IBEW Aptitude Test: Complete Guide
What it is, what's on it, how it's scored, and how to pass it.
The IBEW aptitude test (also called the NJATC aptitude test or the electrical apprenticeship aptitude test) is a 96-minute, two-section exam used by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the electrical training ALLIANCE to screen apprenticeship applicants. If you want into a union electrical apprenticeship in the U.S. or Canada, you almost certainly have to pass this test.
Format
- Section 1 — Algebra & Functions: 33 questions in 46 minutes. ~84 seconds per question. No calculator.
- Section 2 — Reading Comprehension: 36 questions in 50 minutes. ~83 seconds per question.
- Total: 69 questions, 96 minutes.
Scoring
Your raw score is converted to a band from 1 to 9. Band 4 is the minimum to qualify for an interview. Most locals favor candidates with band 7 or higher. The scoring isn't a percentage — it's normalized against everyone else who took the test.
What's actually tested
Algebra
- Word problems and ratios
- Solving for x in linear and quadratic equations
- Function notation: f(x), g(x), composite functions
- Number sequences and patterns
- Percentages, rates, and basic geometry
Reading
- Trade-style passages (electrical, mechanical, safety, code excerpts)
- Pulling specific facts
- Inferring meaning from context
- Following multi-step procedural text
How to prepare
You don't need to be a math whiz. You need reps. Take a free practice test today, identify your weak section, then drill until it's not weak. The full simulator on this site mirrors the real test exactly — 33 algebra, break, 36 reading, same timing.
FAQ
Stop reading. Start practicing.
10 free questions. 8 minutes. See your weak spots before the real test.