EEI CAST Practice Test for Lineworkers and Skilled Trades [2026]
Some utilities test candidates for the EEI POSS and MASS batteries together in a single session, an administration that takes about three hours combined. This happens when a utility is considering a candidate across both plant operator (POSS) and plant maintenance (MASS) roles at the same hiring event. The two tests share three sections, Mechanical Concepts, Mathematical Usage, and Reading Comprehension, but each has one section the other doesn't: POSS includes Figural Reasoning, while MASS includes Assembling Objects.
JobTestPrep offers free POSS/MASS practice questions covering both the shared sections and each test's unique section, so you can see exactly how the two batteries overlap and where they differ before test day. Since both are often needed together, our POSS and MASS PrepPacks are also available as a bundle, one purchase covers both.
What's the Difference Between the POSS and MASS Tests, and Why Are They Tested Together?
The EEI POSS test (Plant Operator Selection System) and MASS test (Power Plant Maintenance Positions Selection System) are both pre-employment assessments developed by the Edison Electric Institute, but they screen for different roles-
POSS evaluates candidates for plant operator positions, monitoring and controlling plant systems, while MASS evaluates candidates for maintenance positions, electricians, welders, pipefitters, and steelworkers who physically maintain and repair equipment.
The two tests overlap on three of four sections: Mechanical Concepts, Mathematical Usage, and Reading Comprehension test the same core skills on both batteries. Where they differ is the fourth section, POSS includes Figural Reasoning, a visual pattern-recognition section, while MASS includes Assembling Objects, a spatial reasoning section testing how well you can visualize parts fitting together. Some utilities, including PSEG, administer POSS and MASS together in a single combined session lasting about three hours, when a candidate is being considered for either track at the same hiring event.
POSS/MASS Test Practice Questions
Below, you'll find practice questions organized to match how the combined POSS/MASS battery is structured.
We'll start with the three shared sections, Mechanical Concepts, Mathematical Usage, and Reading Comprehension, which test the same core skills on both exams.
From there, you'll move into the two sections unique to each test: Figural Reasoning, which appears only on the POSS, and Assembling Objects, which appears only on the MASS.
Practicing in this order mirrors the real combined session, so you build the shared foundation first before tackling what's specific to each role.
POSS/MASS - Mechanical Concepts
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.
Which car is more likely to slip off the ramp? If both cars have equal chances of slipping then please select answer option 3.
Base your answer to the following questions on the figure below:
What is the voltage drop across resistors 1 and 2?
The three diagrams below present a system consisting of 2 interconnected containers filled up with water at different levels. In the center of the connecting tube is an elastic partition made of rubber. Which of the following three diagrams is correct?
CAST Test Tip: Prioritize What You Know
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.
POSS/MASS - Mathematical Usage
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.
CAST Test Tip: Prioritize What You Know
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.
POSS/MASS - Reading Comprehension
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:
Observe the following electrical circuit
If the electrical switch is turned on, which light bulb will light up?
Two balloons are placed side by side. Balloon A is inflated fully, while Balloon B is only half-inflated.
Which balloon has more air pressure inside?
Closely observe this belt-and-pully system.
If the system is activated in the direction of the light-blue arrow, which way will the wheel on the left spin?
Below is an image of an accelerating train car with a pendulum hanging from the ceiling.
In which direction is the train car acceleraing?
CAST Test Tip: Practice Mechanical Concepts Daily
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.
POSS Only - Figural Reasoning
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:
CAST Test Tip: Simulate Test Conditions
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.
MASS Only - Assembling Objects
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:
CAST Test Tip: Simulate Test Conditions
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.
Who Requires the CAST Exam, and What It's Screening For?
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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:
EEI CAST Test FAQs
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.
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