What is on the IBEW aptitude test?
The electrical training ALLIANCE, which develops training for IBEW and NECA apprenticeship programs, describes a battery of two tests taking about two and a half hours in all. The score is the number you get right, and you don’t need any electrical knowledge. Many local programs also ask for a year of high school algebra with a passing grade before you can apply.
Source: The Application Process, checked October 19, 2026.| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Functions | 33 | 46 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 36 | 51 minutes |
| Whole battery | 69, with a short break | About 2.5 hours with instructions |
What will IBEW aptitude practice include?
Practice Round is building timed practice for both sections: algebra and functions rounds of 33 questions in 46 minutes, and reading comprehension rounds of 36 questions in 51, written by us at the same level, with no calculator and a worked explanation for every answer.
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We’re building IBEW aptitude practice: timed rounds in the same format, an explanation for every answer and your score history.
What will an IBEW aptitude practice round look like?
We’re writing a sample round
A short sample from each section, with every answer worked through, will appear here before practice opens. Join the waitlist.
What happens after the aptitude test?
Your local program, the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), gets the results in about two to four weeks and lets you know whether you qualified. With a qualifying score, you’re interviewed by a committee representing both the IBEW and NECA, then ranked on an eligibility list that lasts two years.
What score do you need to qualify?
There’s no national cutoff on the electrical training ALLIANCE site; each local program sets its own. Two examples: the Warren Electrical JATC asks for 4 or higher, and the North Texas JATC asks for 5 or higher. Ask your local program what it uses.
How can you practice for the IBEW aptitude test?
Start with the electrical training ALLIANCE’s sample questions, a few from each section with an answer key. Then practice full timed sections: 33 algebra questions in 46 minutes without a calculator is about 84 seconds each, so working cleanly by hand matters. For reading, practice finding the answer in the passage rather than from what you already know. Since there’s no penalty for guessing, answer every question.
When do you ask for an accommodation?
Before test day. The electrical training ALLIANCE says requests made on the day of the test can’t be handled that day, so contact your local program when you register.
Common questions about the IBEW aptitude
What score do you need on the IBEW aptitude test?
The electrical training ALLIANCE doesn’t publish one; each local program sets its own. For example, the Warren Electrical JATC asks for 4 or higher, and the North Texas JATC asks for 5 or higher.
Can you use a calculator on the IBEW aptitude test?
No. The electrical training ALLIANCE says you won’t be able to use a calculator on either test.
How soon can you retake the IBEW aptitude test?
90 days to retest: the electrical training ALLIANCE says a full three months (90 days) must pass after your most recent test. The ALLIANCE also describes a six-month rule for later retakes, without saying how the two fit together, so ask your JATC before you book. Deliberately retesting too soon can get you permanently disqualified.
Do you get your exact score?
No. You’re told whether you got a qualifying score, not the exact number. Your local program gets the results in about two to four weeks.