Be very clear on one point: YOUR ASVAB SCORES DO MATTER. While there are those who would try and tell you that you should just go in, take the ASVAB test, and “let the chips fall where they may” – they’re wrong!
By now you probably understand that you want the best scores possible so that you will be given a choice of military jobs at the best, and at the very least, you will be slotted for Air Force jobs, Army jobs, Navy jobs, or Marine jobs that really suit you and that you will like.
But you may not know that good ASVAB scores can also mean money – read on about how. This is important stuff!
So how is the ASVAB graded, anyway?
There are actually 10 subtests in the ASVAB test. The ASVAB test you take will first be graded for what’s called the AFQT score. This is a total score of four of the 10 subtests:
Word Knowledge (WK)
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
This AFQT score determines if you can get into the military. If you get less than a 31, you can’t get in. Another reason to take an ASVAB practice test before you take the real thing.
On the other hand, if you get, say, a 69, the military may want to consider you for some things that mean more money for you. This score of 69 will mean that you scored higher on these four subtests than 69% of the other people who took it.
A good score (usually above 51 or so is considered good) can mean money:
-An enlistment bonus.
-Pay a college loan.
-Get you into one of the military academies, which means Officer Candidate school, which means you’ll earn more.
Another reason for you to do well is that even if you don’t go on to college and you enlist, you will have a better choice of jobs to take. So if you choose a job to be trained for while you’re in the military, think what you can continue to do with that job (and all the free training and experience) once you leave the military!
Good ASVAB scores matter because they can lead to more money!