An electrician typically always has work, and the role can pay well, with the average wage stated as $57,000 a year. Like any worthwhile job, there is an application process, which means studying and testing. Electricians commonly start as apprentices, learning on the job and gaining qualifications whilst getting paid. Before landing an apprenticeship position, the recruit needs to be over 18 years old, have a high school diploma (or equivalent), and most significantly, take the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Aptitude Exam. This article will look at what the IBEW aptitude test is, what is involved and how best to prepare for it.
Why Do We Need the IBEW Test?
This aptitude test is for the IBEW, the main board for electricians, to assess which applicants have the best numerical and alpha skills to succeed in the apprenticeship scheme.
How Does the IBEW Test Process Work?
If someone qualifies for the apprentice scheme, they will be invited to a local venue to take the IBEW test. The test consists of two sections:
Algebra and Functions (46 minutes long – 33 questions) Reading Comprehension (51 minutes – 36 questions)
There is a short break between the mathematics section and the comprehension part, so set aside two and a half hours for the test. There is a minimum pass score a candidate needs to achieve in order to be invited to an interview with a member of the IBEW and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). However, the higher the score the better, as merely reaching the qualifying score doesn’t mean instant entry to the apprenticeship scheme. The interview will be scored and the combination of this score and the IBEW test results will decide where to rank the application. If there is a high volume of people taking the IBEW test but only a limited number of spaces on the apprenticeship scheme, then only the higher scores will be accepted. This is why the IBEW test includes the Algebra and Functions section, which measures the candidate’s skills in solving problems through algebra and other basic math skills. Most people taking this test will typically be interested in these skills and have a sound understanding of them, so the questions shouldn’t be too surprising or overwhelming for them. There are 33 questions in this section, with most of them focused on algebra and quadratic equations. There are also some questions on shape sequencing and measuring. a) 8 b) 10 c) 9 d) 6 60, 30, 15, … An electrician needs to understand and follow instructions and manuals that they may have never seen before, so this is a good indicator of how well they would perform in the role. In this section, the applicant reads a passage and answers questions about the contents, interprets the text’s structure and tone, and reaches conclusions to move forward. a) How many children attended the nursery in July? b) How many of the August intake will be in the toddler room? With some practice and fine-tuning, you should be able to get a good score. There are a few tried and practiced ways to prepare for the IBEW test that will help lead to success: It is strongly recommended to prepare as much as possible for the IBEW aptitude tests as the higher your score, the more chance you have of gaining a place on the scheme. The test does not need to be stressful. By following the advice in this article and preparing fully, you can enter the tests with confidence.
