Average Scores in ASVAB

What Options are Open for Average Scorers in ASVAB

This test is one of the prerequisites to measure your aptitude to join the United States military services. It comprises a series of sub-tests to determine the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score as well as the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) score. The AFQT score tells examiners whether you are mentally prepared for a career in the services, whereas the MOS score tells the examiners the kind of job you are capable of taking up.

Average Scores in ASVAB:

Achieving a high score in this test is no mean feat. It requires dedication and enough practice to achieve higher than the average score. Moreover, higher the scores better will be your chances of getting the position that you want. These scores are calculated by adding the scores from four sub-tests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK). AFQT scores are provided to candidates as a percentile between 1 and 99.

Listed below is the average score for each division of the military services:

The median score is anywhere from 50 to 64 for a high-school student whereas it is 65 for a General Education Development graduate (GED). The GED exam tests whether the candidate has the same level of knowledge as a high-school student.
For example, in order to enlist yourself in the Army, you will need an AFQT score of 31. However, if you want to choose your MOS, you will need to achieve a score of 50 or more. Line scores are also important because they enable you to select the skill/job that you’re good at. Your AFQT score also decides you salary/pay package; the higher your AFQT score, the better your additional benefits/variables.

Your General Technical (GT) score plays a crucial role in determining your career. A high GT score (of around >110) will give you the option to choose a job in the technical field, such as in the fields of Communication or Information Technology.

Options for Average Scorers:

The options for a candidate who has an average result are limited. It is always beneficial to score as high as you can because your scores will be equated with the other candidates who have appeared for the test. Doing so might reduce your scores even further if you have not performed well in the test.
The important point for a candidate who has an average score is that of ‘choice’. Recruiters would always provide options to those who have scored better than you. Moreover, to gain an Officer level position in the services, you need to score well. Joining as an Officer provides you further options that will be more suited to your personality and expertise. Being able to choose your career path is an important facet because you have the freedom to chart your success. However, a low or average score can ruin your chances of choosing what you want to do.
An average performance spells difficulties in choosing a career. Although you can enlist yourself for the services, you might not get the opportunity to choose a job that interests you or for which you might have the requisite skills.

Conclusion:

Being able to choose a career is a boon and very few candidates are fortunate enough to do so. As mentioned above, the average score is simply the cut-off percentile that a candidate must score in order to enlist in the military services. Anything below that or even at that point will not provide you an option to choose your career in the services. There is tremendous competition and it is imperative that you work hard and put in all that you can to score as high as possible. This leads to motivation and satisfaction in one’s career, which is an important aspect to succeed in one’s chosen career.