Apprenticeship and technical hiring tests mix mechanical principles with arithmetic, reading and spatial puzzles. Here is what public sources say about eight of them.
Mechanical and trade aptitude tests usually do not ask for trade experience. They test whether you can reason about gears, levers and pulleys, handle arithmetic and algebra without a calculator, read carefully, and picture shapes in space. Most are multiple choice and timed, and several are pass or fail against a cut-off set by the employer or training programme.
This page covers eight tests one by one, with the format as far as public sources describe it, a worked example, common mistakes and a practice plan. Programmes differ locally, so where sources conflict we say so. Always follow the notice you receive from the employer or training centre.
| Test | Typically used for | Main question types |
|---|---|---|
| BMCT-II | Technical, engineering and trade selection | Mechanical principles shown in diagrams |
| Ramsay MAT | Entry-level and apprentice technical roles | Mechanical, tools, physics |
| SHL Mechanical | Engineering, technical and operations hiring | Simple machines, force and motion |
| GAN | Apprenticeship and skilled-trade selection | Maths, paper folding, reading, mechanical |
| IBEW | Electrical apprenticeship selection in the US | Algebra and functions, reading comprehension |
| Elevator test | Elevator constructor apprenticeship selection | Arithmetic, reading, mechanical |
| UA / Pipefitter | Plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeship selection | Maths, measurement, mechanical, reading |
| ACT WorkKeys | Workforce readiness and employer screening | Word problems, charts and diagrams, technology |
Descriptions as of 13 October 2026, from the sources named in each section. Formats vary by employer and version, so check your invitation.
The Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test measures how well you understand everyday mechanical and physical principles. The current version, BMCT-II, is published by Pearson TalentLens.
Pearson's TalentLens page describes BMCT-II as 55 multiple-choice items in 25 minutes, with two untimed practice questions at the start. Each item is a picture with a question, and answers are typically three options according to prep guides. The original BMCT was longer, at 68 questions in 30 minutes, so older practice material may not match.
Commonly reported topics are levers and pulleys, gears and belt drives, hydraulics, structures and slopes, gravity, and simple electricity. One prep site says items come from a bank of about 300 questions, which we did not find in Pearson's materials. Pass marks of 80% or 85% quoted online come from prep sites, since employers set their own cut-offs.
Applying basic physics to a diagram: which way does a gear turn, where does a lever balance, how does load share between supports. No trade qualification is needed, but familiarity with the standard diagrams helps a lot.
Gear A has 20 teeth and turns clockwise at 60 rpm. It meshes with Gear B, which has 40 teeth. How fast and in which direction does Gear B turn?
Answer: 30 rpm, anticlockwise
Meshing gears turn in opposite directions. Speed is in inverse proportion to tooth count, so 60 × 20 ÷ 40 = 30 rpm.
ReasonEra is built for reasoning puzzles, so it fits the diagram-reading and spatial side of these questions better than physics recall. Use it to practise visual and logic questions, and learn the physics rules separately.
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Pearson's TalentLens page describes 55 questions in 25 minutes, plus two untimed practice items. The original BMCT had 68 questions in 30 minutes.
No. The items test mechanical principles shown in diagrams, so everyday understanding of how machines work is the main requirement.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: Pearson TalentLens: Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test. Question bank size and pass marks come from prep sites and are unconfirmed.
Ramsay Corporation's mechanical aptitude tests gauge learning potential for technical work. The MAT-5 is listed on Ramsay's product pages as an apprentice and entry-level test.
Ramsay's product pages list the MAT-5 as 36 multiple-choice items with a 20-minute limit, available in Spanish and French as well as English. Third-party guides give the same figures.
Ramsay says the test is not designed to measure specific knowledge and skills. Its content areas include household objects, production and maintenance work, science and physics, and hand and power tools. We found no official sample items, so the style of the questions beyond these areas is unconfirmed.
Reasoning about how common tools and machines work, and basic physical principles, from items that do not depend on trade-specific knowledge.
A 3 m lever is balanced on a pivot 1 m from its left end. A 40 N weight hangs from the left end. What downward force at the right end balances it?
Answer: 20 N
The left arm is 1 m and the right arm is 2 m. Balance needs 40 N × 1 m = F × 2 m, so F = 20 N.
Use ReasonEra for the spatial and logic parts of mechanical practice and for number work, and study the physics rules from other sources. The explanations help when you want to see a step-by-step method.
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Ramsay's product pages list 36 multiple-choice items and a 20-minute limit. Confirm in your own invitation.
Ramsay says it is not designed to measure specific knowledge and skills. It is meant to gauge learning potential for technical work.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: Ramsay Corporation product pages and third-party guides. We found no official sample questions, so item style is unconfirmed.
SHL's mechanical comprehension test checks how you apply basic mechanical principles to pictures of tools and machines. It is a short test by SHL standards.
Test-prep sites disagree on the numbers: one describes about 15 questions in 10 minutes, another 20 image-based questions in 15 minutes with four options each. None of these sources is SHL itself, so treat the figures as estimates and rely on your invitation.
Topics reported across sources are levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, force and motion, and gear trains. Some mention fluid mechanics and basic circuits. Each item typically shows a mechanical setup and asks what happens or which option is correct.
Quick recognition of the principle at work in a picture, then a short calculation or a direction of motion. With a short time limit, speed comes from recognising set-ups you have seen before.
An 80 N load hangs from a movable pulley supported by two rope sections. Ignoring friction and the pulley's weight, what force lifts the load steadily?
Answer: 40 N
With two rope sections sharing the load, each carries half. The pulling force is 80 N ÷ 2 = 40 N.
ReasonEra's strength is reasoning puzzles, so use it for the spatial and logic practice around mechanical tests. For pulley and lever formulas, build a short revision sheet of your own.
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Prep sites give conflicting figures, from about 10 minutes for 15 questions to 15 minutes for 20. Your invitation shows the real limit.
Sources mention levers, pulleys, wheels and axles, force and motion and gear trains, with some mentioning fluids and simple circuits.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: test-prep sites (no SHL page was read). Question counts and timing conflict between sources.
The GAN aptitude test is described as a multi-part battery used when selecting apprentices. Sources disagree on how many sections it has, so the list below is indicative.
One prep page lists five timed sections: paper folding (30 questions, 30 minutes), numerical computation (30 questions, 30 minutes), numerical reasoning (20 questions, 22 minutes), reading comprehension (42 questions, 25 minutes) and mechanical reasoning (45 questions, 30 minutes). Another source describes only three: maths, paper folding and reading comprehension.
Maths is described as basic arithmetic with fractions, decimals and percentages, with no calculator allowed. Paper folding shows a square sheet folded and punched, and you choose the figure that shows the unfolded result. Mechanical reasoning covers force, motion and simple machines. Many other web results about GAN are about a machine-learning topic, not this test.
Mental arithmetic, picturing a folded and unfolded sheet, careful reading and basic mechanics.
A square sheet is folded in half to make a rectangle, then folded in half again to make a smaller square. One hole is punched through the middle of the smaller square. How many holes appear when the sheet is fully unfolded?
Answer: 4 holes
Two folds make four layers. A punch goes through every layer, so unfolding shows four holes, one in each quarter, mirrored across the fold lines.
Practise paper-folding, shape and number-pattern questions in ReasonEra and use Tutor mode to see the unfolding step by step. It suits the spatial and arithmetic parts of this battery.
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One prep page lists five: paper folding, numerical computation, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension and mechanical reasoning. Another lists three. Check with the programme.
Sources say no calculator is allowed for the maths sections. Confirm in your instructions.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: test-prep sites (no official GAN page was read). Section lists conflict between sources and are unconfirmed.
The IBEW aptitude test, linked to the NJATC and now the Electrical Training Alliance, screens applicants to electrical apprenticeships. It tests algebra and reading, not electrical knowledge.
Most sources describe two timed sections: algebra and functions with 33 questions in 46 minutes, and reading comprehension with 36 questions in 51 minutes. That is about 97 minutes of testing plus a short break, and total session time is longer once check-in and instructions are counted. Calculators are not permitted.
Algebra covers evaluating expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, factoring polynomials and reading functions from tables and graphs. Reading covers finding stated details, main ideas, meaning from context and conclusions from evidence. One low-quality page describes three sections and a three-hour test, which does not match other sources. Most figures come from iPREP, so confirm with your local JATC.
Algebra fluency without a calculator and careful passage reading. No wiring, code or tool knowledge is needed.
Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 2x + 19
Answer: x = 12
Subtract 2x from both sides to get x + 7 = 19. Then subtract 7 to get x = 12.
Use ReasonEra to practise number patterns and logic questions, and use the explanations for any step you cannot follow. For algebra drills and passage practice, add dedicated worksheets.
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Most sources describe two sections: algebra and functions, and reading comprehension. No electrical knowledge is required.
Sources say calculators are not permitted. Confirm with your local training centre.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: iPREP test overview and related prep pages. These are test-prep descriptions. The Electrical Training Alliance or your local JATC has the current format.
The Elevator Industry Aptitude Test is used when selecting apprentices for the elevator industry, through the IUEC and its joint apprenticeship programmes. Details vary by local notice.
Sources describe three areas: arithmetic computation, reading comprehension and mechanical comprehension, all multiple choice and without a calculator. An iPREP page lists 100 questions, split as 30 maths, 35 reading and 35 mechanical, with sections often 15 to 20 minutes each and about 45 to 60 minutes in total. It is described as pass or fail with a 70% threshold, followed by a tool recognition test and an interview.
Several other pages describe 50 to 60 items and 60 to 90 minutes, but they look unreliable and are not backed up by programme sources. The local joint apprenticeship committee's notice sets the real time limit and instructions, so use it as the authority.
Accurate arithmetic without a calculator, clear reading, and mechanical reasoning with gears, pulleys and force.
What is 3/8 of 64, plus 1/4 of 28?
Answer: 31
Three eighths of 64 is 24 (64 ÷ 8 = 8, then × 3). A quarter of 28 is 7. Then 24 + 7 = 31.
Use ReasonEra for number and logic practice and for the spatial reasoning around mechanical items. Pair it with mechanical principle revision from other sources.
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Sources describe arithmetic computation, reading comprehension and mechanical comprehension. Question counts and timing vary, so check your local notice.
One prep source says 70% and pass or fail, but it is not an official figure we could confirm. Ask your local programme.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: iPREP and related prep pages. The IUEC joint apprenticeship committee's notice for your application is the authority.
UA local training centres run their own aptitude tests for plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeships. We found no single official format, so this section describes what guides say and how to prepare.
Third-party guides describe multiple-choice sections that may include basic maths, measurement and blueprint reading, mechanical reasoning and vocabulary or word problems, with about two to three hours quoted for the whole session. These pages are generic and some look templated, so treat them as unverified.
Local rules differ. One Ontario local says the aptitude test can only be taken once, and another local lists passing an aptitude test as a requirement without describing it. The only reliable source for sections, timing and scoring is the training centre for the specific local you are applying to.
Arithmetic and unit conversion, reading measurements and drawings, basic mechanics and careful reading.
A pipe run needs lengths of 2 ft 9 in, 1 ft 8 in and 3 ft 4 in. What is the total length?
Answer: 7 ft 9 in
Add the inches: 9 + 8 + 4 = 21 in, which is 1 ft 9 in. Add the feet: 2 + 1 + 3 = 6 ft. Then 6 ft + 1 ft 9 in = 7 ft 9 in.
ReasonEra can help with the number-pattern, logic and spatial parts of preparation. For measurement and blueprint skills, add practice from your local centre's materials.
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We found no single official format. Local training centres run their own tests, so check with yours.
It depends on the local. One Ontario local says the test can only be taken once, so ask before you apply.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: generic apprenticeship guides and local programme pages (no single official format found). Everything here is unverified against any one training centre.
ACT WorkKeys assessments measure workplace skills. ACT's examinee page gives question counts and time limits for Applied Mathematics, Graphic Literacy and Applied Technology.
ACT's examinee information lists Applied Mathematics as 34 questions in 55 minutes in English (70 in Spanish), Graphic Literacy as 38 questions in 55 minutes in English (70 in Spanish), and Applied Technology as 34 questions with 45 minutes on paper and 55 minutes online. All can be online or on paper, at five difficulty levels from 3 to 7.
Applied Mathematics uses workplace word problems, with the main skill being converting the words into mathematical operations. A calculator is allowed for that test. Graphic Literacy uses charts, floor plans, diagrams and similar formats. Third-party pages sometimes describe older versions with different timings, so ACT's table is the authority.
Turning workplace situations into calculations, reading graphics accurately, and applying basic technology and mechanical ideas.
A machine fills 12 boxes in 8 minutes. At this rate, how many boxes does it fill in 2 hours?
Answer: 180 boxes
12 boxes in 8 minutes is 1.5 boxes a minute. Two hours is 120 minutes, and 120 × 1.5 = 180.
Practise word-problem logic and pattern questions in ReasonEra and use the explanation to see how a situation becomes an equation. Graph and diagram skills benefit from the reasoning practice too.
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ACT's examinee page lists 34 questions and 55 minutes in English, or 70 minutes in Spanish.
ACT's page indicates a calculator is allowed for Applied Mathematics. Check the instructions for each test.
Source basis, as of 13 October 2026: ACT WorkKeys: information for examinees. Employers may use only some WorkKeys tests, so check which apply to you.
ReasonEra is a specialised AI for reasoning-test questions. A tool made for puzzle patterns can be quicker and more focused than a general-purpose chatbot. See our own published benchmark for the method and results.
We maintain the model and keep developing it, adding new puzzle types and question formats as they appear.
Many candidates now use AI to study. ReasonEra gives you an AI tool for reasoning tests, with explanations that teach the pattern and not only the answer.
Mostly no. They are designed to measure aptitude, so they test reasoning about mechanical ideas, arithmetic, reading and spatial thinking. Some programmes add trade-specific content later in the process.
Several are described as calculator-free, including GAN, IBEW and the elevator test, while WorkKeys Applied Mathematics allows one. Always check the instructions you receive.
Practise the shared skills: arithmetic without a calculator, algebra, reading comprehension, diagram-based mechanics and paper folding. Then ask your training centre or employer for the exact outline.
Some come from the publisher, such as Pearson TalentLens and ACT. Others come from prep sites and may be out of date or disagree with each other. Each section names its basis, and your invitation is the authority.
ReasonEra is built for reasoning-test questions, so it suits the spatial, pattern, logic and number parts of these tests. For physics rules and formulas, use separate revision. It is for practice and learning, not for use during a live assessment.
Try spatial, numerical and logic practice questions in ReasonEra with the free trials, and read the explanation behind each answer.
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Notes. Facts on this page come from public pages and test-prep reports, and each section names its basis. Test formats change, so always confirm details in your own invitation. ReasonEra has no affiliation with the organisations named on this page, and the test names belong to their owners. ReasonEra is for practice and learning only.