Candidate School, you will have taken it during enlistment.

Which ASVAB score does the Army use if I retake it?

Your most recent one. The Army says it uses your latest score, not your highest.

Can I join the Army with an AFQT below 31?

Possibly. With an AFQT of 21 or higher, you may qualify for the academic track of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, which helps you raise your score before enlisting.

Compare with other branches in our minimum ASVAB scores by branch table, or go back to the ASVAB overview. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any service branch.

Official source & community discussion

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