The ASVAB GT score, short for General Technical, is a composite the military calculates from your Verbal Expression and Arithmetic Reasoning results on the ASVAB. It decides which military jobs and training programs you qualify for once you’re in uniform. In the Army, a GT of 100 is average and 110 is the cutoff for many of the most competitive career fields, including Officer Candidate School.1Colorado National Guard. OCS
What Goes Into the GT Score
Three ASVAB subtests feed the GT:
- Word Knowledge (WK) measures vocabulary by asking you to pick the best synonym or definition for a given word.
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC) gives you short reading passages and asks you to pull out specific details or figure out what the author means. The passages are brief and the clock keeps moving.
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) presents math word problems. The math itself rarely goes past basic algebra, but the wording is designed to trip up anyone who rushes.
The Army combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension into a single Verbal Expression (VE) score, then adds Arithmetic Reasoning to get the composite: GT = VE + AR.2U.S. Air Force. ASVAB
These sections test general reading, vocabulary, and numerical reasoning. There is no technical manual that will help. If you want a higher GT, you’re working on your reading and your word problems.
What GT Scores Mean on the Scale
The GT is a standard score, not a percentile. The average sits near 100, and most people land between 85 and 115. Scores above 120 put you in the upper range of test-takers.
That distinction matters because the AFQT score you probably remember from enlistment is a percentile. A GT of 110 does not mean you beat 110% of anyone. It means you scored about one standard deviation above the composite average.3Official ASVAB. Understanding ASVAB Scores
Jobs and Programs a GT Score Unlocks
Where the AFQT decides whether you can enlist, the GT decides which doors open once you’re in. The 110 threshold shows up over and over:
- Army Officer Candidate School requires a minimum GT of 110.1Colorado National Guard. OCS
- The 153A Rotary Wing Aviator path (Warrant Officer Flight Training) also requires 110, though competitive applicants typically score 120 or above.4U.S. Army Recruiting Command. 153A – Rotary Wing Aviator
- 17C Cyber Operations Specialist requires a GT of 110 and a Skilled Technical (ST) score of 112.5GoArmy. Cyber Operations Specialist (17C)
- 51C Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Contracting NCO requires a GT of 110, with no waivers available.6USAASC. If My GT Score Is Less Than 110, Can I Get a Waiver?
Meeting the minimum only gets your packet reviewed. Selection boards for OCS and flight training regularly favor candidates well above the floor. And the no-waiver rule for jobs like 51C is enforced literally: a 109 will not get you in, no matter your experience or your commander’s endorsement.6USAASC. If My GT Score Is Less Than 110, Can I Get a Waiver?
Not every technical MOS uses the GT. Some key off the Skilled Technical (ST) composite or a different line score, so check the specific requirements for the job you want on GoArmy.com or your branch’s career page before you build a plan around a number.
Branch Differences to Know About
Not every branch calculates the GT the same way. The Army and Air Force both use VE plus AR. The Marine Corps adds a fourth subtest, Mechanical Comprehension, so the Marine formula is WK + PC + AR + MC.7Marines.mil. MCO 1230.5C Classification Testing A Marine GT is not directly comparable to an Army GT. The Navy and Coast Guard use their own composite line scores entirely. If you’re comparing numbers with a friend in another branch or thinking about a transfer, look at the specific formula rather than assuming the labels mean the same thing.
Retaking the Test to Raise Your Score
If your current GT is locking you out of a career field, you can retest. There is no lifetime cap on attempts.8U.S. Army. AFCT Request Form
In the Army, you start with a DA Form 4187 (Personnel Action). The form asks for your current scores and a clear statement of the training program or MOS you’re targeting, and your commanding officer must digitally sign it to certify that retesting supports a legitimate career goal.9U.S. Army Fort Riley. How to Submit a DA Form 4187 to Schedule Testing Appointment
You must wait six months from your last test date before sitting again.8U.S. Army. AFCT Request Form The Marine Corps uses the same six-month rule, with a headquarters exception that can shorten it to 90 days.7Marines.mil. MCO 1230.5C Classification Testing Use the wait. Retesting cold usually produces the same score or worse, and a lower score replaces the old one on your record.
Once the paperwork clears, you schedule the Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) through your installation’s Education Center. The AFCT is the in-service version of the ASVAB and covers the same subtests in a computer-based format. Results calculate immediately, and the updated scores are uploaded to your official personnel file for future promotion boards and career managers to see.
Preparing With BSEP
The Army runs a free classroom program built specifically to raise GT scores: the Basic Skills Education Program (BSEP), part of the broader Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST) initiative.10U.S. Army Human Resources Command. Functional Academic Skills Training
BSEP instruction targets vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, and arithmetic reasoning, aimed at getting soldiers to a GT of 110 or higher. Enrollment is first-come, first-served and requires a signed DA 4187 from your commander plus a pre-assessment through the DANTES/Peterson’s system.11U.S. Army Fort Hood. Basic Skills Education Program Commanders can recommend BSEP for soldiers who don’t meet reenlistment requirements or who need an academic refresher before retesting.
Most major installations offer BSEP through the Education Center, though course lineups vary by location. Classes fill quickly. Contact your Education Center well before the next start date rather than waiting until the week before.
If You Still Don’t Hit the Number
A GT below your target does not end your military career. You stay qualified for anything that accepts your current scores, and you can keep retesting every six months. Many soldiers see meaningful gains on a second or third attempt after working through BSEP.
The programs that publish “no waiver” requirements mean it. If the job says GT 110, your only two paths are hitting 110 or picking a different career field. Knowing that early is better than building a plan around a packet that was never going to be approved.