Find Your Industrial Maintenance Test Practice- IST, Ramsay, and More
Maintenance technicians are usually required to pass a maintenance technician test before they are hired. Depending on the employer, this exam can be the Ramsay maintenance test, the Industrial Skills Test (IST) or another industrial maintenance test, and each one covers different topics and has a different format. Below you will find a guide to the main tests, the employers and positions that require them, and free sample questions and answers to help you start practicing.
The Ramsay maintenance test, also called the Ramsay MultiCraft test, is one of the most widely used maintenance technician exams. Amazon, Walmart, UPS and USPS use it to screen candidates, and it contains 60 questions on mechanical and electrical topics such as hydraulics, power transmission, motors and PLCs, to be completed in about an hour. Utilities and energy employers, such as PG&E, usually use the Industrial Skills Test instead (see the PG&E Industrial Skills Test page).
The Ramsay Maintenance PrepPack helps you practice for the exam with 10 full-length simulations, 740 Ramsay-style questions, 7 study guides and detailed answers with score reports. Not sure which Ramsay test you will get? The Ramsay 3-in-1 Bundle also covers the MAT-5, or you can start with the free Ramsay sample questions.
The Industrial Skills Test (IST) is a pre-employment assessment, provided by PSI, that measures reading comprehension, numerical reasoning and mechanical aptitude. Employers use it as an initial screening step for physically and mechanically oriented jobs. PG&E describes it as a standardized test that gives every applicant a fair and objective way to show their problem solving and mechanical abilities, and says it has been professionally validated for job relatedness. In the version PG&E publishes, the test is taken in one session and has three timed sections: Reading Comprehension (25 questions in 30 minutes), Working with Numbers, Charts and Graphs (25 questions in 30 minutes) and Mechanical Principles (36 questions in 20 minutes).
The reading section tests your ability to understand written instructions in industrial settings. The numbers section asks you to pull information from tables and graphs, draw conclusions from it and solve basic math word problems. The mechanical section shows drawings of physical situations, such as gears, and asks how the system will react to a change. The test does not measure hands-on trade skills, and because it is an initial assessment it is usually followed by other hiring stages. The content is basic, so the main challenge is time: based on PG&E's published timings, you have about 72 seconds per question in the first two sections and about 33 seconds per question in the mechanical section. PG&E's guide does not state a passing score, and cut-offs are set by each employer.
No specific trade or job experience is required, because the test covers reading, basic math and basic mechanical concepts. Reviewing those basics and practicing under timed conditions is the best preparation. Calculator rules depend on the employer: PG&E's guide does not mention one, and some employers that use the IST, such as Connexus Energy, state that calculators and outside devices are not allowed, so check your test invitation and practice basic math without a calculator to be safe. You can find IST practice tests and mechanical study guides on our PG&E Industrial Skills Test preparation page.
The IST test is widely used by PGE and other companies to select candidates for various positions:
The Industrial skills test can be used for entry-level positions, as well as for level 3 technicians.
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What is the value of (I)?
Which ball will hit the ground first?
What is the equivalent Boolean expression for the PLC program below?
The correct answer is A.
Below are the steps of analysis:
What is the aim of flexible couplings?
The physical principle behind this question: The free-fall speed of two falling objects is always identical, regardless of shape, size, or mass.
On PG&E’s version of the IST, you have about 72 seconds per question in the reading and numbers sections and about 33 seconds per question in the mechanical section. 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.
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.
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.
In induction motors, the difference between the synchronous and asynchronous speed of the rotor is referred to as:
To fully prepare and ace your Ramsay maintenance test, go to our Ramsay Maintenance PrepPack, or check out our free Ramsay example questions and answers page.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
