12-question math drill
Work without a clock on algebra, patterns and functions. Finish to review the steps and the mistake behind each tempting option.
IBEW aptitude test practice
Prepare for your
electrical apprenticeship test.
Practice algebra, functions and reading comprehension with original questions, step-by-step math solutions and passage evidence. Choose a subject drill or the full two-section practice.
Free worked examples. Sign in to see your practice access.
Check which test your local program uses. This practice covers the two-section ALLIANCE/NJATC format. GAN is a different battery with additional mechanical and spatial tasks; this is not a full GAN simulator. See the program examples below and follow your own invitation.
Build the skills. Then practice the full sitting.
9-question reading drill
Read one substantial original passage and answer its questions at your own pace. Review the exact evidence after finishing.
Full timed practice
Take 33 math questions in 46 minutes, then 36 reading questions in 51 minutes. Each section has its own clock and completed sections stay locked.
Within a section, you can change answers and return to unanswered questions. Our break waits for you to start reading. These are practice controls; follow the proctor’s instructions for your actual test. Difficulty and question allocation are editorial, and results are raw practice scores.
No account needed
Six original questions, with every answer explained.
Try the question before revealing its solution. These teaching examples are separate from the scored practice bank.
Worked question 1 · Algebra and functions
If F = 3(a − 2b) + 4, what is F when a = 5 and b = −1?
- A.13
- B.19
- C.25
- D.31
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. 25
Subtracting 2b means subtracting −2, which adds 2 inside the parentheses. Evaluate that group before multiplying by 3 and adding 4.
- Substitute the given values: F = 3(5 − 2 × (−1)) + 4.
- Calculate the parentheses: 5 − (−2) = 7.
- Multiply, then add: 3 × 7 + 4 = 25.
- A: This comes from treating b as positive: 3(5 − 2) + 4 = 13. The stated value of b is −1.
- B: This is 3 × 5 + 4; it omits the −2b term inside the parentheses.
- C — correct: The grouped value is 5 − 2(−1) = 7, so F = 3 × 7 + 4 = 25.
- D: Adding another 2 before multiplying gives 31, but the expression contains only the one term −2b.
Worked question 2 · Algebra and functions
For real values of t, R = 18 − 3t. Which range of t makes R greater than 0 and less than 9?
- A.0 < t < 3
- B.3 < t < 6
- C.t > 6
- D.3 ≤ t ≤ 6
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 3 < t < 6
Both strict inequalities must hold. R stays positive below t = 6, and it drops below 9 only above t = 3. Neither endpoint is included.
- From 18 − 3t > 0, obtain t < 6; reverse the inequality when dividing by −3.
- From 18 − 3t < 9, obtain t > 3.
- Combine the requirements: 3 < t < 6. Check that the endpoints give the excluded values 9 and 0.
- A: Between 0 and 3, R is between 9 and 18, so it is not less than 9.
- B — correct: For 3 < t < 6, R is strictly between 9 and 0, satisfying both required limits.
- C: For t > 6, R is negative, which fails the requirement that it be greater than 0.
- D: At t = 3, R = 9; at t = 6, R = 0. The question excludes both equalities.
Worked question 3 · Algebra and functions
Which of these equations matches every x, y pair in the table?
| x | y |
|---|---|
| −2 | −5 |
| 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 10 |
Scroll the table horizontally if needed to read every column.
- A.y = 3x − 1
- B.y = x + 3
- C.y = 2x + 1
- D.y = 3x + 1
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. y = 3x + 1
The pair with x = 0 requires a constant term of 1. The change from x = 0 to x = 3 raises y by 9, so the coefficient of x is 3. The resulting equation also matches the negative input.
- At x = 0, the table gives y = 1. This eliminates equations with a different constant term.
- From (0, 1) to (3, 10), the increase in y is 9 for an increase of 3 in x: 9 ÷ 3 = 3.
- Check y = 3x + 1 at x = −2: 3(−2) + 1 = −5.
- A: At x = 0 this gives y = −1, while the table gives 1.
- B: At x = 0 this gives y = 3, while the table gives 1.
- C: This matches x = 0 but gives y = 7 at x = 3, rather than 10.
- D — correct: Substitution gives −5, 1, and 10 for the three listed inputs, matching every row.
Worked question 4 · Algebra and functions
Using only the plotted segments, which statement holds throughout the interval 0 < x < 1?
Each straight segment connects its two plotted endpoints. Only the shown segments are specified.
Scroll the graph horizontally if needed to read the full grid.
- A
- B
Read graph data as text
x: -3 to 5; grid interval 1. y: -3 to 5; grid interval 1.
A: (-2, 4), (4, -2). Coordinates are (x, y); straight segments join consecutive points.
B: (-2, -2), (4, 4). Coordinates are (x, y); straight segments join consecutive points.
- A.Both y-values are positive, and A is above B.
- B.Both y-values are positive, and B is above A.
- C.A has a positive y-value, while B has a negative y-value.
- D.A and B have equal y-values throughout the interval.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Both y-values are positive, and A is above B.
Between x = 0 and x = 1, both segments lie above the horizontal axis, and A lies above B. They meet at x = 1, which is excluded from the stated interval.
- Read the segments at the vertical axis: A crosses y = 2, while B passes through y = 0.
- The segments meet at (1, 1). Between x = 0 and that meeting, A stays above B.
- For 0 < x < 1, B has y > 0 and A has y > 1. The strict interval excludes both boundary points.
- A — correct: Both segments are above y = 0 in this interval, and the descending segment A has the higher y-value.
- B: B does not become the higher segment until after their meeting at x = 1.
- C: B passes through the origin and has positive y-values for positive x along the specified interval.
- D: The segments meet at a single point, (1, 1), rather than sharing y-values throughout an interval.
Reading example · One passage, two questions
What a stock record can tell you
A maintenance depot once kept a single list of the parts in its storeroom. Staff updated quantities when they had time, but the list did not show when a bin had last been checked. A neat column of figures could therefore create more confidence than the information justified. Workers sometimes promised parts to another team before discovering that a listed quantity was several days old.
The supervisor introduced a small change. Every quantity would now appear beside the date of a physical check. A zero would mean that someone had checked the bin and found it empty. A blank would mean that no quantity had yet been recorded, rather than that the bin contained nothing. These distinctions made gaps in the information visible.
The procedure did not require staff to count the whole storeroom before answering every request. Frequently used bins would be checked each morning; slower-moving items would follow a weekly schedule. For an urgent request, a worker would verify the relevant bin before promising a quantity. Parts could still be removed between scheduled checks, so a recent entry was useful evidence rather than a guarantee of present availability.
At first, some staff preferred the old list because it looked more complete. The supervisor explained that a blank space could be more helpful than an undated number: it told the next person where another check was needed. The purpose was not to make the record look certain, but to show what had actually been established and when.
This introductory passage is shorter than the passages in our full reading practice.
Worked question 5 · Reading comprehension
What is the difference between a zero and a blank under the new procedure?
- A.A zero records a checked empty bin; a blank means no quantity has yet been recorded.
- B.A zero identifies a slow-moving item; a blank identifies an item used every morning.
- C.A zero means replacement parts have been ordered; a blank means an order is still needed.
- D.A zero marks an old entry; a blank shows that a physical check occurred that day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. A zero records a checked empty bin; a blank means no quantity has yet been recorded.
The passage assigns distinct meanings to the two entries. Zero is evidence of a completed check that found nothing; a blank identifies missing recorded information.
Evidence in the passage
“A zero would mean that someone had checked the bin and found it empty.”
“A blank would mean that no quantity had yet been recorded, rather than that the bin contained nothing.”
- A — correct: This accurately states the two definitions given in the second paragraph.
- B: Checking frequency depends on how often items are used, but zero and blank do not label those categories.
- C: The passage does not use either entry to record whether a replacement order has been placed.
- D: Dates identify when checks occurred. A blank is not evidence that a check happened that day.
Worked question 6 · Reading comprehension
Yesterday, staff completed a scheduled check of one frequently used bin and one slower-moving bin. No urgent request has been received. Under the routine described, which bin is due for another scheduled check this morning?
- A.Both bins, because each recorded quantity is now a day old.
- B.Neither bin, because each has a dated quantity from yesterday.
- C.The frequently used bin; the slower-moving bin follows its weekly schedule.
- D.The slower-moving bin; the frequently used bin waits for an urgent request.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. The frequently used bin; the slower-moving bin follows its weekly schedule.
The routine assigns different checking intervals to the two categories. A frequently used bin is checked each morning, so its check yesterday does not replace today’s check. A slower-moving bin checked on its weekly schedule yesterday is not due again the next morning.
Evidence in the passage
“Frequently used bins would be checked each morning; slower-moving items would follow a weekly schedule.”
“For an urgent request, a worker would verify the relevant bin before promising a quantity.”
- A: A day-old entry does not make every bin due: slower-moving items follow a weekly schedule.
- B: The frequently used bin still needs its daily check even though yesterday’s quantity was dated.
- C — correct: Daily checks apply to frequently used bins, while slower-moving items are checked weekly. No urgent request adds a separate check here.
- D: This reverses the stated schedules. Frequently used bins receive morning checks without waiting for an urgent request.
Make your working easy to check.
- 1
Substitute with parentheses
Write negative inputs and fractions clearly before simplifying. Check the order of operations instead of trying to do every step mentally.
- 2
Translate between representations
Read axis labels, scales, slopes and intercepts. A table, graph and equation can express the same relationship in different ways.
- 3
Return to the passage
Keep track of who, when and under what condition. A plausible statement is not enough unless the text supports the answer being asked for.
- 4
Review the reason for the error
Compare your work with the steps or passage evidence. Separate a calculation slip from a mistaken rule, unsupported inference or time problem.
Local programs can use different assessments.
These published examples show why the provider matters. Use your current application page and invitation to confirm your own assessment, requirements and retest policy.
Two-section algebra and reading
Waterloo JATC · IBEW Local 288
Its aptitude page describes the ALLIANCE-style section counts and four reading passages. This practice targets that two-subject format.
Official program informationTwo-section algebra and reading
Raleigh-Durham Electrical Training Institute
Its published instructions give the 33/46-minute math and 36/51-minute reading sections, with a short break and no calculator.
Official program informationGAN · Different coverage
Minneapolis Electrical JATC
Its applicant page names GAN and includes paper folding and mechanical comprehension among six skill areas. This two-section practice does not cover that full battery.
Official program informationGAN · Different coverage
Electrical Trades Center · Columbus
Its application process also names GAN and a broader set of reasoning domains. Confirm those provider-specific instructions before choosing preparation.
Official program informationSources checked September 10, 2026. These are examples of local selection processes, not a complete or permanent eligibility directory. Programs may change their requirements.
IBEW aptitude practice questions
Which IBEW aptitude test does this practice cover?
This track covers the Electrical Training Alliance/NJATC-style battery: Algebra and Functions followed by Reading Comprehension. Some local programs use GAN instead, with additional mechanical, spatial and other reasoning tasks. Check the assessment provider and instructions on your own invitation. This is not a full GAN simulator, a journeyman licensing test or a universal test for every IBEW local.
How many questions are there, and how long is the test?
The ALLIANCE publishes 33 algebra/functions questions in 46 minutes, then a short break, then 36 reading questions in 51 minutes. Those answering periods total 97 minutes. Our full practice uses two separate clocks and four original reading passages with nine questions each. The equal nine-question grouping is our practice design. A real test-center appointment can be longer because it includes instructions and administration.
What math should I prepare?
Review substitution, negative numbers, fractions, order of operations, equivalent expressions, equations and functions. Our bank also includes factoring, powers and roots, number patterns, inequalities implied by formulas, and relationships shown in tables and graphs. The mix is an editorial practice blueprint, not an official question distribution. The published sample questions are a useful starting point; prior electrical knowledge is not required for the standard battery.
Can I use a calculator?
The published ALLIANCE instructions do not allow calculators. Have blank paper and a pencil ready for this practice, and work through the arithmetic by hand. Our graphs and tables include the information needed by their questions. For permitted materials or approved adjustments on your actual test, follow your training center’s instructions.
Can I skip questions or change an answer?
In our practice, choosing an option records it immediately. You can move between questions and change answers within the active section. Finishing a section, or its clock expiring, locks that section. Our navigation controls are practice choices; the exact controls at your test center may differ. There is no deduction for a wrong answer in our raw practice score, and the ALLIANCE states that its battery has no guessing penalty.
What happens during the break or if I reload?
An active timed section keeps running through reloads and background tabs. After math ends, our practice waits at a transition screen; the reading clock starts only when you explicitly start reading. This transition is untimed in our practice. The official instructions specify a short break without a universal published duration, so follow your proctor on test day. Unused math time does not carry over.
What score do I need to pass?
There is no universal qualifying threshold for every local program, and our original practice percentages cannot be converted into an official scaled score. We show correct answers, unanswered and unreached questions, section results and time. An aptitude threshold is also different from final apprenticeship selection, which can involve interviews, ranking and available openings. Check the current policy of the program you are applying to.
How soon can I retake the real assessment?
Check with your local training center before arranging a retest. Published intervals and reapplication rules differ, and some national material contains conflicting wording about later retakes. A rule from another local, or from GAN, may not apply to your invitation. Our practice does not determine your eligibility to retest.
Is this practice free?
The six worked questions on this page are free without an account. Sign in to see your access before starting a sitting. Where an account includes a free attempt, starting a sitting uses it; a category pass unlocks further full practices and subject drills when required. Saved answers and explanations remain free to review.
Are these real exam questions or calibrated scores?
These are original practice questions, with independently reviewed answers and explanations. The bank is not supplied or endorsed by IBEW, NECA, the Electrical Training Alliance or GAN. Difficulty levels and question selection are editorial. The score helps identify algebra, reading and pacing mistakes; it does not predict admission or reproduce an official score.
Choose what to work on first.
Start with algebra, focus on reading, or practice both sections under their separate clocks.
Choose your practiceGame Assessment Prep is an independent preparation platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by IBEW, NECA, the Electrical Training Alliance/NJATC or GAN. Our original questions and practice scores do not establish an official result or an apprenticeship offer.