How Navy ASVAB Scores Open Doors to Your Career

Think you’re ready for the Navy? Prove it with your Navy ASVAB score. It’s more than a number; it’s your tactical clearance to enlist, qualify for a job, and start your military journey. It all begins here, whether aiming for a high-tech rating, a special ops role, or just trying to pass the gate. This guide reveals what your Navy ASVAB score really means, how it’s calculated, and what jobs it can unlock.

How Navy ASVAB score calculated?

How Navy ASVAB score calculated?

ASVAB subtests that contribute to Navy scoring

The ASVAB test consists of 9 subtests, each designed to assess a different area of aptitude. However, not all subtests are used when calculating scores for Navy enlistment or job qualification.
The key subtests that are most often used in Navy scoring include:

• General Science (GS) 
• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• Electronics Information (EI)
• Auto and Shop Information (AS)
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
• Assembling Objects (AO)

Navy AFQT Score

ASVAB scores include several different types of scores, each serving a unique purpose in enlistment and job qualification. The Navy uses your AFQT score (Armed Forces Qualification Test score) to determine if you can enlist. This score is calculated from only four subtests:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
• Word Knowledge (WK)
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

These four subtests are used to calculate your AFQT score using the following formula:

AFQT = (2 × VE) + AR + MK

VE (Verbal Expression) is the sum of your scaled Word Knowledge (WK) and Paragraph Comprehension (PC) scores.

The result is then converted into a percentile (1–99), indicating how you performed compared to a reference group. For example, a percentile of 70 means you scored better than 70% of the sample population. The percentile score falls into one of the following categories, which help determine enlistment eligibility:

Navy rating score

The Navy does not use line scores like the Army or Marine Corps; instead, it develops its own subtest score combinations to evaluate eligibility for each rating. In the Navy, a “rating” refers to a specific job or occupational specialty.

For example: HM – Hospital Corpsman.

Minimum ASVAB score for the Navy

Before you can explore specific Navy jobs based on ASVAB scores, it’s important to understand the minimum Navy ASVAB score required just to qualify for enlistment. These scores vary depending on your education level and applicant category. Here’s a breakdown:

Navy jobs and ASVAB score requirements

Navy jobs and ASVAB score requirements

Navy ASVAB scores and jobs chart

Each Navy job has its own minimum ASVAB subtest score requirements, so knowing where you stand can help you set realistic goals and make informed decisions about your future in the military.
To make things easier, here’s a clear overview of the ASVAB scores needed for different Navy career paths.

Tips to expand your Navy career opportunities

Want more career choices in the Navy? Improving your ASVAB scores is the key. Start with these tips:

• Identify your target rating: Use the table above to find the Navy job you’re interested in and check the required ASVAB line scores for that role.
• Focus on relevant subtests: Prioritize studying the ASVAB sections that directly impact the line scores needed for your desired rating. You can find all the subtest practice in our ASVAB Practice Test!
• Use trusted study resources: Prepare with materials like the ASVAB Study Guide, Navy ASVAB practice tests, and other reliable prep tools.
• Take full-length, timed practice tests: Simulate real exam conditions with our free full-length ASVAB practice test to improve your accuracy, pacing, and familiarity with the test format.
• Review and retake: Don’t hesitate to take the ASVAB again; higher scores can lead to more job options, enlistment bonuses, and long-term advancement in your Navy career.

FAQs

1. What is a good Navy ASVAB score?

A good ASVAB score for the Navy depends on the specific job (rating) you’re targeting, as each has its own score requirements. The first step is to achieve at least a 31 on the AFQT to qualify for enlistment. From there, aim for a score of 50 or higher, which meets the cutoff for many Navy entry-level roles. The higher you score, the more competitive you become and the more career opportunities you’ll have access to.

2. What is the minimum ASVAB score for the Navy?

The minimum score you need to enlist in the Navy depends on your educational background:

• Tier I (High School Diploma or Equivalent): 31
• Tier II (GED or Alternative Credential): 50
• Tier III (No Education Credentials): 50
• Prior Service (Former Navy): No minimum specified
• OSVET (Veterans from Other Services): 31

Final thoughts

Navy ASVAB score is more than a number; it’s a doorway. Behind it are careers, challenges, and chances you haven’t yet imagined. Don’t approach the test as a hurdle to clear, but as the first step toward something greater. Study with purpose, aim with clarity, and trust that every point you earn is a brick in the foundation of your future in the Navy.