How Many Times Can You Take the ASVAB?

The retest waiting periods and how to make the next attempt count

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July 1, 2026

There is no lifetime limit on ASVAB attempts, but retests follow a waiting ladder. After your first test you must wait one calendar month to retake it, then another calendar month for a second retake, and after that six months between every additional attempt [NOTE: verify current policy]. Scores are valid for enlistment for two years, and when you retest, your newest score becomes the score of record [NOTE: verify whether latest or highest score is used, branches differ]. So you can keep taking the ASVAB, but each attempt past the second gets expensive in time, which makes preparation before a retake the whole game.

What is the ASVAB retest policy?

The waiting periods are set by Defense Department policy and apply across branches, though each branch and even individual recruiters have discretion about when a retest is worth scheduling [NOTE: verify current policy].

Attempt Required wait
Initial ASVAB None
First retest 1 calendar month after the initial test
Second retest 1 calendar month after the first retest
Third retest and beyond 6 months between attempts

Two practical notes. First, a retest means the entire ASVAB, all nine subtests, not just the section you want to improve. Second, your recruiter has to schedule the retest, and recruiters generally will not book one unless they believe your score will improve, because a retest that comes back flat or lower wastes a MEPS trip and can move your score of record in the wrong direction.

How long are ASVAB scores good for?

ASVAB scores are valid for enlistment for two years from the test date [NOTE: verify]. If you took the ASVAB in high school through the Career Exploration Program, those scores can also be used for enlistment while they are still valid, depending on when and which grade you tested [NOTE: verify grade and recency rules]. Once a score expires, taking the test again is a fresh start rather than a retest against your old number.

Which score counts if you retake the ASVAB?

The general rule is that your most recent valid score is the one your recruiter processes, not your best one [NOTE: verify whether latest or highest is used, branches differ]. That cuts both ways. A retest can raise your score of record, and it can also lower it if you walk in unprepared. Some branches also apply confirmation testing when a retest score jumps dramatically compared to a recent attempt, similar to how PiCAT scores get verified [NOTE: verify confirmation test thresholds]. The safe assumption is simple: do not retest until practice results say the new score will beat the old one.

What does a retest mean practically?

A retest is a full test day. You go back to MEPS or a MET site, sit through all nine subtests, and your AFQT and line scores are recalculated from scratch. Nothing carries over from the previous attempt. That is worth taking seriously, because a recruit who retests to fix a weak math score can still lose ground on sections that were fine the first time if they ignored them entirely during study.

The month between attempts is more useful than it sounds. Four weeks of focused work is enough to move an AFQT score meaningfully, especially when the first attempt tells you exactly which subtests fell short. The recruits who waste retests are usually the ones who study nothing specific and hope familiarity with the test does the work.

How do you make the next attempt count?

Start from your score report, not from a general study guide. Your first attempt already identified the problem areas, so put most of your time on the AFQT four (Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension) if eligibility is the issue, or on the technical sections if a specific job’s line score is what fell short. The breakdown of which sections feed what is in the guide to ASVAB sections.

Then measure before you commit. Take a full-length practice test about a week before your scheduled retest. If the estimate clears your target with room to spare, test. If it does not, talk to your recruiter about pushing the date, because the waiting ladder punishes rushed third attempts. ASVABDRILL is an ASVAB practice test platform focused on AFQT improvement, built for military recruits, covering ASVAB, PiCAT, and verification-style practice, and this baseline-drill-retest loop is exactly what it is built around.

FAQ

How long do I have to wait to retake the ASVAB?

One calendar month after your first attempt, one more month after the second, then six months between every attempt after that [NOTE: verify current policy].

Can I retake just one section of the ASVAB?

No. A retest is the complete battery, all nine subtests, and every score is recalculated from the new attempt.

Does the military take my highest ASVAB score?

Generally your most recent score is the score of record, not your highest [NOTE: verify, branches differ]. Treat every retest as if it will replace your current score, because it likely will.

Will my recruiter let me retest?

Recruiters schedule retests when they expect improvement. Showing up with practice test results that beat your current score is the most convincing case you can make.

Do PiCAT retake rules work the same way?

The PiCAT has its own rules around verification and retesting. If you tested through the PiCAT, see the guide to the PiCAT verification test for how that path works.

Before you commit to a retest date, find out what you would score today. Take a full-length ASVAB practice test and let the number decide whether you are ready.