In: ASVAB Score Requirements 1 Comment

Why Meeting the Minimum ASVAB Score Requirement Is Not Enough

How many times have you taken a test or learned a new skill in school only to be told that you needed the information for your examination, but you probably would never need that information or skill in the real world? Or how many times have you, as a student, thought that the lesson plan was trivial and a waste of time? In many situations, that might have been the case, but in other situations, like when undertaking an exam like the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), your responses to the 200 questions provided will help determine your aptitude for particular armed services vocations. The better you do on the ASVAB the more career options you will have in the military. You don’t want to be the one who has to retake your ASVAB test while in the military because your score is too low to move up the ranks. Let’s look a little more closely at how meeting the minimum ASVAB score requirements is not enough, and why it is imperative that you are fully prepared to take your ASVAB.

What are the minimum ASVAB score requirements?

According to the official website for the ASVAB Testing Program, scores on the ASVAB subtests are reported as one standard score – this means that they are scored relative to a national sample of youth aged 18 to 23. If you get a score of 70%, this implies that you have received a score at or better than 70% of those who took the test within the sample population above. The higher your standard score, the more people you scored above. In addition to the above scoring, recruiters will also receive your score on what is called the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This is computed using the standard scores for 4 of your subtests: arithmetic reasoning, mathematics knowledge, paragraph comprehension, and word knowledge. Scores are then rated the same as above – 90% score means you scored as well or better than 90% of the sample group.

Your score is then categorized from AFQT category I to V – where I represent the score range of 93-99 and V represents the score range of 1-9.

AFQT CategoryPercentile Score Range
193-99
265-92
3A50-64
3B31-49
410-30
51-9
Source:Official-ASVAB

Why is the AFQT Category rating in this table so important?

Your ASVAB score is used primarily to determine eligibility for enlistment and military job assignment. The higher the category you place in and, thus, the higher your ASVAB score, the more opportunities will be open to you. If your ASVAB score meets the minimum AFQT percentile to enlist, you may be allowed to join the military, but your score will limit your ability to specialize. The minimum AFQT score required to qualify for enlistment varies across the different branches of service – contact the branch you are interested in enlisting with. Most likely, the recruiter will confirm that targeting a specialized, more desirable, military job will require high ASVAB score.

Find the Best Resources to Prepare for the ASVAB

While you are able to retake your ASVAB, such activity will delay your enlistment. It is best to prepare yourself fully for the first examination and get the best results. The best way to ensure better results is preparation and hard work. Using online courses and practice tests from ASVAB Boot Camp will provide you with a comprehensive approach to your study methods. ASVAB study resources include online courses for Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Mathematics Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. Additionally, this test preparation programs provide 4 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations, interactive practice exercises to improve memory retention, and access to ASVAB Advisors to answer your questions. This approach will assist you in determining your strengths and tutoring you where you require further explanation or clarification.

Contact ASVAB Boot Camp at (830) 28-ASVAB or (830) 282-7822, visit our website https://asvabbootcamp.com/ or e-mail info@asvabbootcamp.com.