Understanding Army ASVAB Composite Scores

ASVAB Scoring

After taking the ASVAB, you may wonder what grade or percentage you received. But unlike the more traditional tests you encounter in school, ASVAB scoring is not as black-and-white as “I got an 87%!” or “I got an A!” Here’s what you need to know:

The ASVAB is broken down into nine sections. They are Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Assembling Objects (AO), Auto and Shop Information (AS), Electronics Information (EI), General Science (GS), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Mechanical Comprehension (MC), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK).

Four of these sections- Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge- make up your AFQT score. This score is the most important as it determines if you can enlist in the military at all.

The 10 Composite Scores

The Combinations of these sections also make up your composite or “line” scores. Composite scores determine which MOS (military jobs) you qualify for. In the Army, there are 10 composite scores. They are :

Clerical (CL) - AR, MK, PC and WK

Combat (CO) - AS, PC, MC, WK

Electronics (EL) - AR, EI, GS, MK

Field Artillery (FA) - AR, MK, MC

General Maintenance (GM) - AS, EI, GS, MK

General Technical (GT) -AR, PC, WK

Mechanical Maintenance (MM) - AS, EI, MC

Operators and Food (OF) - AS, PC, MC, WK

Surveillance and Communications (SC) - AR, AS, MC, PC, WK

Skilled Technical (ST) - GS, MK, MC, PC, WK

Note: When determining composite scores, sometimes you may see the Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension sections combined and referred to as “Verbal Expression,” abbreviated as VE

What to Study

When studying for the ASVAB, it’s important to give special focus to the sections that make up your AFQT score. Knowing which MOS you’re leaning towards (or away from) can also help you focus your attention. For example, let’s say you know you wouldn’t mind something clerical or food related, but you definitely aren’t interested in electronics or maintenance. When studying, it probably isn’t a bad idea to just to gloss over the Electronics Information section, as it isn’t part of your AFQT score or either MOS you are interested in.