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IBEW aptitude test

Khan Academy for the IBEW aptitude test: which lessons to study

By the nodiexam team Updated

For the IBEW aptitude test, the Khan Academy lessons that matter are in Algebra 1 (expressions, equations, functions, sequences, graphs, quadratics), a few Pre-algebra and Arithmetic lessons, and the 9th grade reading units. Khan is free and JATCs such as NIETC, Local 1340 and Local 81 recommend it, but its practice is not timed like the test, which has no calculator.

Khan Academy is a free learning site, and programs that give the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) aptitude test point applicants to it. NIETC in Oregon calls Khan Academy's Algebra class a free online class that is good for algebra review. Also, Local 1340 suggests Khan Academy's free Algebra 1 course for the math part if paid prep courses are out of reach, and IBEW Local 81 names Khan Academy as a good resource for the aptitude test, next to the etA's sample test.

The trouble is the size of it. Khan's Algebra 1 course alone is long, and applicants ask which units count. This page maps each topic of the IBEW aptitude test to the Khan lessons that teach it. nodiexam is not affiliated with Khan Academy, and the links go to Khan's own pages.

What the test covers

The test has two timed parts: Algebra and Functions, 33 questions in 46 minutes, and Reading Comprehension, 36 questions in 51 minutes. On test day, calculators are not allowed. The electrical training ALLIANCE's sample pages show evaluating formulas, equivalent expressions, number patterns, and function tables, plus questions on whether a formula comes out positive or negative. Applicants 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.

Algebra: Khan lessons for each topic

The first five rows are the question types on the official sample pages. The rest are the school algebra applicants report and our practice covers.

Topic on the testKhan Academy lessons
Evaluating formulasSubstitution and evaluating expressions (Algebra 1); order of operations (Pre-algebra)
Equivalent expressionsIntro to equivalent expressions and combining like terms (Algebra 1); distributive property with variables (Pre-algebra)
Number patternsArithmetic sequences and geometric sequences (Algebra 1); number patterns (Pre-algebra)
Sign of a formula's outputMultiplying and dividing negative numbers (Arithmetic); exponents (Pre-algebra)
Matching tables to relationshipsInputs and outputs of a function, evaluating functions and two-variable linear equations (Algebra 1)
Solving equations and inequalitiesVariables on both sides, equations with parentheses and multi-step inequalities (Algebra 1)
Reading graphsSlope, intercepts and features of graphs (Algebra 1)
Quadratics and parabolasIntro to parabolas, vertex form, solving by factoring and intro to factoring quadratics (Algebra 1)
Word problemsRates, ratio word problems and percentages (Pre-algebra); modeling with linear equations (Algebra 1)

What applicants who used Khan say lines up with this list. For example, one commenter wrote that they passed after studying with Khan Academy and an AI chatbot, focusing on quadratics, order of operations, linear equations and functions. And one commenter wrote that Khan Academy's Algebra 1 was enough, naming equations, linear expressions, quadratics and graphs, and said the test had no trigonometry.

Reading: Khan lessons for each skill

In Reading Comprehension, each reading passage is followed by several questions. Khan's 9th grade reading course practices the same skills on passages with questions. The groups below are our own practice categories.

Reading skillKhan Academy lessons (9th grade reading, grammar and vocab)
Main ideaDetermining central idea, summary and theme
Supporting detailsCiting text evidence
InferenceMaking inferences
Words in contextInterpreting words in context and context clues
Author's purposeIdentifying author's purpose
SequenceAnalyzing text structure

For longer reading under steadier pressure, the course also has a long passage practice unit.

What Khan Academy does not cover

Khan Academy does not train you for the test's clock or its format. It teaches the skills well, but it was not built for this test, so three things are missing:

  • The clock. You get a little under a minute and a half per question on both parts. Khan's practice is not timed like that, so speed has to be trained separately.
  • No calculator, ever. Do every Khan problem by hand, even where the site offers a calculator.
  • The test's mix and format. On test day the topics come mixed, and the test is multiple choice with one correct answer per question. There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question. Khan groups problems by skill.

The fix is to finish with timed tests in the test's own format. Our free full-length practice test has both parts with the official counts and times, and every question is explained.

A two-week plan built on Khan

  1. Day 1. Take the free full-length practice test under the clock to find your weak topics.
  2. Days 2 to 6. Work the Khan lessons in the algebra table for your two weakest topics, on paper, then the rest in order.
  3. Days 7 and 8. Reading: one Khan reading lesson a day, then a timed passage.
  4. Days 9 to 12. Mixed practice by hand, 20 minutes at a time, with a timer running. Our IBEW math page has a drill for each topic.
  5. Day 13. A second full timed test. Review every wrong answer.
  6. Day 14. Rest, and check your letter for what to bring.

For a four-week version, the study guide spreads the same steps out.

Questions people ask

Which Khan Academy units should I do for the IBEW aptitude test?

Start with Algebra 1: Algebra foundations, Solving equations and inequalities, Linear equations and graphs, Functions, Sequences and the two quadratics units. Add Pre-algebra's order of operations and number patterns lessons, Arithmetic's negative numbers, and the 9th grade reading units for the reading part. The table on this page links each lesson to the test topic it serves.

Is Khan Academy enough to pass the IBEW aptitude test?

It covers the math and much of the reading, and one commenter wrote that they passed after studying with it, an AI chatbot and their local's study guide. What it does not give you is the test itself: 33 algebra questions in 46 minutes and 36 reading questions in 51, with no calculator. Add at least one full timed practice test before test day.

Do I need trigonometry or Algebra 2 for the IBEW aptitude test?

The official sample pages show algebra only, and the math part is called Algebra and Functions. One commenter who took it wrote that it had no trigonometry. Spend your time on Algebra 1 and the basics first.

Is Khan Academy free?

Yes. Khan Academy is free to use, and JATCs such as NIETC in Oregon and Local 1340 in Virginia point applicants to its algebra course for that reason.

Sources

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