IBEW Aptitude Test Passing Score: What Programs Require

There’s no single IBEW aptitude test passing score. The Electrical Training Alliance, which makes the test, doesn’t publish a cutoff, and each local apprenticeship program sets its own. Most programs ask for a 4 out of 9 to move on to the interview, but some want a 5, at least one accepts a 3, and a growing number of big-city programs have dropped the minimum entirely.

Below are the minimums that 11 programs publish on their own websites, what the 1 to 9 scale actually measures, and why passing is often not the number that decides whether you get in.

What is the IBEW aptitude test passing score?

Officially, there isn’t one. The Electrical Training Alliance’s applicant instructions say only that you’ll be told whether you received a qualifying score, that exact scores aren’t provided, and that a qualifying score gets you scheduled for an oral interview.¹

What counts as “qualifying” is set by your local program. Local programs describe results on a scale of 1 to 9, with 9 the highest:

• 4 is the most common minimum. Local 81 in Pennsylvania, the New Mexico JATC, the Ithaca JATC and the Electrical Training Academy in Ohio all state it.^{2 3 4 5}
• Some programs want a 5, including the North Texas Electrical JATC and the Atlanta Electrical JATC.^{6 7}
• A few accept a 3. The Westchester-Fairfield program run with IBEW Local 3 in New York lists 3 out of 9.⁸

So if you’re asking “what do I need,” the honest answer is: check your program’s page, and plan for at least a 4, ideally a 5 or more.

How the 1 to 9 scale works

A score from 1 to 9 like this is usually a stanine, short for “standard nine.” It isn’t a count of correct answers or a percentage. Your raw score is compared with a reference group of test takers and placed in one of nine bands. The scale has a mean of 5, and the bands are sized so that most people land in the middle:⁹

Score	Share of test takers	Roughly where that puts you
1	4%	Bottom 4%
2	7%	4th to 11th percentile
3	12%	11th to 23rd percentile
4	17%	23rd to 40th percentile
5	20%	40th to 60th percentile (average)
6	17%	60th to 77th percentile
7	12%	77th to 89th percentile
8	7%	89th to 96th percentile
9	4%	Top 4%

Two things follow from this. A 4 is below average, not a “4 out of 9 correct.” It means you scored better than roughly a quarter of the comparison group. And a 5 is the true middle, which is why programs that ask for a 5 are noticeably more selective.

One caution: the Electrical Training Alliance doesn’t publish how it converts raw scores, or which group it compares you with. Treat the table as a guide to what a 1 to 9 score normally means, not as an official conversion chart.

Minimum scores by program

These are the minimums programs publish themselves, checked on their official sites in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm with your own program before you apply.

Program	Area	Minimum to interview	How the score is used after that
North Texas Electrical JATC	Grand Prairie, TX	5	Qualifies you for an interview6
Atlanta Electrical JATC (Local 613)	Atlanta, GA	5	Inside wireman requirement7
Puget Sound Electrical JATC (Local 46)	Seattle area, WA	5 for inside wireman (4 for limited energy)	Applicants are ranked by interview10
NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center	Portland, OR	5 or higher to transfer a score from another program	Interview score decides your place on the list11 12
DuPage County JATC (Local 701)	Warrenville, IL	4	Only the top scorers are interviewed, up to 500% of expected openings13
IBEW Local 81	Scranton, PA	4	Qualifies you for an interview2
New Mexico JATC	Albuquerque, NM	4	Interview and qualifications decide your rank3
Ithaca Electrical JATC	Ithaca, NY	4	Score stays valid for two years4
Electrical Training Academy (Local 575)	Ohio	4	Ranked by an interview scored 1 to 1005
IBEW 294 and NECA	Northern Minnesota	4	Qualifying score to continue14
Westchester-Fairfield JEATC (Local 3)	White Plains, NY	3	Test is 50% of your ranking score, interview 40%8

If your program isn’t here, it most likely uses one of these same numbers. Search for its name plus “JATC” and look for an “apply” or “applicant information” page. Our guide on how to join IBEW explains how to find your local program.

Programs with no minimum score

Several large programs have moved away from the 1 to 9 test altogether. They now use an aptitude test from a company called GAN Human Resources, set no minimum score, and use the result as part of the ranking instead:

• Boston JATC (Local 103): no minimum score, but the test counts in the selection process, and results aren’t given to applicants.^{15 16}
• JATC Local 26 (Washington, DC area): switched to GAN for 2026, eliminated minimum scores for both the test and the interview, and replaced the interview with a written Personal Experience Form. Scores from earlier tests don’t carry over.¹⁷
• Phoenix Electrical JATC (Local 640): no minimum score; the score counts in the selection process.¹⁸
• Minneapolis: the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry lists a GAN aptitude test for the Minneapolis Electrical JATC application.¹⁹

If you’re applying to one of these, “passing” isn’t the goal. Every point helps your position, and the reading and math you’d study for the standard test still apply, though the GAN test also includes other sections. Check the program’s page for its format.

Is a 4 enough to get into the IBEW?

A 4 gets you to the next step at most programs. Whether it gets you in depends on what happens after.

Programs use the test score in three different ways:

1. As a gate only. Clear the minimum and your rank depends on the interview. Puget Sound, the Portland center and the Ohio academy work this way.^{10 12 5} Here a 4 and an 8 start the interview on equal footing.
2. As a filter for interviews. DuPage County interviews only the top scorers, up to five times the number of openings it expects.¹³ A 4 may not be enough to get an interview at all in a strong year.
3. As part of your final ranking. At Westchester-Fairfield, the test is half of your ranking score.⁸ Programs using the GAN test also count it toward selection.¹⁵ Every point above the minimum moves you up the list.

After the interview, your name usually goes on an eligibility list for two years, and classes are filled from the top down.¹ In a busy area, barely qualifying can leave you waiting a long time. That’s why it’s worth aiming above the minimum even when a 4 is technically enough. Our guide to IBEW interview questions covers the other half of your rank.

Will you find out your exact score?

Usually not. The Electrical Training Alliance says you’ll be told whether your score qualifies, and exact scores aren’t provided.¹ Boston says the same for its GAN test.¹⁶ Some programs do share more, so if you want to know, ask the training center directly.

That’s also why you’ll see confusing numbers online, like someone reporting “80 out of 100.” Programs that combine the test with an interview often report a final ranking score on a different scale, which isn’t the same thing as the 1 to 9 test score.

What if you don’t get a qualifying score?

You can take the test again. The Electrical Training Alliance says a full three months (90 days) must pass after your most recent test date, and a retest taken earlier isn’t valid.¹ Some programs still list six months: Puget Sound and Ithaca both do.^{10 4} Follow your program’s rule.

A few more rules worth knowing:

• Scores expire. Ithaca and the Portland center treat a score as valid for two years.^{4 11}
• Scores can sometimes transfer. The Portland center accepts a score from another program if it’s a 5 or higher and less than two years old.¹¹ Ask before you assume your score moves with you.
• GAN programs don’t take old scores. Local 26 says scores from earlier tests won’t transfer into its new system.¹⁷

How to raise your score

Your score is based only on the number of questions you answer correctly, so a wrong answer costs you nothing compared with a blank.¹ Answer every question, even if you have to guess in the last minute.

Beyond that, the test covers two things: algebra and functions (33 questions in 46 minutes) and reading comprehension (36 questions in 51 minutes), with no calculator.²⁰ If you haven’t used algebra in years, that’s usually the place to start. Our IBEW aptitude test study guide maps the exact Khan Academy units to work through, with a six-week plan.

To see where you stand now, take our free IBEW aptitude practice test. It runs at the real test’s pace and gives you an estimated score from 1 to 9 with a range, plus the topics you missed. It’s an estimate from 24 questions, not an official score, but it tells you whether you’re near a 4, a 5 or above.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good score on the IBEW aptitude test?

A 5 is average on a 1 to 9 scale, and a 6 or higher puts you above roughly 60% of test takers. Most programs need a 4 to interview, but in programs that count the score in your ranking, every point above that helps. Aim for at least a 5 if you’re applying in a competitive area.

Is a 4 a passing score?

At most programs, yes: 4 is the most common minimum for an interview. Some programs, like North Texas, Atlanta and Puget Sound, require a 5 for inside wireman. Check the applicant page of the program you’re applying to.

Does the IBEW tell you your aptitude test score?

Usually not. The Electrical Training Alliance tells applicants whether they received a qualifying score, but exact scores aren’t provided. Some training centers may share more if you ask.

How long is an IBEW aptitude test score good for?

Many programs treat a score as valid for two years, including the Ithaca JATC and the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center in Portland. After the interview, your name usually stays on the eligibility list for two years. Check your program’s rule.

How soon can I retake the IBEW aptitude test?

The Electrical Training Alliance says you must wait a full 90 days after your last test date, and an early retest doesn’t count. Some programs still list six months, so follow your program’s rule.

Sources

1. Electrical Training Alliance. Applying for an apprenticeship. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

2. IBEW Local 81. Aptitude test. ↩ ↩²

3. New Mexico JATC. Applicants. ↩ ↩²

4. Ithaca Electrical JATC. Aptitude test. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Electrical Training Academy (IBEW Local 575). Inside wireman. ↩ ↩² ↩³

6. North Texas Electrical JATC. Applicant information. ↩ ↩²

7. Atlanta Electrical JATC. Application requirements. ↩ ↩²

8. Westchester-Fairfield Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Training Committee, IBEW Local 3. Apprentice training program, 7/1/25 to 6/30/26 (PDF). ↩ ↩² ↩³

9. Weisstein, E. W. Stanine. MathWorld, Wolfram Research. ↩

10. Puget Sound Electrical JATC. Apprenticeship standards (PDF, filed with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries). ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center. FAQ. ↩ ↩² ↩³

12. NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (Portland, Oregon). Preparing for the aptitude test and the interview. ↩ ↩²

13. DuPage County Electrical JATC. Application information (PDF). ↩ ↩²

14. IBEW 294 and Twin Ports Arrowhead NECA. Careers. ↩

15. Boston JATC. Interested in applying. ↩ ↩²

16. Boston JATC. Current applicants. ↩ ↩²

17. JATC Local 26. GAN application process (PDF, 2026). ↩ ↩²

18. Phoenix Electrical JATC. FAQ. ↩

19. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Construction electrician apprenticeships. ↩

20. Electrical Training Alliance. Preparing for the test: sample questions. ↩