ASVAB (AFQT) to IQ converter

An AFQT percentile of 75 points to an IQ of about 108, with a likely range of 97–120. A 50 points to about 100, and a 93 (the bottom of Category I) to about 118.

Reviewed September 2026 by the LifeScore Editorial Team. An estimate, not an official conversion.

AFQT percentile

AFQT percentile from 1 to 99. This is not your line score or your standard scores.

Estimated IQ for a ASVAB of 65

105likely 93 to 116

7085100115130145

EstimateLikely rangeIf the ASVAB were a perfect IQ test: 106

Among ASVAB takers: 65th percentile (the top 35%)
IQ 105 in everyone: 62nd percentile (1 in 3)

An estimate, not a measurement. About four in five people with this score fall inside the likely range.

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ASVAB to IQ at a glance

Two things set the AFQT apart. It is a percentile against a general-population sample, so there is no guess about who takes the test. And it is dominated by vocabulary and school maths, so it tracks IQ well in the general population but says less about fluid reasoning.

Common ASVAB scores and the IQ they point to. Percentile is among ASVAB test-takers.

ASVAB	Percentile	IQ	Likely range
10	10th	85	73 to 96
21	21st	90	79 to 102
31	31st	94	83 to 106
50	50th	100	88 to 112
65	65th	105	93 to 116
75	75th	108	97 to 120
85	85th	112	101 to 124
93	93rd	118	106 to 129
95	95th	120	108 to 131
99	99th	128	116 to 139

Full ASVAB to IQ lookup table

Every ASVAB score, from the same model as the calculator. The likely range covers about four in five people at that score. The last column is the IQ you would get if the ASVAB measured IQ perfectly, which is the number most other charts show.

ASVAB to IQ, every score (AFQT percentile 1 to 99, calculated from four ASVAB subtests)

ASVAB	Percentile	IQ	Likely range	If perfect
99	99	128	116 to 139	135
98	98	125	113 to 136	131
97	97	123	111 to 134	128
96	96	121	109 to 133	126
95	95	120	108 to 131	125
94	94	119	107 to 130	123
93	93	118	106 to 129	122
92	92	117	105 to 128	121
91	91	116	105 to 128	120
90	90	115	104 to 127	119
89	89	115	103 to 126	118
88	88	114	103 to 126	118
87	87	114	102 to 125	117
86	86	113	101 to 124	116
85	85	112	101 to 124	116
84	84	112	100 to 123	115
83	83	111	100 to 123	114
82	82	111	99 to 123	114
81	81	111	99 to 122	113
80	80	110	99 to 122	113
79	79	110	98 to 121	112
78	78	109	98 to 121	112
77	77	109	97 to 120	111
76	76	108	97 to 120	111
75	75	108	97 to 120	110
74	74	108	96 to 119	110
73	73	107	96 to 119	109
72	72	107	95 to 119	109
71	71	107	95 to 118	108
70	70	106	95 to 118	108
69	69	106	94 to 117	107
68	68	106	94 to 117	107
67	67	105	94 to 117	107
66	66	105	93 to 116	106
65	65	105	93 to 116	106
64	64	104	93 to 116	105
63	63	104	92 to 116	105
62	62	104	92 to 115	105
61	61	103	92 to 115	104
60	60	103	92 to 115	104
59	59	103	91 to 114	103
58	58	102	91 to 114	103
57	57	102	91 to 114	103
56	56	102	90 to 113	102
55	55	102	90 to 113	102
54	54	101	90 to 113	102
53	53	101	89 to 112	101
52	52	101	89 to 112	101
51	51	100	89 to 112	100
50	50	100	88 to 112	100
49	49	100	88 to 111	100
48	48	99	88 to 111	99
47	47	99	88 to 111	99
46	46	99	87 to 110	98
45	45	98	87 to 110	98
44	44	98	87 to 110	98
43	43	98	86 to 109	97
42	42	98	86 to 109	97
41	41	97	86 to 109	97
40	40	97	85 to 108	96
39	39	97	85 to 108	96
38	38	96	85 to 108	95
37	37	96	84 to 108	95
36	36	96	84 to 107	95
35	35	95	84 to 107	94
34	34	95	84 to 107	94
33	33	95	83 to 106	93
32	32	94	83 to 106	93
31	31	94	83 to 106	93
30	30	94	82 to 105	92
29	29	93	82 to 105	92
28	28	93	81 to 105	91
27	27	93	81 to 104	91
26	26	92	81 to 104	90
25	25	92	80 to 103	90
24	24	92	80 to 103	89
23	23	91	80 to 103	89
22	22	91	79 to 102	88
21	21	90	79 to 102	88
20	20	90	78 to 101	87
19	19	89	78 to 101	87
18	18	89	77 to 101	86
17	17	89	77 to 100	86
16	16	88	77 to 100	85
15	15	88	76 to 99	84
14	14	87	76 to 99	84
13	13	86	75 to 98	83
12	12	86	74 to 97	82
11	11	85	74 to 97	82
10	10	85	73 to 96	81
9	9	84	72 to 95	80
8	8	83	72 to 95	79
7	7	82	71 to 94	78
6	6	81	70 to 93	77
5	5	80	69 to 92	75
4	4	79	67 to 91	74
3	3	77	66 to 89	72
2	2	75	64 to 87	69
1	1	72	61 to 84	65

IQ to ASVAB: the score to expect

Going the other way, this is the ASVAB score people at each IQ typically get. Scores at the same IQ vary a lot, so the range matters more than the middle figure.

Typical ASVAB score by IQ

IQ	Typical ASVAB	Likely range	How rare
80	14	3 to 38	1 in 11 at or below
85	21	6 to 49	1 in 6 at or below
90	30	10 to 59	1 in 4 at or below
100	50	22 to 78	1 in 2 at or above
110	70	41 to 90	1 in 4 at or above
115	79	51 to 94	1 in 6 at or above
120	86	62 to 97	1 in 11 at or above
125	91	71 to 98	1 in 21 at or above
130	95	80 to 99	1 in 44 at or above
135	97	86 to 99	1 in 102 at or above

One IQ on several tests

The same IQ shows up as very different numbers on different tests. Read across a row to compare.

Typical score at each IQ

	ASVAB	Wonderlic	CCAT	SAT
IQ 100	50	21	23	990
IQ 110	70	25	27	1140
IQ 120	86	28	32	1280
IQ 130	95	32	36	1410
IQ 140	98	36	40	1530

AFQT, ASVAB and which number to enter

The ASVAB is a battery of subtests. The AFQT is a single percentile derived from four of them: Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension (combined as verbal expression), Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge. The formula counts verbal twice, as twice verbal expression plus arithmetic reasoning plus mathematics knowledge.

Most people mean the AFQT when they say "my ASVAB score". It is the number that decides whether you qualify to enlist. The line scores that decide which jobs you can do are different numbers and do not go into this converter.

Why this conversion is the most defensible one

Almost every other test here is taken by a self-selected group, so converting a score to IQ means first guessing how able that group is. The AFQT percentile is calculated against a nationally representative sample of young Americans, not against enlistees. A 75 means you scored higher than about three in four of that whole cohort.

That turns the conversion into a standard percentile-to-IQ calculation, with a correlation added on top. It still has two weaknesses. The reference sample was tested in 1997, so it is nearly three decades old and the Flynn effect has moved things slightly since. And the ASVAB is heavily loaded with learned vocabulary and school maths, so it relates to crystallised knowledge more than to fluid reasoning.

What research says about the ASVAB and IQ

The ASVAB's first factor is a general-ability factor, and researchers have used it as a stand-in for IQ. The SAT and ACT studies cited elsewhere on this site did exactly that: Frey and Detterman (2004) and Koenig and colleagues (2008) took their measure of general intelligence from ASVAB subtests. An older comparison put the AFQT and the WAIS at about .80, though that figure is from the 1970s and we could only confirm it through secondary sources.

A 2000 paper by Roberts and colleagues argued that the ASVAB is little more than acculturated learning, meaning crystallised knowledge. That fits the subtests, which are vocabulary, reading and school maths. It does not make the ASVAB a poor measure of general ability in the population, only a narrower one than a matrix test.

Mensa does not accept the ASVAB as a qualifying test.

Using an AFQT-to-IQ estimate

The AFQT decides eligibility to enlist, and line scores decide which jobs you can train for. An IQ estimate does neither. It is a way of translating your percentile into the scale most people mean by IQ, with an honest range, and of comparing it with other tests.

If you scored in a category below the one you were hoping for, note that the AFQT is retakeable under service rules, and that vocabulary and school maths respond to study. A retest gain says something about preparation, not about a change in ability, and it is worth keeping the two apart when you read your own estimate.

What your AFQT means

The categories are the military's own. The estimated IQ column shows the most likely value for the percentile at the ends of each band.

Category V (1 to 9)
IQ 72 to 84
Below the minimum for enlistment in all services.
Categories IVA to IVC (10 to 30)
IQ 85 to 94
Below the middle. Enlistment depends on the service, the year and other qualifications, and often requires waivers or programmes.
Category IIIB (31 to 49)
IQ 94 to 100
Just below the national median. Enlistment minimums vary by service and year, so check current requirements.
Category IIIA (50 to 64)
IQ 100 to 104
Around the median to somewhat above.
Category II (65 to 92)
IQ 105 to 117
Above average. A large group, and the range that qualifies for most technical roles.
Category I (93 to 99)
IQ 118 to 128
The top 7%. Qualifies for the widest set of jobs, including the most selective programmes.

How the conversion works, and its limits

There is no official ASVAB to IQ conversion. The US Department of Defense does not publish one. What we can do honestly is treat the ASVAB as a good but imperfect signal of general ability. We place your score among ASVAB test-takers, assume how able that group is on average, and use the correlation between the two to predict the most likely IQ. Because the correlation is below 1, high and low scores are pulled towards the middle. That is why the estimate comes with a range.

It leans on learned knowledge
Vocabulary, reading and school maths dominate the AFQT. Someone with strong reasoning but weak schooling scores lower than their ability.
The norms are from 1997
The reference group was tested nearly 30 years ago. Population changes since then are small but real.
The percentile is coarse at the top
A 96, a 98 and a 99 look very different but mean small differences in raw performance, and the estimate barely moves.
Retesting and preparation matter
Studying vocabulary and maths raises the score, so it is partly a measure of preparation.

The evidence behind these numbers

Evidence grade: moderate. The percentile is general-population referenced, and the ASVAB's general factor has been used as an IQ measure for decades. The AFQT-to-Wechsler correlation is old and confirmed only through secondary sources.

Published facts we used

AFQT percentile is referenced to a nationally representative 1997 sample of 18 to 23 year olds (official ASVAB site).
The AFQT and the WAIS correlate about .80 (McGrevy, Knouse and Thompson, 1974), as reported in secondary sources.
The ASVAB's first factor has been used as the general-ability criterion in the SAT and ACT validation studies.
The ASVAB is dominated by crystallised abilities (Roberts et al., 2000).

Assumptions we made

Mean IQ of the reference group: 100, by construction of a general-population sample.
IQ spread: SD 15.
Correlation between AFQT and IQ in the population: .80, taken from the older AFQT and WAIS comparison.

Assumed IQ of test-takers: Mean 100, SD 15
Assumed correlation: r = 0.8
Norms: AFQT percentile referenced to the 1997 nationally representative youth sample.

The full formula is on the score conversion method page.

ASVAB to IQ: questions people ask

What IQ is a 50 on the ASVAB?

A ASVAB of 50 points to an IQ of about 100, with a likely range of 88 to 112. That is the 50th percentile of ASVAB test-takers. If the ASVAB were a perfect IQ test, it would equal IQ 100. It is not, so the honest estimate sits closer to average.

What IQ is a 75 on the ASVAB?

A ASVAB of 75 points to an IQ of about 108, with a likely range of 97 to 120. That is the 75th percentile of ASVAB test-takers. If the ASVAB were a perfect IQ test, it would equal IQ 110. It is not, so the honest estimate sits closer to average.

What IQ is a 90 on the ASVAB?

A ASVAB of 90 points to an IQ of about 115, with a likely range of 104 to 127. That is the 90th percentile of ASVAB test-takers. If the ASVAB were a perfect IQ test, it would equal IQ 119. It is not, so the honest estimate sits closer to average.

What IQ is a 99 on the ASVAB?

A ASVAB of 99 points to an IQ of about 128, with a likely range of 116 to 139. That is the 99th percentile of ASVAB test-takers. If the ASVAB were a perfect IQ test, it would equal IQ 135. It is not, so the honest estimate sits closer to average.

Is there an official ASVAB to IQ conversion?

No. The US Department of Defense does not publish one, and no IQ test publisher links its scale to the ASVAB. Every ASVAB to IQ chart, this one included, is a statistical estimate. Ours shows its assumptions in the evidence section so you can judge it.

What AFQT score equals an IQ of 100?

An AFQT percentile of 50 corresponds to an estimated IQ of about 100, since the AFQT is scored against the national average. People with an IQ of 100 typically score around 50, with a range of 22–78.

What is the AFQT score for an IQ of 130?

People with an IQ of 130 typically score around 95 on the AFQT percentile scale, with about four in five between 80–99.

Is the ASVAB an IQ test?

No, but its general factor correlates strongly with IQ and researchers use it as a measure of general ability. It leans on vocabulary and school maths, so it captures crystallised more than fluid intelligence.

What is a good ASVAB score?

It depends on your goal. Each service sets a minimum AFQT for enlistment, and higher line scores open more jobs. An AFQT of 93 or above is Category I, the top group.

Does Mensa accept the ASVAB?

No. US Mensa's published qualifying table states the ASVAB is not accepted.

Should I enter my ASVAB line score?

No. Enter your AFQT percentile, the single 1 to 99 number reported on your ASVAB results. Line scores use different scales and would give a wrong answer.

What's your IQ?

Half of the AFQT is vocabulary and reading. The LifeScore test is 25 visual reasoning puzzles, with nothing to have learned beforehand.

Take the IQ test

25 questions · about 12 minutes

ASVAB to IQ at a glance

Full ASVAB to IQ lookup table

IQ to ASVAB: the score to expect

One IQ on several tests

AFQT, ASVAB and which number to enter

Why this conversion is the most defensible one

What research says about the ASVAB and IQ

Using an AFQT-to-IQ estimate

What your AFQT means

Category V (1 to 9)

Categories IVA to IVC (10 to 30)

Category IIIB (31 to 49)

Category IIIA (50 to 64)

Category II (65 to 92)

Category I (93 to 99)