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What the ASVAB covers, how branches use the AFQT for enlistment eligibility, and how official line-score requirements shape career qualification.
What Is the ASVAB?
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a standardized test used by all six branches of the U.S. military to determine enlistment eligibility and career placement. The CAT-ASVAB consists of 10 scored subtests covering science, verbal and math reasoning, electronics, auto information, shop information, mechanical comprehension, and spatial assembly.
Your result is not a single number. The test produces an AFQT percentile that gates eligibility for every branch, plus a set of composite line scores that determine which jobs you can access inside the branch you join.
AFQT Score and Eligibility
The AFQT is derived from four of the ten subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK). It is expressed as a percentile from 1 to 99, measuring your score against a 1997 reference population of 18-to-23-year-olds.
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Line Scores and Career Paths
Beyond the AFQT gate, line scores group subtest results into composites that measure aptitude for specific career fields. Each branch has its own formulas and naming conventions: the Army uses ten composites including GT (General Technical), CL (Clerical), and EL (Electronics). The Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps use different groupings with different cutoffs.
A higher score in the right subtests can open career fields in intelligence, electronics, or aviation - fields that close when your composite falls below their threshold even if your AFQT clears the branch minimum. Knowing which subtests drive the line scores for your target MOS, rating, or AFSC is the starting point for any serious study plan.
What Each Subtest Covers
The blueprint, the skill domains, and where each subtest counts.
General Science
15 questions - 12 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
General Science spans 4 skill domains: Life Sciences, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Scientific Method.
- Life Sciences
- Earth and Space Science
- Physical Science
- Scientific Method
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Arithmetic Reasoning
15 questions - 55 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Arithmetic Reasoning spans 5 skill domains: Number Operations, Algebra Fundamentals, Geometry Applied, Word-Problem Mechanics, and Rate, Work, and Distance.
- Number Operations
- Algebra Fundamentals
- Geometry Applied
- Word-Problem Mechanics
- Rate, Work, and Distance
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Word Knowledge
15 questions - 9 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Word Knowledge spans 4 skill domains: Tier-1 Vocabulary, Tier-2 Academic Vocabulary, Prefix, Suffix, and Root, and Contextual Synonyms.
- Tier-1 Vocabulary
- Tier-2 Academic Vocabulary
- Prefix, Suffix, and Root
- Contextual Synonyms
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Paragraph Comprehension
10 questions - 27 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Paragraph Comprehension spans 4 skill domains: Main Idea, Supporting Detail, Inference, and Tone and Purpose.
- Main Idea
- Supporting Detail
- Inference
- Tone and Purpose
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Mathematics Knowledge
15 questions - 31 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Mathematics Knowledge spans 4 skill domains: Number Theory, Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.
- Number Theory
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Statistics and Probability
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Electronics Information
15 questions - 10 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Electronics Information spans 4 skill domains: Electrical Fundamentals, Circuit Analysis, Electronic Components, and Practical Wiring and Safety.
- Electrical Fundamentals
- Circuit Analysis
- Electronic Components
- Practical Wiring and Safety
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Auto Information
10 questions - 7 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Auto Information spans 3 skill domains: Engine Systems, Drivetrain and Brakes, and Electrical and Auxiliary Systems.
- Engine Systems
- Drivetrain and Brakes
- Electrical and Auxiliary Systems
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Shop Information
10 questions - 6 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Shop Information spans 3 skill domains: Measuring and Marking Tools, Cutting and Shaping Tools, and Fasteners and Joining.
- Measuring and Marking Tools
- Cutting and Shaping Tools
- Fasteners and Joining
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Mechanical Comprehension
15 questions - 22 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Mechanical Comprehension spans 4 skill domains: Simple Machines, Forces and Motion, Fluid Mechanics, and Structural and Energy.
- Simple Machines
- Forces and Motion
- Fluid Mechanics
- Structural and Energy
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Assembling Objects
15 questions - 18 min (CAT-ASVAB (computer adaptive, MEPS))
Assembling Objects spans 3 skill domains: Spatial Visualization, Part Assembly, and Connection Matching.
- Spatial Visualization
- Part Assembly
- Connection Matching
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Know your target. Build the plan.
A personalized study plan anchored to your target MOS, rating, or AFSC, using practice that is actually published.