Army Line Scores Explained: GT, CL, CO, and the Rest

The Army converts your ASVAB subtest results into 10 composite scores, called line scores, and uses them to decide which jobs (MOS, or Military Occupational Specialty) you can qualify for. The ten are GT, CL, CO, EL, FA, GM, MM, OF, SC, and ST. As of October 2026, the Department of Defense ASVAB program site lists General Technical as the Army composite built from just two inputs: Arithmetic Reasoning plus Verbal Expression, where Verbal Expression combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. goarmy.com describes the other nine families by the subtests they depend on, and each family draws on two to four subtests. Verbal Expression and Mechanical Comprehension each feed six of the ten composites, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, and Auto and Shop Information feed five each, and Electronics Information and General Science feed three each. Your AFQT decides whether you can enlist; your line scores decide which jobs are open to you.

What Line Scores Do

The ASVAB is not pass or fail. It produces subtest scores, and each service builds its own composites from them. The DoD ASVAB program describes composites as combinations of the subtests most closely tied to on-the-job performance for clusters of occupations. Each MOS sets minimum line scores for the composite or composites that match its work. That is why a high score in one area can open one family of jobs while leaving another closed. For how the enlistment score differs from line scores, see our guide to AFQT and our overview of ASVAB line scores and military jobs.

Verbal Expression (VE) is not a separate test section. It is a combined verbal score built from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. When goarmy.com says a family needs Verbal Expression, that means your two verbal subtests count together.

The Ten Army Line Scores at a Glance

The table below follows the category descriptions published on goarmy.com. The page names each category and the subtests it requires high scores in. It does not print the two letter abbreviations, so the abbreviations here are the standard names recruiters and MOS listings use. Sample jobs are the examples goarmy.com itself gives for each family, and are illustrations rather than complete lists.

Which Subtests Matter Most

Count how many composites each subtest touches and a pattern appears. Using the table above, Verbal Expression feeds six of the ten composites (GT, CL, CO, OF, SC, and ST). Mechanical Comprehension also feeds six (CO, FA, MM, OF, SC, and ST). Arithmetic Reasoning feeds five (GT, CL, EL, FA, and SC), as does Mathematics Knowledge (CL, EL, FA, GM, and ST) and Auto and Shop Information (CO, GM, MM, OF, and SC). Electronics Information feeds three (EL, GM, MM) and General Science feeds three (EL, GM, ST).

The practical takeaway: VE and MC appear in six composites each, then AR, MK and AS in five each, so those subtests are the highest leverage ones. Raising one of them can improve several line scores at once.

How Line Scores Connect to Your Job Options

Every MOS has its own minimums. A technical job might ask for a high GT or EL; a mechanical job might ask for a high MM. The minimums for a given MOS change with the needs of the Army, so the number you read in a forum or an old guide may be out of date. Your recruiter can confirm the current cutoff for any MOS, and our list of questions to ask your recruiter includes how to ask for the line scores that matter for the jobs you want.

If your first result leaves your preferred jobs just out of reach, a retest may be possible. Waiting periods and limits apply, so read the ASVAB retake rules before you plan a second attempt. Comparing services is also worth a look; our guide to choosing a branch covers the differences.

How to Build a Study Plan Around Line Scores

1. Pick two or three MOS you actually want from goarmy.com and note the composite each one belongs to.
2. List the subtests that feed those composites.
3. Take a practice test and mark which of those subtests are weakest.
4. Spend most of your study time there, then retest yourself on the same subtests.

Targeted practice beats general review. A recruit aiming for EL jobs should spend time on General Science, Electronics Information, and the two math subtests, not on Auto and Shop. A recruit aiming for CL jobs should lean on verbal and math work.

Raise the Scores That Feed Your Composites

Every composite is built from the same nine subtests, so one round of focused practice lifts several of them at once. Try a free ASVAB practice test to find your weakest subtests, then get full access to 2,400+ ASVAB practice questions to work on them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does GT stand for in the Army?

GT stands for General Technical. As of October 2026, the DoD ASVAB program site lists it as Arithmetic Reasoning plus Verbal Expression, where Verbal Expression combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension.

Are CL and CO the same as the AFQT?

No. The AFQT is a separate score used for enlistment eligibility. CL (Clerical) and CO (Combat) are line scores used for job qualification. Clerical draws on Verbal Expression, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge. Combat draws on Verbal Expression, Auto and Shop Information, and Mechanical Comprehension.

Do I need a high score on all ten line scores?

No. A job looks at the composite that matches its work. You only need the minimum for the MOS you want, and your recruiter can tell you the current number.

Can the minimum line scores for a job change?

Yes. Minimums can shift with Army needs, so confirm any cutoff with a recruiter before you rely on it.

Sources

• goarmy.com, ASVAB
• Official ASVAB program, military jobs