If you are planning on taking, or have recently taken, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) with an eye toward joining the Air Force, here’s what you need to know:

The Air Force has specific requirements regarding the score you receive on the ASVAB. We’ll take a look at those requirements in just a moment, but first let’s look at how the Air Force uses the ASVAB.

The Air Force basically has two uses for the test:

1. To determine your eligibility to join the Air Force
2. To determine what jobs you are qualified to perform

Also, your performance on the ASVAB may make you eligible for various bonus enlistment incentives – which means doing your best on this test is important.

If you haven’t taken the ASVAB yet it is a series of timed aptitude tests that are used to classify selected candidates into appropriate job roles as well as ultimately decide the eligibility of candidates for US military service. The test covers the following areas: General Science; Arithmetic Reasoning; Word Knowledge; Paragraph Comprehension; Mathematics Knowledge; Electronics Information; Auto & Shop Information; Mechanical Comprehension; and Assembling Objects.

ASVAB Results

After taking the ASVAB, you will receive a report detailing your scores.

The scores listed in the report are all percentages between 1 and 99 percent. These ASVAB scores do not refer to the percentage of questions you answered correctly. Instead, your scores indicate how you did compared to others who took the test. So please keep that in mind as you look at your results.

Among the scores listed in the report will be your Armed Forces Qualification Test score. This score, which is compiled from your scores in the Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Mathematics Knowledge areas of the ASVAB will determine if you are eligible for service in the Air Force.

The Air Force requires a minimum AFQT score of 36. However, some exceptions are made for a small number of high school graduates who can score as low as 31. Most of those accepted into the Air Force score a 50 or above.

ASVAB and Air Force Jobs

As for its second use of the ASVAB, the Air Force creates four composite score areas from the individual ASVAB subtests and uses those as the qualifications for various jobs.  Jobs in the Air Force are referred to as “AFSC’s” (Air Force Specialty Code). To determine what jobs you qualify for, the Air Force breaks down your ASVAB subtest scores into groups known as “qualification areas.” The ASVAB subtests are: General Science (GS); Arithmetic Reasoning (AR); Word Knowledge (WK); Paragraph Comprehension (PC); Auto and Shop Information (AS); Mathematics Knowledge (MK); Mechanical Comprehension (MC); Electronics Information (EI); and Sum of Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension (VE).

The four composite areas, which the Air Force refers to as MAGE, are:

Mechanical Aptitude Score – General Science (GS), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), and Auto/Shop (AS).
Administrative Aptitude Score – Verbal Expression (VE).
General Aptitude Score – Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) and Verbal Expression (VE).
Electronics Aptitude Score – General Science (GS), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), and Electronics Information (EI).

According to statistics, approximately 40 percent of Air Force recruits enlist with a guaranteed job. The other 60 percent of recruits enlist in one of the four aptitude areas described above and then are assigned a job within that area.

If you did not score well in the aptitude area that you wanted, you may be able to retake the ASVAB. The Air Force allows recruits to retake the ASVAB to improve their enlistment options. To qualify for the retest, you will need to be interviewed by telephone or in person by a recruiting flight chief who will then approve or disapprove the retake.

The four qualification areas are:

Qualification Area ASVAB Subtests
G – General Verbal Expression (WK plus PC) and Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
M – Mechanical 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)
E – Electrical Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Electronics Information (EI), and General Science (GS)
General AFSC’s
AFSC AIR FORCE JOB TITLE Qualification Area Minimum Scores
1A031 In-Flight Refueling G55
1A231 Aircraft Loadmaster G57
1A431 Airborne Operations Apprentice G55
1A831 Airborne Cryptologic Linguist G72
1C131 Air Traffic Control G55 & M55
1C231* Combat Control G44
1C331 Command Post G49
1C431* TACP G49
1C531 Aerospace Control & Warning Systems G55
1C731 Airfield Management G50 & M40
1N031 Intelligence Applications G57
1N131 Imagery Interpreter G66
1N231 Signals Intelligence Production G53
1N330 Cryptologic Linguist G72
1N431 Signal Intelligence Analysis G62
1N531 Electronic Signals Intel G72
1N631 Electronic System Security G62
1T031* Survival Evasion, Resist & Escape G55
1T231* Pararescue G44
1U031 Unmanned Aerospace Sys Sensor Operator G64 or E54
1W031 Weather G66 & E50
1W032* Special Operations Weather Apprentice G66 & E50
2R031 Maintenance Data Systems Analysis G55
2R131 Maintenance Scheduling G44
2S031 Material Management G44 or A41
2W031 Munitions System M55 or G55
3D032 Cyber Systems Operations G64
3D033 Cyber Security G64
3E433 Pest Management G38
3E531 Engineering G49
3E631 Operations Management G44
3E731 Fire Protection G38
3E831 Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) G64 & M60
3E931 Readiness G62
3M031 Services G24
3N031 Public Affairs G72
3N032** Radio & Television Broadcasting G72
3N033 Graphic Arts Apprentice G44
3N034 Still Photo G44
3N131** Regional Band G24 or A21
3N231** Premier Band G24 or A21
3P031 Security Forces G33
4A031 Health Services Management G44
4A131 Medical Materiel G44
4B031 Bioenvironmental Engineering G49
4C031 Mental Health Service G55
4D031 Diet Therapy G44
4E031 Public Health G44
4H031 Cardiopulmonary G44
4J032 Physical Medicine Apprentice G49
4M031 Aerospace Physiology G44
4N031 Medical Services G44
4N131 Surgical Services G44
4P031 Pharmacy G44
4R031 Diagnostic Imaging G44
4T031 Medical Laboratory G62
4T032 Histopathology G44
4V031 Optometry G55
4Y031 Dental Assistant G44
4Y032 Dental Lab G66
6C031 Contracting G72
6F031 Financial Management G57
9TG43 General Aptitude Area G44
9TG58 General Aptitude Area G62
9TG64 General Aptitude Area G66
9TG69 General Aptitude Area G72
9TG70 General Aptitude Area G72

* These jobs require a Physical Assessment Stamina Test and are open to Males Only
** These jobs require an audition

 

Mechanical AFSC’s
AFSC AIR FORCE JOB TITLE Qualification Area Minimum Scores
1A731 Aerial Gunner M60 or E45
1P031 Aircrew Flight Equipment M40
2A333 Tactical Aircraft Maintenance M47
2A531 Aerospace Maintenance M47
2A532 Helicopter Maintenance M56
2A631 Aerospace Propulsion Turboprop M56
2A632 Aerospace Ground Equipment M47 & E28
2A633 Aircrew Egress Systems M56
2A634 Aircraft Fuel Systems M47
2A635 Aircraft Hydraulic Systems M56
2A731 Aircraft Metals Technology M47
2A732 NDI M42
2A733 Aircraft Structural Maintenance M47
2A735 Low Observable Aircraft Maintenance M47
2F031 Fuels M47 & G38
2M032 Missile & Space Sys Maintenance M47
2T131 Vehicle Operations M40
2T231 Air Transportation M47 & A28
2T331 Special Purpose Vehicle & Equip Maint M47
2T332 Special Vehicle Maintenance M40
2W031 Munitions System M60 or G57
2W131 Aircraft Armament Systems M60 or E45
2W231 Nuclear Weapons M60
3E032 Electrical Power Production M56 & E40
3E131 Heating, Vent, Air Cond & Refriger M47 or E28
3E231 Pavements And Construction Equip M40
3E331 Structural M47
3E431 Utilities System M47
3E432 Liquid Fuel System Maintenance M47
3E831 Explosive Ordinance Disposal M55 & G60
9S100 Technical Applications Specialist** M88 & E85
9TM44 Mechanical Aptitude Area M47
9TM51 Mechanical Aptitude Area M56
9TM55 Mechanical Aptitude Area M60

 

Administrative AFSC’s
AFSC AIR FORCE JOB TITLE Qualification Area Minimum Scores
1C032 Operations Resource Management A41
2G031 Logistics Plans A56
2T031 Traffic Management A35
2T337 Vehicle Maint Control & Analysis A41
3D031 Knowledge Operations Management A47
3S031 Personnel A41
9TA45 Administrative Aptitude Area A41
9TA61 Administrative Aptitude Area A56

 

Electrical AFSC’s
AFSC AIR FORCE JOB TITLE Qualification Area Minimum Scores
1A311 Airborne Communication Systems E70
1C631 Space Systems Operations E60
2A031 Avionics Test Station & Component E70
2A331 Avionic Attack control Systems E70
2A332 Avionic Systems E70
2A533 Bomber Avionics Systems E70
2A636 Aircraft Electrical & Environmental Sys E61 & M41
2M031 Missile & Space Sys Electronics Maint E70
2M033 Missile & Space Facilities E70
2P031 Precision Measurement Equip Lab E70
3D131 Client Systems E60
3D132 Cyber Transport Systems E70
3D133 RF Transmission Systems E70
3D134 Spectrum Operations E60
3D135 Ground Radar Systems E70
3D136 Airfield Systems E70
3D137 Cable and Antenna Systems E55 & M55
3E031 Electrical Systems E35 & M35
4A231 Biomedical Equipment E70 & M60
9TE67 Electronic Aptitude Area E70
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