Electrical Aptitude Test: 20 Important Facts you need to Know

By | July 17, 2023
Electrical Aptitude Test
If you are seeking an electrician job, you will be required to take and pass the electrical aptitude test to be hired.

The Electrical Aptitude Test is designed for people who want to become electricians through apprenticeship. Once you submit a qualifying application, you will be scheduled for a testing date.

The Electrical Aptitude Test consists of various sections, including math and reading comprehension.

The math section comprises thirty-three questions within forty-six minutes, while the Reading Comprehension section contains thirty-six questions within fifty-one minutes.

You will experience a short break between the two sections, and your score will be based on the number of items you can answer accurately.

Make arrangements with the training center during the test as soon as you receive your aptitude test date if you will require special accommodations.

An independent facility scores the Electrical Aptitude Test. Approximately two to four weeks after your test is over, the training center will receive the results and then notify you of the results by email.

You will be offered an oral interview if your score meets the qualifying score for an interview.

Interviews are done once every year in February and March.

However, you will have to wait six months before applying and retesting if you don’t obtain a qualifying score on the test battery.

20 Important Facts about Electrical Aptitude Test you need to Know

Here are major facts and tips about the Electrical Aptitude Test to help you perform excellently in it:

  1. What is Electrical Aptitude Test?

The electrical aptitude test is a requirement for electrician apprenticeship programs and qualification programs.

This assessment is conducted in a specified location under the supervision of a proctor. In addition to a little break between the two sections, candidates are offered two and half hours to complete the test.

The electrical aptitude test is part of the interview process for electricians. Applicants must reach eighteen years or older in order to apply with a high school diploma or GED.

Other additional steps of this test are the electrical aptitude test, face-to-face interview, as well as application and verification of qualifications.

  1. The Electrical Aptitude Test consists of multiple-choice questions

The electrical aptitude test is designed to measure a candidate’s ability to learn the required skills to become an electrician through an apprenticeship.

The electrical aptitude test is carried out on two main topics based on multiple-choice questions. These include:

i. Basic Math (Trades Math) – Algebra includes functions, equations, and more, as well as number series.
ii. Reading Comprehension

  1. What are the features of the Electrical Aptitude Test?

The electrical aptitude test contains Trades Math and Reading Comprehension. Trades Math consists of Algebra and number series. There are 33 multiple-choice questions in 46 minutes.

On the other hand, Reading Comprehension includes 36 multiple-choice questions in 50 minutes, making the test time to sum up at a total of 96 minutes.

  1. Who administers the Electrical Aptitude Test?

The electrical aptitude test is administered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

The Electrical Training Alliance, formerly known as NJATC, formed the training institute that administers the electrical aptitude test.

  1. Why do I need to take an Electrical Aptitude Test?

It’s not easy to become an electrician apprentice, so you will have about 900 hours of classes to go through and 800 hours of on-the-job training to complete your apprenticeship.

For this reason, the institutes and labor unions of electrical workers want to ensure that you develop the competence to learn the required skills.

  1. Who is compulsorily required to take the Electrical Aptitude Test?

The Electrical Aptitude Test is necessary for any person looking to work as an electrician through an apprenticeship program. You must pass the test if you aspire to walk through this career path.

The following individuals need to take the electrical aptitude test:

  • Residential wireman
  • Sound/communication technician
  • Inside wireman
  • Outside wireman
  1. How can I pass the Electrical Aptitude Test?

The electrical aptitude practice can help you improve your skills as you may not afford the time and money to spend on the full knowledge courses of basic math.

Lay hold on practice questions and online practice tests to develop self-confidence and improve your score. By reconstructing the questions and time constraints, the online practice tests strongly imitate the electrical assessment.

  1. How can I prepare for the Electrical Aptitude Test?

The Electrical Aptitude Test requires considerable preparation, especially the math section as most people find it difficult.

If not for any other reason, the time limit is enough to compel you to prepare, and also the restriction on the use of calculators.

You can get helpful material references through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC), and the National Electrician Association (NEA).

Because the resources and the tests that these organizations administer will not vary significantly, they have approved versions of the electrical aptitude test.

  1. What are the basic requirements for the Electrical Aptitude Test?

Here are the basic requirements for being an electrician apprentice:

You must:

  • Be up to 17 years old at the time of your application
  • Have a General Educational Diploma or a High School Diploma
  • Have at least a passing grade of C
  • Be a driver with valid State driver’s license
  • Achieve a minimum score on the Electrical Trades Aptitude Test
  • Be eligible for an oral interview
  1. Must I have experience before I can apply for the electrician apprenticeship program?

You don’t need any experience before you can apply for the electrician apprenticeship. You should submit the paperwork documenting any prior experience you must have had or a trade school education in the electrical field so that the JATC will analyze your experience and probably award credit towards your apprenticeship.

  1. Who can apply for the electrician apprenticeship program and where?

Any person who meets the basic requirements and qualifications of the electrician apprenticeship program will be eligible for applying regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.

The application can be done online and online applications are accepted each year. You need a computer that has access to the internet to be able to apply for this program online.

  1. Can I be admitted into the electrician apprenticeship program while I’m enrolled in an algebra course to meet the qualification?

No, you can’t be admitted into the electrician apprenticeship program while you are enrolled in an algebra course to meet qualifications.

Before you can be interviewed, you must have successfully completed an algebra course to meet the requirement.

  1. How many applicants are hired yearly for the electrician apprenticeship program?

The correct number of applicants is determined by the Committee to hire based on the economy, the total number of calls in for Apprentices, the total number of Apprentices becoming Journeymen, and the total number of Journeymen retiring.

  1. Can I retake the Electrical Aptitude Test if I do not score well on the test?

Of course, as scheduled by the JATC, your electrical aptitude test may be retaken after a period of six months has passed by from your most recent test date. To be eligible for another test, a new application must be filled in.

  1. Do I have to work fast when taking the Electrical Aptitude Test?

Most people who take the test don’t rush it because they believe there is adequate time to complete the assessment within the time limit given.

What you need to do is learn to work progressively and cautiously. Avoid spending too much time on each question and maintain a steady focus.

  1. Is it necessary to study to do better on the Electrical Aptitude Test?

You can review the material that looks like those questions if you discover that certain kinds of questions seem difficult to you. The booklet you collected with your application is where you should review the sample questions.

Nevertheless, in order to perform well on the electrical aptitude test, there may not be any need to memorize formulas or material containing facts about the exam.

The national training center does offer refresher courses at http://www.electricprep.com since the JATC doesn’t provide study material for the electrical aptitude test.

  1. Will I receive a report of my electrical aptitude test score?

An email will be sent to you within two weeks of your test date with your test score. Your score will fall between 1 and 9.

In order to pass the electrical aptitude test, you must achieve a score of at least 4 or higher.

Scoring below the minimum standard will not reach a numerical score and is considered a fail.

Your math and reading scores will be analyzed on the scale of:

  • High
  • Above Average
  • Average
  • Below Average
  • Low
  • Below Minimum
  1. What happens if I fall sick or have an emergency on the test day?

If you will not be able to take the test on the scheduled date due to an emergency or illness, you need to contact JATC immediately – if you are still interested in the test – to review your situation and application and reschedule you for the next available test session, or you will have to reapply.

Remember that you can have your test date rescheduled only once. This means that you would have to reapply with the JATC if you can’t attend your rescheduled test date.

  1. Will I be allowed to complete the test on another day if I have to leave before the test is completed?

No, you will not be allowed to complete the test on another day based on the condition of leaving before finishing the test.

The grade of your test will be determined as if you did finish the test and your score will certainly be lower than if you had completed the test when you cannot complete each section of the test.

During your test session, the tests must be completed. You will not be able to take the test again for a minimum of six months if you cannot complete the test on another day.

  1. The Electrical Aptitude Test tips

Ensure you arrive fifteen minutes early on the day you are taking the electrical aptitude test to make sure you are not late.

Late entries will not be condoned and will attract a fee because you are marked as not present and therefore will have to reschedule your test.

Remember to bring a photo ID, as mentioned above. You may not be allowed to use a calculating device during the test, but scrap paper and a pencil will be provided to work out the equations.

A little break will be given between the two sections of the electrical aptitude test, which allows for stretching and eating before going back in.

You will have your focus and energy regained with this.

You can skip the questions whose answers you are unsure of and come back to them later. This technique will help you a lot because only the correct answers make up your score as incorrect ones will not count.

Electrical Aptitude Test Practice Questions and Answers

We have compiled some electrical aptitude test sample questions and answers to help you prepare for essential electrical engineering topics such as transformers, current & resistance, inductors, quantities & units, Ohm’s Law, energy & power, voltage, etc.

Q1. Calculate and tell me the total clearing time for a high-speed circuit breaker?

A. 5 to 20 cycles
B. 1 to 2 cycles
C. 1 minute
D. 15 seconds

Answer: B

Q2. What is the immediate difference if the immediate values of two alternating voltages are v1=60sinθ & v2=40sin (θ − π/3)?

A. 53 cos(40.9°) V
B. 53 sin(30.9°) V
C. 53 sin(40.9°) V
D. 53 cos(30.9°) V

Answer: C

Explanation:
Horizontal component os v1= 60V
Vertical component of v1=0V
Horizontal component of v2=40cos60=20V
Vertical component of v2=-20sin60=-34.64

Resultant horizontal component=40V
Resultant vertical component= 34.64V
Resultant v= 53, tan (phi) =34.64/40, phi= 40.9
Therefore, sum= 53 sin (40.9°) V.

Q3. What will be the turns ratio if a particular transformer possesses 400 turns in the first winding and 2,000 turns in the second winding?

A. 5
B. 25
C. 2
D. 4

Answer: A

Explanation: N2/N1is the Turns Ratio. So, N2/N1 = 2000/400 = 5

Q4. Tell me what the average RRRV will be if a short circuit test on a circuit breaker possesses the following readings on single frequency transients?

i. 50μ sec is the time to reach the peak re-striking voltage
ii. 100 kV is the peak re-striking voltage

A. 2105kV/sec B. 3105kV/sec
C. 3106kV/sec D. 2106kV/sec

Answer: D

Q5. The current ratings are not necessary for:

A. Load break switch
B. Circuit breakers
C. Relays
D. Isolators

Answer: D

Conclusion

The electrical aptitude test evaluates candidates’ skills across different topics such as control systems, power, telecommunications, circuit theory, and signal processing.

The test also evaluates cognitive abilities such as Numerical Reasoning and Verbal Ability. You won’t be allowed to use a calculator, and are expected to bring your photo ID with you so you can take the test.

On your scheduled test day, you may spend approximately three hours at the test center; you need to arrive at least fifteen minutes before the scheduled testing time.

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