Can You Retake The ASVAB? An Answer From Experts

Your ASVAB score is not good enough to apply for your desired military jobs or any branches of the US armed forces. You want to take the ASVAB again to achieve a better score. However, you are wondering whether or not you can retake the ASVAB. Don’t go any further. This blog post will present all the information you seek. Let’s scroll down and explore the useful and valuable information.

Can you retake the ASVAB?

The answer is yes. You can retake the ASVAB as many times as you want. However, you have to follow the requirements of the retest policy released by the Official ASVAB. There are seven scenarios in which you can retake the ASVAB:

  1. The applicant has taken the first retake: The applicant will be permitted to take a second retest after one calendar month from the first. It will be invalidated for second retests that are administered before the one-month interval. Let’s take a specific example to demonstrate that. If you take the first retest on the 10th of July, your second retest will be validated after the 10th of August. 

  2. The applicant has retaken the test twice (or taken three tests in total): From this point on, the applicant has to wait six months from the date of the second retest. It means that the retests after the third test have a waiting time of six months. 

  3. The applicant has achieved a Critical AFQT Gain: The scenario mentioned is that the applicant gained 20 or more points on AFQT within a 6-month timeframe. In this situation, the applicant is offered to take a Confirmation Test called a C-test. She/he may retest immediately or is NOT required to wait 30 days before administering the C-test. In the case that the applicant is absent from the C-test, he/she may be back to the six-month standard retest registration from the date of the Critical Gain Retest. 

  4. The applicant underwent a C-test to validate an AFQT retest score increasing by 20 or more points within 6 months: This circumstance necessitates that the applicant take another six-month standard test after the date of the C-test.

  5. The applicant’s initial test can be deemed invalid for administrative reasons (such as fire drills, etc.): With administrative causes, the first test will not be counted, and the applicant can contact the ASVAB recruiters for another initial test following the MEPS schedule.  

  6. Cheating is not allowed, and the applicant’s first or second test will be invalidated because of cheating: The candidate must wait six months for the next retest. 

  7. The first or second retest of the applicant can be considered invalid due to administrative reasons (such as fire drills, etc.): The invalid test, of course, does not count. The candidate may retake the test in a different form just one month after the date of the initial test or the first retest.

can you retake the asvab

FAQs

1. Can you retake the ASVAB while enlisted?

Yes, you can retake the test after enlistment. However, each military branch requires retest-takers to provide the reasons for retaking the test and offer appointments and signatures from their commanding officer. 

2. Can you retake the ASVAB while on active duty?

Indeed, it is possible to take the ASVAB while serving in the military. However, it is important to note that once enlisted, the opportunity to change one’s occupation will not be available until several years later. 

3. Can you retake the ASVAB if you pass?

Yes, if you passed the ASVAB test, it is entirely up to you to retake. Sometimes, you are not content with the current ASVAB test result, and you want to retake it to achieve your target score.

4. Can you retake the ASVAB after MEPS?

You can retake the ASVAB after MEPS. However, you should contact your recruiters to check the exact information before you retake the test. 

5. How often can you retake the ASVAB?

You must wait a calendar month after the initial test to take the first retest. Similarly, you can validate the second retest 30 days after the first retest date. Starting with the third attempt, there is a longer waiting period, which is approximately six months before taking the third or later exams.

Final thoughts

This blog post provides you with a detailed answer to the question, “Can you retake the ASVAB?” Furthermore, it also addresses common questions related to the main question, such as the possibility of retaking the ASVAB after enlistment or while on active duty. Depending on your own circumstances, find the appropriate solution for yourself. Otherwise, if you have further issues, you can leave other questions below for general discussion. For a broader overview of ASVAB, access our post here to know all from ASVAB scores and subtests to test locations, and so on.


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Cloudy Nguyen