Air Force MAGE Scores: How the Four Composites Work
The Air Force uses four ASVAB composites, known as MAGE, to decide which career fields you qualify for: Mechanical (M), Administrative (A), General (G), and Electronics (E). Each is reported as a percentile from 1 to 99 that compares you with other test takers rather than counting questions right. Per airforce.com and the Department of Defense ASVAB program site as of October 2026, Mechanical combines Arithmetic Reasoning, Mechanical Comprehension, Auto and Shop Information, and Verbal Expression (counted twice); Administrative combines Mathematics Knowledge and Verbal Expression; General combines Arithmetic Reasoning and Verbal Expression; and Electronics combines Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, and General Science. Career pages then set minimums, such as 50 Administrative for Aviation Resource Management, 59 Administrative for Human Resources and Administration, and 43 Mechanical with 45 Electronics for Electrical Systems. Applicants with a high school diploma need an AFQT of at least 31; GED holders need at least 50.
The Four Composites
Verbal Expression (VE) combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension into one verbal score. The formulas below are the Air Force rows of the DoD composite table. Remember that each composite is converted to a 1 to 99 percentile before a career field compares it with a minimum.
| Composite | Formula | Subtests feeding it | Sample careers (airforce.com) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical (M) | AR + 2VE + MC + AS | Arithmetic Reasoning, Verbal Expression (twice), Mechanical Comprehension, Auto and Shop Information | Aerospace Ground Equipment Specialist (2A6X2) |
| Administrative (A) | VE + MK | Verbal Expression, Mathematics Knowledge | Human Resources and Administration (3F0X1); Aviation Resource Management (1C0X2) |
| General (G) | VE + AR | Verbal Expression, Arithmetic Reasoning | All-Domain Command and Control Operations Specialist (1C3X1), together with an A score |
| Electronics (E) | AR + MK + EI + GS | Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, General Science | Electrical Systems Specialist (3E0X1), together with an M score |
Sample Career Fields and Their Published Minimums
Career pages on airforce.com list the composite minimums for each Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). These examples were readable on the pages as of October 2026. They are illustrations; minimums change, and many careers combine two composites.
| Career (airforce.com) | AFSC | Published minimums |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation Resource Management Specialist | 1C0X2 | 50 Administrative |
| Human Resources and Administration | 3F0X1 | 59 Administrative |
| All-Domain Command and Control Operations Specialist | 1C3X1 | 55 Administrative and 57 General |
| Electrical Systems Specialist | 3E0X1 | 43 Mechanical and 45 Electronics |
| Aerospace Ground Equipment Specialist | 2A6X2 | 47 Mechanical and 46 Electronics |
Reading the Pattern
Two things stand out. First, a career can require two composites at once. Technical maintenance careers often pair Mechanical with Electronics, and operations careers pair Administrative with General. You need both minimums, not an average. Second, the numbers are percentiles. A 59 Administrative reflects your standing relative to other test takers on that composite, not that you answered 59 percent of questions correctly.
The Air Force site also offers a career slider on its ASVAB page. Move a composite up, and the list of qualifying careers grows. That is the clearest way to see that a higher score means more choices. It is not a pass or fail line. See our overview of ASVAB line scores and military jobs for how the other services handle the same idea, and AFQT for the enlistment score.
Which Subtests Carry the Most Weight
Verbal Expression appears in three of the four composites, and counts double inside Mechanical, so verbal skill reaches further here than in most services. Arithmetic Reasoning appears in three composites (M, G, E). Mathematics Knowledge appears in two (A, E). Mechanical Comprehension, Auto and Shop Information, Electronics Information, and General Science each appear once, so they matter mainly for Mechanical and Electronics careers.
A practical study order for most applicants: verbal first, then Arithmetic Reasoning, then Mathematics Knowledge, then whichever technical subtests your target careers need. If you aim for maintenance fields, give Mechanical Comprehension and Auto and Shop Information real time. If you aim for electronics fields, give Electronics Information and General Science the same.
Because Air Force minimums are percentiles and the career list is long, the best habit is to check your own M, A, G, and E results against two or three careers you care about rather than the whole list. Write the four numbers down, note the gap to each target, and let the largest gap decide what you study next.
Planning Around Two Composite Careers
Suppose you want a maintenance career that asks for both Mechanical and Electronics. Your Mechanical composite leans on Mechanical Comprehension and Auto and Shop, plus Verbal Expression, which counts double in Mechanical (AR + 2VE + MC + AS), while Electronics leans on Electronics Information, General Science, and Mathematics Knowledge. The two share only Arithmetic Reasoning, so one round of study cannot cover both. Split your sessions: one block for the shared subtest, then separate blocks for each side. Check your practice results by subtest rather than by overall score, because an average can hide a weak composite that blocks the career.
Before You Test Again
If a composite holds you just below a career you want, a retest may be possible, subject to waiting periods. Read the ASVAB retake rules first. And ask your recruiter which careers are open at your current scores; our list of questions to ask your recruiter can help you frame that conversation.
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 MAGE stand for?
Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electronics. They are the four composites the Air Force uses to match applicants with career fields.
Are MAGE scores the same as the AFQT?
No. The AFQT sets enlistment eligibility, with a minimum of 31 for high school graduates and 50 for GED holders as of October 2026. MAGE scores decide which career fields you can enter.
Why does Verbal Expression count twice in Mechanical?
The Department of Defense composite table lists the Mechanical formula as AR + 2VE + MC + AS, which weights Verbal Expression twice.
Can I qualify for a career with only one composite?
Some careers list one, such as 59 Administrative for Human Resources and Administration. Others list two, so both must be met.
