ASVAB guideASVAB in 2027
ASVAB in 2027: What's Confirmed About the Test, Scores, and Rules
Planning to take the ASVAB in 2027? See what official pages confirm today: the CAT-ASVAB subtests and time limits, how the AFQT is scored, service minimums, retest waits, how long scores stay valid, and what to recheck before your test date.
Short answer
As of October 27, 2026, the official ASVAB site doesn't announce any change to the test for 2027. The computer version has 10 subtests, the AFQT is a 1–99 percentile built from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge, and scores can be used to enlist for up to two years. Each service sets its own minimum: GoArmy lists at least 31, and the Air Force lists 31 for high school seniors or graduates and 50 for GED holders. Retests need a one-month wait, another month after that, then six months.
Is the ASVAB changing in 2027?
Not that the official sources say. The official ASVAB site, checked October 27, 2026, describes the same test, scoring, and retest rules it has published for applicants, and it doesn't announce a new version or a change for 2027. GoArmy's and the Air Force's ASVAB pages, checked the same day, don't mention one either.
That isn't a guarantee for the whole year. Service minimums and job requirements can change, and your recruiter has the current rules. But if you're preparing now for a 2027 test date, you're preparing for the test described below.
The test you'll take
Most applicants take the computer-adaptive CAT-ASVAB at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) or a Military Entrance Test (MET) site. The official site says paper testing is offered at only a few MET sites, and the PiCAT lets some applicants test at home with a recruiter's code before a short verification test.
The official CAT-ASVAB table, without tryout questions:
| Subtest | Scored questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | 15 | 12 |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | 15 | 55 |
| Word Knowledge | 15 | 9 |
| Paragraph Comprehension | 10 | 27 |
| Mathematics Knowledge | 15 | 31 |
| Electronics Information | 15 | 10 |
| Auto Information | 10 | 7 |
| Shop Information | 10 | 6 |
| Mechanical Comprehension | 15 | 22 |
| Assembling Objects | 15 | 18 |
Some test takers also get unscored tryout questions, with longer time limits for each subtest. The official site says the computer test takes about two hours and shows your scores right after you finish. You can't use a calculator. The test format guide covers the paper and PiCAT versions.
How the score works
- AFQT. Your enlistment score comes from the standard scores of four subtests: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge. It's a percentile from 1 to 99, compared with a reference group of 18- to 23-year-olds from a 1997 national study.
- Categories. The official site groups AFQT scores: I (93–99), II (65–92), IIIA (50–64), IIIB (31–49), IVA (21–30), IVB (16–20), IVC (10–15), and V (1–9).
- Job composites. The other subtests, together with some AFQT subtests, feed each service's job scores. The line scores guide explains them.
There's no pass or fail. Whether a score is enough depends on the service and the job.
Minimums and the rules around them
| Rule | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Army minimum | GoArmy: an AFQT of at least 31 to enlist |
| Air Force minimum | 31 for high school seniors or graduates; 50 for GED holders |
| Other services | See the minimum scores by branch guide |
| Score validity | Usable for enlistment for up to two years from the test date |
| Retests | One calendar month after the first test, another month after the first retest, then six months between later retests |
| Which score counts | GoArmy: the most recent score, not the highest |
| Big jumps | A gain of 20 or more AFQT points within six months triggers a confirmation test |
The retake guide explains where GoArmy's wording on the third attempt differs from the testing program's page.
What the two-year rule means for 2027
Because scores stay usable for two years, the timing works in both directions:
- A score from late 2025 or 2026 can still count for a 2027 enlistment, as long as it's within two years of the test date when you enlist. Ask your recruiter how your service applies the date.
- A 2027 test gives you a score you can use into 2029.
- If you might retest, test early enough that the one-month wait, and possibly a second one, still fits before you need the score.
The ASVAB test dates guide explains how scheduling works, and the low score guide covers what to do if you fall short.
How to prepare for a 2027 test date
- Find your target. The service minimum, plus the composite for the job you want.
- Put the AFQT subtests first. Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension decide eligibility.
- Add the job subtests your composite needs.
- Practice without a calculator and under the subtest time limits.
Build an ASVAB study plan around your 2027 test date. The ASVAB study guide and how long to study help you size the plan, and the free ASVAB practice questions give you a first read on where you stand.
Trust the source
Official sources
Exam policies can change. Use these primary sources for the most current details.