Mechanical Reasoning Study Guide

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  1. Many of the arithmetic reasoning problems on the ASVAB will be in the form of word problems that will test not only the concepts in this study guide but those in Math Knowledge as well. Practice these word problems to get comfortable with translating the text into math equations and then solving those equations.
  2. Mometrix Test Preparation's Mechanical Aptitude Test Secrets Study Guide is the ideal prep solution for anyone who wants to pass their Mechanical Aptitude Exam. The exam is extremely challenging, and thorough test preparation is essential for success.
Mechanical Reasoning Study Guide
Home : Practice Aptitude Tests Guide : Mechanical reasoning test practice guide

Mechanical aptitude tests, or mechanical reasoning tests, are commonly administered for technical and engineering positions. The mechanical aptitude test measures your ability to understand and apply mechanical concepts and principles to solve problems.

Are you likely to need to take a mechanical aptitude test?

Candidates applying for technical and mechanical roles are likely to be asked to complete a mechanical reasoning test. Positions for which a mechanical reasoning test is common include: fire brigade (CFA, MFB), train drivers, trades people, operation and assembly-line workers. The level of difficulty and complexity of the test questions varies according to the required skills.

Mechanical aptitude test example questions

What to expect in your mechanical aptitude test?

Mechanical Reasoning Study Guide

  • A mechanical aptitude test includes a set of mechanical problems that must be completed in a predefined time.
  • The time limit is designed so that only 1% to 5% of the population can correctly solve all the test questions within the allowed timeframe.
  • Each test question has only one correct answer.
  • Each test question offers you a mechanical scenario that might include acceleration, gravity, friction, pressure, moments, energy transformation, kinetic and potential energy, work and power, levers, pulleys, screws, gears, springs, etc.
  • You should expect to have around 30 seconds to complete each test question.
  • The level of complexity and difficulty of test questions depends on the position you are applying for. As an example, the test questions for candidates applying for managerial roles will be at a higher level of difficulty and complexity than those for candidates applying for entry-level roles.

Improving your test score on the mechanical aptitude test can be achieved through developing simple factors to solve test problems, such as the right techniques and frameworks.

How we prepare you for your mechanical aptitude test

Free Mechanical Reasoning Study Guide

IPC’s online practice mechanical reasoning aptitude tests:

  • The largest pool of mechanical aptitude test questions.
  • All test questions and answers are developed by experienced psychometric test writers.
  • Immediate full test reports that include your total score, a list of your correct and incorrect answers, and detailed explanations of answers. This ensures you quickly recognise your strengths and the areas that need improvement.
  • Immediate and practical recommendations on how to improve your outcome.
  • Effective solutions to train your mind to quickly recognise patterns and correctly solve problems.

IPC’s onlinemechanical aptitude test courses:

  • Know the do’s and don’t’s of the mechanical aptitude test.
  • All course material is developed by experienced test writers.
  • Learn effective aptitude test-taking strategies to ensure you answer more questions in the given time.
  • Understand how to prepare for your mechanical aptitude test.
  • View example mechanical aptitude test questions and learn how to solve each one.

IPC’s personal coaching:

  • One-on-one coaching with an IPC psychologist to ensure you improve your scores.
  • Get an expert to tell you your relevant strengths and weaknesses.
  • Receive personal guidance on how to improve your aptitude test-taking skills.
  • Coaching is delivered over the telephone and outside of business hours to ensure you get the most from your coaching.

IPC’s preparation services work:

  • All our preparation material is written by experienced Australian psychologists and psychometric test developers.
  • Contrary to what is commonly believed, you can prepare for your aptitude test and significantly improve your test score. We have worked with over 200,000 satisfied customers who improved their aptitude test scores.
  • We don’t just give you any aptitude test to complete – we ensure it fits the level of difficulty you’ll find in your real test
  • We don’t just offer you a list of aptitude test questions (which is NOT an effective preparation strategy), but we give you detailed answer explanations to ensure that you learn the right problem-solving techniques.

Take a free mechanical reasoning test

Free Mechanical Reasoning Test

Mechanical Reasoning Test

Free sample test containing 10 questions. You have 8 minutes to correctly answer as many as you can.

What are mechanical reasoning tests and when are they used?

Mechanical reasoning tests are generally used during the selection or recruitment process for jobs related to engineering, the emergency services and the army, amongst many others. They are typically used to assess how well an individual can apply reasoning in a practical environment.

Candidates will often be required to answer questions based on a variety of topics, such as: Electrical circuits, Pulleys, Levers, Springs, Tools, Gears and Maps. It is important that you have a good knowledge of each of these areas, and the basic principles within them; although it is highly unlikely that candidates would have reached this stage of recruitment without any knowledge or experience of these.

If you have been asked to take a mechanical-reasoning test it is likely to cover the following topics:

  • Forces
  • Pressure and sound energy
  • Temperature and heat transfer
  • Material proporties
  • Momentum and kintetic energy
  • Fluid dynamics

Mechanical Reasoning Study Guide

Candidates typically receive an image depicting a mechanical scenario or problem, likely to include kinetic/potential energy, friction and forces etc., for which a related question will be asked. In some questions, candidates may also need to identify the most appropriate tool to use in order to complete a specific job. Mechanical reasoning tests are also likely to be specific to the sector applied for; meaning that applications for a role with the police will often include questions that refer to problems or scenarios that the police are likely to encounter.

Mechanical Comprehension Video Guide

Bennett Test of Mechanical Comprehension: This test is generally used for engineering and mechanical occupations, and measures the ability to comprehend how physical force affects mechanics.

Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude: This is likely to be used in candidate selection for occupations that require the ability to operate and service tools and machinery; and measures this ability within its assessment.

Barron's Test of Mechanical Aptitude: Typically used in selection procedures for the military, this test assesses candidates based on subjects related to the abilities a person would need to succeed in this occupation.

Stenquist Test of Mechanical Aptitude: This test does not require experience in a particular area; it is based around questions in which the candidate has to pick one of four pictures that best fits with a picture they are previously shown.

SHL Mechanical Comprehension Test: This test is designed to assess your understanding of mechanical laws. Evaluating your ability to know how to use and performe maintenance on machinery.

Test Partnership Mechanical Test: This bespoke test designed for the UK fireservice covers operative knowledge set in a firefighting setting. Covers things like heat transfer, material properties, forces, and fluid dynamics.

Mechanical reasoning tests are considered to be a great predictor of how employees will later perform at work. As with all tests, practising will help you to become more adept at answering these types of questions, and help you to become quicker and more accurate in your responses.

The tests are timed, so being able to quickly answer the question is beneficial, although these types of tests generally have a 1-5% full completion rate, so getting to the end of the assessment is not as important as the amount of correct answers you provide.

For roles that require mechanical reasoning tests, the candidate would be likely to have knowledge of the principles and formulas required to answer the questions, so there is no need to worry about receiving mechanical reasoning questions if you are entering into an unrelated sector, such as accountancy.