Is there a short version of the real test?

No. The electrical training ALLIANCE publishes one shape and it is the full battery: Algebra and Functions, 33 items in 46 minutes, then a short break, then Reading Comprehension, 36 items in 51 minutes. This page is a practice length invented for practice, at the pace those figures imply.

Why does it mix algebra and reading?

Because it is a sampler rather than a rehearsal. On the day the two papers are sat separately and timed separately, which is how the two full-length runs on the hub page work. Mix them only when what you want is twenty minutes of practice rather than a picture of the sitting.

Can I use a calculator?

Not on the real test — the booklet says so outright, and adds that a watch with a built-in calculator has to come off during the session. Practising without one is the point.

What happens if I guess?

Nothing bad. The publisher states there are no penalties for guessing and that your score is the number of items you answer correctly, so an unanswered item and a wrong one are worth the same. Leave nothing blank at the end.

A short IBEW aptitude test

The real battery is ninety-seven minutes across two papers, which is the right thing to practise once and the wrong thing to practise on a lunch break. This is twenty questions in twenty-eight minutes — the same eighty-four seconds an item the published lengths work out to, drawn from both papers at once. The publisher offers no short form of its own, so this length is ours and nothing on the page pretends otherwise.

Quick 20-question run

20 questions. 28 minutes.

That is 84 seconds a question. The clock starts when you press the button and submits the test when it runs out. You will not be told whether an answer was right until the end — that is the point of a timed run.

84s a question No calculator No penalty for guessing — your score is the number you get right No account, nothing saved off your device

2 free full-length runs left on this test. Unlimited for $24.99, one payment.

Frequently asked

Is there a short version of the real test?: No. The electrical training ALLIANCE publishes one shape and it is the full battery: Algebra and Functions, 33 items in 46 minutes, then a short break, then Reading Comprehension, 36 items in 51 minutes. This page is a practice length invented for practice, at the pace those figures imply.
Why does it mix algebra and reading?: Because it is a sampler rather than a rehearsal. On the day the two papers are sat separately and timed separately, which is how the two full-length runs on the hub page work. Mix them only when what you want is twenty minutes of practice rather than a picture of the sitting.
Can I use a calculator?: Not on the real test — the booklet says so outright, and adds that a watch with a built-in calculator has to come off during the session. Practising without one is the point.
What happens if I guess?: Nothing bad. The publisher states there are no penalties for guessing and that your score is the number of items you answer correctly, so an unanswered item and a wrong one are worth the same. Leave nothing blank at the end.

Practise one type at a time

Untimed sets with the explanation right after each answer — where the timed run tells you what is going wrong, these are where you fix it.

Algebra and Functions Reading Comprehension

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from one of the documents below, with the date it was read. Requirements change; if a source has moved on since that date, the source is right and this page is out of date.

electrical training ALLIANCE — Applying for Apprenticeship (applicant booklet: the test battery, retesting and what a score tells you) Read September 2, 2026
electrical training ALLIANCE — Preparing for the Test (what each test measures, sample questions, answer key) Read September 2, 2026
electrical training ALLIANCE — Apprenticeship Training (IBEW/NECA) Read September 2, 2026

Hiring Test Practice is independent practice material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by Criteria Corp, Wonderlic, Inc., National Testing Network, the electrical training ALLIANCE, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers or NECA. CCAT® is a registered trademark of Criteria Corp; Wonderlic® is a registered trademark of Wonderlic, Inc. Test names are used only to describe what this material prepares you for. Every question here is original and none is taken from any actual assessment.