What is a good score to get on the ASVAB?

At ASVAB Test Practice, many applicants get in touch asking the question: what is a “good score” to get on the ASVAB exam?

Of course, the answer is: it depends.

A “good score” may simply mean meeting minimum ASVAB scores for military branches. This ensures that you are eligible to enlist for the branch of the military you wish to join.

Alternatively, a good score can mean overshooting this target – increasing the chance of getting selected for your ideal military role. Of course, you will need to consult individual MOS or Line scores to determine which parts of the ASVAB exam you must focus on.

There are minimum ASVAB scores for military branches: the air force, navy, army, marines, and coast guard. Below, we go into these 2022 minimum ASVAB scores in more detail.

Air Force ASVAB Minimum Score

Candidates must achieve a minimum AFQT score of 36.

However, this is a minimum score. Most applicants who do get selected achieve a much higher score, typically over 55. In fact, almost three-quarters of applicants who are selected to join the air force score an AFQT of above 55.

Therefore, applicants who want to maximize their chance must try to score above 55, too – preferably above 70. If you have not graduated from high school, the prospect of joining the US air force is narrow. The few GED holders who are accepted must achieve a higher score – typically above 65 on the ASVAB exam.

Learn more about the Air Force education and training requirements.

Marine Corps ASVAB Minimum Score

Candidates must achieve a minimum AFQT score of 32.

Again, this is a minimum standard, so applicants should always aim to achieve the highest possible ASVAB score. The higher the score, the greater the degree of aptitude you demonstrate for joining many different roles in the US military.

Some highly qualified candidates may not require a high score to join the Marine Corps, but this refers to a small number of people. The Marine Corps places a GED enlistment limit of 5 percent for successful applicants – and these applicants are again required to achieve a higher AFQT score – 50.

Higher enlistment rank is also possible with the Marine Corps, but it is far more restrictive compared to other branches of the US military. For instance, the maximum rank for college credits is just E-2.

Learn more about the Marine Corps education and training requirements.

Army ASVAB Minimum Score

Candidates must achieve a minimum AFQT score of 31.

Compared to other branches of the US military, the army accepts far more GED recruits. In fact, the army introduced a special education format – known as Army Prep School, which helps train candidates who have neither a GED or high school diploma.

That said, candidates must achieve a higher AFQT score – of at least 50 – if they wish to take advantage of certain enlistment bonuses.

College experience may be counted, too. For instance, the army offers an enlistment rank of E-4 for candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree. This is much higher than what we saw with the air force (maximum, E-2).

Learn more about the Army education and training requirements.

Coast Guard ASVAB Minimum Score

Candidates must achieve a minimum AFQT score of 40.

Among the minimum ASVAB scores for military branches, then, this is currently the highest target score.

Candidates are, of course, advised to study and prepare to achieve a much higher score to ensure they are selected. Moreover, candidates who achieve a sufficiently high line score for a specific military role may be able to bypass this requirement to also achieve a general AFQT score of 40.

Like other branches of the military, GED recruits are limited – typically to fewer than 5 percent of all new admissions.

In terms of advanced enlistment rank, E-2 for 30 college credits and E-3 for 60 college credits are available.

Learn more about the Coast Guard education and training requirements.

Navy ASVAB Minimum Score

Candidates must achieve a minimum AFQT score of 35.

This makes the US navy the second highest minimum ASVAB score. However, a score of 31 is permitted for programs involving reserve enlistment. Few recruits are admitted each year from either GED or those who do not possess a high school diploma.

Candidates with a GED must achieve a score of at least 50. However, candidates may be disqualified from being considered if they possess a criminal record, even for minor offenses. Furthermore, these candidates must be able to provide references from authoritative figures within their own community/local area.

The navy offers advanced enlistment rank for college experience, up to E-3.

Learn more about Navy education and training requirements.

That’s about it for our review of minimum ASVAB scores for military branches. Check back to our blog here at ASVAB Test Practice for even more exclusive content to help you prepare for and master the 2022 ASVAB test!