What ASVAB Score Do You Need for the Army?
The Army requires an AFQT score of at least 31 to enlist, as of October 2026. The AFQT is the percentile score built from four ASVAB subtests: Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge. Clearing 31 gets you eligible to enlist. It does not choose your job. The Army also converts your ASVAB results into ten line score families, and each one gates a group of Army jobs (called MOS). You can retest if your score is short: wait one calendar month after the first test, one more calendar month after the second, then six calendar months after that. goarmy.com says your most recent score, not your highest, is the one used, and the official ASVAB program requires a confirmation test after a critical AFQT gain, defined as 20 or more points within six months. Scores can be used for enlistment for up to two years. Minimums shift with recruiting needs, so confirm the current number with your recruiter before you plan around it.
What Is the Army AFQT Minimum?
goarmy.com states that you need an ASVAB score of at least 31 to enlist. That figure is a percentile score, not a count of right answers. For a plain-language walkthrough of how the percentile is built, see AFQT scores explained.
Many readers ask whether the minimum is different for GED holders. Some branches publish a separate, higher GED floor. As of October 2026, the Army pages we checked on goarmy.com do not list a separate GED number, so we are not going to quote one. Ask your recruiter which credential tier applies to you and what score it requires. Education tier rules can change independently of the 31 figure.
How Line Scores Decide Your MOS
Your AFQT only tells the Army you are eligible. Line scores tell the Army which jobs you fit. goarmy.com groups jobs into career categories and shows which ASVAB subject areas feed each one. Each MOS then carries its own minimum for its category, and those cutoffs are set by the Army and can change. goarmy.com does not publish a numeric cutoff for each MOS in the pages we reviewed, so your recruiter or the MOS listing is where you confirm the exact number for a job you want. For more on how composites work across branches, read ASVAB line scores and military jobs.
The table below shows which subject areas goarmy.com lists for several career categories. It is illustrative, not a list of cutoffs.
| Job area | Subject areas that feed the category (per goarmy.com) |
|---|---|
| Clerical | Verbal Expression, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge |
| Electronics | General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information |
| Field Artillery | Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension |
| Mechanical Maintenance | Auto and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Electronics Information |
| General Technical | Verbal Expression, Arithmetic Reasoning |
| Skilled Technical | General Science, Verbal Expression, Mechanical Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge |
Source: goarmy.com ASVAB page, as of October 2026. Verbal Expression combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. Numeric MOS cutoffs are not listed here; your recruiter confirms them.
The practical lesson: a strong Arithmetic Reasoning and Verbal Expression result shows up in several categories at once. If you want to shape your study time, start with the Arithmetic Reasoning study guide and the Word Knowledge study guide.
Do Higher Scores Earn Enlistment Bonuses?
Bonuses are tied to specific jobs and to what the Army needs at a given time, not to a published AFQT tier. As of October 2026, goarmy.com does not publish a score-tier bonus table on the ASVAB pages we reviewed, so treat any chart claiming exact score bands for bonuses with caution. Ask your recruiter which jobs you qualify for and whether any currently carry a bonus.
What If You Score Below the Cutoff?
You have options, and the first is a retest. The Army follows the shared ASVAB retest policy: one calendar month after your first attempt, one more calendar month after your second, then six calendar months before later attempts. Note that goarmy.com says your most recent score, not your highest, is the one used to assess you. The official ASVAB program also requires a confirmation test after a critical AFQT gain, defined as 20 or more points within six months. Full details are in our guide to ASVAB retake rules.
goarmy.com also describes the Future Soldier Preparatory Course for applicants who fall short. An applicant with a score of 21 could qualify for a 90 day academic track that covers all ASVAB subjects and includes opportunities to retake the test. Applicants with scores of 31 to 49 could qualify for a 30 day course option with one attempt to improve. Availability and seat limits are decided by the Army, so ask your recruiter.
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 Army?
As of October 2026, goarmy.com says you need an ASVAB (AFQT) score of at least 31 to enlist. Some jobs require higher line scores, and your recruiter can confirm current cutoffs.
How long is an ASVAB score good for?
The official ASVAB program says scores may be used for enlistment for up to two years from the date of testing.
Can I retake the ASVAB for the Army?
Yes. Wait one calendar month after your first test and one more calendar month after the second. After that, the wait is six calendar months. goarmy.com notes the most recent score is the one used.
Does the Army publish a separate GED score?
Not on the goarmy.com pages we checked as of October 2026. Ask your recruiter which education tier applies to you and which score it requires.
