The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is required for those wishing to join the military. The exam has four sections, and scores are used to determine eligibility and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). A high school diploma or GED is also required.
AFQT is an abbreviation for Armed Forces Qualification Test. Individuals who wish to enter any of the military branches must first take this test. There are several components to this exam, and participants get an overall score in addition to the four individual scores. Each military branch has a minimum acceptance score: Air Force recruits must have 55, Army recruits need 31, and Coast Guard recruits need 45.
The AFQT test is usually taken by high school students, but anyone interested in applying can take the exam. The four sections of the exam include Math, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. Test takers are given a percentage score, which ranges from one to 99. For example, an individual who scores a 99 in any subject has more knowledge in that subject than 99% of other test takers.
To find the overall score, add the paragraph comprehension score and the word knowledge score and multiply that number by two. The resulting number should be added to the arithmetic reasoning score and the math knowledge score. This answer is the overall score.
Test scores are separated into categories. There are eight categories a recruit can be placed into. The main categories are for individuals with high scores. Someone who receives an AFQT score of zero to nine will not be admitted to a military branch, and someone who scores in the bottom seventh category will not have many options for military employment. Someone who scores very high on the exam will have more options for a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
In addition to taking the exam, a potential military recruit needs to have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). The Air Force strongly prefers high school graduates to GED holders, but the Army allows more GED recruits than any other branch. In fact, less than half a percent of Air Force enlistees have a GED as opposed to a high school diploma. Those who hold a GED have very high AFQT scores. About 15% of new Army recruits come in with a GED.
Test scores are only one component of a recruit’s application. He or she must have completed high school, be at least 17 years old, and score well on the test and interview portions. The military recruiter will weigh all of these factors in deciding whether the candidate is eligible for enlistment.
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