Army ASVAB Scores: Minimum AFQT and MOS Line Scores Guide

If you want to enlist in the Army, your ASVAB scores decide two things: whether you can join at all, and which jobs you can do once you are in. The first number that matters is your AFQT, the Armed Forces Qualification Test score. The second set of numbers, called line scores, controls which Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) you qualify for.

This guide breaks down both. You will see the minimum AFQT to enlist, what the AFQT categories mean, how the Army builds its line scores, and the specific scores required for jobs across combat, cyber, intelligence, medical, aviation, and support fields. The goal is simple: help you read your own results and aim for the score your target job needs.

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What the ASVAB Is and How the Army Uses It

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a standardized test covering science, math, and language. According to the official Army site, every enlisted Soldier takes it before enlisting, and the results help match you to careers that fit your strengths.

The test is built from nine subtests. Four of them feed your AFQT, which is reported as a percentile score from 1 to 99. A percentile of 60, for example, means you scored as well as or better than 60 percent of a national reference group. The Army uses your subtest results twice: once to calculate the AFQT that gates enlistment, and again to build the line scores that gate specific jobs.

It helps to keep the two ideas separate from the start. The AFQT gets you in the door. Line scores decide which doors are open inside.

Minimum AFQT Scores for Army Enlistment

The Army's minimum AFQT score to enlist is 31 for applicants with a high school diploma. For applicants who hold a GED, the minimum is 50. Both figures come from official Army guidance and are the overall AFQT scores that determine enlistment eligibility.

Scoring below 31 does not always end the process. If you score at least 21, you may qualify for the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, a 90-day academic track that provides instruction on every ASVAB subject and a chance to retake the test. If your AFQT falls between 31 and 49, a shorter 30-day version of the Future Soldier Preparatory Course is available, with classes and one opportunity to improve your score. Depending on the needs of the Army, you may then select a new MOS based on the higher score.

A practical note on education status. A GED holder who completes 15 college credits at the 100 level or higher is generally treated like a high school diploma holder, which can move the bar back down to 31.

AFQT Categories and What a "Good" Score Means

The AFQT is grouped into categories that describe where your result sits against the national reference population. The reference group comes from a 1997 national norming study, and the standard scoring scale is built around a mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10, according to the official ASVAB program.

Here is the full category table.

Two rows are worth memorizing. Category IIIB (31–49) is the Army enlistment floor for diploma holders, since 31 is the minimum. Category V (1–9) makes an applicant ineligible to enlist in any branch.

So what counts as a strong AFQT for the Army? A score of 50 sits right at the average. A 47 is just below that average, clears the 31 minimum, and qualifies you to enlist, though it limits some technical and specialized options. A 40 sits above the minimum but below the average of 50, so it clears the enlistment bar while leaving the more competitive technical jobs out of reach until you raise the specific line scores they require. Once you reach 70 or higher, you are in the top 30 percent of test takers and qualify for the large majority of Army jobs, including many technical, medical, and intelligence roles. A 72 is comfortably above average, and a 77 is stronger still.

Keep one limit in mind. Your AFQT does not, by itself, qualify you for a specific job. Job qualification is driven by line scores, not the overall percentile. A high AFQT is a good signal that your line scores will also be strong, but the line score is what the recruiter checks against each MOS.

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Army Line Scores Explained

After you take the ASVAB, the Army converts your subtest results into 10 composite scores, known as Army line scores. These composite scores tell the Army which Military Occupational Specialties you qualify for.

The 10 categories are Clerical (CL), Combat (CO), Electronics (EL), Field Artillery (FA), General Maintenance (GM), General Technical (GT), Mechanical Maintenance (MM), Operators and Food (OF), Surveillance and Communications (SC), and Skilled Technical (ST). Each one combines a specific set of ASVAB subtests.

The table below shows how the Army builds each line score. Note that several formulas still reference Coding Speed (CS) and Numerical Operations (NO). Those subtests are being phased out, so the exact formula for some line scores may shift over time. The most commonly cited requirement, General Technical (GT), is simply Verbal Expression plus Arithmetic Reasoning (VE+AR).

One detail sets the Army apart. It is the only service that examines line scores and guarantees a specific job to each new recruit before enlistment. Other branches tend to offer guaranteed placement or a guaranteed aptitude area rather than a named job up front.

The difference between AFQT and line scores is the single most useful concept here. The AFQT uses only four subtests, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge, and decides whether you can enlist. The 10 line scores draw on all nine subtests in various combinations and decide which MOS you can hold. You could have an AFQT of 60 that lets you enlist, yet still need a GT:110 and ST:112 to qualify for a cyber job.

Army Jobs and the ASVAB Line Scores They Require

This is where the line scores do their work. Each MOS has its own minimum, and many jobs require two line scores at once, shown with an ampersand. The sections below highlight notable requirements by field. A full reference table follows at the end of this section.

Combat and Infantry Roles

Most infantry and direct combat jobs share the same Combat line score requirement of 87. Infantryman (11B), Indirect Fire Infantryman (11C), the Infantry Enlistment Option (11X), Combat Engineer (12B), Bridge Crewmember (12C), Cavalry Scout (19D), and M1 Armor Crewman (19K) all require CO:87.

Special roles climb well above that floor. Special Forces Recruit (18X) requires GT:110 and SC:100, among the highest thresholds for enlisted entry. Diver (12D) stacks three high line scores, GM:98, GT:107, and ST:106, which shows how a specialized combat skill can demand far more than a standard infantry job.

Technical, Cyber, and Electronics Roles

The most demanding technical jobs sit near the top of the scale. Cyber Operations Specialist (17C) requires GT:110 and ST:112, one of the steepest combined requirements in the Army. Satellite Communications System Operator/Maintainer (25S) requires EL:117, the highest single line score on the list.

The signal and electronics field shows a clear progression. Information Technology Specialist (25B) requires ST:95, while Cyber Network Defender (25D) requires GT:105 and ST:105. Several electronics maintenance roles, including Microwave System Operator/Maintainer (25P), Patriot System Repairer (94S), and Radar Repairer (94M), require EL:107.

Intelligence and Linguist Roles

Intelligence work leans heavily on the Skilled Technical line score. Intelligence Analyst (35F), Geospatial Intelligence Imagery Analyst (35G), and Counterintelligence Agent (35L) each require ST:101. Signal Intel Analyst (35N) and Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator (35T) sit higher at ST:112, while Criminal Investigation Special Agent (31D) requires ST:107 and GT:110.

Linguist roles add a separate test. Cryptologic Linguist (35P) requires ST:91 plus a DLAB:107. Human Intelligence Collector (35M) requires DLAB:107 as well. Some entry language roles use the English Comprehension Level Test (ECLT) instead, such as the Trainee Language option (09C), which lists AFQT 21–30 with an ECLT range of 40 to 74.

Medical Roles

Medical specialties span a wide range. Combat Medic Specialist (68W) requires ST:101 and GT:107, reflecting the dual technical and general aptitude the role demands. Practical Nursing Specialist (68C), Physical Therapy Specialist (68F), Cardiovascular Specialist (68N), and several other advanced clinical roles share that same ST:101 and GT:107 requirement.

Entry medical roles ask for less. Operating Room Specialist (68D) and Dental Specialist (68E) require ST:91. Diagnostic and equipment roles run higher, with Medical Laboratory Specialist (68K) and Radiology Specialist (68P) at ST:106 and Biomedical Equipment Specialist (68A) at EL:107.

Aviation and Maintenance Roles

Aircraft maintenance jobs in the 15 series cluster around the Mechanical Maintenance line score. Aircraft Powerplant Repairer (15B), Aircraft Powertrain Repairer (15D), Aircraft Electrician (15F), and Aircraft Structural Repairer (15G) all require MM:104, as do UH-60 Helicopter Repairer (15T) and CH-47 Helicopter Repairer (15U). Avionic Mechanic (15N) requires EL:93, and Air Traffic Control Operator (15Q) requires ST:101.

Ground vehicle maintenance often offers two paths to qualify. Light-Wheel Vehicle Mechanic (91B) requires MM:87 and GT:85, or MM:92 on its own. M1 Abrams Tank System Maintainer (91A) requires MM:88 and GT:85, or MM:99. Power Generation Equipment Repair (91D) requires GM:98, or GM:88 and GT:88. These alternative routes let strong mechanical aptitude offset a lower general technical score, or the other way around.

Administrative, Legal, and Support Roles

Clerical and general technical aptitude carry these jobs. Human Resource Specialist (42A) requires GT:100 and CL:90. Paralegal Specialist (27D) requires CL:105, and Finance Management Technician (36B) requires CL:101. Communications and influence roles run higher on the general technical side, with Public Affairs Specialist/Journalist (46Q), Broadcast Journalist (46R), Psychological Operations Specialist (37F), and Civil Affairs Specialist (38B) all requiring GT:107.

Transportation, Logistics, and Supply Roles

Many transport and supply jobs sit at the lower end of the scale. Motor Transport Operator (88M) and Food Service Specialist (92G) require OF:85, one of the more accessible thresholds. Watercraft Operator (88K) and Watercraft Engineer (88L) require MM:99. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist (89D) is the standout, requiring GM:105 for one of the most technically demanding jobs in the field.

Full List of Army MOS and Minimum Line Scores

The table below lists Army jobs with their minimum ASVAB line score requirements. Where two scores are joined by an ampersand, both must be met. "N/A" marks senior sergeant roles that do not carry an entry line score requirement.

Score requirements can change with Army needs, so confirm any specific MOS with a recruiter before you set your target.

ASVAB Test Format: CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, and Subtests

Most applicants take the computer version of the test. The CAT-ASVAB, the Computer Adaptive Test, has ten subtests with 135 questions and a 197-minute time cap. It adjusts the difficulty of questions in real time based on your answers, which is why it tends to take about half the time of the paper version. According to the Army, roughly 70 percent of applicants test online.

There is also an at-home option. The PiCAT, the Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test, is an unsupervised, full version of the ASVAB that you can take on your own time. The PiCAT saves a trip up front, but you still confirm your PiCAT result in person at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) before it counts. For most applicants, the path runs through a recruiter to either a Military Entrance Testing Station or a MEPS.

The nine subtests are the same across formats. The table below shows the standard sections, the number of questions, and the time allowed.

Verbal Expression (VE) is not a separate section. It is a combined score built from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension, and it feeds several line scores, including General Technical.

Retaking the ASVAB, Score Validity, and How to Study

You can retake the ASVAB, but there are fixed waiting periods. After your first attempt, you must wait one calendar month before retaking. A third attempt can be administered no earlier than six calendar months after your second test. One detail trips people up: the Army uses your most recent score, not your highest, so do not retake the test until you are ready to do better.

ASVAB scores are generally valid for two years from the test date for non-prior service applicants, according to commonly cited guidance, so plan your timing around that window if you are not enlisting right away.

Preparation is what moves your score. Plan to start studying at least two months before test day. A simple routine works well: find a quiet space, gather your materials and a calculator, set a basic schedule, and use practice tests to find your weak subtests. Since the AFQT comes from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge, those four deserve the most attention if your main goal is to clear the enlistment minimum. If you are aiming at a specific MOS, study the subtests that feed its line score as well, since Mechanical Comprehension, General Science, and Verbal Expression carry many technical jobs.

The payoff is concrete. The higher your ASVAB score, the more job options you have, along with access to special pay and bonuses.

Army National Guard ASVAB Requirements

The Army National Guard uses the same minimum AFQT as active duty, 31 for diploma holders and 50 for GED holders. Every applicant takes the ASVAB before joining, and the Guard uses it the same way the active Army does, to find where each recruit is most likely to succeed. Testing happens at the same places, a school, a testing station, or a MEPS.

Education status works the same as well. A GED holder who completes 15 college credits at the 100 level or higher is treated like a diploma holder, which can lower the threshold from 50 back to 31. Beyond the minimum, exact requirements can vary by location and unit need, and jobs available only at the 31 floor tend to be the least competitive.

Minimum AFQT Scores Across the Branches

For context, here is how the Army's minimum AFQT compares to the other services by education level. The Coast Guard sets a diploma floor of 32.

Branch minimums and recruiter standards can shift, so verify a specific branch figure directly with that service before you rely on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ASVAB score is needed for the Army?

The listed minimum AFQT score is 31 for applicants with a high school diploma and 50 for GED holders. This AFQT score determines basic enlistment eligibility; Army line scores then determine which MOS positions may be available to the applicant.

What are good Army ASVAB scores?

There is no single score that is good for every Army applicant because the relevant target depends on education status and the desired MOS. A score above the 31 diploma-holder baseline or 50 GED baseline can expand options, but the decisive job criteria are the MOS-specific line scores.

Are 70, 72, or 77 high ASVAB scores, and is a 70 hard to achieve?

AFQT scores of 70, 72, and 77 fall within Category II, which spans 65–92, and they are above the reference-group midpoint of 50. These are percentile scores rather than percentages correct, so the number alone does not measure how difficult the test was or guarantee a particular MOS.

Is a 47 a good ASVAB score for the Army?

An AFQT score of 47 falls in Category IIIB and is above the 31 minimum listed for a high school diploma holder. It is below the 50 benchmark listed for GED holders, and it does not by itself show whether the applicant qualifies for a specific MOS because line scores are also required.

Are 21, 25, or 27 bad ASVAB scores, and can you join the Army with a 27?

Scores of 21, 25, and 27 are below the standard Army minimum of 31 for applicants with a high school diploma, so they do not meet the normal direct-entry benchmark. Official Army guidance says applicants with at least 21 may be eligible for the 90-day Future Soldier Preparatory Course, but that pathway is not a guarantee of enlistment.

Is a 40 a good ASVAB score in the Army?

A 40 is above the 31 minimum listed for a high school diploma holder and falls in AFQT Category IIIB. It is below the 50 benchmark listed for GED holders, and the applicant would still need to meet the relevant line-score requirements for the desired MOS.

Is a 57 a good Army ASVAB score?

A 57 is in AFQT Category IIIA, the 50–64 range, and is above the reference-group midpoint of 50. It clears the listed Army baseline for both a high school diploma holder and a GED holder, but MOS eligibility still depends on the Army line scores.

How should I study for the Army ASVAB?

Start with a practice test to identify weak areas, then prioritize the four AFQT subtests—AR, MK, PC, and WK—until the enlistment target is secure. After that, focus practice on the subtests behind the line score for the MOS you want, such as GS/AR/MK/EI for EL or AS/MC/EI for MM.

How do Army ASVAB line scores work?

The Army combines selected ASVAB subtest results into 10 line scores: CL, CO, EL, FA, GM, GT, MM, OF, SC, and ST. These composites qualify applicants for specific MOS positions, so the overall AFQT score and the target MOS line score must be considered separately.

Do the Active Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard require different ASVAB scores?

The supplied references list 31 for Army applicants with a high school diploma and 50 for GED holders, and they list the same baseline for the Army National Guard. The supplied material does not establish a separate Army Reserve-wide AFQT minimum, so Reserve applicants should confirm current component and MOS requirements with a recruiter.

Sources

• ASVAB Scores and Army Jobs – military.com
• ASVAB Test & Preparation – goarmy.com
• ASVAB Applicant Information – officialasvab.com