The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is required of all who wish to enlist in the U.S. military, regardless of branch. At its core, the ASVAB test assesses the enlistment hopeful's high school education level. While the military accepts enlistees who have withdrawn from high school but acquired a GED diploma, minimum ASVAB scores, or more specifically minimum AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) scores derived from the ASVAB scores, determine who is eligible to enlist and at what MOS (military occupational specialty).

Look at the raw ASVAB scores and find the Word Knowledge (WK) score and the Paragraph Comprehension (PC) score. Combine the two scores: WK + PC. Next, find the Verbal Expression (VE) value for that combined score. To do this, access the Verbal Expression scale and locate the combined value from WK + PC, which will list a corresponding scaled VE value. The PC section of the ASVAB contains 15 questions and the WK section contains 35 questions. Because of scaling, a WK+PC value of 50 is about the max, giving a VE value of 62.

Multiply the VE value by 2: 2_VE Assuming the maximum scores were achieved, and the VE value is 62, then 2_62 is 124. Write this value down and take out the ASVAB scores again.

Find the Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) and Mathematical Knowledge (MK) scores on the ASVAB score sheet. Write these two values down and combine with the 2_VE value: (2_VE) + AR + MK = AFQT. AFQT scores are used to determine both eligibility for military service and jobs the enlistee qualifies for.

Compare the AFQT value with Army MOS minimum requirements. The AFQT scores are presented as percentiles, from 1 percent to 99 percent. An AFQT value of 31 is the minimum requirement for Army enlistment.

Tip

Consult with your recruiter before and after you take the ASVAB; the recruiter can help you prepare for the best possible scores to meet requirements for a desired military job.

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