The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It is often offered to U.S. high school students when they are in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade, though anyone eligible for enlistment may take it.
The ASVAB was first introduced in 1968 and was adopted by all branches of the military in 1976. It underwent a major revision in 2002. In 2004, the test's percentile rank scoring system was renormalized, to ensure that a score of 50% really did represent doing better than exactly 50% of the test takers.
The ASVAB contains nine sections and takes three hours to complete. The duration of each section varies between 7 and 39 minutes, the longest being for Arithmetic Reasoning. The test is typically administered in a computerized format (the CAT-ASWAB for (Computerized adaptive testing)) at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) or in a written format (P&P-ASWAB) at satellite locations called Military Entrance Test (MET) sites. Testing procedures vary depending on the mode of administration.
The tests are presented in the order in which they are administered.
Navy applicants also complete a Coding Speed (CS) test.
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is not a test, rather, it is the score obtained by taking the ASVAB. The AFQT is used to determine basic qualifications for enlistment.
The AFQT scores are divided into the following categories
- The formula for computing an AFQT score is: AR + MK + (2 ÃÂ VE).
- The VE (verbal) score is determined by adding the raw scores from the PC and WK tests and using a table to get the VE score from that combined PC and WK raw score.
- AFQT scores are not raw scores, but rather percentile scores indicating how each examinee performed compared with the base youth population. For example, if someone receives an AFQT score of 55 that means they scored higher than 55 percent of all other members of the base youth population. The highest possible percentile score is 99.
- The minimum score for enlistment varies according to branch of service and whether the enlistee has a high school diploma.
GED holders who have earned 15 college credits in courses at the 100 level or higher are considered equivalent to those holding high school diplomas, so they need only the Tier I score to enlist. However, eligibility is not determined by the score alone. Depending on current recruitment goals an applicant may be required to achieve a higher score than the required minimum AFQT score in order to be considered for enlistment. Up-to-date information about eligibility requirements can be obtained from local recruiting centers.
Applicants in Category V are legally ineligible for enlistment. Applicants in Category IV must be high school diploma holders (unless they are needed to satisfy âÂÂestablished strengthâ requirements). The law limits the percentage of accessions who can fall between Categories IV and V (currently, the limit is 20% of all persons originally enlisted in a given armed force in a given fiscal year).
In addition to the ASVAB's AFQT, each branch has military occupational specialty, or MOS, scores. Combinations of scores from the nine tests are used to determine qualification for a MOS. These combinations are called "aptitude area scores", "composite scores", or "line scores". Each of the five armed services has its own aptitude area scores and sets its own minimum composite scores for each MOS.
Air Force/Air National Guard Composite Scores (Standard AFQT score AR + MK + (2 x VE))
Class "A" Schools are naval service schools in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard where basic technical knowledge required for job performance in a given naval rating is taught. Enrollment is usually done after boot camp or a tour of duty at sea depending on the individual's enlistment contract and the manpower needs of the service.