Quick Answer: What Is the GT Score on the ASVAB?
The GT (General Technical) score adds up three ASVAB subtests: Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Arithmetic Reasoning (AR). The formula is: GT = VE + AR. VE (Verbal Expression) is your WK and PC scores added together.
Average GT score: 100 | Good score: 110+ | Great score: 120+
1What Is the GT Score on the ASVAB?
When you take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), your subtest scores get added up in different ways. These new scores are called "line scores." The GT score—short for General Technical score—is one of the most important line scores.
Your AFQT score decides if you can join at all. Your GT score is different. It decides which military jobs you can get. Many of the jobs people want most need a certain GT score. These include intel, cyber, medical, and tech jobs.
GT Score at a Glance
What It Measures
- How well you think with words and know what words mean
- How well you understand what you read
- Math word problem solving
- How well you learn in general
Key Facts
- Average score is 100
- Most scores fall from 80 to 145
- Used mostly by the Army & Marines
- Many tech jobs need 110+
GT Score vs. AFQT Score
Do not mix up these two scores. Your AFQT score (a percentile from 1-99) decides if you can join the military. Your GT score (a standard score near 100) decides which jobs you can get once you are in.
2How the GT Score Is Calculated
The GT score is easy to figure out once you know its parts. It adds your word skills to your math word problem skills.
The GT Score Formula
Verbal Expression
Your Word Knowledge (WK) and Paragraph Comprehension (PC) scores added together. It shows your word and reading skills.
Arithmetic Reasoning
Your score from the Arithmetic Reasoning subtest. It tests if you can solve math word problems without a calculator.
The military uses standard scores for the GT. The scores are set so that 100 is the average. Each step away from the average (called a standard deviation) is about 20 points. This means:
3The Three Subtests That Make Your GT Score
Your GT score comes only from three ASVAB subtests. Knowing what each one tests will help you get ready.
Word Knowledge (WK)
VerbalTests if you know what words mean. There are two kinds of questions. In one, you pick a word that means the same as a word by itself. In the other, you find what a word means in a sentence.
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
VerbalTests if you can read and understand short texts. Questions ask about the main idea, small details, what the text hints at, and what words mean in the text.
Kinds of Questions:
- • What is the main idea of this passage?
- • According to the passage, what is true about...?
- • The author would most likely agree that...
- • In this passage, the word "X" means...
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
MathTests if you can solve word problems with basic math, percents, ratios, and simple algebra. You cannot use a calculator.
Sample GT score questions
One real question each from Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Arithmetic Reasoning. These three subtests make your GT score.
Sample question 1
Which word is most nearly the same as "robust"?
Sample question 2
Read the passage below:
Invasive lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, have established populations throughout the Caribbean and Western Atlantic since the 1980s. With no natural predators in their new habitat and the ability to consume over 30 fish species, they have drastically reduced native fish populations on coral reefs. Management efforts include promoting lionfish as a food source, organizing removal tournaments, and training sharks to recognize them as prey.Based on the passage, why are lionfish particularly successful as an invasive species?
Sample question 3
A grocer mixes 30 pounds of nuts costing $4.50 per pound with some nuts costing $6 per pound. If the mixture costs $5 per pound, how many pounds of the $6 nuts were used?
Good to Know
Two-thirds of your GT score comes from word skills (WK + PC). One-third comes from math (AR). If you do not have much time to study, work on words and reading. That helps your score the most for each hour you study.
4GT Score Ranges: What Is Good, Average, and Great
Knowing where your GT score falls helps you see which jobs you can get. It also helps you decide if you should test again.
Below 90
Below AverageFew job choices. You can get basic jobs. But you will miss out on most tech, medical, and intel jobs. You should think about testing again after you study.
90-99
AverageYou can get many regular military jobs. Combat jobs, support jobs, and some tech jobs are open to you. For jobs that need a higher GT, you will need to raise your score.
100-109
Above AverageA strong score that opens most jobs. You can get many tech jobs, medical jobs, and some intel jobs. It is a good base to build on.
110-119
Good - Goal RangeMany jobs people want need at least this score: cyber, intelligence analyst, human intelligence collector, and Officer Candidate School (OCS).
120+
GreatA top score. It is high enough for any job that uses the GT score. You may get extra chances, bonuses, or first pick of jobs. Scores above 130 are outstanding.
5Military Jobs by GT Score Requirement
Here are some Army jobs, sorted by the GT score they need. These scores can change. So always check the newest scores with a recruiter.
High GT Score Jobs
Top jobs that need strong skills
Above Average GT Jobs
Tech and special jobs
Average GT Jobs
Lots of job choices
Please Note
The scores military jobs need change based on what the military needs. The GT scores above are close, but they may not be the newest. Always check with a real recruiter or a military website before you make choices based on these numbers.
6How to Raise Your GT Score
Your GT score comes from just three subtests. So studying the right things can really help. Here is how to work on each one.
Word Knowledge
- Learn 10-15 new words each day
- Study word parts: roots, starts, and ends
- Read hard texts each day
- Use flashcard apps (Anki, Quizlet)
Paragraph Comprehension
- Read the questions before the text
- Tell the main idea from the details
- Practice reading with a timer
- Tell what the text says from what it hints at
Arithmetic Reasoning
- Get good at percents and ratios
- Practice speed and time problems
- Work without a calculator
- Pull the key facts out of word problems
How Much You Can Grow
7Common Questions
What is a good GT score on the ASVAB?
A GT score of 110 or more is good. It is high enough for most of the military jobs people want, like intel, cyber, and Officer Candidate School. The average is 100. So any score above that is better than most people get.
What is the highest possible GT score?
There is no official top score. But in real life, GT scores top out at about 145-147. Scores above 130 are outstanding. Only about 2 out of 100 people get them.
Can I retake the ASVAB to improve my GT score?
Yes. You can retake the ASVAB 30 days after your first try and 30 days after your second. After that, you wait 6 months each time. Your newest score is used, not your highest. So get ready well before you test again.
Is the GT score used by all military branches?
The GT score is used mostly by the Army and Marine Corps. The Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force mix the subtests in other ways. But they still use the same ASVAB subtests.
How long do ASVAB GT scores last?
ASVAB scores, including your GT score, last two years from the test date. If you do not join in that time, you will need to take the ASVAB again.
Does a higher GT score mean higher pay?
Not right away. Your GT score does not change your base pay. But it decides which jobs you can get. Some jobs come with a bonus for joining, extra pay for special work, or better chances to move up. These can raise your total pay.