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IBEW Aptitude Test Study Guide: Khan Academy Unit by Unit

An IBEW aptitude test study guide built on free Khan Academy units: what to study for the algebra and reading sections, in what order, and how to practice.

Updated 8 min read

A wooden workbench with a pencil, sheets of handwritten algebra and a coil of electrical wire, with a yellow hard hat below it, in soft daylight.

Most people who search for an IBEW aptitude test study guide get the same advice: “brush up on your algebra and reading.” That’s true and almost useless. Algebra is a whole course, and you probably have weeks, not a semester.

This guide is more specific. It lists the exact skills the test measures, the free Khan Academy unit that teaches each one, the order to study them in, and how to practice at test speed. It’s written for the aptitude test used by electrical apprenticeship programs run jointly by the IBEW and NECA, which some people still call the NJATC aptitude test.

The IBEW aptitude test in brief

For what the questions look like, with original examples of each type, see what’s on the IBEW aptitude test. Here’s the short version.

The test has two timed sections, taken with a break in between. According to the Electrical Training Alliance, which develops it:1

Section Questions Time
Algebra and functions 33 46 minutes
Reading comprehension 36 51 minutes

A few rules shape how you should study:

  • No calculator. Every calculation happens on scratch paper, so arithmetic speed matters as much as algebra.
  • Only correct answers count. Your score is based on the number of questions you answer correctly, so a wrong answer costs you nothing compared with a blank.1
  • Scores run from 1 to 9. Many programs invite applicants with a 4 or higher to interview, but each local sets its own rules. See the minimum score by program.
  • There is no mechanical section. You’ll find prep materials, including some local handouts, that mention mechanical questions or a six-month retest wait. The Electrical Training Alliance describes only the two sections above and a wait of three full months (90 days) before a retest.1 If a source disagrees, ask the program you’re applying to.

How to use this IBEW aptitude test study guide

Start by finding your weak spots. Studying everything from the beginning wastes the time you have, so find out where you actually lose points first.

Our free IBEW aptitude practice test takes about 35 minutes and runs at the real test’s pace, with no calculator. When you finish, it gives you an estimated score and a list of the topics you missed, each linked to the Khan Academy unit below. Take it once now, and again after a few weeks of study.

If you’d rather not test yourself yet, look at the official sample questions on the Electrical Training Alliance site.2 If any of them take you more than a couple of minutes, start with step 1.

Step 1: Rebuild your arithmetic without a calculator

This is the step most people skip, and it’s often where they lose the most time. On the real test you’ll have about 84 seconds per algebra question. If a fraction or a negative sign slows you down, the algebra never gets a chance.

Work through these free Khan Academy units until you can do them quickly and without mistakes:

If you’re comfortable with all of these, skip ahead. If not, this step alone can raise your math score.

Step 2: The algebra and functions topics, unit by unit

The math section is first-year algebra. The table lists each topic, the Khan Academy Algebra 1 unit that covers it, and what you should be able to do by the time you test.

Topic Khan Academy unit You should be able to
Linear equations and inequalities Unit 2: Solving equations & inequalities Solve equations with parentheses and variables on both sides; flip the inequality sign when dividing by a negative; rearrange a formula for one variable
Slope and graphs of lines Unit 4: Linear equations & graphs Find a slope from two points; match a line on a graph to its equation
Systems of equations Unit 6: Systems of equations Solve two equations by substitution or elimination
Functions Unit 8: Functions Evaluate f(x); tell whether a table or set of pairs is a function
Number sequences Unit 9: Sequences Find the pattern and the next term, or the 20th term, of an arithmetic or geometric sequence
Exponents and radicals Unit 11: Exponents & radicals Simplify expressions with powers of products and quotients
Factoring Unit 13: Quadratics: Multiplying & factoring Multiply binomials; factor trinomials and differences of squares, including ones with two variables
Quadratic graphs Unit 14: Quadratic functions & equations Connect a parabola’s zeros and direction to its equation

You don’t need to finish every lesson in each unit. Do the practice exercises, and move on when you can get them right quickly. If you keep missing the same kind of problem, watch the video for that lesson and try again the next day.

Some prep companies and recent test takers report that the math has become more conceptual, with more questions about graphs, functions and factoring with two variables. The Electrical Training Alliance hasn’t announced a change, but units 8, 13 and 14 cover those question types, so don’t skip them.

Step 3: Reading comprehension

The reading section measures your ability to get information from written passages.2 You read a passage, often technical, scientific or historical, and answer several questions about it. The questions keep coming back to a handful of skills, and Khan Academy’s free 9th-grade reading course has a unit for each:

The rule that decides most reading questions: the right answer is supported by the passage, not by what you already know. The most common trap is a choice that sounds true, or even is true, but isn’t what the passage says. When two choices look right, go back and find the sentence that settles it.

Reading improves more slowly than arithmetic, so start it early. A few short practice passages a day will do more than one long session a week. Reading any technical writing helps too: equipment manuals, safety guides, news about construction and energy.

A six-week study plan

This is an example, not a rule. Stretch it if you have more time, or compress it if your test date is close. About an hour a day works for most people.

Week Math Reading
1 Take the diagnostic. Arithmetic: fractions, negatives, decimals Two short passages a day
2 Order of operations, exponents; linear equations and inequalities Main idea and details
3 Slope and graphs of lines; systems of equations Word meaning in context
4 Functions and sequences Author’s purpose and structure
5 Exponents and radicals; factoring Timed passages at about 85 seconds per question, reading time included
6 Quadratic graphs. Timed mixed practice; retake the diagnostic Timed mixed practice

In the last two weeks, review the topics you still miss rather than starting anything new.

Is Khan Academy enough for the IBEW aptitude test?

For the content, mostly yes. Khan Academy teaches almost everything the test measures, and it’s free. What it doesn’t do is tell you which units matter for this test or put you on the test’s clock. That’s the gap this guide and our practice test try to fill.

Paid courses mostly add two things: full-length timed practice tests and a large bank of questions written in the test’s style. If you’ve done the Khan units and still run out of time, that kind of practice is worth it. Before you pay, check that the course describes the test correctly: two sections, 33 algebra questions and 36 reading questions, no calculator, and no mechanical section.

How to practice under time pressure

  • Know your pace. The algebra section gives you about 84 seconds per question, and the reading section about 85. Time yourself early in your practice, not just at the end.
  • Skip and come back. If a question stalls you for more than a minute, mark it, guess if you have to, and move on. An easy question later is worth the same as the hard one in front of you.
  • Answer every question. Only correct answers count, so a guess can only help.1
  • Practice on paper. Write out your work the way you will on test day, with no calculator in reach.

When you’ve worked through the units, retake the practice test and compare your topic list with your first attempt.

Frequently asked questions

Is the IBEW aptitude test hard?

It’s demanding mostly because of time and the no-calculator rule, not because the math is advanced. The algebra is first-year high school level, and the reading passages are the kind of material you’d find in a technical manual or textbook. The best way to make it feel easier is to practice the specific skills it measures, by hand and at the real pace.

What math is on the IBEW aptitude test?

The math section covers algebra and functions: linear equations and inequalities, graphs of lines, systems of equations, functions, sequences, exponents, factoring, and quadratic graphs. You also need fast arithmetic with fractions, negative numbers and decimals, because there is no calculator.

Is Khan Academy good for the IBEW aptitude test?

Yes. Khan Academy’s free arithmetic, Algebra 1 and 9th-grade reading units cover the skills the electrical aptitude test measures. What it doesn’t do is pick the units for you or time you, so use a unit list like the one in this guide. Calculators aren’t allowed on the test, so add timed practice by hand before test day.

How long should I study for the IBEW aptitude test?

It depends on how recently you took algebra. Someone who uses math every day might need two or three weeks. Someone who hasn’t done algebra since high school should plan on six weeks or more of regular practice.

What happens if I don’t get a qualifying score?

You can retake the test after a full three months (90 days), according to the Electrical Training Alliance, and retesting sooner can disqualify you. Some local programs add their own rules, so confirm with the program where you applied.

What score do you need on the IBEW aptitude test?

Scores run from 1 to 9. Many programs consider applicants with a 4 or higher for an interview, but there’s no single national cutoff, and some locals rank applicants by score. Ask the program you’re applying to, or see the minimum score by program. Once you qualify, see our guide to IBEW interview questions.

Sources

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

  2. Electrical Training Alliance. Preparing for the test: sample questions. ↩ ↩2

Charbelia is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the Electrical Training Alliance, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) or the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).