ASVAB and AFQT glossary
This glossary defines 70 terms you will see when preparing for the ASVAB, from AFQT and standard score to PiCAT, Vtest and C-Test. Official terms link to the officialasvab.com page that uses them, and study terms used on this site are marked as such.
What do the main ASVAB score terms mean?
The ASVAB reports two kinds of score that matter most: standard scores for each subtest and the AFQT percentile. These terms come from the official scoring pages.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ASVAB | Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The official FAQ calls it "only one exam" with 10 tests (FAQ). |
| AFQT | Armed Forces Qualification Test. Not a separate exam: it is a score computed from the AR, MK, PC and WK standard scores (scores page). The FAQ says it is used to determine eligibility for enlistment in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps (FAQ). |
| AFQT percentile | How you compare with the reference group. AFQT scores are reported as percentiles from 1 to 99; a score of 90 means you did as well as or better than 90% of the reference group (scores page). |
| AFQT category | A band of AFQT scores: 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) and V (1 to 9) (scores page). |
| Standard score | The score reported for each subtest. On the ASVAB the mean is set to 50 and the standard deviation to 10 (ASVAB Scoring). |
| Standard deviation | A measure of spread. On the ASVAB subtest scale, a standard score of 40 is one standard deviation below the mean and 70 is two above it (ASVAB Scoring). |
| Reference group | The comparison group for AFQT percentiles: a sample of 18 to 23 year olds who took the ASVAB in a national norming study conducted in 1997 (scores page). |
| Norms | A summary of how a reference group performed, applied to individual scores to show where they stand (Norming Information). |
| PAY97 | Profile of American Youth 1997, the study behind the current national norms, which the official page says were implemented in 2004 using about 6,000 youths aged 18 to 23 (Norming Information). |
| Composite score | A score formed from combinations of individual ASVAB test scores. Enlistment applicants get an AFQT score and Service composite scores used for job assignment (FAQ). |
| Line score | The Army's name for its ASVAB category scores, which it says determine job opportunities across career categories (GoArmy). See line scores. |
| GT (General Technical) | An Army line score. GoArmy says it requires high scores in Verbal Expression and Arithmetic Reasoning (GoArmy). See GT score. |
| Verbal Expression (VE) | A score area GoArmy lists alongside the subtests and uses in several line scores, including GT (GoArmy). The official pages checked for this glossary do not give its formula. |
| Score of record | The official ASVAB score used for enlistment. The PiCAT page says verified PiCAT scores become the "ASVAB score of record" (PiCAT page). |
| Score validity | How long scores can be used. The official FAQ says scores may be used for enlistment for up to two years from the date of testing (FAQ). |
| Unverified score report | The report the CAT-ASVAB system prints, with the AFQT, a standard score for each subtest and composite scores for all Services (CAT-ASVAB recruiter page). |
For a fuller explanation, see the AFQT score guide and standard scores.
What do the test format terms mean?
These terms describe how the test is delivered and scored. Most applicants take the computer version, which works differently from paper.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CAT-ASVAB | The computer version of the ASVAB, an adaptive test that adjusts to each examinee's ability level (What to Expect). |
| P&P-ASVAB | The paper-and-pencil version, given at "only a handful of MET sites" (What to Expect). Everyone gets the same items, from very easy to very hard (CAT-ASVAB page). |
| Adaptive test | A test that picks each next item from your answers so far. On the CAT-ASVAB, a correct answer typically leads to a harder item and a wrong one to an easier item (CAT-ASVAB page). |
| Item | One test question. Official pages use item and question interchangeably. |
| Item pool | The set of questions the CAT-ASVAB draws from, ranging from very easy to very hard (CAT-ASVAB page). |
| Tryout questions | New questions that do not count toward your score. Each examinee gets them in 2 to 4 subtests, with extra time added (What to Expect). |
| Time limit | The maximum time for a subtest. On the CAT-ASVAB, each subtest has one, and the limits are long enough that nearly all examinees finish (CAT-ASVAB page). |
| Penalty procedure | How the CAT-ASVAB scores a subtest you did not finish: unfinished items are scored as though answered at random (CAT-ASVAB page). |
| Equating | A statistical process that links scores across item pools and test forms so they have the same meaning (Myths page). |
| Item Response Theory (IRT) | The model behind ASVAB scoring, which places question difficulty and examinee ability on the same scale (ASVAB Scoring). |
| 3PL model | The three-parameter logistic IRT model used for ASVAB scoring. Its item characteristics are difficulty, discrimination and guessing (ASVAB Scoring). |
| Ability estimate (theta) | The CAT-ASVAB's running estimate of your ability. Every session starts at 0.0 and is updated after each item (ASVAB Scoring). |
| HELP key | A red key on the CAT-ASVAB keyboard for asking for help, such as more scratch paper. Subtest timing stops while you are in HELP (CAT-ASVAB recruiter page). |
| Controlled testing materials | How the official site describes ASVAB questions. Giving or receiving information about specific test questions is subject to severe penalties (What to Expect). |
| Test score precision | How consistent scores are and how much measurement error affects them (CAT-ASVAB page says adaptive selection gives "higher levels of test-score precision"). |
What are the ASVAB subtest names and abbreviations?
The official subtest table lists 10 subtests in the order they are given, grouped into four domains: Verbal, Math, Science and Technical, and Spatial (Official ASVAB: ASVAB Subtests).
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subtest | One of the separately timed and scored tests that make up the ASVAB. |
| GS: General Science | "Knowledge of physical and biological sciences" (subtest table). See General Science. |
| AR: Arithmetic Reasoning | Ability to solve arithmetic word problems. An AFQT subtest (subtest table). See Arithmetic Reasoning. |
| WK: Word Knowledge | Choosing the meaning of words in context and the best synonym. An AFQT subtest (subtest table). See Word Knowledge. |
| PC: Paragraph Comprehension | "Ability to obtain information from written passages." An AFQT subtest (subtest table). See Paragraph Comprehension. |
| MK: Mathematics Knowledge | "Knowledge of high school mathematics principles." An AFQT subtest (subtest table). See Mathematics Knowledge. |
| EI: Electronics Information | "Knowledge of electricity and electronics" (subtest table). See Electronics Information. |
| AI: Auto Information | "Knowledge of automobile technology" (subtest table). |
| SI: Shop Information | "Knowledge of tools and shop terminology and practices" (subtest table). |
| AS: Auto and Shop Information | The combined AI and SI score. On paper they are one subtest; on computer they are given separately but reported as one AS score (What to Expect). See Auto and Shop. |
| MC: Mechanical Comprehension | "Knowledge of mechanical and physical principles" (subtest table). See Mechanical Comprehension. |
| AO: Assembling Objects | Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put together. The official FAQ says AO is given in the Enlistment Testing Program but not the Student Testing Program (FAQ). See Assembling Objects. |
What do the testing location and program terms mean?
These are the places and programs you will hear about from a recruiter or a school counselor.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| MEPS | Military Entrance Processing Station, where most applicant ASVAB testing happens. The official page says there are 65 MEPS across the U.S. and Puerto Rico (What to Expect). |
| MET site | Military Entrance Test site, a satellite testing location for people who do not live near a MEPS, often in federal buildings, National Guard armories or Reserve centers (What to Expect). |
| MEPCOM | Military Entrance Processing Command, whose website the official What to Expect page points to for entrance processing information (What to Expect). |
| Recruiter | Your contact for scheduling the ASVAB. The official page says to contact a recruiter if you want to take the ASVAB to apply for the military (Where to Take the ASVAB). |
| Enlistment Testing Program | ASVAB testing at a MEPS or MET site for people applying to enlist (FAQ). |
| Student Testing Program | Another name the FAQ uses for the ASVAB given in schools as part of the Career Exploration Program (FAQ). |
| ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP) | The school program that offers the ASVAB to high school and post-secondary students to explore civilian and military careers. It is free to participating schools (CEP page). See career exploration program. |
| Verbal Skills, Math Skills, Science and Technical Skills | The three composite scores students receive in the Student Testing Program (FAQ). |
| SST (School Staff Testing) | ASVAB testing given by school staff instead of military personnel. Students who tested this way must take a Vtest before using the scores to enlist (FAQ). |
| In-service testing | ASVAB testing given by the Services to people already serving, for example to be reclassified (Where to Take the ASVAB). |
What do the retest and verification terms mean?
These terms come up if you test online first or take the ASVAB more than once.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PiCAT | Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test, an unproctored online CAT-ASVAB with no time limits on individual subtests. It can be taken only once, only by people who have never taken the ASVAB, and must be finished within 48 hours of starting (PiCAT page). See PiCAT. |
| Access code | What a recruiter issues to let you take the PiCAT or APT. The official pages say it expires 30 days after it is issued (PiCAT page). |
| Vtest (Verification Test) | A short proctored test at a MEPS or MET site that checks whether PiCAT scores are consistent. It must be taken within 45 days of the PiCAT, generally takes 25 to 30 minutes and gives no score (PiCAT page). |
| APT (AFQT Predictor Test) | A short unproctored online test of AR, MK, WK and PC that recruiters use to predict an applicant's AFQT. It has 20 items, takes 20 to 30 minutes, and only the registering recruiter sees the score (APT page). |
| Retest | Taking the ASVAB again. The official policy requires one month before the first retest, one more month before the second, and six months between later retests (Retest Policy). |
| Critical AFQT gain | An AFQT increase of 20 or more points within a 6-month period (Retest Policy). |
| C-Test (Confirmation Test) | A test that verifies a critical AFQT gain. The official policy says it can be taken right away, without the usual one-month wait (Retest Policy). |
See retake rules and score validity for the full rules.
What study terms does this site use?
These are AptiStep study terms, not official ASVAB terms. They describe how the practice on this site works.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Practice score | The number right on a practice set. It is not an AFQT percentile and cannot be converted into one. |
| Error log | A list of missed items with the cause of each miss and the fix. See review mistakes. |
| Distractor | A wrong answer choice, often built from a common mistake such as using the wrong base for a percent. |
| Unit rate | An amount per one unit, such as miles per gallon. Most rate and ratio problems start here; see ratios and rates. |
| Context clue | A word or phrase near an unfamiliar word that hints at its meaning. See context clues. |
| Synonym | A word with nearly the same meaning as another, the format of many WK items. |
| Inference | A conclusion that must be true based on a passage, though it is not stated word for word. See reading question types. |
| Main idea | What a passage as a whole is about, as opposed to one detail in it. |
| Spaced review | Revisiting material a day, a few days and a week after first learning it, instead of all at once. |
| Diagnostic | A first practice test used to find which skills to study, such as the skill check. |
Practice questions
Work each one on paper first, then open the explanation. These are original AptiStep items, not real ASVAB questions.
What does AFQT stand for?
- Armed Forces Qualifying Test of Aptitude
- Armed Forces Qualification Test
- Army Field Qualification Test
- Aptitude for Federal Qualification Test
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Armed Forces Qualification Test
The official ASVAB pages define AFQT as the Armed Forces Qualification Test. It is not a separate exam: the official FAQ says scores from four ASVAB tests (WK, PC, AR and MK) are combined to compute your AFQT score.
On the ASVAB subtest standard score scale, what are the mean and standard deviation?
- Mean 100, standard deviation 15
- Mean 50, standard deviation 15
- Mean 50, standard deviation 10
- Mean 99, standard deviation 1
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Mean 50, standard deviation 10
The official ASVAB Scoring page says that for ASVAB subtests the mean is set to 50 and the standard deviation to 10. So a standard score of 60 is one standard deviation above the mean, and the scores page says about 16% of the population scores at or above 60.
Which AFQT category covers percentile scores from 50 to 64?
- Category II
- Category IIIB
- Category IVA
- Category IIIA
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Category IIIA
The official category table lists IIIA as 50 to 64. Category II is 65 to 92, IIIB is 31 to 49 and IVA is 21 to 30. The categories are bands of AFQT percentiles, so check the table on the official scores page when you need an exact range.
What is the Vtest used for after a PiCAT?
- To confirm that the PiCAT scores are consistent
- To give a second, separate AFQT score
- To test the subtests the PiCAT skipped
- To replace the PiCAT score with a higher one
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. To confirm that the PiCAT scores are consistent
The official PiCAT page says the proctored Vtest assesses consistency of performance across the unproctored and proctored occasions. It gives no score of its own. If it is successful, the PiCAT scores become the official ASVAB scores of record.
Which four subtests are used to compute the AFQT?
- GS, AR, WK, MC
- AR, MK, PC, WK
- AR, MK, EI, AO
- WK, PC, AS, MK
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. AR, MK, PC, WK
The official scores page names Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC) and Word Knowledge (WK) as the four subtests whose standard scores are used to compute the AFQT. The other subtests feed job composites, not the AFQT.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AFQT a separate test from the ASVAB?
No. The official FAQ says there is only one exam, the ASVAB, and the AFQT is a score computed from four of its tests (Official FAQ).
What is the difference between a standard score and an AFQT percentile?
A standard score is reported for each subtest on a scale with a mean of 50. The AFQT is a percentile from 1 to 99 that compares you with the reference group. See standard scores.
What is the difference between PiCAT and APT?
Where do line score formulas come from?
Each Service sets its own. This glossary lists only what the linked official and branch pages state. See line scores and ask your recruiter for current requirements.
Sources
Checked November 14, 2026. AptiStep is an independent study site; confirm anything that affects your enlistment with a recruiter.
- Official ASVAB applicant FAQs
- Official ASVAB: Understanding ASVAB Scores
- Official ASVAB: ASVAB Scoring
- Official ASVAB: Norming Information
- Official ASVAB: What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB
- Official ASVAB: The CAT-ASVAB
- Official ASVAB: The CAT-ASVAB (recruiter page)
- Official ASVAB: Myths About the ASVAB
- Official ASVAB: ASVAB Subtests
- Official ASVAB: Where to Take the ASVAB
- Official ASVAB: Career Exploration Program
- Official ASVAB: PiCAT
- Official ASVAB: The AFQT Predictor Test (APT)
- Official ASVAB: Retest Policy
- GoArmy.com: ASVAB test and preparation