How the AFQT Score Is Calculated

Which ASVAB subtests count, why verbal skills count double, and how your raw results become a 1–99 percentile.

The four subtests that count

Only four of the nine ASVAB subtests make up the AFQT:

The other subtests (General Science, Electronics, Auto & Shop, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects) don't change your AFQT, but they matter for the jobs you qualify for.

The formula

First, Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension are combined into a Verbal Expression (VE) score. Then:

Because VE counts twice, verbal skills are half of your AFQT. Improving your vocabulary and reading is one of the most effective ways to raise your score.

From raw score to percentile

The raw score is then compared with a national reference group of young adults and turned into a percentile from 1 to 99. So an AFQT of 70 means you did as well as or better than about 70% of that group.

Why it's not just "percent right"

On the computer version of the ASVAB (the CAT-ASVAB), the test adapts to you: when you answer correctly, the next question tends to be harder. Harder questions are worth more. Two people with the same number of right answers can get different scores. Also:

• You can't go back to change an answer.
• Questions left unanswered when time runs out lower your score — so always answer, even if you have to guess.

What this means for studying

• Give WK and PC a lot of attention: they count double.
• Don't ignore math: AR and MK are the other half.
• Practice under time limits, and never leave answers blank.

Practice questions