What is the fastest way to improve my AFT score?

Find the event where your next points are cheapest and train that first. Because AFT scoring is non-linear, the same amount of improvement is worth very different numbers of points depending on the event and your current level. The fastest gains almost always come from an event where you are scoring below average, not from polishing an event you have nearly maxed.

Should I always train my weakest event?

Usually, but not blindly. Your weakest event is often where points are cheapest, which is why the common advice works. But the real target is where each additional point costs the least effort, and that depends on the shape of the scoring curve at your exact level. The only way to know for sure is to run the numbers on your own current scores.

Which event gives the most points for the effort?

There is no single answer, because it flips with your level. From a below-average base, the plank and two-mile run tend to return the most points for a realistic training increment, while the sprint-drag-carry returns the least. From a strong base near the top of the scale, that reverses and the sprint-drag-carry can become the best return. This is exactly why you should calculate it from your own scores rather than follow a fixed rule.

How do I calculate where my cheapest points are?

Start from your current raw numbers on each event. For each one, estimate a realistic improvement you could make in a training cycle, then use the AFT calculator to see how many points that improvement would add. Rank the events by points gained. The one at the top is where your training time pays off most right now.

Does this change as I get closer to maxing an event?

Yes. As you approach 100 points on an event, each additional point costs more raw improvement, so its return drops. An event that was your best training investment at 65 points can become a poor one at 90. Re-run the numbers every few months as your scores change, because the cheapest event moves as you improve.

How to Improve Your AFT Score: Where the Points Are

To make this concrete, take a realistic training increment for each event, roughly what a focused month might produce, and see how many points it adds. The point values below are computed from the official male 22 to 26 scales. The increments are illustrative and not equal in effort, but holding them roughly comparable makes the scoring math visible.

From a Below-Average Base

A soldier scoring in the low-to-mid 60s on each event. Ranked by points gained, best return first.

Points gained from a realistic training increment on each event, from a below-average starting score
Event	Improvement	Points gained
Plank	+30 sec1:50 → 2:20	+9 (67 → 76)
Two-Mile Run	1 min faster18:00 → 17:00	+7 (74 → 81)
Hand-Release Push-Up	+5 reps20 reps → 25 reps	+5 (63 → 68)
3-Rep Max Deadlift	+20 lbs170 lbs → 190 lbs	+5 (65 → 70)
Sprint-Drag-Carry	10 sec faster2:30 → 2:20	+2 (60 → 62)

From here the plank and the two-mile run pay off most, and the sprint-drag-carry pays off least. If this soldier only had time to train one event, the ranking says start with the plank, not the sprint-drag-carry, even though the raw effort is similar.

From a Strong Base

The same increments, but for a soldier already scoring in the high 80s and 90s. Watch what happens to the ranking.

Points gained from the same training increments, from a strong starting score
Event	Improvement	Points gained
Sprint-Drag-Carry	10 sec faster1:50 → 1:40	+10 (83 → 93)
Plank	+30 sec3:05 → 3:35	+10 (90 → 100)
Hand-Release Push-Up	+5 reps45 reps → 50 reps	+4 (88 → 92)
3-Rep Max Deadlift	+20 lbs290 lbs → 310 lbs	+4 (89 → 93)
Two-Mile Run	1 min faster15:00 → 14:00	+4 (93 → 97)

The order flips. The sprint-drag-carry, the worst return from a weak base, becomes one of the best from a strong base, while the run and push-up returns shrink as they approach the top of the scale. Same events, same increments, opposite conclusion.

There Is No Universal Best Event

This is the point most training advice misses. Because each event has its own non-linear curve, the event that returns the most points depends entirely on where you currently sit on that curve. A blanket rule like “always train the run” is wrong as often as it is right. The plank is a goldmine from a weak base and near-worthless once you are close to maxing it; the sprint-drag-carry is the reverse.

The reliable method is not a rule, it is a calculation. It also connects to a pattern we cover in AFT score breakpoints: points near the passing line are cheap and points near 100 are expensive, so your cheapest gains almost always sit on an event you have not yet pushed high.

How to Run This on Your Own Scores

You do not need a spreadsheet. Take your current raw numbers, estimate a realistic improvement on each event, and check the points with the AFT calculator. Whichever event gains the most points for the least effort is where your next training cycle should go. Then repeat it every few months, because as your scores climb, the cheapest event moves. When you know your weak event and your target, the training guide covers how to actually raise each one.

Improving Your AFT Score FAQs

Find your cheapest points

Enter your current numbers, then try a small improvement on each event and see which one moves your total the most.

Open AFT Calculator →

How to Improve Your AFT Score: Where the Points Actually Are