ASVAB and the ASVAB Career Exploration Program
The ASVAB decides whether you can enlist (through the AFQT percentile) and which military jobs fit you. Applicants take it at a MEPS or MET site; students can take it at school through the free Career Exploration Program.
Subtests109 on paper (AS combined)
AFQT1–99Percentile
Retest wait1 monthThen 1, then 6 months
Scores valid2 yearsFor enlistment
Made by U.S. Department of Defense. Who: Military applicants; high school and post-secondary students through the CEP. Checked on the owner's own pages, 21 Oct 2026.
Who takes it
- Military applicants: a recruiter first checks basic eligibility, then schedules the ASVAB at one of 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) in the U.S. and Puerto Rico or at a satellite Military Entrance Test (MET) site.
ASVAB
What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (MEPS, MET, CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, subtests)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Students: the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) is offered to high school and post-secondary students, free to participating schools, with tools for civilian and military career planning.
ASVAB
ASVAB Career Exploration ProgramOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- The school (Student Testing Program) and enlistment versions have the same content, except Assembling Objects is not given at school; students get Verbal, Math and Science and Technical composites instead of the AFQT and Service composites.
ASVAB
ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions (retest waits, school ASVAB, score validity)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Format and sections
Proctored CAT-ASVAB (computer, adaptive) at MEPS and most MET sites; no calculator. Time limits without / with unscored tryout questions: ASVAB
What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (MEPS, MET, CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, subtests)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)
View source
| Subtest | Scored questions | Time limit (min) |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 15 | 12 / 25 |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | 15 | 55 / 113 |
| Word Knowledge | 15 | 9 / 18 |
| Paragraph Comprehension | 10 | 27 / 75 |
| Mathematics Knowledge | 15 | 31 / 65 |
| Electronics Information | 15 | 10 / 21 |
| Auto Information | 10 | 7 / 18 |
| Shop Information | 10 | 6 / 17 |
| Mechanical Comprehension | 15 | 22 / 42 |
| Assembling Objects | 15 | 18 / 38 |
- Paper-and-pencil (a handful of MET sites): 225 questions in 149 minutes, 3 to 4 hours with instructions.
ASVAB
What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (MEPS, MET, CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, subtests)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- PiCAT: an unproctored online version you can take once, from home, if you have never taken the ASVAB; a recruiter gives the code. A 25–30 minute Verification Test at a MEPS or MET site within 45 days confirms the score.
ASVAB
What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (MEPS, MET, CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, subtests)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- On the CAT-ASVAB you cannot go back to a question, and several wrong answers at the end of a subtest are penalized, so answer properly rather than guessing randomly when time runs short.
ASVAB
Preparing for the ASVABOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Scoring
- Subtest standard scores are relative to a national sample of 18- to 23-year-olds: about half score 50 or more, about 16% score 60 or more.
ASVAB
Understanding ASVAB ScoresOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- The AFQT, from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge, is a percentile from 1 to 99; categories run from I (93–99) to V (1–9).
ASVAB
Understanding ASVAB ScoresOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Retesting: wait one calendar month after the first test, another month after the second, then six months. Scores can be used to enlist for up to two years.
ASVAB
ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions (retest waits, school ASVAB, score validity)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- School (CEP) scores can be used to enlist within two years if verified as yours; scores from School Staff Testing need a Verification Test first.
ASVAB
ASVAB Career Exploration ProgramOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Fees and fee waivers
- The Career Exploration Program is free to participating schools. The official ASVAB pages list no fee for applicants; testing is arranged through a recruiter.
ASVAB
ASVAB Career Exploration ProgramOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Test dates
- No national dates: a recruiter schedules your session at a MEPS or MET site; schools schedule CEP test dates through the program (asvabprogram.com).
ASVAB
ASVAB Career Exploration ProgramOfficial ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Where it is accepted
Lowest AFQT each service's own enlistment rulebook accepts, by education tier. Every job then has its own higher line-score bar, and a recruiter can ask for more in a given year.
| Service | Diploma (Tier 1) | GED (Tier 2) | No credential (Tier 3) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | 16 | Not split out | Not stated | Category IVA (16–30) is the lowest accepted; IVB (10–15) is not currently accepted and V (0–9) cannot enlist. The regulation does not split this by tier. ArmyAR 601-210, Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program (8 Nov 2023), para 2-8Headquarters, Department of the Army
Copy hosted by the Georgia National Guard (armypubs.army.mil did not serve it); read from the Internet Archive capture of 13 Jun 2026. View source |
| Navy | 31 | 50 | 50 | Scores under 50 only for Tier 1 diploma holders; no exception for Tier 3. NavyCOMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8S, Navy Recruiting Manual – Enlisted (5 Aug 2026), para 020103Navy Recruiting Command
|
| Air Force | 36 | 50 | 65 | A component may take Tier 1 applicants from 31. Tier 2 and 3 below the bar need a Service Eligibility Determination. DAFDAFMAN 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions (16 Jan 2025, Change 1 of 9 Dec 2025), para 3.6.8.2.2Department of the Air Force (Air Force and Space Force)
e-publishing.af.mil returns 403 to automated readers; read from the Internet Archive capture of 11 Oct 2026. View source |
| Space Force | 36 | 50 | 65 | Same Department of the Air Force rulebook as the Air Force. DAFDAFMAN 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions (16 Jan 2025, Change 1 of 9 Dec 2025), para 3.6.8.2.2Department of the Air Force (Air Force and Space Force)
e-publishing.af.mil returns 403 to automated readers; read from the Internet Archive capture of 11 Oct 2026. View source |
| Marine Corps | 21 | 31 | 50 | Plus a GT score of 80 (Tier 1) or 90. Under 31 needs a district commander's review; the yearly recruiting plan can raise the bar. MarinesMCRCO 1100.1, Enlistment Processing Manual (9 Nov 2011), Table 3-6 Minimum Mental QualificationsMarine Corps Recruiting Command
The newest edition the Marine Corps publishes (FOIA reading room); the yearly MCRC Operation Plan can tighten it and is not public. Read from the Internet Archive capture of 25 Dec 2025. View source |
| Coast Guard | 32 | 47 | Not stated | "Most" Tier 1 prospects qualify from 32. Coast GuardCOMDTINST 1100.2I, Coast Guard Recruiting (3 Jun 2025, rev 18 Jun 2025), ch 4U.S. Coast Guard
media.defense.gov denies automated readers; read from the Internet Archive capture of 11 Oct 2026. View source |
- Used by all branches to decide enlistment eligibility and assign military jobs, and by students for career exploration. ACT or SAT scores cannot replace it.
ASVAB
ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions (retest waits, school ASVAB, score validity)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- Common claims that every branch takes 31 and the Coast Guard 36 are out of date: the rulebooks above give the Air Force and Space Force 36, the Coast Guard 32, and higher bars for GED holders.
DAF
DAFMAN 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions (16 Jan 2025, Change 1 of 9 Dec 2025), para 3.6.8.2.2Department of the Air Force (Air Force and Space Force)- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
e-publishing.af.mil returns 403 to automated readers; read from the Internet Archive capture of 11 Oct 2026.
View source - After service, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays up to 36 months of school: full in-state public tuition and fees at the 100% level (private schools capped at $30,908.34 a year for 2026-27), a monthly housing allowance at the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the school's ZIP code, and up to $1,000 a year for books.
VA
Post-9/11 GI Bill rates, 1 Aug 2026 to 31 Jul 2027U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs- Checked
- 23 Oct 2026
Free official practice
- Official sample questions for all 10 subtests, taken from retired ASVAB forms. The ASVAB program endorses no paid prep: it recommends solid high school math, English and science courses.
ASVAB
ASVAB Sample Questions (all 10 subtests)Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
Used by these careers and colleges
Next on this site
Sources
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (MEPS, MET, CAT-ASVAB, PiCAT, subtests) · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21
- ASVAB Career Exploration Program · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21
- ASVAB Frequently Asked Questions (retest waits, school ASVAB, score validity) · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21
- Preparing for the ASVAB · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21
- Understanding ASVAB Scores · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21
- AR 601-210, Regular Army and Reserve Components Enlistment Program (8 Nov 2023), para 2-8 · Headquarters, Department of the Army checked 2026-10-23
- COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8S, Navy Recruiting Manual – Enlisted (5 Aug 2026), para 020103 · Navy Recruiting Command checked 2026-10-23
- DAFMAN 36-2032, Military Recruiting and Accessions (16 Jan 2025, Change 1 of 9 Dec 2025), para 3.6.8.2.2 · Department of the Air Force (Air Force and Space Force) checked 2026-10-23
- MCRCO 1100.1, Enlistment Processing Manual (9 Nov 2011), Table 3-6 Minimum Mental Qualifications · Marine Corps Recruiting Command checked 2026-10-23
- COMDTINST 1100.2I, Coast Guard Recruiting (3 Jun 2025, rev 18 Jun 2025), ch 4 · U.S. Coast Guard checked 2026-10-23
- Post-9/11 GI Bill rates, 1 Aug 2026 to 31 Jul 2027 · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs checked 2026-10-23
- ASVAB Sample Questions (all 10 subtests) · Official ASVAB (U.S. Department of Defense) checked 2026-10-21