Plumbing Aptitude Test and Plumber Apprentice Exams Online Preparation & Tips – 2025
What Are Plumbing Aptitude Tests?
If you are interested in becoming a plumber, you will need to take a series of aptitude and apprenticeship tests to prove that you can do the work. Plumbers need to have several skills, including:
The plumber’s union uses several assessments to screen their apprenticeship candidates on these skills. Therefore, if you are looking to become a plumber, you’ll want to prepare for and do well on the exams.
Plumer Aptitude Test Format
One test you may encounter is the Plumbing Aptitude test. This test consists of 140 questions across six different topics and is given within a 120-minute timeframe. The plumber’s union provides this test during open recruitments.
Here are the topics covered in the test:
- Reading Comprehension: The reading section is 25 minutes long and consists of 42 multiple-choice questions. This portion of the test will assess your ability to read, comprehend information, and draw conclusions based on the given text.
- Numerical Computation: The numerical computation portion is 24 minutes long and consists of 28 multiple-choice questions. This section will examine your ability to perform calculations such as fractions and decimals quickly and accurately.
- Numerical Reasoning: The numerical reasoning assessment is only 10 minutes long and contains ten multiple-choice questions that require you to identify numerical patterns. Each question will present you with a number series, and you must find the value that completes the pattern.
- Folding: The folding section consists of 12 multiple choice questions and has a time limit of 15 minutes. This portion will require you to visualize different three-dimensional shapes from a two-dimensional schematic.
- Problem Solving: The problem-solving part of the test consists of 35 multiple choice questions and has a time limit of 35 minutes. This section will assess your ability to solve mathematical word problems using arithmetic, percentages, and geometry.
- Mechanical Comprehension: The mechanical comprehension section is 13 minutes long and contains 13 questions. This portion will require you to understand and apply basic mechanical principles.
BPEC Aptitude Test
Another test you may take in preparation for a plumber apprenticeship is the BPEC Aptitude Test. This assessment is required to take the BPEC certification course. The exam is 45 minutes long and contains four sections:
- Verbal Comprehension: This section will test your ability to understand written information. This may come in the form of office memos or instructions that you may see on a job site. You will need to comprehend what is given and answer questions based on the text.
- Numerical Reasoning: The numerical reasoning portion of the test will assess your ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and interpret data in graphs and tables.
- Mechanical Reasoning: The mechanical reasoning section will test your understanding of basic mechanical concepts such as force and motion, as well as different mechanical tasks that plumbers may encounter in their job.
- Spatial Reasoning: The spatial reasoning portion of the test will assess your ability to read blueprints and solve logical problems. The questions will consist of various diagrams and images to test your knowledge in these areas.
Other Plumber Apprenticeship Tests
In addition to the exams mentioned above, there are several other exams that recruiters may ask apprenticeship candidates to take, including:
- Criteria Basic Skills Test (CBST): The CBST is an exam that focuses on basic math and verbal skills that may be required in the plumbing profession. This test has a time limit of 20-minutes and consists of 40 questions that will assess basic arithmetic, grammar, spelling, and language skills.
- Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA): The WTMA assesses your ability to maintain, repair, learn about, and operate different machinery and equipment that plumbers may use. The test consists of 60 questions and has a time limit of 30 minutes.
- Customer Service Aptitude Profile (CSAP): Besides technical skills, plumbers that interact with customers regularly must also have good customer service skills. The CSAP assesses a candidate’s personality, cooperativeness, diplomacy, and patience.
- Workplace Productivity Profile (WPP): This assessment examines a person’s reliability, work ethic, and morals. This test aims to assess the behavioral risk of a candidate and minimize the risk involved in working in people’s homes unsupervised.
- Additional Mechanical Tests: Because mechanical aptitude is necessary for the plumbing profession, you may need to take additional tests that assess your understanding and ability to apply mechanical and physics principles such as utilizing gears and pulleys, the behavior of liquids, and energy.
How to Prepare for the Plumbing Aptitude Test?
The best way to prepare for the various plumber aptitude and apprenticeship assessments is to practice sample tests and questions. The skills covered in these exams are essential to the plumbing profession, so you need to do well in all areas to be successful.
It would be best to utilize full-length practice tests for the exams you will be taking. You can find these practice tests as well as other sample questions and test-taking tips online. Be sure to use all the available resources to perform to the best of your ability.
The candidates who adequately prepare for these exams will have a significantly greater chance of doing well on the test compared to those who did not study.
