asvab

[texan168]

I appologize but couldn't help myself on asking the following and was uanble to find the information. I am only asking out of curiosity as my son is already in the pipeline. I read previously that scores on the asvab were accepted as low as 80 before having to test in. When my son tested he was told 90 was the lowest accepted before haveing to test in. Are there different standards in different parts of the country? My son scored a 97 on the asvab and currently has over a 3.9 in A-school. The second question is there a corralation between the scores and GPA.

[Roll Tide]

My understanding (perhaps one of the recruiters on the board will answer for real) is that the broadly quoted "grade" on the ASVAB is not the actual combination of sections used to determine whether the NFQT is required. Back when I went in, my ASVAB score didn't matter. Every potential nuke took the NFQT (but 70 was required to get permission to take it.)

The highest score between my company and my "sister" boot camp company was to a young man that didn't pass "A" school. ASVAB is somewhere in the middle between measuring potential and measuring knowledge. The highest scores on the ASVAB are typically from people that haven't studied yet. They have the opportunity to learn to study in beautiful Duck Ditch (Goose Creek).

And thank your son for me for his service.

[Bighouz107501]

Totally false information that you were given...ASVAB scores mean nothing(except a little extra signing bonus)...I scored higher than 90% of my class and I have only an average gpa here. I know of a few people who got in with a 70(both have 3.5's in power school) and my best friend got an 78 on the asvab and received distinction in Aschool and is in the top quarter of power school class.

[IPREGEN]

Here is the best description. It does not indicate how well you will do, some people will work harder than others. Think about college, people are admitted because of qualifications but there is no indication of how they will finish. below is a large description of the test and how it is used.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States armed forces. It is often optionally administered to American high school students when they are in the 11th grade, though anyone eligible to and interested in enlisting can take it. The ASVAB was first instituted in 1976, and it underwent a revision in 2002. In 2004, the test's percentile ranking scoring system was re-normalized, to ensure that a score of 50% really did represent doing better than exactly 50% of test-takers.

The ASVAB contains nine sections:

General Science (GS)
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
Word Knowledge (WK)
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
Electronics Information (EI)
Auto & Shop (AS)
Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
Assembling Objects (AO)

Information use
The information collected through the ASVAB is used by the United States Department of Defense for recruiting and research purposes. Scores and personal information obtained during the test are also released to the United States armed forces and the student's local school.


Armed Forces Qualification Test
An Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score is used to determine basic qualification for enlistment.

AFQT Scores are divided into the following categories: Category I -93-98 Category II-65-92 Category IIIA -60-64 Category IIIB -31-59 Category IVA -28-30 Category IVB -16-25 Category IVC -6-15 Category V - 0-5

The formula for computing this AFQT score is: AR + MK + (2 x VE). The VE (verbal) score is determined by adding the raw scores from the PC and WK tests (i.e., how many questions the aspiring recruit got right on each) and using a table to get the VE score from that combined PC and WK raw score.

AFQT scores are scaled not raw scores, indicating how each examinee performed compared with all other examinees. Thus, someone who receives an AFQT of 55 scored better than 55 percent of all other examinees.

At the moment, no one is allowed to join the U.S. armed forces with an AFQT score lower than 31.

In addition to the VE, various combinations of scaled scores from the nine tests are used to determine qualification for particular specialties. These combinations are called composite scores or line scores. Each of the five armed services sets its own minimum qualifying composite scores for each of its occupational specialties or rates.


Sample ASVAB Test Score Report
Many of the following composite or line score descriptions are incorrect: in 2002 the CS (Coding Speed) and NO (Numerical Operations) tests were eliminated and a new test (AO - Assembling Objects) was added.

Army Line Scores:

GT - General Technical: VE+AR
CL - Clerical: VE+AR+MK
CO - Combat: AR+CS+AS+MC
EL - Electronics: GS+AR+MK+EI
FA - Field Artillery: AR+CS+MK+MC
GM - General Maintenance: GS+AS+MK+EI
MM - Mechanical Maintenance: NO+AS+MC+EI
OF - Operators and Food: VE+NO+AS+MC
SC - Surveillance and Communications: VE+AR+AS+MC
ST - Skilled Technical: GS+VE+MK+MC
Air Force Line Scores:

M - Mechanical Comprehension (MC), General Science (GS) and 2 times Auto & Shop Information (AS)
A - Administrative Numerical Operations * (NO), Coding Speed * (CS), and Verbal Expression (WK plus PC)
G - General Verbal Expression (WK plus PC) and Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
E - Electrical Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Electronics Information (EI), and General Science (GS)
Marine Line Scores:

MM - Mechanical Maintenance, Construction, Utility and Chemical Maintenance (hazmat) - GS+AS+MK+MC
GT - General Technical, Special and Officer Programs - VE+AR
EL -Electronics Repair, Missile Repair, Electronics and Communications -GS+AR+MK+EI
CL- Clerical, Administrative, Supply & Finance - NO + CS + VE
Navy Line Scores:

ENG - Engineman - AS+MK
ADM - Administrative - MK+VE
GT - General Technical - AR+VE
MEC - Mechanical Maintenance - AR+AS+MC
HM - Health - GS+MK+VE
MEC2 - Mechanical Maintenance 2 - AO+AR+MC
EL - Electronics - AR+EI+GS+MK
NUC - Nuclear Field - AR+MC+MK+VE
BEE - Engineering and Electronics - AR+GS+2*MK
OPS - Operations Specialist - AR+CS+2*MK
* United States Armed Forces:Required ASVAB Entrance score by service:As of(1/1/07)

[1] Air Force 36
[2] Coast Guard 36
[3] Navy 35
[4] Marines 32
[5] Army/Army National Guard 31

[texan168]

Gentlemen,

   Thank you for your answers. Your input is appreciated.

[Cycoticpenguin]

Totally false information that you were given...ASVAB scores mean nothing(except a little extra signing bonus)...I scored higher than 90% of my class and I have only an average gpa here. I know of a few people who got in with a 70(both have 3.5's in power school) and my best friend got an 78 on the asvab and received distinction in Aschool and is in the top quarter of power school class.

Just to suplement this more - I scored a 99 on my asvab and Im not even top half in power school. My buddies scoring high 70's, low 80's are pullin 3.4's no problem.... Doesnt make the most sense to me, but hey,

As for your son's score on the asvab, having any score and getting a 3.9 in a-school is impressive. Tell him congrats and hopefully he can keep it up!!!!