Army ASVAB scores: the ten line scores behind every job
Army jobs are not judged on AFQT. Each MOS names one or more line scores such as GT, ST, CO, CL, EL or MM and a minimum. This guide explains what each line score measures, how it is computed from your subtest scores, how many verified jobs use it and where its thresholds sit. Use the score printed on your report, or compute it from your standard scores.
10
9 used by verified MOS on this site; FA currently unused.
ST
Skilled Technical, required by 46 of 119 jobs.
Mean 100
Standard deviation 20 in the 1997 reference population; not a percentile.
The ten Army line scores
One section per line score. The subtest list is the Army's nominal definition; the job counts and thresholds come from the 119 verified MOS on this site. Open a job to see its full rule, or follow the score-range link to browse every job that uses that score.
General Technical
General reasoning: reading, vocabulary and arithmetic word problems. It is the Army's most widely quoted line score and the gate for many technical, intelligence and leadership-track jobs.
Nominal formula: VE (verbal: WK and PC) + AR. WK (Word Knowledge), PC (Paragraph Comprehension), AR (Arithmetic Reasoning).
How it is computed: exactly the nominal definition: GT = Rnd(1.074292 × (AR + VE) − 7.443781).
Used by 30 verified MOS, with thresholds from GT ≥ 85 to GT ≥ 110.
- Lowest: 89B Ammunition Specialist — ST ≥ 91 or (ST ≥ 86 and GT ≥ 85)
- Typical (median): 14H Air Defense Enhanced Early Warning Operator — MM ≥ 91 and GT ≥ 90
- Highest: 31D Criminal Investigation Special Agent — GT ≥ 110
Clerical
Clerical and administrative aptitude: verbal skill plus arithmetic and mathematics knowledge, used for human resources, supply and finance specialties.
Nominal formula: VE (verbal: WK and PC) + AR + MK. WK (Word Knowledge), PC (Paragraph Comprehension), AR (Arithmetic Reasoning), MK (Mathematics Knowledge).
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 10 verified MOS, with thresholds from CL ≥ 86 to CL ≥ 105.
- Lowest: 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist — CL ≥ 86 and OF ≥ 85
- Typical (median): 92A Automated Logistical Specialist — CL ≥ 90
- Highest: 27D Paralegal Specialist — CL ≥ 105
Combat
Combat aptitude: arithmetic reasoning combined with mechanical and shop knowledge, used by infantry, engineer, armor and artillery crew positions.
Nominal formula: AR + CS + AS + MC. AR (Arithmetic Reasoning), CS (Coding Speed), AS (Auto and Shop Information), MC (Mechanical Comprehension).
CS is a legacy subtest no longer administered; the Army scores CO from the remaining subtests.
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 6 verified MOS, with thresholds from CO ≥ 77 to CO ≥ 82.
- Lowest: 11C Indirect Fire Infantryman — CO ≥ 77
- Typical (median): 92R Parachute Rigger — GM ≥ 78 and CO ≥ 77
- Highest: 12C Bridge Crewmember — CO ≥ 82
Electronics
Electronics aptitude: science, mathematics and electronics information, used by electricians, radar and communications repairers.
Nominal formula: GS + AR + MK + EI. GS (General Science), AR (Arithmetic Reasoning), MK (Mathematics Knowledge), EI (Electronics Information).
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 19 verified MOS, with thresholds from EL ≥ 88 to EL ≥ 107.
- Lowest: 94P Multiple Launch Rocket System Repairer — EL ≥ 93 or (EL ≥ 88 and ST ≥ 85)
- Typical (median): 94F Computer/Detection Systems Repairer — EL ≥ 102 or (EL ≥ 97 and ST ≥ 90)
- Highest: 68A Biomedical Equipment Specialist — EL ≥ 107
Field Artillery
Field artillery aptitude: arithmetic, mathematics and mechanical comprehension, used by cannon, rocket and fire-direction crews.
Nominal formula: AR + CS + MK + MC. AR (Arithmetic Reasoning), CS (Coding Speed), MK (Mathematics Knowledge), MC (Mechanical Comprehension).
CS is a legacy subtest no longer administered; the Army scores FA from the remaining subtests.
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
No verified MOS on this site currently lists a FA requirement. The Army still reports FA on the score report.
General Maintenance
General maintenance aptitude: science, shop and electronics knowledge, used by construction, plumbing and firefighting specialties.
Nominal formula: GS + AS + MK + EI. GS (General Science), AS (Auto and Shop Information), MK (Mathematics Knowledge), EI (Electronics Information).
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 14 verified MOS, with thresholds from GM ≥ 78 to GM ≥ 105.
- Lowest: 92R Parachute Rigger — GM ≥ 78 and CO ≥ 77
- Typical (median): 91C Utilities Equipment Repairer — GM ≥ 93 or (GM ≥ 88 and GT ≥ 85)
- Highest: 89D Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist — GM ≥ 105
Mechanical Maintenance
Mechanical maintenance aptitude: shop, mechanical and electronics knowledge, used by vehicle, aircraft and generator mechanics.
Nominal formula: NO + AS + MC + EI. NO (Numerical Operations), AS (Auto and Shop Information), MC (Mechanical Comprehension), EI (Electronics Information).
NO is a legacy subtest no longer administered; the Army scores MM from the remaining subtests.
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 22 verified MOS, with thresholds from MM ≥ 82 to MM ≥ 104.
- Lowest: 91J Quartermaster and Chemical Equipment Repairer — MM ≥ 87 or (MM ≥ 82 and GT ≥ 85)
- Typical (median): 15R AH-64 Attack Helicopter Repairer — MM ≥ 99
- Highest: 15U CH-47 Helicopter Repairer — MM ≥ 104
Operators and Food
Operators and food aptitude: verbal skill with shop and mechanical knowledge, used by drivers, cargo handlers and food service.
Nominal formula: VE (verbal: WK and PC) + NO + AS + MC. WK (Word Knowledge), PC (Paragraph Comprehension), NO (Numerical Operations), AS (Auto and Shop Information), MC (Mechanical Comprehension).
NO is a legacy subtest no longer administered; the Army scores OF from the remaining subtests.
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 6 verified MOS, with thresholds from OF ≥ 85 to OF ≥ 95.
- Lowest: 88M Motor Transport Operator — OF ≥ 85
- Typical (median): 14P Air and Missile Defense Crewmember — OF ≥ 87
- Highest: 68M Nutrition Care Specialist — OF ≥ 95
Surveillance and Communications
Surveillance and communications aptitude: verbal and arithmetic skill with shop and mechanical knowledge, used by signal and sensor operators.
Nominal formula: VE (verbal: WK and PC) + AR + AS + MC. WK (Word Knowledge), PC (Paragraph Comprehension), AR (Arithmetic Reasoning), AS (Auto and Shop Information), MC (Mechanical Comprehension).
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 2 verified MOS, with thresholds from SC ≥ 95 to SC ≥ 102.
- Lowest: 25U Signal Support Systems Specialist — EL ≥ 95 and SC ≥ 95
- Typical (median): 15W Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator — SC ≥ 102
- Highest: 15W Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator — SC ≥ 102
Skilled Technical
Skilled technical aptitude: science, verbal skill, mathematics and mechanical comprehension, used by medical, intelligence, IT and cyber specialties.
Nominal formula: GS + VE (verbal: WK and PC) + MK + MC. GS (General Science), WK (Word Knowledge), PC (Paragraph Comprehension), MK (Mathematics Knowledge), MC (Mechanical Comprehension).
How it is computed: a weighted sum of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE plus a constant (Table 2.7), which can place weight on subtests outside the nominal list.
Used by 46 verified MOS, with thresholds from ST ≥ 85 to ST ≥ 112.
- Lowest: 94P Multiple Launch Rocket System Repairer — EL ≥ 93 or (EL ≥ 88 and ST ≥ 85)
- Typical (median): 74D CBRN Specialist — ST ≥ 100
- Highest: 35N Signals Intelligence Analyst — ST ≥ 112
Nominal versus operational formulas
The subtest lists above are the Army's nominal definitions from DA PAM 611-21, Military Occupational Classification and Structure, Table 10-1 (ASVAB aptitude area composites). They tell you which aptitudes a composite is meant to capture, and they are what recruiters quote. The number printed on your report is produced differently: since the 1997 score scale, each Army composite is a regression-derived weighted sum of all seven reported standard scores (GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE) plus a constant, rescaled to a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 20, as documented in Development and Evaluation of the 1997 ASVAB Score Scale (Segall, July 2004).
Two consequences matter. First, a subtest outside the nominal list can still move the score; CO, for example, is nominally AR, CS, AS and MC, but its largest operational weight is on MK. Second, GT is the only composite whose operational formula uses exactly the nominal subtests, so GT is the one line score you can add up by hand. For the full weight table, the AFQT conversion, and a calculator that applies both, see the ASVAB score calculator; the method is described on the methodology page.
VE, the verbal score, is derived by the Department of Defense from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension together and printed on your report; it is not WK + PC. NO (Numerical Operations) and CS (Coding Speed) are legacy subtests the current ASVAB no longer administers, which is why some nominal lists name subtests you never took.
AFQT versus line scores
AFQT is a percentile used for broad enlistment eligibility. It is computed from AR, MK and VE and looked up in a conversion table; it contains no information about GS, EI, AS or MC. That is why a high AFQT does not by itself meet any Army line score requirement, and why this site never invents a job match from AFQT alone. Each branch's published AFQT minimum, and what "good" means for enlistment versus for a specific job, is on the good score page.
If your report shows only an AFQT, ask your recruiter or the testing site for the full breakdown. If it shows subtest standard scores, the calculator will produce every line score from them.
Reading the line scores on your report
The enlistment (MEPS or CAT-ASVAB) score report lists each subtest with a standard score and a percentile, then a block of composite scores labeled with the line score codes above. Compare the composite value, not the percentile next to it, against a job's threshold. Standard scores are whole numbers on a scale with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10; composites are on a scale with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 20. Neither is a percentage correct.
The student (Career Exploration Program) report handed out after a school administration usually shows an AFQT and three career exploration composites but not the Army line scores. Without VE and the other standard scores, the Army composites cannot be computed; a recruiter can pull the full record. Practice results on this site are raw counts and never convert into a line score; see the study guide for how each subtest feeds the composites and where to practice.
Frequently asked questions
What are Army line scores?
Army line scores are aptitude area composites computed from your ASVAB subtest standard scores. The Army uses ten of them: GT, CL, CO, EL, FA, GM, MM, OF, SC, ST. Each MOS specification names one or more line scores and a minimum; the 119 verified MOS on this site use 9 of the ten.
How are Army line scores different from AFQT?
AFQT is a single percentile computed from AR, MK and VE and used for enlistment eligibility. Line scores are weighted sums of up to seven standard scores, each rescaled to a mean of 100, and are used to match you with specific jobs. You can have a high AFQT and still miss a line score requirement for a particular MOS.
What is a good GT score for the Army?
Among the 119 verified MOS here, 30 involve a GT condition, from 85 (89B) up to 110 (31D), with a median requirement of 90. A GT at or above 110 meets every GT condition currently recorded on this site.
Can I calculate my Army line scores myself?
Yes, if your report prints the subtest standard scores. GT is exactly Rnd(1.074292 × (AR + VE) − 7.443781); the other nine are weighted sums of GS, AR, MK, MC, EI, AS and VE with weights published by DMDC (2004). The score calculator on this site applies those formulas. You cannot derive line scores from your AFQT alone.
Why does the subtest list for a line score not match how it is computed?
The subtest lists are the Army's nominal definitions from DA PAM 611-21. The operational computation, documented by DMDC for the 1997 score scale, gives every composite a weight on all seven reported standard scores, sometimes larger on a subtest outside the nominal list. GT is the only composite whose operational formula uses exactly the nominal subtests.