EEI CAST Practice Test for Lineworkers and Skilled Trades [2026]
The EEI CAST test, officially the Construction and Skilled Trades Test, is a pre-employment assessment used by investor-owned electric utilities to screen candidates for lineman, substation electrician, and transmission and distribution roles. The CAST exam includes 110 questions across four sections - Graphic Arithmetic, Mathematical Usage, Mechanical Concepts, and Reading Comprehension - completed in 90 minutes.
JobTestPrep offers free CAST practice test questions covering all four sections, so you can see exactly what the real exam looks like before you buy. Beyond the free questions, our full CAST practice test library includes timed section tests, a complete study guide, and detailed answer explanations, built to prepare lineman and skilled trades candidates for the exact format of the EEI exam.
The EEI CAST test, officially the Construction and Skilled Trades Test, is a pre-employment cognitive assessment developed and owned by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) to evaluate candidates for lineman, electrician, substation technician, and transmission and distribution roles at U.S. investor-owned electric utilities. The exam includes 110 questions across four sections, Graphic Arithmetic, Mathematical Usage, Mechanical Concepts, and Reading Comprehension, completed in 90 minutes. It is administered as a paper-and-pencil test directly by the hiring utility rather than through general registration, and results are combined into a single index score from 1 to 10 instead of a simple pass or fail.
Utilities including Duke Energy, Entergy, Southern Company/Georgia Power, FirstEnergy, PSEG, and ComEd (an Exelon subsidiary) use the CAST test to screen candidates for skilled trades and field roles. Because the EEI does not set a universal passing score, each employer defines its own minimum requirement, so a strong result across all four sections matters regardless of which utility you're applying to.
The CAST-R (Construction and Skilled Trades Selection System - Revised) is an alternate version of the CAST test used by some utilities in place of the original. It keeps three of the same sections, Graphic Arithmetic, Mechanical Concepts, and Reading Comprehension, at the same difficulty level as standard CAST, but replaces Mathematical Usage with the Work Preferences Inventory (WPI), a behavioral assessment that measures work style and job fit rather than cognitive aptitude. Because the cognitive sections are shared between both versions, our CAST practice test questions and section-specific tests apply directly to CAST-R preparation as well, the WPI itself isn't something you study for, since it has no right or wrong answers.
Graphic Arithmetic is one of four sections on the CAST test, and it's unlike a typical math test. Instead of solving equations directly, you're given a diagram, such as a ladder, a trench, or a length of cable, with certain measurements labeled and others missing. Your task is to use the labeled measurements to calculate the missing ones. It's designed to reflect real field tasks, where linemen and other skilled trades workers must read technical drawings and do quick, accurate math on the job.
In the Graphic Arithmetic CAST Test, you'll be given a diagram with various measurements. Your task is to determine and fill in the missing measurements using the information in the questions.
Let's look at a few examples, taken from our online CAST Prep Course:
Use the diagram below to answer the following 4 questions.
What is the total length (A) of the Foundation?
Answer:
The correct answer is D.
The simplest way to calculate the length (A) of the Foundation – is to sum the length of the Crown Block, and the two lengths from the edges of the Crown Block to the corresponding edges of the Foundation:
What is the total length (C) of the Platform?
Answer:
The correct answer is C.
The simplest way to calculate the length (C) of the Platform – is to sum the length of the Crown Block, and the length from the right edge of the Crown Block to the corresponding edge of the Foundation, and then subtract the length from the right edge of the Platform to the corresponding edge of the Foundation:
118' + 45' – 27' = 136'
What is the total height (D) of the Catwalk?
Answer:
The correct answer is A.
To calculate the height of the Catwalk – we will use the answer from question 2 (height B).
Calculate the sum of the height between the edges of the Catwalk and the corresponding top edges of the Foundation and the Crown Block. Subtract the sum from the total height between the top edges of the Foundation and the Crown Block:
226' + 54' = 280'
294' – 280' = 14'
What is the height (B) from the top of the Foundation to the bottom of the Catwalk?
Answer:
The correct answer is B.
The simplest way to calculate the height (A) from the top of the Foundation to the bottom of the Catwalk – is to sum the height of the Platform, and the two heights from the edges of the Platform to the corresponding edges of the Foundation and the Catwalk:
142' + 31' + 53' = 226'
Focus on answering questions you're confident about first. For the CAST exam, only the questions you answer correctly count toward your score. If unsure about a question, it's better to leave it blank than to guess, as unanswered questions don't negatively impact your score.
The next section of the test also includes mathematical skills – but this time instead of visual abilities you must be able to work with different measurements and conversions from a table. Let's continue!
Quick Math Tip: When performing calculations (especially without a calculator), calculating the precise number may be challenging and time-consuming. If the answers are distinctly different, try to round the numbers to perform faster and easier calculations to reach an answer closest to one of the distractors.
The following questions are designed to test your intuition about fundamental mechanical concepts. They contain complex subjects broken down into simple answers. Understanding the subject in full can help you avoid common pitfalls.
Let's look at a few examples:
The Mechanical Concepts section assesses your understanding of fundamental mechanical principles. Regular practice with topics like levers, pulleys, and gears can significantly improve your performance. Regular, targeted practice with these topics is the most effective way to improve.
CAST Mechanical questions require a specific set of skills and knowledge. The final section, Reading for Comprehension, may look trivial but requires verbal, grammatical, and logical abilities. Let’s continue.
The Reading Comprehension Test assesses your ability to understand verbal communication, make logical inferences, and focus on the main idea of a passage. It also tests your familiarity with core mechanical vocabulary and terminology. It is a critical part of the CAST Test.
Let's review some examples:
To build confidence and improve time management, take practice tests under timed conditions. This approach helps you get accustomed to the pace of the CAST exam and reduces anxiety on test day.
The CAST test is used almost exclusively by investor-owned electric utilities to screen candidates for physically demanding, safety-critical field roles, most commonly the CAST test for lineman (electrical lineworker) roles, along with substation electrician and transmission and distribution technician positions. These are jobs where a single mistake, misreading a diagram, miscalculating a load, misunderstanding a safety procedure, can be fatal, both for the worker and for the public relying on the power grid they maintain. That's why utilities don't rely on interviews and resumes alone: the CAST test gives them a standardized, predictive measure of whether a candidate can read technical diagrams, do accurate math under time pressure, and follow written safety procedures before they're ever sent up a pole or near live equipment.
Because each utility administers the test directly rather than through any central registration system, passing isn't optional; it's a mandatory checkpoint in the hiring process. If you're applying for a skilled trades role at a utility that uses CAST, most employers won't move your application forward without a qualifying score. Below is a partial list of major utilities that use the CAST test as part of their hiring process:
The CAST is considered one of the more demanding utility industry pre-employment tests, primarily because of its time pressure rather than raw complexity. The Mathematical Usage section gives you under 25 seconds per question, and the Mechanical Concepts section runs 44 questions in 20 minutes. The content itself - arithmetic, basic mechanics, reading comprehension - is not advanced, but performing accurately at speed is what separates passing candidates from failing ones. Scoring is competitive too: the index scale runs 1-10, and simply meeting a utility's minimum threshold is often not enough - employers typically favor higher scorers when multiple candidates qualify.
Your results across all four sections, Graphic Arithmetic, Mathematical Usage, Mechanical Concepts, and Reading Comprehension, are combined into a single index score from 1 to 10. There's no penalty for incorrect answers, so it's always worth answering every question. The EEI doesn't set a universal passing score; each utility sets its own minimum requirement, so aiming for your highest possible score is the safest strategy regardless of employer.
The passing score for the CAST (Construction and Skilled Trades) exam can vary depending on the employer and the specific job requirements.
Each company or utility that administers the test may set its own passing threshold based on the needs of the positions they are hiring for. Generally, the CAST exam is scored on a scale, and the required score to pass might be adjusted to suit the level of skill and competence deemed necessary for different roles
No. Calculators, dictionaries, and other study aids are not permitted. All math in the Graphic Arithmetic and Mathematical Usage sections must be worked out manually under timed conditions, which is one of the most common surprises for first-time test takers.
No, the CAST test isn't open for general registration. You'll need to apply directly for a lineman, electrician, substation, or other skilled trades position with a utility company that uses EEI testing. If your application moves forward, the employer will invite you to test and provide the date, location, and instructions directly.
Bring a valid photo ID; all other testing materials are provided. Arrive 15-30 minutes early for check-in, and ask the test administrator any questions before the test begins, since clarifications aren't allowed once testing starts. The CAST is administered as a paper-and-pencil test, so practicing without a calculator beforehand is the best preparation.
Practice PDFs are useful for understanding the question format and structure. However, they are short, static, and do not simulate timed conditions or provide answer explanations. A PDF cannot tell you why you got a question wrong or where your time is going. For serious preparation, full-length timed simulations with detailed explanations are significantly more effective - which is the gap JobTestPrep's CAST PrepPack is built to fill.
Free practice questions show you the format, but the CAST PrepPack gives you the full picture: timed section tests that match the real exam's pacing, detailed answer explanations for every question, and study guides covering the mechanical and reading skills the test demands. Since Graphic Arithmetic, Mechanical Concepts, and Reading Comprehension are shared between CAST and CAST-R, the same PrepPack prepares you for either version of the test.
