What ASVAB Score Do You Need for the Air Force?
The Air Force requires a minimum AFQT of 31 for high school seniors or graduates and 50 for GED holders, as of October 2026. airforce.com says the minimum ASVAB score for entrance depends on your education level and ranges from 31 to 65; an applicant without a diploma, GED, or 15 college semester hours needs a 65. Beyond the AFQT, the Air Force qualifies you for jobs with four composites called MAGE: Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electronics. Each job lists its own composite and number, such as 47 Mechanical for Tactical Aircraft Maintenance, 72 General for Public Affairs, or 70 Electronics for Avionics Test Station and Components. All Domain Command and Control Operations asks for two at once: 55 Administrative and 57 General. If you score short, you can retest after 30 days, wait 30 more, then wait six calendar months. Scores are valid for up to two years. Minimums can change, so confirm with your recruiter.
What Is the Air Force AFQT Minimum?
airforce.com states: high school seniors or graduates need a minimum AFQT of 31, and GED holders need a minimum of 50. Its 31 for diploma holders matches the 31 that goarmy.com and marines.com publish, and its GED floor of 50 matches marines.com. What sets the Air Force apart is how its jobs qualify: each job lists a composite minimum, and those numbers can sit well above the entry floor. For help understanding the percentile itself, see AFQT scores explained.
How the MAGE Composites Work
The Air Force turns your ASVAB subtests into four composites, shown as percentile scores. airforce.com describes them this way: Mechanical combines Arithmetic Reasoning, Auto and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Verbal Expression. Administrative combines Mathematics Knowledge and Verbal Expression. General combines Arithmetic Reasoning and Verbal Expression. Electronics combines Arithmetic Reasoning, Electronics Information, General Science, and Mathematics Knowledge. Verbal Expression is built from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension.
Each enlisted career page then states the composite and the number needed. A few illustrations:
| Job area | Gating composite (airforce.com, as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Tactical Aircraft Maintenance | 47 Mechanical (M) |
| Public Affairs | 72 General (G) |
| Avionics Test Station and Components | 70 Electronics (E) |
| All Domain Command and Control Operations | 55 Administrative (A) and 57 General (G) |
Source: airforce.com career pages. Numbers are composite percentiles and can change with Air Force needs. Your recruiter confirms the current requirement for any specific job.
Composite numbers are percentiles, so a 72 General means you scored at or above roughly 72 percent of the reference group on that composite, not that you answered 72 percent of questions correctly. They are also separate from the AFQT: a job can ask for a 70 Electronics even though the AFQT floor is 31, a gap of 39 points between the two published figures. Two things stand out. First, a single job can require two composites at once. Second, the Electronics and General numbers here sit far above the 31 entry floor, which is why many applicants study well beyond the minimum. Matching your practice to the composite matters: Electronics rewards the Electronics Information study guide and General Science study guide, while General and Administrative lean on verbal skills and math. Our guide to ASVAB line scores shows how these composites compare across branches.
What If You Score Below the Cutoff?
airforce.com states: wait 30 days before a retake, another 30 days before a third attempt, and six calendar months after the third attempt before a fourth. That matches the official ASVAB program’s one calendar month, one calendar month, then six calendar month schedule. The official program also requires a confirmation test after a critical AFQT gain, defined as 20 or more points within six months. Your composite scores, not just your AFQT, decide job choices, so a retest aimed at one weak subtest can still help. See ASVAB retake rules for the full policy.
If you want a bonus or a specific job, ask your recruiter. As of October 2026 we found no published score tier for bonuses on airforce.com.
How to Use Your Waiting Period
A retest only helps if your preparation changes. Start by finding which subtests dragged your result down, since the AFQT uses four of them and job composites use others. Then give each weak subtest short, focused sessions rather than one long cram. Our complete ASVAB guide maps all nine subtests, and the difficulty breakdown shows how the test is structured. Keep in mind that retest waits are set by the ASVAB program, so use the gap to practice, not to guess.
Raise Your Score Before You Test Again
Every branch looks at your scores, so a stronger result can open more job choices. Try a free ASVAB practice test to see where you stand, then get full access to 2,400+ ASVAB practice questions to work on your weakest subtests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum ASVAB score for the Air Force?
As of October 2026, airforce.com says high school seniors or graduates need a minimum AFQT of 31 and GED holders need 50. Applicants without a diploma, GED, or 15 college semester hours need a 65.
What does MAGE stand for?
Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electronics. These are the four composites the Air Force builds from your ASVAB subtests to qualify you for jobs.
How long are ASVAB scores valid?
airforce.com says ASVAB scores are valid for up to two years after the date of testing.
How many times can I retake the ASVAB?
You must wait 30 days before the second test and another 30 days before the third. After the third, you must wait six calendar months before a fourth.
