ASVAB Line Scores Explained
What line scores and composites are, how each branch computes them, and why they matter more than your AFQT for landing a specific job.
Two scores, two decisions
The ASVAB produces two different kinds of results. The AFQT percentile (1 to 99) answers one question: can you enlist at all? Line scores answer a different one: which jobs can you hold? Each branch combines ASVAB subtests into its own composites, and every enlisted specialty names the composite minimum it requires.
Specialty pages on this directory show that requirement as a "Minimum ASVAB:" line, quoted from the branch's official classification publication. When no official minimum is published for a code, the page shows nothing rather than a guess.
Already have your scores? See every job you qualify for. Still studying? Try the free practice questions.
The subtests behind the scores
Nine scored sections feed every composite. The AFQT percentile is computed from four of them (AR, MK, WK, PC); WK and PC together form the VE (Verbal Expression) score that many composites use. A few Navy ratings also name CS (Coding Speed), a separate Navy-administered add-on test rather than a standard ASVAB section.
GS · General Science
Life, earth, and physical science basics.
AR · Arithmetic Reasoning
Word problems solved with arithmetic. Counts toward the AFQT.
WK · Word Knowledge
Vocabulary and synonyms. Counts toward the AFQT.
PC · Paragraph Comprehension
Reading short passages for meaning. Counts toward the AFQT.
MK · Mathematics Knowledge
High school algebra and geometry. Counts toward the AFQT.
EI · Electronics Information
Circuits, currents, and electrical devices.
AS · Auto and Shop Information
Engines, tools, and shop practices. Delivered as two short sections on the computer test, combined into one AS score.
MC · Mechanical Comprehension
Levers, gears, pulleys, and applied physics.
AO · Assembling Objects
Spatial puzzles about how parts fit together.
How each branch scores jobs
Same test, five different composite systems.
Army · Aptitude areas
The Army combines subtests into ten aptitude areas: CL (Clerical), CO (Combat), EL (Electronics), FA (Field Artillery), GM (General Maintenance), GT (General Technical), MM (Mechanical Maintenance), OF (Operators and Food), SC (Surveillance and Communications), and ST (Skilled Technical). Each MOS names the area and minimum it requires, like GT 110.
Air Force · MAGE composites
The Air Force scores four composites: Mechanical (M), Administrative (A), General (G), and Electronics (E), together called MAGE. Each enlisted AFSC lists the letter and minimum it requires, like G 64. Some cyber AFSCs accept alternate cutoffs based on the Air Force Cyber Test or EDPT.
Navy · Summed subtest scores
The Navy states rating requirements as sums of individual subtest standard scores, like VE+MK 105 or AR+MK+EI+GS 222. The letters are the subtests themselves (VE Verbal Expression, AR Arithmetic Reasoning, MK Mathematics Knowledge, EI Electronics Information, GS General Science, and so on), added together.
Marine Corps · Composites
The Marine Corps uses four composites: MM (Mechanical Maintenance), GT (General Technical), CL (Clerical), and EL (Electronics). Each MOS lists its composite minimum, like GT 110, and some accept an AFQT alternative.
Coast Guard · Composites per rating
The Coast Guard qualifies applicants for ratings using combinations of ASVAB subtest scores. Rating minimums are set by the recruiting command; where no official public document states a per-rating value, this site shows nothing rather than an estimate.
Studying for a target score
If a job you want sits above your current line score, you can retest. March2Success is a free, Army-sponsored study program with ASVAB practice tests and lessons, open to future members of any branch. Find your target job in the directory to see its published minimum.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about ASVAB scores and job qualification.
What is the ASVAB?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the entrance exam used by every U.S. military branch. It measures knowledge and aptitude across subtests like Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Electronics Information, and Mechanical Comprehension. Your subtest results feed two different kinds of scores: the AFQT percentile, which decides whether you can enlist, and line scores (composites), which decide which jobs you qualify for.
What are ASVAB line scores or composites?
Line scores, also called composites or aptitude areas, are combinations of ASVAB subtest scores that each branch builds differently. Every enlisted job names the composite and minimum score it requires. For example, an Army MOS might require GT 110, an Air Force specialty G 64, and a Navy rating VE+MK 105.
How is the AFQT different from line scores?
The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) is a percentile from 1 to 99 computed from four subtests. It determines basic enlistment eligibility for each branch. Line scores are separate numbers computed from different subtest combinations, and they determine job qualification. A high AFQT does not guarantee you meet the line score for a specific job, and vice versa.
Where do the minimum scores on this site come from?
Each minimum shown on a specialty page is taken from that branch's official classification publication: the DA PAM 611-21 Smartbook for the Army, the DAFECD enlisted classification directory for the Air Force, the MILPERSMAN rating entry list for the Navy, and the NAVMC 1200.1 MOS manual for the Marine Corps. When a publication states no minimum for a code, the page shows nothing rather than an estimate.
Can I retake the ASVAB to qualify for a different job?
Yes. Retake policies vary by branch and recruiter, but typically you can retest after one month, again after another month, and then after six-month waits. Scores are valid for two years. If your line score is close to the minimum for the job you want, studying and retesting is a common path.
What jobs can I get with my ASVAB scores?
It depends on the branch and the line scores on your report, not just your AFQT. This site's score lookup tool compares your entered line scores against the published minimum for every specialty in the directory and lists each job you qualify for, along with the jobs you are within a few points of reaching.
How can I study for the ASVAB for free?
March2Success is a free, Army-sponsored study platform with ASVAB practice tests and lessons, open to anyone regardless of which branch you plan to join. Official practice questions are also available on the ASVAB program site.