NJATC Aptitude Test (Electrical Training Alliance) Online Preparation – 2025: Free Practice Questions & Tips
What Is the NJATC Apprenticeship?
The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) apprenticeship is an opportunity for those who want to enter the electrical construction industry to receive on-the-job and classroom-based training to better their skills and competencies, leading to true craftsmanship.
There are four main specialty areas for electrical workers:
- Outside Linemen: Outside linemen are responsible for installing the distribution and transmission lines that carry power from the power plant into the residential home, business, or factory.
- Inside Wiremen: Inside wiremen are responsible for installing electrical equipment, such as power, lighting, and controls, inside commercial and industrial buildings.
- VDV Installer Technicians: VDV installer technicians focus on installing low voltage systems such as circuits for phones, computer networks, video distribution systems, and security control systems.
- Residential Wiremen: Residential wiremen specialize in installing electrical systems inside single-family homes and multi-family houses.
Qualifications to Become an Apprentice
Each area of electrical work requires a specific skill set and therefore has its own apprenticeship program. However, there are a few basic requirements that you must meet no matter which path you choose to pursue:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have completed your high school education
- Have completed one year of high school algebra
- Commit to a drug-free workplace
In addition to the requirements listed above, you must also receive a qualifying score on the NJATC Aptitude Test.
Please note that if you have previous experience in the electrical construction industry and have worked a specified number of hours, you may be able to wave the test requirement.
What Is the NJATC Aptitude Test?
The Electrical Training Alliance gives the NJATC aptitude test to all those who wish to join the NJATC. This test ensures that all electrical workers are adequately trained and that all candidates come into their apprenticeships with the same baseline knowledge.
If you have not heard of the NJATC aptitude test, you may have heard of it by one of these interchangeable names:
- Electrical Aptitude Test
- IBEW Aptitude Test
- Electrician Apprentice Test
- Electrical Training Alliance Aptitude Test
- Electrician Pre-Apprenticeship Test
This exam consists of 69 questions divided into two sections, mathematics and reading comprehension, and has a time limit of 96 minutes. There are no penalties for wrong answers, so if you are running out of time or have no idea what the correct answer to a question may be, it is best to make an educated guess and move on to the next question.
After you complete your exam, it will take up to four weeks for your local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee to receive and confirm your results. If you do not receive a qualifying score on the test, you must wait six months before retesting.
If you receive a qualifying score, you will graduate to the next step in the hiring process, the interview. Applicants will be contacted to move forward with the apprenticeship in order of rank. If you are not contacted within two years of completing your aptitude test, you may reapply if you are still interested.
NJATC Aptitude Test: Math Section
The first section you will encounter on the NJATC Aptitude Test is the mathematics section. This section covers algebra, functions, polynomials, number series, and equations. You will have 46 minutes to complete 33 question items during this section.
Math Section – Sample Question 1:
While the calculations you must perform during the mathematics section are not complex, it can be challenging to answer all of the questions quickly, especially when you are not familiar with the types of questions you will encounter.
Here are a few example questions that are similar to what you may see in the mathematics section:
What number should come next in the following series:
300, 103, 66, 25, 36, ?
- 21
- 15
- 7
- 12
Answer:
To solve this first example, you must determine the pattern that is being followed in the series. For this series, every two terms are a pair, and the rule is “x ÷ 3 + 3.” We can see this in the first two pairs of numbers:
300 ÷ 3 + 3 = 103
66 ÷ 3 + 3 = 25
Following this same pattern, we can solve for the last term:
36 ÷ 3 + 3 = 15
Therefore, the correct answer is 15.
Math Section – Sample Question 2:
Consider the following formula:
2A = 5B + 2 (9 – C) – 1
If A = 26 and C = 5, what is the value of B?
- 9
- 7
- 11
- 13
Answer:
This question requires a basic understand of algebra and fundamental mathematical functions. In order to solve for B, we must first use the given values of A and C to create an equation where B is the only variable:
2A = 5B + 2 (9 – C) – 1
2(26) = 5B + 2(9 – 5) – 1
52 = 5B + 2(4) – 1
52 = 5B + 8 – 1
52 = 5B + 7
Then, you must isolate the variable, B, in order to determine its value:
52 = 5B + 7
5B + 7 = 52
5B = 52 – 7
5B = 45
B = 45 ÷ 5
B = 9
Therefore, the correct answer is 9.
NJATC Aptitude Test: Reading Comprehension Section
The other section of the NJATC test is reading comprehension. This section consists of 36 questions and has a time limit of 51 minutes. During this section, you must read several passages and answer questions about the text. These questions will focus on what you have understood and retained from the passage.
Reading Comprehension Section – Sample Questions:
The following is an example passage followed by questions that are similar to what you may see in this section:
Tommy, a 6-year-old boy, is unhappy with his current bedtime of 7:30 pm. He thinks that he should be able to stay up an hour later than his current bedtime. Tommy went to his dad on August 13 to ask if he could have a later bedtime. Tommy’s dad said he would extend his bedtime by an hour and thirty minutes starting five days from the day he asked.
- According to the passage, what bedtime did Tommy ask for?
- 8:00 pm
- 8:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 9:30 pm
- What day did Tommy’s new bedtime go into effect?
- August 16
- August 17
- August 18
- August 19
- What is Tommy’s new bedtime?
- 8:00 pm
- 8:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 9:30 pm
Answers:
The correct answers to these questions are not blatantly stated in the text. You must use context clues to understand the solutions.
For question number one, you must know that Tommy’s bedtime is currently 7:30 pm and that he wants his bedtime to be extended by one hour. An hour later than 7:30 pm is 8:30 pm; therefore, the correct answer is choice B.
For question number two, you’ll need to know that Tommy made his request on August 13 and that his dad said his new bedtime would go into effect five days later. Five days after August 13 is August 18; therefore, the correct answer is C.
The last question is tricky because Tommy didn’t receive the bedtime he requested. Though Tommy asked for a bedtime extension of one hour, his dad gave him an extra hour and a half. Therefore, his new bedtime is 9:00 pm, answer choice C.
Tips for Completing the NJATC Aptitude Test
The NJATC test can be intimidating, especially if you haven’t taken a standardized test in a while or if you get stressed when working under a time limit. The following are a few tips you can use to help ensure you perform to the best of your ability during the exam:
- Focus on one problem at a time
- Do not rush through the test
- Keep an eye on the time
- Arrive at the testing center 15 to 20 minutes early
- Be sure to bring all required materials and documentation to the testing site
- Remember to eat before the test
How to Prepare for the NJATC Aptitude Test?
Doing well on the NJATC aptitude test is essential to getting an electrical industry apprenticeship. The best way to ensure you do well on the test is to practice as much as possible ahead of time.
There are excellent online practice tests that give several sample questions, similar to the ones above, to help you understand the variety of question types that you may encounter. Completing these sample tests will also allow you to practice your timing for each section. Additionally, you can find several tips and study guides that give excellent pointers on doing well on the test.
Because you can only take this test every six months, it is essential to score as high as possible on the exam. Taking the time to do several practice tests will significantly help your chances of doing well on the test.
