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Electrical apprenticeship

IBEW aptitude test

The IBEW aptitude test has two timed parts: Algebra and Functions, 33 questions in 46 minutes, and Reading Comprehension, 36 questions in 51 minutes. On the test, calculators are not allowed. Afterwards, you learn whether your score qualifies, not your exact score.

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Many IBEW and NECA apprenticeship programs (JATCs) give this electrical aptitude test. It comes from the electrical training ALLIANCE, previously called the NJATC, so people also call it the NJATC or JATC aptitude test. Not every local uses it: some locals, such as Local 26, use a GAN assessment instead. The letter from your local says which test you take.

The test at a glance

Algebra and Functions33 questions in 46 minutes Source
Reading Comprehension36 questions in 51 minutes Source
CalculatorOn the test, calculators are not allowed, and calculator watches are not allowed either. Source
Wrong answersThere is no penalty for guessing. Only correct answers count, so answer every question. Source
Your resultAfter the test, you learn whether your score qualifies, not your exact score. Source
Score scaleSome locals, such as Local 1340, set their cutoff on a stanine scale (1 to 9). Local 1340 asks for a stanine of 4 or better. Other locals set their own cutoff. Source
RetakingIf you don't qualify, wait three months (90 days) before retesting. Wait the full time: a retest taken early does not count. Source
TimeEach part has its own clock, with a short break between them. Plan on about 3 hours at the test center. Source

Checked on October 23, 2026. Read the letter from your local as well.

Try 10 questions under the clock

Six algebra questions and four reading questions in 14 minutes. That is about the pace of the official test. No account and no email, and your answers stay in this browser.

  • 10questions
  • 14minutes
  • No calculatorsame as the official test
  1. Question 1If f(x) = 5x + 6, what is f(7)?
  2. Question 2Which expression is equivalent to 5(5x + 6)?
  3. Question 3Consider the following pattern of numbers: 21, ___, 5, −3, −11, −19. What number belongs in the blank?
  4. Question 4Suppose x is a positive number and y is a negative number. Which of these must be negative?
  5. Question 5Consider the table of x and y values. Which formula gives the same relationship as the table?
    Table of x and y valuesx = 1, y = 7; x = 2, y = 11; x = 3, y = 15; x = 4, y = 19; x = 5, y = 23xy17211315419523
  6. Question 6Which of these is the solution of 3(x − 5) < 8x − 60?

  7. One Person, One Lock

    1 At the Riverside bottling plant, a conveyor motor stopped turning early on a Monday morning. Before anyone opened the motor's control box, the maintenance crew followed the plant's lockout and tagout steps. These steps keep a machine from starting while someone is working on it.

    2 First, the lead mechanic, Tom Archer, told the line operators that the conveyor would be shut down for repair. Then he stopped the conveyor using its normal stop button. Next, he went to the disconnect switch that feeds the motor and turned it to the off position.

    3 With the switch off, Tom placed his own padlock through the switch handle so it could not be moved. He hung a tag on the lock with his name, the date, and the reason for the work. Each worker on the job added a personal lock as well. The rule at the plant is one person, one lock, one key. No one may remove another worker's lock.

    4 Before touching anything, Tom pressed the conveyor's start button to make sure the machine would not run. He then tested the motor's wiring with a voltage tester to confirm there was no power. Only after both checks did the crew open the control box and find the problem, a burned wire on one of the motor leads.

    5 When the repair was finished, the crew picked up their tools, put the guards back in place, and made sure everyone was clear of the conveyor. Only then did each worker remove his or her own lock. Tom told the operators the conveyor was ready, and the line started again before lunch.

  8. Question 7What is this passage mainly about?
  9. Question 8What information did Tom write on the tag?
  10. Question 9Why does the author include the details in paragraph 4?
  11. Question 10Which step came right before Tom turned the disconnect switch to off?

Want the whole thing? The free full-length practice test has both parts with the official question counts and times.

What's on the test

The electrical training ALLIANCE's sample pages show these kinds of algebra questions. Our practice covers each one.

  • Formulas. Put numbers into a formula and work out the result by hand.
  • Equivalent expressions. Pick the expression that equals another one after you expand or simplify it.
  • Number patterns. Find the rule in a row of numbers and the number that comes next.
  • Positive or negative. Tell whether a formula gives a positive or a negative result for the values you are given.
  • Function tables. Match a table of x and y values to the rule that made it.

Posts from applicants who took the test add more: one applicant wrote that equations, number sequences and graphs made up most of the math, and another wrote that the test had parabolas. We cover graphs and parabolas too, and equations and word problems as well. Each topic has a worked example and a short drill on the IBEW math page.

In Reading Comprehension, each reading passage is followed by several questions. Each question has one correct answer, and the passage holds it.

A sample question, worked through

Solve for x.

(2x − 5) ÷ 3 = 7

  1. 6
  2. 8
  3. 13
  4. 26

Worked solution

  1. Clear the division. Multiply both sides by 3: 2x − 5 = 21.
  2. Undo the minus 5. Add 5 to both sides: 2x = 26.
  3. Undo the times 2. Divide both sides by 2: x = 13.
  4. Check it. Put 13 back in: (2 × 13 − 5) ÷ 3 = 21 ÷ 3 = 7. It works.

The answer is C, 13.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • A, 6. You skipped the first step and solved 2x − 5 = 7.
  • B, 8. You took 5 away instead of adding it, so you got 2x = 16.
  • D, 26. You stopped at 2x = 26 and forgot to divide by 2.

Every question in our practice comes with a solution like this one.

How scoring works

Never leave a question blank. If the clock is about to run out, pick an answer for every question you haven't reached.

The cutoff depends on your local. The table above gives Local 1340's, so ask your local what it needs and how it ranks applicants who qualify. Views differ on what a high score is worth: one commenter wrote that a high score helps in competitive locals, where more people pass than get places, while others in the same thread said the score mostly gets you to the interview.

Retaking the test

The waiting rule in the table above comes from the electrical training ALLIANCE, and local pages repeat it: NIETC and Local 1340 both allow a retest after 3 months. Other locals may ask you to wait longer, so check with yours. Use the wait to work on your weakest topics, then take a full timed test before you go back.

Full IBEW aptitude prep

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When you want more than the free test: more full-length tests, practice by topic and a printable pack.

45 days of access from the day you pay. Nothing renews.

  • 8 algebra and 6 reading tests in the simulator, full length and timed like the official test
  • Practice by topic, timed or untimed, with step-by-step explanations
  • A diagnostic test and a study plan built from your result
  • Review mode: every question you missed, with its method
  • Printable pack (PDF): an algebra method sheet, printable copies of Algebra and Reading tests 1 to 3 with answer keys and worked solutions, and a study plan for four, two or one week. Download it any time for a year.

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Questions people ask

How hard is the IBEW aptitude test?

It checks high school algebra and reading. The electrical training ALLIANCE says a JATC's minimum requirements may include a high school diploma or GED (or a two-year degree) and a passing grade in one year of high school algebra or one algebra course after high school. In the algebra part, 33 questions in 46 minutes leaves you under a minute and a half per question, with no calculator. Views on the clock differ: the electrical training ALLIANCE says most applicants have plenty of time to finish each test without rushing, but one applicant wrote that time was the hardest part of the test. If you haven't done algebra in years, give yourself a few weeks of practice.

What score do I need to pass the IBEW aptitude test?

There is no single passing score to look up. Each local sets its own cutoff, and you hear only whether you met it. One example: Local 1340 asks for a stanine of 4 or better. See how scoring works.

How many questions are on the IBEW aptitude test?

There are 33 Algebra and Functions questions to answer in 46 minutes, then 36 Reading Comprehension questions in 51 minutes.

Is the IBEW aptitude test multiple choice?

Yes. On the electrical training ALLIANCE's sample pages, the test is multiple choice with one correct answer per question, with choices A to D. Our practice uses the same layout.

Can I use a calculator on the IBEW aptitude test?

No, calculators are not allowed, and that includes calculator watches. Every question in our practice can be worked by hand, and the explanations show how.

How long does the IBEW aptitude test take?

Each part is timed on its own, 46 minutes for algebra and 51 for reading, with a short break between them. The electrical training ALLIANCE says to plan on about 3 hours at the test center and to arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled testing time.

Can I retake the IBEW aptitude test?

Yes. The electrical training ALLIANCE's rule is to wait three months (90 days) before retesting, and testing sooner voids the new score. Retaking the test has two local examples.

Keep reading

Sources

Exam facts on this page come from these pages. We checked each one on the date shown.