Industrial Skills Tests: Free Practice Questions & Guide

PGE Industrial Maintenance Skills Test

The Industrial Skills test (IST) is an assessment used to determine the level of reading comprehension, numerical reasoning, and mechanical aptitude of prospective employees for a range of mechanically oriented occupations.

 

The IST test is widely used by PGE and other companies to select candidates for various positions:

  • Apprentice Lineman (lineman helper)
  • Electrical technician apprentice
  • Gas Service/Compliance Representative
  • Operators (nuclear Operator, station operator, etc.)
  • Maintenance Technicians.

The Industrial skills test can be used for entry-level positions, as well as for level 3 technicians.

 

Free Industrial Maintenance Skills Test Practice

Sample Question - Reading Comprehension

After rising very slowly for millennia, the number of humans on Earth was just starting to take off. A century and a half later, when another scientist reported the discovery of human egg cells, the world’s population had doubled to more than a billion. A century after that, around 1930, it had doubled again to two billion. The acceleration since then has been astounding. 

Two billion
Half a billion
One billion
A quarter of a million
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is (C).

According to the passage: "A century after that, around 1930, it had doubled again to two billion." So a century before, in 1830, the number of people on Earth was half of that – one billion.

 

 

Sample Question - Numerical Reasoning

What is the value of (I)?

58
68
64
94
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is B.

The first step in filling in missing values is to analyze the descriptions of the information given and figure out the relationships between them.

The CODE is a way to identify the type of inventory.
AMOUNT ON HAND refers to the number of units in the warehouse.
PROJECTED USAGE refers to number of units the company expects to use over the next period.
The PRICE tells us how much each unit costs.
MISSING likely refers to difference between the number of units in the warehouse and the number of units the company expects to use. If this is true, we would be able to formulate the equation:

(1) PROJECTED USE – AMOUNT ON HAND = MISSING

We can now take a row with these given values to check that this equation is in fact correct.
We will use Row 1 (TPO-1923), as it is the only row with all of these values given.

712 – 694 = 18, which is in fact the value given to MISSING.

TOTAL COST may refer to the total cost of the inventory on hand, the total cost of the projected usage or the total cost of the missing inventory. If we divide the TOTAL COST of TPO-1923 by the PRICE, we will see that 342 ÷ 19 = 18 which represents the MISSING value. We can therefore conclude that:

(2) PRICE × MISSING = TOTAL COST

Now that we have identified the correct equations, we simply need to place the correct numbers into the equations to find the missing values.

(I) is the MISSING value for item TPO-1780.
If we place the values given into equation (1) we will get: 81 – 13 = 68.

 

 

Sample Question - Mechanical Comprehension 

Which ball will hit the ground first?

Free Mechanical Aptitude Test

 

A
B
Both hit the ground at the same time 
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

You might have guessed that the correct answer, in this case, is also that both balls will hit the floor at the exact same moment. But why?

Initially, it seems like a completely different question. Both balls have the same weight, but their trajectories are different. However, the physical principle about free falling remains the same – the falling speed of both balls is equal.

HORIZONTALLY, the blue ball is moving faster, and that's why it will land farther from the table, but VERTICALLY, they are both falling at the exact same speed, so the answer doesn't change.

 

 

note

The physical principle behind this question: The free-fall speed of two falling objects is always identical, regardless of shape, size, or mass. 

 

On the IST test, you will have about 48 seconds for each numerical and reading comprehension question, and as little as less than 2 minutes for the more complex mechanical questions. To ensure you pass these questions, practice is key.

You can find online IST practice tests and mechanical study guides on our designated PGE industrial skills test page. 


The Light Industrial Skills Test (LIST)

Job candidates applying for entry-level industrial positions in less mechanical fields, such as manufacturing, shipping, distribution, and warehousing, will likely receive the LIST test. This is a less mechanical version of the IST test, both provided by PSI.

 

The LIST consists of 80 multiple choice questions with half of the questions focused on math, reasoning, and visual analysis skills, and the other half assessing workplace attitudes, taking overall 25 minutes to complete. It focuses mainly on evaluating a person's ability to solve practical problems, identify defects, work independently, and maintain a safe work environment.

 

If you are interested in preparing for this test please contact us and we will do our best to provide you with the most accurate practice resources. 


Ramsay Industrial Maintenance Test 

The Ramsay maintenance test, or multi-craft test, is a highly professional written exam that assesses proficiency in mechanical and electrical knowledge and skills, of level 3 technicians and below. It is widely used by most large employers, such as Amazon, Walmart, UPS, J&J, Volvo, BMW, USPS, and more.

 

This industrial maintenance technician test contains 60 questions on 7 topics, ranging from motor and hydraulics to PLCs and electrical diagram reading. All questions must be answered within 1 hour. 

 

Ramsay Maintenance Test Sample Question

In induction motors, the difference between the synchronous and asynchronous speed of the rotor is referred to as:

A. Single phasing
B. Slip
C. No-load speed
D. None of the above
Correct Answer
Incorrect Answer

The correct answer is B.

Induction motors which are also called asynchronous motors work on the principle of induction which is inducing a current in the rotor by changing the magnetic field of the stator.

We can differentiate two definitions of speed in induction motors:

  • Synchronous speed – The speed of the changing magnetic field.
  • Asynchronous speed – The speed of the rotor (which is different from the synchronous speed).

The difference between these two is called slip. Therefore, B is the correct choice.

As for the other answers, single phasing (A) occurs when one of the motor terminals is loose or disconnected making the motor run on a single-phase. No-load speed of a motor (C) is the maximum speed of a motor when there is no load applied.

 

To see more sample questions and tips for passing this test, go to our designated Ramsay maintenance page.


NOTCI Maintenance Test

The NOTCI industrial maintenance test is a written assessment with 180 questions to be completed in 3 hours. This test measures candidates’ theoretical knowledge in varied mechanical and electrical topics such as motors, hydraulics, and PLCs, similar to the Ramsay test questions.

 

Want to know more about this assessment? You are welcome to contact us, and we will gladly answer any questions. 


Mechanical Aptitude Maintenance Tests

Another type of assessment commonly given to maintenance technicians is a mechanical aptitude test. This kind of test examines a more basic understanding of mechanical principles and is therefore used to select mainly entry-level mechanics and technicians.

A common version of this kind of test is the Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Test (BMCT), which includes 55 multiple-choice questions you must answer in 25 minutes. Questions examine different mechanical topics, such as Velocity, fluids, force, and more.

 

Another common mechanical aptitude test is the Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA), which includes 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes. like the BMCT, this mechanical test assesses all of the basic topics of mechanics such as forces, levers, velocity, fluids, etc.


Plant Maintenance Tests

Candidates applying for maintenance positions in power plants are expected to demonstrate specific skills to keep the plant safely running.  To select the most qualified candidates, energy companies use plant maintenance tests for the following positions:

  • Mechanic, machinist, electrician, welder, pipefitter, steel worker, rigger
  • Instrument and control repairer
  • Helper, painter, insulation worker

The most common plant industrial maintenance test is the MASS test provided by EEI. It is a challenging exam that includes 4 sections: Mechanical Concepts, Assembling Objects Mathematical Usage, and Reading Comprehension. Each section is limited in time, taking overall about two hours to complete.

 

To see what this test looks like, go to our designated MASS test page.


Wonderlic Aptitude Test 

In some cases, maintenance technician applicants are required to complete more general aptitude tests, measuring core cognitive abilities. The main test used in this case is the Wonderlic test, which requires answering 50 verbal, numerical, logical, and abstract reasoning questions in only 12 minutes.

 

To see what this test looks like, go to our designated Wonderlic page or check out our Free Wonderlic Test and start your practice!


If your test does not appear on this list, or you are not sure which test you are about to receive, please feel free to contact us and we will guide you to the most accurate practice tests for your assessment. 

 

 

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