Your AFQT score is a percentile from 1 to 99, built from four ASVAB subtests. A score of 60 means you did as well as or better than 60% of a fixed reference group: 18 to 23 year olds from a 1997 national norming study, according to officialasvab.com. It is not the share of questions you got right.
What is an AFQT score?
The AFQT is not a separate test. It is a score built from four ASVAB subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge (ASVAB FAQs).
officialasvab.com doesn't publish the formula that turns those four subtests into your percentile, so treat any weighted formula you find elsewhere as unconfirmed.
Is AFQT the same as ASVAB?
No. The ASVAB is the full test. The AFQT is one score drawn from four of its subtests.
Why does the AFQT matter?
The ASVAB FAQs say AFQT scores determine eligibility for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
AFQT percentile vs percent correct
Picture 100 people from the reference group lined up by score. An AFQT of 50 puts you level with or ahead of about half of them. A 70 puts you level with or ahead of about 70 of them, which says nothing about how many questions you answered correctly. Because the group is fixed, your number doesn't depend on who else tests the same day.
The individual subtests use a different scale. Each subtest standard score has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10 (officialasvab.com, counselors). About half the population scores at or above 50, and about 16% at or above 60 (officialasvab.com, applicants).
AFQT categories
officialasvab.com groups AFQT scores into these categories. Category IV is split into three bands: IVA, IVB and IVC.
| Category | AFQT percentile |
|---|---|
| I | 93–99 |
| II | 65–92 |
| IIIA | 50–64 |
| IIIB | 31–49 |
| IVA | 21–30 |
| IVB | 16–20 |
| IVC | 10–15 |
| V | 1–9 |
What is a good AFQT score?
It depends on the branch you want and the credential you hold. The categories show how far above or below the middle of the reference group you scored. The branch minimums below show the lines you need to clear to enlist.
Is a 70 AFQT score good?
A 70 is in category II (65 to 92). It is above the 31 that the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps list for diploma holders. It is also above the 50 that the Air Force and Marine Corps list for GED holders.
Is 27 a bad ASVAB score?
A 27 is in category IVA (21 to 30). It is below the 31 that the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps list for diploma holders. Retests are allowed, and the waits are listed further down.
Minimum AFQT score by branch (checked 27 October 2026)
Each Service sets its own minimum and can change it. These are the figures on the branch sites on 27 October 2026.
| Branch | Diploma | GED or nontraditional credential | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 31 | Ask a recruiter | goarmy.com |
| Air Force | 31 (high school seniors and graduates) | 50 | airforce.com |
| Marine Corps | 31* | 50 or more (GED or nontraditional diploma) | marines.com |
*marines.com calls this the minimum ASVAB score.
For the Navy, Coast Guard and Space Force, we couldn't confirm a minimum on their sites. Ask a recruiter for the current number before you rely on one you saw elsewhere. Our branch comparison has the full table and the Army's prep-course routes.
What AFQT score do I need for the Army?
The Army page says at least 31 to enlist (goarmy.com). Check with a recruiter for anything specific to your situation, such as a GED.
AFQT vs line scores
The AFQT is one score. Branches also use other scores built from ASVAB subtests. The Air Force page, for example, says its VE score is formed from Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge (airforce.com). Ask the branch which of those scores your target job uses. Our GT score guide covers the Army's GT score, and the ASVAB score chart lists all four Air Force composites.
How to raise your AFQT score
Four subtests make up the score, so practice them.
- Arithmetic Reasoning: word problems where you turn a situation into a calculation.
- Mathematics Knowledge: core math facts and procedures.
- Paragraph Comprehension: reading a short passage and answering questions about it.
- Word Knowledge: vocabulary and meaning in context.
Find the subtest where you lose the most ground and start there. Take a short practice set, mark every miss, and work out why you missed it: a gap in the math, a misread passage, or an unknown word. No one can say in advance how many points a score will rise. Practice shows you which subtest needs the work.
You can try free ASVAB practice to see where you stand. For a focused set, the Prepanchor AFQT Core Pack for the ASVAB covers the four subtests. Prepanchor's AFQT practice sets end with an estimated practice range, which is not a prediction of an official score. Our ASVAB study guide covers every subtest, the exam guide explains the test, and the study-plan builder can lay out your weeks.
Retest waits
The ASVAB FAQs set these waits. You wait one calendar month after the first test and another month before the second retest. After that you wait six months. Scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years from the test date.
The Army uses your most recent score, not your highest (goarmy.com). For the Army, then, a weaker retest replaces a better earlier score. Talk to a recruiter before you retake.
AFQT FAQ
Is the AFQT test hard?
You don't sit a separate AFQT test. You take the ASVAB, and the AFQT comes from your math and reading subtests. If word problems or vocabulary are your weak spot, those are the parts that will feel hard, and the ones to practice first.
Can I read my AFQT as a percent?
No. A 45 means you did as well as or better than about 45% of the reference group, not that you got 45% of the questions right.
Who decides the minimum score?
Each Service sets its own and can change it. Use the branch pages linked above and confirm with a recruiter.