ASVAB scores, format and minimum scores by branch
Last checked October 14, 2026 · Sources: Department of Defense CAT-ASVAB page and Fact Sheet; Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard recruiting sites
Your ASVAB scores come in two kinds: an AFQT percentile from 1 to 99 that decides whether you can enlist, and composite scores that decide which jobs you qualify for. Most applicants take the computer version, the CAT-ASVAB, at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). It adjusts to your answers, you can’t go back, and it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours on average.
Computer and paper versions
- CAT-ASVAB (computer): adaptive; easier or harder questions follow your answers. You can’t change an answer once you move on. Auto and Shop Information are separate subtests.
- Tryout questions: the Department of Defense says each test taker gets unscored tryout questions in 2 to 4 subtests, up to 15 per subtest, and a subtest with tryouts gets a longer time limit.
- Paper (P&P-ASVAB): everyone gets the same questions; Auto and Shop are one combined subtest.
- Scores are equated, so neither version is easier, per officialasvab.com.
| Subtest | CAT questions | CAT minutes | CAT minutes with tryouts | Paper questions | Paper minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | 15 | 12 | 25 | 25 | 11 |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | 15 | 55 | 113 | 30 | 36 |
| Word Knowledge | 15 | 9 | 18 | 35 | 11 |
| Paragraph Comprehension | 10 | 27 | 75 | 15 | 13 |
| Mathematics Knowledge | 15 | 31 | 65 | 25 | 24 |
| Electronics Information | 15 | 10 | 21 | 20 | 9 |
| Auto Information | 10 | 7 | 18 | With Shop: 25 | With Shop: 11 |
| Shop Information | 10 | 6 | 17 | With Auto | With Auto |
| Mechanical Comprehension | 15 | 22 | 42 | 25 | 19 |
| Assembling Objects | 15 | 18 | 38 | 25 | 15 |
| Total | 135 | 197 | Varies | 225 | 149 |
Scored questions and time limits. Source: officialasvab.com CAT-ASVAB page and the DoD Fact Sheet (October 2026).
The computer version’s limits look generous next to the paper test, and that is deliberate. The Department of Defense says the time limits are loose enough that nearly everyone finishes every subtest. Its own pages put the average for the whole CAT-ASVAB at about 1.5 to 2 hours (the Fact Sheet says 1.5, the What to Expect page says 2), against roughly 3 hours for the paper version.
Don’t rush-guess on the computer version
On the paper ASVAB there’s no penalty for guessing, so fill in blanks if time runs out. On the CAT-ASVAB, the official site says several incorrect answers near the end of a subtest carry a relatively large penalty, so keep answering properly rather than guessing at random. If time runs out with questions left, the CAT-ASVAB scores the unfinished ones as if you had answered them at random.
How ASVAB scores are reported
- AFQT: built from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. The Air Force explains that Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension are first combined into a Verbal Expression (VE) score. It is reported as a percentile from 1 to 99 against a national 1997 sample of 18 to 23 year olds.
- Standard scores: each subtest gets one. About half of test takers score 50 or higher, and about 16% score 60 or higher, per officialasvab.com.
- Line scores: other subtests combine into composites that decide the jobs you qualify for. Each branch builds its own. The Air Force, for example, uses four (Mechanical, Administrative, General and Electronics).
- AFQT categories: scores fall into categories from I (93-99) to V (1-9). Category IIIA (50-64) or higher may qualify you for enlistment incentives.
Minimum ASVAB scores by branch
Each branch sets its own minimum AFQT. These are the figures the branches publish on their own recruiting sites. Guides often show different numbers, and some of them are out of date, so we only list a figure where the branch itself states it.
| Branch | Minimum AFQT | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 31 | goarmy.com. Applicants scoring 21 or higher may qualify for the academic track of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course. |
| Air Force | 31 (GED: 50) | airforce.com. Some guides still list 36. |
| Marine Corps | 31 | marines.com FAQ. Some jobs require higher scores. |
| Coast Guard | 32 | gocoastguard.com. Many guides still list 36 or 40, which no longer matches the Coast Guard’s own page. |
| Navy | Not published | We could not find a figure on the Navy’s own site. Guides report 31 or 35, so ask a Navy recruiter. |
Minimum AFQT to enlist, as published by each branch. Checked October 14, 2026.
Minimums can also depend on education, as the Air Force’s separate GED figure shows, and recruiters can ask for more than the minimum. Treat these numbers as the floor, not a target, and confirm the current figure with a recruiter for the branch you want. For job-level scores, see our branch guides to Army ASVAB scores, Air Force ASVAB scores and Coast Guard ASVAB scores. For age, education and citizenship rules, see our enlistment requirements by branch.
Retesting
The Department of Defense’s rule is one calendar month before your first retest, another calendar month before the second, then six calendar months before each later attempt. The Air Force’s ASVAB page says you wait 30 days before a retest, another 30 days before a third attempt, and six months before a fourth or later attempt. Either way, scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from your test date.
Common questions
Does the ASVAB matter for officer routes?
Usually not. The Army says you do not take the ASVAB if you commission through ROTC, West Point or a direct commission, though Officer Candidate School applicants who enlisted first will have taken it. The Air Force says its officers take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) instead, and the Coast Guard says its officer programs have different test requirements. For the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, a guide says admissions use SAT or ACT scores, so check each program’s admissions page.
What is a good ASVAB score?
One that clears the minimum for your branch and the line scores for the job you want. Above that, Category IIIA (an AFQT of 50 or higher) may qualify you for enlistment incentives, according to officialasvab.com.
Which score counts if I retake the ASVAB?
The Army says your most recent score, not your highest, is the one it uses. Plan a retest only when you are ready to beat your last result.
Is my AFQT the same as my ASVAB score?
No. The AFQT is one score calculated from four subtests, and it decides eligibility. Your full results also include a standard score for each subtest and the composite scores used for job placement.
Do I get my ASVAB scores right away?
On the computer version, yes. The CAT-ASVAB prints an unverified score report with your AFQT, subtest scores and composite scores when you finish.
Do tryout questions count toward my score?
No. Tryout questions are unscored and only lengthen that subtest’s time limit. You can’t tell which questions are tryouts, so answer every question as if it counts.
For how testing works from first contact to score report, see our guide to taking the ASVAB, what happens on ASVAB test day, and how the at-home PiCAT works. To start practicing, our free ASVAB resources page lists no-cost options, and our best ASVAB prep ranking covers paid ones. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any service branch.