Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
Encyclopedia
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice
test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command
, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States armed forces
. It is often offered to American
high school
students when they are in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade, though anyone eligible for enlistment may take it. There has never been a requirement that a test-taker with a qualifying score enlist in the military, and the test may simply determine personal aptitude at a particular career.
ranking scoring system was re-normalized
, to ensure that a score of 50% really did represent doing better than exactly 50% of test-takers.
"Assembling Objects" is new as of 2002. Navy applicants also complete a Coding Speed (CS) test.
GED holders who earn 15 college credits 100 level or greater are considered equivalent with those holding high school diplomas. This would result in only needing the minimum score to enlist.
for research purposes. Scores and personal information obtained during the test are released to the student's local school
, and to United States armed forces
recruiters, at the option of the school.
AFQT Scores are divided into the following categories:
The formula for computing an AFQT score is: AR + MK + (2 x VE) where VE = PC + WK.
The VE (verbal) score is determined by adding the raw scores from the PC and WK tests (i.e., how many questions the aspiring recruit got right on each) and using a table to get the VE score from that combined PC and WK raw score.
AFQT scores are not raw scores, but rather percentile scores indicating how each examinee performed compared with all other examinees. Thus, someone who receives an AFQT of 55 scored better than 55 percent of all other examinees. Maximum possible score is 99 as a person can do better than 99 percent of those who took the test, but he cannot do better than himself, so the high percentile is 99.
Law prohibits applicants in Category V from enlisting. In addition, there are constraints placed on Category IV recruits. Presently, all Category IV recruits must be high school diploma graduates. Further, the law constrains the percentage of accessions who can fall in Category IV (currently, the limit is 20%).
, or MOS, scores. Combinations of scores from the nine tests are used to determine qualification for a MOS. These combinations are called "aptitude area scores", "composite scores", or "line scores". Each of the five armed services has its own aptitude area scores and sets its own minimum composite scores for each MOS.
Air Force/ National Guard Composite Scores Goes by Standard AFQT score AR + MK + (2 x VE)
Multiple choice
Multiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections-- when a person chooses between multiple...
test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command
United States Military Entrance Processing Command
The United States Military Entrance Processing Command is a Major Command of the Department of Defense, which screens and processes applicants into the United States Armed Forces...
, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. It is often offered to American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high school
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
students when they are in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade, though anyone eligible for enlistment may take it. There has never been a requirement that a test-taker with a qualifying score enlist in the military, and the test may simply determine personal aptitude at a particular career.
History
The ASVAB was first introduced in 1968 and was adopted by all branches of the military in 1976. In 2002 it underwent a major revision. In 2004, the test's percentilePercentile
In statistics, a percentile is the value of a variable below which a certain percent of observations fall. For example, the 20th percentile is the value below which 20 percent of the observations may be found...
ranking scoring system was re-normalized
Normalization (statistics)
In one usage in statistics, normalization is the process of isolating statistical error in repeated measured data. A normalization is sometimes based on a property...
, to ensure that a score of 50% really did represent doing better than exactly 50% of test-takers.
Current
The ASVAB currently contains nine sections:- Word Knowledge (WK)
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
- Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
- Automotive and Shop Information (AS)
- Electronics Information (EI)
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
- General Science (GS)
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
- Assembling Objects (AO)
"Assembling Objects" is new as of 2002. Navy applicants also complete a Coding Speed (CS) test.
Previous
- "Numerical Operations" (NO)
- "Space Perception" (SP)
- "Tool Knowledge" (TK)
- "General Information" (GI)
- "Attention to Detail" (AD)
Standards for enlistment
AFQT required minimum scores for people with a high school diploma as of August 2011 (unless otherwise noted) are as follows:| Tier I | Tier II | |
| Branch | ≥ HS Diploma | = GED |
| Army | 31 | 50 |
| Navy | 35 | 65 |
| Air Force | 50 | 65 |
| Marines | 31 | 50 |
| Coast Guard | 45 | 50 |
| *Army National Guard | 31 | 31 |
| *Air National Guard | 31 | 50 |
GED holders who earn 15 college credits 100 level or greater are considered equivalent with those holding high school diplomas. This would result in only needing the minimum score to enlist.
Information use
The information collected through the ASVAB is used by the United States Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
for research purposes. Scores and personal information obtained during the test are released to the student's local school
Education in the United States
Education in the United States is mainly provided by the public sector, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. Child education is compulsory.Public education is universally available...
, and to United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
recruiters, at the option of the school.
Armed Forces Qualification Test
An Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score is used to determine basic qualification for enlistment.AFQT Scores are divided into the following categories:
- Category I: 93–99
- Category II: 65–92
- Category III A: 50–64
- Category III B: 31–49
- Category IV A: 21–30
- Category IV B: 16–20
- Category IV C: 10–15
- Category V: 0–9
The formula for computing an AFQT score is: AR + MK + (2 x VE) where VE = PC + WK.
The VE (verbal) score is determined by adding the raw scores from the PC and WK tests (i.e., how many questions the aspiring recruit got right on each) and using a table to get the VE score from that combined PC and WK raw score.
AFQT scores are not raw scores, but rather percentile scores indicating how each examinee performed compared with all other examinees. Thus, someone who receives an AFQT of 55 scored better than 55 percent of all other examinees. Maximum possible score is 99 as a person can do better than 99 percent of those who took the test, but he cannot do better than himself, so the high percentile is 99.
Law prohibits applicants in Category V from enlisting. In addition, there are constraints placed on Category IV recruits. Presently, all Category IV recruits must be high school diploma graduates. Further, the law constrains the percentage of accessions who can fall in Category IV (currently, the limit is 20%).
Composite scores
In addition to the ASVAB's AFQT, each branch has military occupational specialtyMilitary Occupational Specialty
A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
, or MOS, scores. Combinations of scores from the nine tests are used to determine qualification for a MOS. These combinations are called "aptitude area scores", "composite scores", or "line scores". Each of the five armed services has its own aptitude area scores and sets its own minimum composite scores for each MOS.
| CL | Clerical | VE+AR+MK |
| CO | Combat Operations | AR+CS+AS+MC |
| EL | Electronics | GS+AR+MK+EI? |
| FA | Field Artillery | AR+CS+MK+MC |
| GM | General Maintenance | GS+AS+MK+EI |
| GT | General Technical | VE+AR |
| MM | Mechanical Maintenance | NO+AS+MC+EI |
| OF | Operators and Food | VE+NO+AS+MC |
| SC | Surveillance and Communications | VE+AR+AS+MC |
| ST | Skilled Technical | GS+VE+MK+MC |
| * SF | Special Forces | GT≥107 CO≥98 |
| GT | General Technical | AR+VE |
| EL | Electronics | AR+EI+GS+MK |
| BEE | Basic Electricity and Electronics | AR+GS+2*MK |
| ENG | Engineering | AI+SI+MK |
| MEC | Mechanical Maintenance | AR+AI+SI+MC |
| MEC2 | Mechanical Maintenance 2 | AO+AR+MC |
| NUC | Nuclear Field | AR+MC+MK+VE |
| OPS | Operations Specialist | WK, PC, AR, MK, AO |
| HM | Hospitalcorpsman | GS+MK+VE |
| ADM | Administrative | MK+VE |
| * SEALs | Special Forces | GS+MC+EI≥165 or VE+MK+MC+CS≥220 (minimum for BUD/S) |
Air Force/ National Guard Composite Scores Goes by Standard AFQT score AR + MK + (2 x VE)
| G | Genera | VE + AR |
| M | Mechanical | MC + GS (2 × AS) |
| A | Administrative | NO + CS + VE |
| E | Electrical | AR + MK + EI + GS |
| CL | Clerical | VE+AR+MK |
| EL | Electronics | GS+AR+MK+EI |
| GT | General Technical | VE+AR |
| MM | Mechanical Maintenance | NO+AS+MC+EI |
| ST | Skilled Technical | GS+VE+MK+MC |
| * MARSOC | Special Forces | GT=105 |
External links
- Official ASVAB Information: The official ASVAB web site for the U. S. Department of Defense.
- About Guide to ASVAB
- ASVAB test description: Includes structure of the test, time allotted per section of the test and which sections are counted towards the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score.
- SEAL ASVAB requirement: Minimum requirements for BUD/S School of the USN SEAL.