Guide · ASVAB & Jobs
ASVAB Line Scores, Explained
ASVAB line scores are composite scores built from your subtest results — like GT = Verbal Expression + Arithmetic Reasoning — and they decide which jobs you qualify for, separate from the AFQT percentile that gets you in the door.
Recruiters love to talk about the AFQT — the headline percentile. That number gets you a contract. It does not get you a job. The job is decided by a quieter set of numbers most recruits never get fully explained: the line scores. This guide breaks down the difference, the subtests they're built from, and the Army's ten composites — so you know which number to chase.
This is a guide, not a calculator. It explains the system and routes you to the official scoring source and to the tools that show which Army jobs your scores actually unlock.
| The Fact | What It Means |
|---|---|
| AFQT | Percentile 1–99 from 2VE + AR + MK. Gates whether you can enlist at all. |
| Line scores | Composite scores from your subtests. Gate which MOS / job you qualify for. |
| VE = WK + PC | Verbal Expression = Word Knowledge + Paragraph Comprehension. |
| GT = VE + AR | The one rock-solid composite formula. The score most jobs check. |
| 10 Army composites | GT, CL, CO, EL, FA, GM, MM, OF, SC, ST — each maps to a job cluster. |
| Other branches differ | Navy uses its own line scores; the Air Force uses MAGE. Army composites are below. |
SEC 1Two different numbers. One gets you in; the other picks your job.
AFQT vs Line Scores
The AFQT — The Door
The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) is the percentile everyone fixates on. It runs 1 to 99 and it's computed from just four subtests: 2VE + AR + MK — your Verbal Expression score doubled, plus Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge. That number decides whether a branch will take you and which AFQT category you fall into. It is the recruiting gate. It says nothing, by itself, about what you'll actually do.
Line Scores — The Job
Line scores (a.k.a. composite scores) are a separate set of numbers. Each branch combines your ten subtest scores into its own formulas, and each formula targets a cluster of jobs. The Army has ten of them. Every MOS publishes the line score and minimum it requires — that's the wall between you and the job you want.
★ NoteA high AFQT does not guarantee a high line score for the specific MOS you want. You can clear the enlistment percentile easily and still come up short on, say, the EL composite for an electronics job. Know which line score your target MOS uses before you test.
The One-Sentence Version
AFQT gets you in the door. Line scores decide which door you walk through. If you only learn one thing about ASVAB scoring, learn that.
SEC 2Nine subtests. Every score on your sheet is built from these.
The Subtests Behind Everything
The Building Blocks
Both the AFQT and every line score are assembled from the same raw material: your individual subtest scores. Here's the standard current set. Note that VE (Verbal Expression) isn't a test you sit — it's a derived score, VE = WK + PC, and it shows up all over the composite formulas.
| Code | Subtest | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| GS | General Science | Life, earth, space, and physical science. |
| AR | Arithmetic Reasoning | Word problems / applied math. Feeds AFQT and GT. |
| WK | Word Knowledge | Vocabulary. Half of Verbal Expression (VE). |
| PC | Paragraph Comprehension | Reading comprehension. The other half of VE. |
| MK | Mathematics Knowledge | Algebra and geometry. Feeds the AFQT. |
| EI | Electronics Information | Circuits, current, electrical systems. |
| AS | Auto & Shop Information | Cars, tools, shop practices. |
| MC | Mechanical Comprehension | Mechanical principles, physics of machines. |
| AO | Assembling Objects | Spatial reasoning. Does NOT count toward the AFQT. |
⚠ Watch OutOlder composite formulas used two subtests that no longer exist on the computer-adaptive ASVAB — Numerical Operations (NO) and Coding Speed (CS). If you find a formula online that includes NO or CS, it's from a legacy version. That's exactly why we route the precise current formulas to the official source instead of printing a version that might be out of date.
SEC 3GT is the famous one. There are nine others, each guarding a different lane.
The Army's 10 Composites — and What Each Unlocks
The Composite Map
The Army sorts its jobs into ten composite areas. Each MOS is gated by one (sometimes two) of these line scores and a minimum number. Below is what each composite is for — the job clusters it unlocks.
| Code | Composite | What It Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| GT | General Technical | Officer programs, intelligence, Special Forces, civil affairs. The one most jobs check. |
| CL | Clerical | Finance, administration, personnel, HR. |
| CO | Combat | Infantry, armor, and other direct-combat MOS. |
| EL | Electronics | Radar, avionics, electrical, signal intelligence. |
| FA | Field Artillery | Fire support and artillery operations. |
| GM | General Maintenance | Maintenance, construction, utilities. |
| MM | Mechanical Maintenance | Vehicle repair, equipment maintenance, aviation mechanics. |
| OF | Operators & Food | Transportation, equipment operators, food service. |
| SC | Surveillance & Communications | Signal, surveillance, communications, cyber. |
| ST | Skilled Technical | Medical, electronics, communications, IT. |
GT Is the One Worth Chasing
If you only optimize one composite, make it GT. GT = VE + AR — this is the one formula that's identical across every source, no legacy-subtest asterisks. A strong GT opens up the widest range of MOS, qualifies you for officer programs, Special Forces, warrant tracks, and a long list of schools. It's also the score most people retest or attend a prep course to raise. Many MOS set a GT floor; clearing it is often the difference between the job you want and the job that's left.
On the Exact Formulas
You'll find a dozen sites listing the precise subtest formula for each of CL, CO, EL, FA, GM, MM, OF, SC and ST — and they don't all agree, partly because of the retired NO/CS subtests and ASVAB-era differences. We're not going to print a formula we can't fully stand behind. For GT = VE + AR we're confident; for the rest, what matters to you is what the composite is for (above) and the minimum your target MOS requires. For the exact current formulas, go to the official ASVAB source, your recruiter, or your own score sheet — all linked below.
⚠ Watch OutDon't make a contract decision off a composite formula you copied from a test-prep blog. Confirm the line score and minimum for your specific MOS against official Army sources or your score sheet before you sign.
SEC 4These ten composites are Army. The other services don't use them.
Other Branches Score Differently
Same Subtests, Different Math
Every branch starts from the same nine ASVAB subtests and the same AFQT, but each one builds its own composites. The Navy uses its own set of line scores for its ratings. The Air Force uses the MAGE system — four composites: Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electronic. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard have their own combinations too. So a number that qualifies you for an Army MOS doesn't map one-to-one to a job in another branch. This guide focuses on the Army's ten; check the relevant branch source for the others.
SEC 5Where the numbers live, and how to turn them into a job list.
How to Find YOUR Scores
Your Score Sheet
Your line scores are printed on your ASVAB score sheet — the report MEPS hands you after you test — and they carry forward onto your enlistment paperwork and personnel record. If you're a recruit and you've only been told your AFQT, ask your recruiter for the full breakdown. The AFQT is the headline; the line scores are the part that actually decides your options.
Turn Scores Into a Job List
Once you have your numbers, the useful move is to see which jobs they unlock. Our tools do exactly that — drop in your scores and get the real MOS pages back, not a brochure.
Frequently Asked
What is a GT score and how is it calculated?
GT stands for General Technical, and it is the Army line score most jobs (and every officer and Special Forces pipeline) care about. It is the one composite formula that is rock-solid across every source: GT = VE + AR — your Verbal Expression score (Word Knowledge + Paragraph Comprehension) plus your Arithmetic Reasoning score. A higher GT opens up more MOS, qualifies you for officer programs and many schools, and is the score you retest or reclass to raise. Many MOS set a GT floor (commonly 100–110), so it is the single number most worth improving.
What's the difference between AFQT and line scores?
The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) is a percentile from 1 to 99 computed from four subtests — 2VE + AR + MK (Verbal Expression doubled, plus Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge). It decides whether you can enlist at all and which AFQT category you land in. Line scores (also called composite scores) are a separate set of numbers built from your ten subtests in different combinations, and they decide which specific jobs or MOS you qualify for. In short: AFQT gets you in the door; line scores decide which door you walk through.
What do ASVAB line scores qualify me for?
Each Army line score maps to a cluster of job fields. GT (General Technical) covers officer programs, intelligence, Special Forces and civil affairs; ST (Skilled Technical) covers medical, electronics, communications and IT; EL (Electronics) covers radar, avionics and signals; MM (Mechanical Maintenance) covers vehicle and equipment repair; CL (Clerical) covers finance, admin and personnel; CO (Combat) covers infantry and armor; FA (Field Artillery) covers fire support; GM (General Maintenance) covers maintenance, construction and utilities; OF (Operators and Food) covers transportation and food service; SC (Surveillance and Communications) covers signal, surveillance and cyber. Every MOS lists the line score and minimum it requires.
Where do I see my line scores?
Your line scores are on your ASVAB score sheet (the printout MEPS gives you) and, once you are in, on your enlistment paperwork and personnel record. If you are still a recruit, ask your recruiter for your full score breakdown — not just the AFQT — because that is what determines your job options. The official, branch-neutral explanation lives at officialasvab.com. To see which Army jobs your scores unlock, run the numbers through our ASVAB Jobs by Score tool.
Official Sources
- Official ASVAB — Understanding ASVAB Scores →
The DoD's official ASVAB site. AFQT computation (AR, MK, PC, WK), percentile reference group, and how composites determine job assignment.
- Official ASVAB — Home →
Subtest descriptions, test format, and applicant resources straight from the source.
- GoArmy — Careers & Jobs →
Official Army careers site — confirm the line score and minimum a specific MOS requires.
- Military.com — What Your ASVAB Scores Mean →
Plain-English explainer of AFQT vs composite scores and how each branch builds its own line scores.