Electrician aptitude test › Is it hard?
Is the IBEW aptitude test hard? The content, the clock and the competition
The material isn't advanced: high-school algebra and everyday reading passages, and many programs ask for just one year of algebra before you apply. What makes the IBEW aptitude test hard is everything around it: about 84 seconds a math question with no calculator, reading passages longer than the free sample, and often four to six applicants or more for every opening.
The content: first-year algebra
The ALLIANCE lists, among the minimum requirements local programs may set, "one full year of high school algebra with a passing grade, or one post high school algebra course with a passing grade." The Minneapolis JATC wants one full credit of algebra with a C or better. The test is built for people who have had that class.
It also asks for nothing else. "Previous knowledge of electrical work is not required," says the ALLIANCE, and "there is no need to memorize certain formulas or factual material." Local 288 tells applicants plainly that basic algebra "is what you’re going to see on the aptitude test." So the question isn't whether you could learn this math. It's whether you still have it at speed.
The clock
| Test | Questions | Minutes | Per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Functions | 33 | 46 | about 84 seconds |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 (four passages) | 51 | about 85 seconds, or about 12 to 13 minutes a passage |
The official line is that "Most applicants will find they have plenty of time to complete each of the tests without rushing." The same page adds the catch: "Do not spend too much time on any one question." A question you never reach scores the same as a wrong one, there is no penalty for guessing, and you can't come back another day to finish.
Without a calculator, 84 seconds goes quickly if you multiply out brackets slowly or second-guess a negative sign. On reading, the sample passage "is shorter than those on the actual test," so the free sample makes the reading look easier than it is.
The competition
The ALLIANCE is open about why the test exists: "Many apprenticeship programs receive large numbers of applicants - four, five, six or more times the number of new apprenticeship openings." The test decides who reaches the interview. At Warren JATC and IBEW Locals 81 and 288 a 4 out of 9 qualifies, but at programs that use the GAN test instead, such as Minneapolis, the test is half of a score that ranks everyone, so every point counts. See the passing score guide.
Five things that trip people up, with a quick example each
1. Negative signs
Evaluate x² − 4x when x = −3.
Two easy slips: squaring −3 to −9 (which gives 3), or dropping the second minus (9 − 12 = −3). Write the brackets around a negative number every time.
2. Multiplying brackets (FOIL)
Expand (x + 5)(x − 3).
The trap is multiplying only the firsts and lasts and writing x² − 15. The official sample has an item of exactly this kind, with a number in front of the brackets as well.
3. Flipping an inequality
Solve −2x > 8.
Check with a number: x = −5 gives 10 > 8, which is true. If you got x > −4, try x = 0: 0 > 8 is false.
4. Two patterns woven together
What comes next: 3, 20, 6, 18, 9, 16, ?
If the gaps look random (+17, −14, +12...), look at every other term.
5. Function notation
If f(x) = 4 − x², what is f(3)?
f(3) means "put 3 in for x." It is not f times 3, and the square applies to the 3 only, so (4 − 3)² = 1 is wrong.
On the reading side, the common slip is choosing an answer that is true in real life but not stated or implied in the passage. The sample's questions ask what the passage says, what you can predict from it, and what it supports, and nothing else counts.
Who should study longest
This is judgment, not a rule from any program. If you took algebra in the last year or two and the free sample felt easy at test pace, a week or two of timed practice may be enough. If your last math class was five or more years ago, or you missed sign and bracket questions on the sample, plan on several weeks: relearn each topic, then practice it timed. If English isn't your first language, give the reading test as much time as the math. The study guide has 2-, 4- and 6-week plans.
A 40-minute self-check
- Take the official sample with a timer: about 7 minutes for its 5 algebra items, 5 minutes for the passage and its 3 questions.
- Then take this site's 18 free practice questions: 20 minutes for the 14 math items, 6 for the reading.
- If you finished with time left and missed one or two, keep practicing at that pace. If you ran out of time, drill full timed sections. If you missed signs, brackets or inequalities, go back to the math topic by topic.
If you want structured lessons and many more timed questions, the home page compares the free and paid options. ClassMetric's Union Aptitude Prep is one: $39 once, 20 lessons and 403 practice questions covering the algebra and reading; it has no mechanical reasoning or interview prep.
Questions
Is the electrician math test hard?
The math itself is first-year high-school algebra: formulas, exponents, factoring, inequalities, functions and number patterns. Many programs ask for one year of algebra before you apply, and you need no electrical knowledge. What makes it hard is doing 33 questions in 46 minutes without a calculator.
Can you use a calculator on the IBEW aptitude test?
No. The electrical training ALLIANCE says you will not be able to use a calculator on either test, and a watch with a built-in calculator has to come off. Pencils and paper are provided.