Trends in recruiting 1975–2001 showing total numbers of enlisted recruits in all branches of U.S. armed forces in light blue and percentage of recruiting goals met in dark blue. The percentage of recruits with at least a high school diploma is shown in gold, percentage with an above-average AFQT in orange, and the percentage called "high quality", with both a diploma and above-average AFQT score, is in purple.
The ASVAB was first introduced in 1968 and was adopted by all branches of the military in 1976. It underwent a major revision in 2002. In 2004, the test's percentile rank scoring system was renormalized, to ensure that a score of 50% really did represent doing better than exactly 50% of the test takers.[citation needed]
Categories
Format
The ASVAB contains nine sections and takes three hours to complete. The duration of each section varies between 7 and 39 minutes, the longest being for Arithmetic Reasoning. The test is typically administered in a computerized format (the CAT-ASWAB for (Computerized adaptive testing)) at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) or in a written format (P&P-ASWAB) at satellite locations called Military Entrance Test (MET) sites. Testing procedures vary depending on the mode of administration.[3]
Computerized test format (CAT-ASVAB)
Test
Abbreviation
Domain
Content
General Science
(GS)
Science/Technical
15 questions in 8 minutes
Arithmetic Reasoning
(AR)
Math
15 questions in 39 minutes
Word Knowledge
(WK)
Verbal
15 questions in 8 minutes
Paragraph Comprehension
(PC)
Verbal
10 questions in 22 minutes
Mathematics Knowledge
(MK)
Math
15 questions in 20 minutes
Electronics Information
(EI)
Science/Technical
15 questions in 8 minutes
Automotive and Shop Information
(AS)
Science/Technical
10 questions in 7 minutes
Mechanical Comprehension
(MC)
Science/Technical
15 questions in 20 minutes
Assembling Objects
(AO)
Spatial
15 questions in 40 minutes
Verbal Expression
(VE)
not a test, just a combined score: Score = (WK)+(PC)
The tests are presented in the order in which they are administered.
Written test format (P&P-ASVAB)
Test
Abbreviation
Content
General Science
(GS)
45 questions in 20 minutes
Arithmetic Reasoning
(AR)
30 questions in 36 minutes
Knowledge
(WK)
35 questions in 11 minutes
Comprehension
(PC)
15 questions in 13 minutes
Mathematics Knowledge
(MK)
25 questions in 24 minutes
Electronics Information
(EI)
20 questions in 9 minutes
Automotive and Shop Information
(AS)
25 questions in 11 minutes
Mechanical Comprehension
(MC)
25 questions in 19 minutes
Assembling Objects
(AO)
25 questions in 15 minutes
Verbal Expression
(VE)
Score = (WK)+(PC)
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)
"Coding Speed" (CS)
Armed Forces Qualification Test
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is not a test, rather, it is the score obtained by taking the ASVAB. The AFQT is used to determine basic qualifications for enlistment.
The 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 × VE).
- The VE (verbal) score is determined by adding the raw scores from the PC and WK tests 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 the base youth population. For example, if someone receives an AFQT score of 55 that means they scored higher than 55 percent of all other members of the base youth population. The highest possible percentile score is 99.
- The minimum score for enlistment varies according to branch of service and whether the enlistee has a high school diploma.[4]
GED holders who have earned 15 college credits in courses at the 100 level or higher are considered equivalent to those holding high school diplomas, so they need only the Tier I score to enlist. However, eligibility is not determined by the score alone. Depending on current recruitment goals an applicant may be required to achieve a higher score than the required minimum AFQT score in order to be considered for enlistment. Up-to-date information about eligibility requirements can be obtained from local recruiting centers.[5][6]
Applicants in Category V are legally ineligible for enlistment.[7] Applicants in Category IV must be high school diploma holders (unless they are needed to satisfy “established strength” requirements). The law limits the percentage of accessions who can fall between Categories IV and V (currently, the limit is 20% of all persons originally enlisted in a given armed force in a given fiscal year).[7]
In addition to the ASVAB's AFQT, each branch has military occupational specialty, 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.
Army/Army National Guard Composite Scores
CL
Clerical
VE+AR+MK
CO
Combat Operations
VE+AS+MC
EL
Electronics
GS+AR+MK+EI
FA
Field Artillery
AR+MK+MC
GM
General Maintenance
GS+AS+MK+EI
GT
General Technical
WK+PC+AR
MM
Mechanical Maintenance
AS+MC+EI
OF
Operators and Food
VE+AS+MC
SC
Surveillance and Communications
VE+AR+AS+MC
ST
Skilled Technical
VE+GS+MC+MK
* SF
Special Forces
GT≥110 CO≥100
Navy Line Scores
GT
General Technical
AR+VE
EL
Electronics
AR+EI+GS+MK
BEE
Basic Electricity and Electronics
AR+GS+2*MK
ENG
Engineering
AI+EI+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
Hospital Corpsman (medical)
GS+MK+VE
ADM
Administrative
MK+VE
* SEALs
Special Operations
GS+MC+EI≥165 or VE+MK+MC+CS≥220 (minimum for BUD/S)
Coast Guard Line Scores
AET
Aviation Electrical Technician
MK+EI+GS≥172 & AR≥52 or AFQT≥65
AMT
Aviation Maintenance Technician
AR+MC+AS+EI≥220 & AR≥52 or AFQT≥65
AST
Aviation Survival Technician
VE+MC+AS≥162 & AR≥52 or AFQT≥65
BM
Boatswain's Mate
VE+AR≥100
DC
Damage Controlman
VE+MC+AS≥155
EM
Electrician's Mate
MK+EI+GS≥153 & AR≥52
ET
Electronics Technician
MK+EI+GS≥172 & AR≥52 or AFQT≥65
FS
Food Service Specialist
VE+AR≥105
GM
Gunner's Mate
AR+MK+EI+GS≥209
HS
Health Services Technician
VE+MK+GS+AR≥207 & AR≥50
IS
Intelligence Specialist
VE+AR≥109
IT
Information Systems Technician
MK+EI+GS≥172 & AR≥52 or AFQT≥65
ME
Maritime Enforcement Specialist
VE+AR≥100
MK
Machinery Technician
AR+MC+AS≥154 or VE+AR≥105
MST
Marine Science Technician
VE+AR≥114 & MK≥56
OS
Operational Specialist
VE+AR≥105
PA
Public Affairs Specialist
VE+AR≥109 & VE≥54
SK
Storekeeper
VE+AR≥105 & VE≥51
YN
Yeoman
VE+AR≥105
Air Force/Air National Guard Composite Scores (Standard AFQT score AR + MK + (2 x VE))[8]
M
Mechanical
GS + MC + AS
A
Administrative
VE
G
General
VE + AR
E
Electrical
AR + MK + EI + GS
Marine Corps Line Score:
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 Operations
GT=105
Class "A" schools
Class "A" Schools are naval service schools in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard where basic technical knowledge required for job performance in a given naval rating is taught.[9] Enrollment is usually done after boot camp or a tour of duty at sea depending on the individual's enlistment contract and the manpower needs of the service.
↑ Cutler, Deborah W. and Thomas J. Cutler (2005). Dictionary of Naval Terms. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. ISBN978-1-59114-150-1.
Further reading
Gregory, Robert J. (2011). Psychological Testing: History, Principles, and Applications (Sixthed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN978-0-205-78214-7.
Hogan, Thomas P.; Brooke Cannon (2007). Psychological Testing: A Practical Introduction (Seconded.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN978-0-471-73807-7.
Marks, D.F. (2010). "IQ variations across time, race, and nationality: an artifact of differences in literacy skills". Psychological Reports, 106, 643–664. doi:10.2466/pr0.106.3.643-664
Kaufman, S.B. (2010). "The Flynn Effect and IQ Disparities Among Races, Ethnicities, and Nations: Are There Common Links?"
External links
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.
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