AFQT score explained
The AFQT is a percentile from 1 to 99 computed from four ASVAB subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. A 90 means you scored as well as or better than 90 percent of the reference group.
Last updated · Published by Certloom Learning · Facts are from the official ASVAB scores page and FAQ, checked 2026-11-12. No AptiStep score converts to an AFQT.
How is the AFQT score calculated?
It is computed from the four subtests named above. The official page says AFQT scores are “reported as percentiles between 1-99,” and a score is the percentage of the reference group who scored at or below it (Official ASVAB: Understanding ASVAB Scores (checked 2026-11-12)). The reference group is 18 to 23 year olds from a 1997 national norming study (Official ASVAB applicant FAQ).
What are the AFQT categories?
| Category | AFQT percentile range |
|---|---|
| I | 93 to 99 |
| II | 65 to 92 |
| IIIA | 50 to 64 |
| IIIB | 31 to 49 |
| IVA | 21 to 30 |
| IVB | 16 to 20 |
| IVC | 10 to 15 |
| V | 1 to 9 |
Source: Official ASVAB: Understanding ASVAB Scores (checked 2026-11-12).
What is a good AFQT score?
It depends on your branch and job. Each branch sets a minimum (see minimum scores by branch), and many jobs also need line scores. A score at the 50th percentile means half of the reference group scored at or below it.
Is the AFQT the same as the ASVAB?
No. The ASVAB is the full battery; the AFQT is derived from four of its subtests, and AFQT results determine eligibility to enlist in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps (Official ASVAB applicant FAQ). See AFQT vs ASVAB.
How long is an ASVAB score good for?
The official FAQ says scores may be used for enlistment for up to two years from the test date (Official ASVAB applicant FAQ (checked 2026-11-12)).
Frequently asked questions
Does AptiStep predict my AFQT?
No. Practice accuracy is not a percentile, and the app does not estimate one.
Can I raise my AFQT?
You can retest, within the waiting periods on the retake rules page.
Where do Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension fit in the AFQT?
They enter through a verbal composite called VE. The official military jobs page defines VE as "an optimally weighted composite of unrounded WK and PC standard scores" (Military Jobs, footnote 1). The AFQT is then computed from the standard scores of AR, MK and the verbal subtests (Understanding ASVAB Scores). The official pages do not publish the AFQT weights or the norm table, so a practice score cannot be turned into a percentile. More detail is on how the AFQT is calculated.
Why do some official pages show six AFQT categories and others eight?
They split Category IV differently. The scores page lists IVA (21 to 30), IVB (16 to 20) and IVC (10 to 15) separately, while the Enlistment Eligibility page shows a single Category IV covering 10 to 30. The boundaries are the same. The eligibility page adds that Category IIIA or higher "may qualify for enlistment incentives." See AFQT categories and tiers.
What do federal rules say about low AFQT scores?
Category V (percentiles 1 to 9) cannot enlist, and a non-graduate needs an AFQT at or above the 31st percentile, according to the federal enlistment regulation (32 CFR 66.6). The same regulation caps Category IV recruits at 20 percent of a service's yearly enlistments. Each branch then sets its own minimum; see minimum scores by branch.