ASVAB Score Chart: AFQT Categories and Standard Scores

The ASVAB reports two kinds of scores: the AFQT percentile (1–99), which officialasvab.com divides into eight categories from V (1–9) to I (93–99), and a Standard Score for each subtest, set to a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. The charts below show both, and the ten subtests. For what the services state as minimums, see ASVAB scores explained.

Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources

Not official guidance. FedRateCalc is independent and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense or any military service. This page reads the published pages and statute listed under Sources; a recruiter, the service and the Department of Defense decide your actual eligibility.

AFQT category chart

Each bar segment is as wide as its share of the 1–99 percentile scale.

AFQT categories, percentile ranges and how many percentile points each covers
AFQT categoryPercentile rangePoints covered
I93–997
II65–9228
IIIA50–6415
IIIB31–4919
IVA21–3010
IVB16–205
IVC10–156
V1–99
“AFQT scores are reported as percentiles between 1-99. An AFQT percentile score indicates the percentage of examinees in a reference group that scored at or below that particular score.”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), Understanding ASVAB Scores
“AFQT scores are computed using the Standard Scores from four ASVAB subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK).”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), Understanding ASVAB Scores

Standard score chart

“Standard Scores are scores that have a meaning relative to a national sample of youth aged 18 to 23. About half the population scores at or above a Standard Score of 50 and about 16% of the population scores at or above a Standard Score of 60.”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), Understanding ASVAB Scores
“A Standard Score indicates how many units of the standard deviation a particular score is above or below the mean. In the case of the ASVAB subtests, the mean is set to 50 and the standard deviation is set to 10. Thus, a Standard Score of 40 indicates that the examinee scored 1 standard deviation below the mean. A Standard Score of 70 indicates that the examinee scored 2 standard deviations above the mean.”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), Understanding ASVAB Scores (counselors and educators)
ASVAB standard scores and their distance from the mean in standard deviations
Standard scoreStandard deviations from the mean
302 below
401 below
500 (the mean)
601 above
702 above

The rows for 40 and 70 are the two examples in the quotation above. The rows for 30, 50 and 60 apply the same definition: (score − 50) ÷ 10.

The ten ASVAB subtests

“The ASVAB subtests are designed to measure aptitudes in four domains: Verbal, Math, Science and Technical, and Spatial.”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), ASVAB Subtests
ASVAB subtests, what each measures and its domain, in the order they are administered
SubtestDescriptionDomain
General Science (GS)Knowledge of physical and biological sciencesScience/Technical
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)Ability to solve Arithmetic word problemsMath
Word Knowledge (WK)Ability to select the correct meaning of words presented in context and to identify the best synonym for a given wordVerbal
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)Ability to obtain information from written passagesVerbal
Math Knowledge (MK)Knowledge of high school mathematics principlesMath
Electronics Information (EI)Knowledge of electricity and electronicsScience/Technical
Auto Information (AI) *Knowledge of automobile technologyScience/Technical
Shop Information (SI) *Knowledge of tools and shop terminology and practicesScience/Technical
Mechanical Comprehension (MC)Knowledge of mechanical and physical principlesScience/Technical
Assembling Objects (AO)Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put togetherSpatial

officialasvab.com says the subtests are presented in the order in which they are administered, and notes under its table:

“In the paper-and-pencil version of the ASVAB, AI and SI are combined into one single subtest (labeled AS), and Assembling Objects (AO) is not administered.”
officialasvab.com (Department of Defense), ASVAB Subtests, note under the table

How line scores fit in

The AFQT is not the only score. goarmy.com describes a second type, the line scores:

“When you take the ASVAB entrance test, you’ll be scored in ten different subject areas and you’ll receive two types of ASVAB scores. First, your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score determines your eligibility to join and requires a score of at least 31 to enlist. Second, your ASVAB category scores—also called line scores—determine job opportunities across different career categories.”
goarmy.com, Entrance Test (ASVAB)

The Army's line score names and the line score goarmy.com lists for 80 enlisted jobs are on the Army ASVAB cutoff scores page.

Frequently asked questions

What does an ASVAB standard score of 50 mean?

officialasvab.com says: “Standard Scores are scores that have a meaning relative to a national sample of youth aged 18 to 23. About half the population scores at or above a Standard Score of 50 and about 16% of the population scores at or above a Standard Score of 60.”

How many standard deviations from the mean is a standard score of 70?

officialasvab.com says: “A Standard Score indicates how many units of the standard deviation a particular score is above or below the mean. In the case of the ASVAB subtests, the mean is set to 50 and the standard deviation is set to 10. Thus, a Standard Score of 40 indicates that the examinee scored 1 standard deviation below the mean. A Standard Score of 70 indicates that the examinee scored 2 standard deviations above the mean.” A standard score of 30 is 2 standard deviations below the mean by the same definition (30 minus 50, divided by 10).

What are the ASVAB subtests?

The ten subtests on the officialasvab.com table are General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Math Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects. “The ASVAB subtests are designed to measure aptitudes in four domains: Verbal, Math, Science and Technical, and Spatial.” “In the paper-and-pencil version of the ASVAB, AI and SI are combined into one single subtest (labeled AS), and Assembling Objects (AO) is not administered.”

Which subtests make up the AFQT?

officialasvab.com says: “AFQT scores are computed using the Standard Scores from four ASVAB subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK).”

What AFQT category is a percentile of 60?

Category IIIA, which covers 50–64 in the officialasvab.com table.

How do ASVAB line scores relate to the AFQT?

They are a second kind of score. goarmy.com says: “When you take the ASVAB entrance test, you’ll be scored in ten different subject areas and you’ll receive two types of ASVAB scores. First, your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score determines your eligibility to join and requires a score of at least 31 to enlist. Second, your ASVAB category scores—also called line scores—determine job opportunities across different career categories.”

More ASVAB and military pages

Sources

Reviewed November 2, 2026. Every number and quotation on this page comes from these sources.