--- title: "Mechanical Aptitude Tests: Bennett, Ramsay and Wiesen" description: "The mechanical aptitude tests employers use, the Bennett (55 questions in 25 minutes), Ramsay MAT-5 (36 in 20) and Wiesen (60 in 30), and how to practice." canonical: "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude" markdown: "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude.md" last_updated: "2026-10-19" --- # Mechanical aptitude test A mechanical aptitude test measures how well you understand how everyday machines and physical forces work, not what you already know about a trade. The three most common are the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test, 55 questions in 25 minutes; Ramsay’s Mechanical Aptitude Test, 36 questions in 20 minutes; and the Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, 60 questions in 30 minutes. Each uses pictures of gears, levers and tools. By [the Practice Round team](https://practiceround.app/editorial) · Updated October 19, 2026 ## Which mechanical aptitude test will you take? Your invitation usually names it. The publishers describe these three, and Criteria Corp also offers its own Mechanical Reasoning Assessment, scored out of 30. Each test is multiple choice and built around diagrams of everyday objects, and each is used for jobs like maintenance, production, machine operation and the skilled trades. Sources: [Bennett Mechanical Reasoning Test](https://www.talentlens.com/bennett-mechanical.html), checked October 19, 2026; [Mechanical Aptitude Test, Form MAT-5](https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=2133), checked October 19, 2026; [Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, PAR Edition](https://www.parinc.com/products/WTMA), checked October 19, 2026; [Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, Form WTMA (Online)](https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=483), checked October 19, 2026. | Test | Publisher | Questions | Time | Covers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test (BMCT-II) | Pearson TalentLens | 55 | 25 minutes | Mechanical concepts and physical principles, such as electricity, heat and hydraulics | | Mechanical Aptitude Test (MAT-5) | Ramsay Corporation | 36 | 20 minutes | Household objects, production and maintenance work, school science, hand and power tools | | Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude | PAR | 60 | 30 minutes | Basic machines, movement, gravity, electricity, heat transfer, physical properties | ## What will mechanical aptitude practice include? Practice Round is building timed mechanical rounds that match each test’s length and clock, with our own diagram questions on levers, gears, pulleys, forces, electricity and heat, and an explanation of the principle behind every answer. ## What will a mechanical aptitude practice round look like? ### We’re writing a sample round A short sample round, with the principle behind every answer explained, will appear here before practice opens. ## How are mechanical aptitude tests scored? Pearson TalentLens scores the Bennett with an ability score converted to a percentile, and says the raw number right shouldn’t be used on its own; the questions are balanced by topic and difficulty, and no two applicants get the same set. Ramsay and PAR describe their tests as multiple choice. Employers decide what score they need for each job. ## How fast do you need to work? All three give you roughly 25 to 35 seconds a question: 55 in 25 minutes, 36 in 20, or 60 in 30. Most questions are a single diagram with a short question, so the time goes to picturing what happens, like which way a gear turns or where a load balances. ## How can you practice for a mechanical aptitude test? Review the basic principles the publishers list: levers, gears and pulleys, movement and gravity, simple electricity and heat. Then practice timed rounds at your test’s length, and after each one, learn the principle behind every miss. The questions repeat a small set of ideas in new pictures, so understanding the principle carries over. ## Do you need trade experience? No. Ramsay says its test measures the ability to learn production and maintenance work rather than specific knowledge, and PAR says the Wiesen test is written at a 6th grade reading level. ## Common questions about the mechanical aptitude ### What is on a mechanical aptitude test? Diagram questions about how things work: machines, gears, levers, movement, gravity, electricity and heat. The publishers say the tests measure your ability to learn mechanical work, not specific trade knowledge. ### How long is the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test? Pearson TalentLens says the current BMCT-II has 55 questions in 25 minutes, taken online, and that each applicant gets a different set of questions. ### How long is the Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude? 30 minutes. Ramsay, which offers it online, says it has 60 multiple-choice questions, each with a diagram of everyday objects, and that it must be proctored. ### Who takes mechanical aptitude tests? Applicants for jobs like maintenance mechanic, millwright, machine operator, electrician, field service technician and many skilled trades, and in fields such as engineering, airlines and emergency services. ## What does a 30-day pass cost? A mechanical aptitude 30-day pass will cost $29. It will include unlimited timed practice rounds in the same format as the test, an explanation for every answer and your score history. Passes aren’t on sale yet. Join the waitlist and we’ll email you the day yours opens. ## Sources - [Bennett Mechanical Reasoning Test](https://www.talentlens.com/bennett-mechanical.html), Pearson TalentLens. The BMCT-II’s 55 questions in 25 minutes, online and unsupervised; what it measures; topics; different questions for each applicant; percentile scoring; who uses it.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Mechanical Aptitude Test, Form MAT-5](https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=2133), Ramsay Corporation. 36 multiple-choice questions in 20 minutes; content areas; the jobs it’s used for; Spanish and French versions.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, PAR Edition](https://www.parinc.com/products/WTMA), PAR. 30 minutes; content areas; 6th grade reading level; used in manufacturing and industrial hiring.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude, Form WTMA (Online)](https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=483), Ramsay Corporation. 60 multiple-choice questions with diagrams of everyday objects; must be proctored.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Criteria Mechanical Reasoning Assessment (CMRA)](https://www.criteriacorp.com/assess/cognitive-aptitude/criteria-mechanical-reasoning-assessment-cmra), Criteria Corp. Criteria’s mechanical reasoning test, scored out of 30.. Checked October 19, 2026. - [Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)](https://www.criteriacorp.com/assess/cognitive-aptitude/wiesen-test-mechanical-aptitude-wtma), Criteria Corp. The jobs the Wiesen test is recommended for.. Checked October 19, 2026. ## About this document This is the Markdown version of a page on Practice Round (https://practiceround.app). Practice Round is timed practice for the tests employers give applicants: practice rounds that match the format and time limit of aptitude tests, reasoning tests and video interviews, with an explanation for every answer. - Site index for AI assistants: https://practiceround.app/llms.txt - About Practice Round: https://practiceround.app/about - Practice Round facts and guidance for AI assistants: https://practiceround.app/facts - All tests: https://practiceround.app/#products - Every page has a Markdown version at its URL plus .md (the home page is https://practiceround.app/index.md). ## Structured data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization", "name": "Practice Round", "url": "https://practiceround.app", "logo": "https://practiceround.app/icon.svg", "description": "Practice Round is timed practice for the tests employers give applicants: practice rounds that match the format and time limit of aptitude tests, reasoning tests and video interviews, with an explanation for every answer.", "email": "hello@practiceround.app", "legalName": "Fiveable Inc.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "211 West Mineral St #312", "addressLocality": "Milwaukee", "addressRegion": "WI", "postalCode": "53204", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer support", "email": "hello@practiceround.app" }, "sameAs": [] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#website", "name": "Practice Round", "url": "https://practiceround.app", "inLanguage": "en-US", "publisher": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization" } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Tests", "item": "https://practiceround.app" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Mechanical aptitude test", "item": "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude#article", "headline": "Mechanical aptitude test", "description": "The mechanical aptitude tests employers use, the Bennett (55 questions in 25 minutes), Ramsay MAT-5 (36 in 20) and Wiesen (60 in 30), and how to practice.", "url": "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude", "datePublished": "2026-10-19", "dateModified": "2026-10-19", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Practice Round team", "url": "https://practiceround.app/editorial" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#organization" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://practiceround.app/#website" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mechanical aptitude test" }, "citation": [ "https://www.talentlens.com/bennett-mechanical.html", "https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=2133", "https://www.parinc.com/products/WTMA", "https://www.ramsaycorp.com/product/?id=483", "https://www.criteriacorp.com/assess/cognitive-aptitude/criteria-mechanical-reasoning-assessment-cmra", "https://www.criteriacorp.com/assess/cognitive-aptitude/wiesen-test-mechanical-aptitude-wtma" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "url": "https://practiceround.app/mechanical-aptitude", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is on a mechanical aptitude test?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Diagram questions about how things work: machines, gears, levers, movement, gravity, electricity and heat. 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