Electrician aptitude test: what's on it and how to prepare
Most union electrical apprenticeships (IBEW/NECA JATCs) give the electrical training ALLIANCE aptitude test: Algebra and Functions, 33 questions in 46 minutes, and Reading Comprehension, 36 questions in 51 minutes, with no calculator. Many locals want 4 or more on a 1 to 9 scale to reach the interview. Some JATCs use the GAN test instead, and non-union IEC and ABC chapters set their own.
Start with the free official sample. If you need more, paid prep runs from a $20 study guide for GAN programs to $45 to $65 practice packs for the IBEW/NECA test; ten options are compared below.
Which test will you take?
"Electrician aptitude test" means different tests at different programs. Ask your program which one it gives before you buy anything to study.
| Test | Who gives it | What's on it | Time | Calculator | Scoring | Retake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical training ALLIANCE test (still called the NJATC test) | Most IBEW/NECA JATCs, including outside lineman programs such as NW Line JATC | Algebra and Functions, 33 items in 46 min; Reading Comprehension, 36 items in 51 min | About 2.5 hours | No | Qualify or not; locals that report use 1 to 9, often 4+ for an interview | After 90 days |
| GAN Aptitude Battery | JATC Local 26 (DC area), Minneapolis, Des Moines, Nashville, Los Angeles and others | Reading, numerical computation, numerical reasoning, paper folding, mechanical reasoning (Minneapolis adds problem solving) | About 2.5 hours (Des Moines), on computer | No | No pass mark; ranks you (50% of the score at Minneapolis) | Minneapolis: after a year on the list |
| IEC chapter assessments | Non-union IEC chapters | Varies: a 25-question math test (Rocky Mountain), reading and math (Chesapeake), math with geometry and trig (Utah), or none | Not published | Some (Utah: yes) | Pass mark, e.g. 70% at Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain: after a $140 math module |
| TABE or Accuplacer | Some ABC chapters (Southern California, Wisconsin via its college) | Reading, language, math computation, applied math | Not published | Not stated | 70% at ABC Southern California | ABC SoCal: two tries, then a year |
| EEI CAST | Utilities hiring lineworkers and other trades | Graphic arithmetic, mechanical concepts, reading, math usage | About 2 hours | Some (CAST-R: on graphic arithmetic) | Index of 1 to 10 | Set by the utility (Duke: 90 days) |
The rest of this page is about preparing for the first two, the tests IBEW/NECA programs give. For the others, see how IEC and ABC programs test you.
The short list
- Best free start: the official sample. Eight real-format questions with an answer key, from the electrical training ALLIANCE.
- Best free algebra lessons: Khan Academy. Two JATCs point applicants to it.
- Best if your local gives GAN: GAN's own study guide, $20.
- Best book: Mometrix IBEW Aptitude Test Secrets, $28.99 as an ebook.
- Cheapest online course you keep 2+ years: ClassMetric, $39 once.
- Best for mechanical reasoning too: JobTestPrep, $45 to $65.
- Most practice for one month: iPrep, $49.95 for 30 days, interview prep included.
- Separate math and reading courses: Electric Prep, $49.95 a course.
- Best for a year of study: Ultimate Electrician's Guide, $60 a year.
- Best monthly or lifetime plan: Electrician Tutor, $9.99 a month or $79 once.
Prep options side by side
| Option | Price | Access | Algebra and series | Reading | Mechanical or spatial | Interview | Free part, refund |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official sample (electrical training ALLIANCE) | Free | Web page | 5 items | 3 items | No | No | All of it |
| Khan Academy | Free | Web | Lessons not in test format | No | No | No | All of it |
| Electrician Tutor | $9.99/mo, $49/yr or $79 once | Month, year or lifetime | Yes 29 aptitude tests | Yes | Mechanical | Yes | 7-day trial on the yearly plan; 30-day money back |
| GAN study guide (GAN Human Resources) | $20; practice problems $30 | Print or download | Yes GAN math | Yes | Yes GAN sections | No | None stated |
| Mometrix IBEW Aptitude Test Secrets | $28.99 ebook, $33.99 print; online course $39.99/mo | Book: keep it; course: monthly | Yes | Yes | No | No | 1-year money back on the book; 7 days on the course |
| ClassMetric Union Aptitude Prep | $39 once | At least 2 years | Yes 348 questions | Yes 55 questions | No | No | Lesson 1 and 10 timed questions; refund within 7 days if under 25% done |
| JobTestPrep IBEW PrepPack | $45 (7 days), $55 (30), $65 (90) | One payment, fixed days | Yes 250+ | Yes 140+ | Mechanical 160+ | $19 to $29 add-on | Free sample questions; refund on request, reviewed |
| Electric Prep | $49.95 math, $49.95 reading | 270 days each | Yes | Yes | No | $29.95 course | Free intro courses |
| iPrep IBEW/NJATC course | $49.95 | 30 days; more from $9.95 | Yes | Yes | No (GAN course: $49.95) | Yes | 6 free math questions; 30-day money back |
| Ultimate Electrician's Guide | $60/yr; $90 with interview | 1 year | Yes 1,300+ problems | Yes | No | $90 bundle | First 20 lessons and a timed exam; 30-day money back |
Each option, in short
Official sample (electrical training ALLIANCE)
Best free start
The test's owner publishes 5 algebra questions and one short passage with 3 reading questions, with an answer key, "similar to those on the actual tests." It shows every item type but is too short to practice pacing, and real passages are longer.
Khan Academy
Best free algebra lessons
Free lessons for the algebra behind the test. IBEW Local 81 calls it "a good resource," and Local 288 lists it with Purple Math, Math Antics and the Cool Math Guy. Nothing is in the test's format: no timed sets, number series or reading passages.
Electrician Tutor
Best monthly or lifetime plan
$9.99 a month, $49 a year (7-day free trial) or $79 once. Every plan has 57 practice tests, 29 of them aptitude tests (labeled "IBEW/GATB") and 28 on the electrical code, a mechanical concepts course and IBEW interview prep, so it stays useful after you're in. The aptitude tests are only part of what you pay for.
GAN study guide (GAN Human Resources)
Best if your local gives GAN
The publisher's own guide, $20 in print or as a download, with practice questions that "cover all sections of the test"; a separate set of practice problems is $30. JATC Local 26 and Minneapolis link it. It doesn't help with the ALLIANCE test. See the GAN aptitude test guide.
Mometrix IBEW Aptitude Test Secrets
Best book
A study guide for the algebra and reading tests, with practice questions, videos and a one-year money-back guarantee. The book page says $27.99 (ebook) and $32.99 (print); checkout charged $28.99 and $33.99 on November 13. Its online course (550+ questions) is $39.99 a month.
ClassMetric Union Aptitude Prep
Cheapest online course you keep 2+ years
ClassMetric makes five-minute story lessons and practice exams for job certifications. Union Aptitude Prep is $39 once, no subscription, with access for at least 2 years under its terms: 20 lessons (the test, number series, algebra, equations and inequalities, polynomials and functions, reading) and 403 practice questions (180 number series, 168 algebra and functions, 55 reading), timed at the real test's pace, every answer explained. Lesson 1 and 10 timed questions are free, and its terms allow a refund within 7 days if you have done less than 25% of the class.
Where it falls short: no mechanical reasoning, paper folding or interview prep; fewer questions than Ultimate Electrician's Guide (1,300+), iPrep (1,195), JobTestPrep (571) or Mometrix's course (550+); web only for now; and new, on sale since November 2026. Its About page says lessons and questions are written with AI from cited sources and checked against them.
JobTestPrep IBEW PrepPack
Best for mechanical reasoning too
Adaptive: a diagnostic, practice aimed at your weak areas, then full-length timed simulations. 571 questions: 250+ math, 140+ reading and 160+ mechanical. One payment buys 7 days ($45), 30 ($55) or 90 ($65); interview prep is a $19 to $29 add-on, depending on the pack.
Electric Prep
Separate math and reading courses
Electric Prep says it "has partnered with the NJATC": Math Aptitude and Reading Comprehension courses at $49.95 each and Interview Skills at $29.95, each for 270 days. Inland Empire's JATC says courses "available through our national program" cost its applicants $38 and $17, so ask your program first. The site is dated; its FAQ still mentions Adobe Flash.
iPrep IBEW/NJATC course
Most practice for one month
$49.95 for 30 days, no subscription: 80 practice tests (8 full-length), 1,195 questions with explanations, videos and a bonus Interview Board Prep module. Extensions run $9.95 for 7 days to $59.90 for a year. 30-day money-back guarantee. The catch is the short clock if your test date moves.
Ultimate Electrician's Guide
Best for a year of study
$60 for a year: 79 lessons, 1,300+ practice problems and 10 full timed simulations, on the web and in an iPhone app; $90 with interview prep. 30-day money-back guarantee, the first 20 lessons and a timed exam free, and a refund if you fail after finishing 80% of the course. Its "95%" pass rate comes with no method.
Often listed, but check the fit
- PrepTerminal's IBEW Electrical Aptitude Mastery Pack ($68 for 90 days) has modules on word problems, ratios, magnetism, circuits, gears, levers and optics, but none on reading comprehension, algebra, number series or functions, which are what the ALLIANCE test asks.
- Practice4Me sends you to JobAssessmentHelp's "Electrical (IBEW) Aptitude Test Practice Pack" ($59, or $89 for 12 months on the same page), a general pack of numerical, verbal, mechanical and personality tests.
- Quizlet has free user-made IBEW flashcard sets. They're unchecked, so verify answers against the official sample.
- "The test has changed" videos. A May 2026 video from Ultimate Electrician's Guide says the test now has harder, multi-variable algebra. The ALLIANCE's own pages still describe the same two tests and timing, and they announce no change.
How to choose
- Find out which test. Buy mechanical or spatial practice only if your test has it.
- Take the free sample, timed: about 84 seconds a math question, no calculator. If you finish with time and most right, free practice may be enough.
- Count the days to your test. Short clocks (7 or 30 days) suit a near date; for a date months away, a year's access or a one-time price costs less than renewals.
- Look for worked explanations. On a no-calculator test, why an answer is wrong teaches more than the score.
- Ask your JATC first. Some arrange courses for less, as Inland Empire does.
Which option fits you
- You need a refresher, or money is tight: the official sample and Khan Academy, free.
- Your local gives GAN: GAN's own $20 guide, then a course with paper folding and mechanical items (iPrep's GAN course, or JobTestPrep's mechanical sets).
- You want a printed book: Mometrix.
- Your test is within a month: JobTestPrep's 7- or 30-day pack, or iPrep's 30 days.
- Your test is months away: Ultimate Electrician's Guide for a year, ClassMetric for 2+ years at $39, or Electrician Tutor's $79 lifetime plan.
- You want interview prep too: iPrep, Electrician Tutor, Ultimate Electrician's Guide's $90 bundle, Electric Prep's $29.95 course or JobTestPrep's add-on.
- You want the most questions: Ultimate Electrician's Guide or iPrep.
Questions
What is on the electrician aptitude test?
At most IBEW/NECA apprenticeships it is the electrical training ALLIANCE test: Algebra and Functions (33 questions in 46 minutes, including number series) and Reading Comprehension (36 questions in 51 minutes), about two and a half hours with a short break. Programs that use the GAN test add mechanical reasoning and paper folding. Non-union IEC and ABC chapters set their own tests, or none.
Can you use a calculator on the electrician aptitude test?
No, not on the electrical training ALLIANCE test or the GAN test. Pencils and scratch paper are provided, and even a watch with a calculator has to come off. Some non-union chapter tests differ: IEC of Utah allows a basic calculator.
What score do you need to pass the IBEW aptitude test?
There is no national minimum. Locals that report a score use a 1 to 9 scale, and 4 or higher is common (Warren JATC, IBEW Local 81, Local 288). NW Line JATC takes 3 or higher. The national page says applicants are told only whether they qualified. At GAN programs there is no pass mark: the score ranks you.
What percent of people pass the IBEW aptitude test?
No official pass rate is published. The electrical training ALLIANCE says programs often get four, five, six or more times as many applicants as openings, so passing gets you an interview, not a place.
How soon can you retake the test?
On the electrical training ALLIANCE test, after 90 days; testing sooner voids the score. Some locals also want a new application. At Minneapolis, a GAN program, you can retest only after a year on the eligibility list.
Is there a free electrician aptitude practice test?
Yes. The electrical training ALLIANCE's free sample has 5 algebra and 3 reading questions with an answer key, and this site has 18 free unofficial questions with worked answers. Most paid options also give a free sample: iPrep 6 math questions, Ultimate Electrician's Guide its first 20 lessons and a timed exam, ClassMetric lesson 1 and 10 timed questions.
Guides
- IBEW aptitude test: the two tests, item types, test-day rules and retakes.
- 18 free practice questions, unofficial, with worked answers.
- The math on the test, topic by topic, one worked example each.
- Study guide: 2-, 4- and 6-week plans.
- Is the IBEW aptitude test hard? The pace and the topics that trip people.
- Passing score: the 1 to 9 scale and retake rules by program.
- GAN aptitude test: sections, ranking and which JATCs use it.
- IBEW interview questions: what the interview weighs and what to bring.
- IBEW apprenticeship application: requirements, fees and steps.
- Non-union apprenticeship tests: IEC and ABC, chapter by chapter.
How we checked
On November 12 and 13, 2026 we read the electrical training ALLIANCE's pages, the application pages of over a dozen IBEW/NECA, IEC and ABC programs, and GAN's and EEI's test descriptions. On November 13 we read each seller's price and contents on its own site. We didn't buy the paid options, and we give no scores or star ratings. If something here is wrong, write to support@winding.ai and we'll fix it.
About this site
electricianaptitudetest.com is published by Winding AI, Inc., the company that makes ClassMetric, one of the ten options compared here. We wrote it because the top results for this search are mostly prep sellers' pages and forum threads, and few say which test a program gives or what each option costs. We earn nothing from links to other options, and links to ClassMetric carry a tag so ClassMetric can count visits from this site. Visits to this site are counted with Google Analytics; there are no ads, and no analytics cookies in the EU, UK or Switzerland.
This site is not affiliated with the IBEW, NECA, the electrical training ALLIANCE or any JATC. The practice questions here are original and unofficial.