Failed ASE A1 twice — what am I actually doing wrong here? — Forums

Nicole F.OP

May 27, 2026

So I've been a lube tech for about three years and finally decided to get serious about my ASE certifications. Started with A1 Engine Repair because my shop manager said it was a good entry point. Studied for maybe six weeks, felt decent going in, and got a 62. Cut score in my state is 70. Okay, fine. Studied another four weeks, went back — 68. I'm two points short and honestly starting to wonder if I'm approaching this completely wrong.

The stuff tripping me up seems to be the diagnostic reasoning questions, not the straightforward "what does this part do" stuff. Like I know my way around an engine but the test phrases things in this really specific way that throws me off. A friend suggested I work through an ASE Practice Test (A1: Engine Repair) that mimics the actual question style, which I hadn't really done — I was mostly reading the Delmar study guide cover to cover.

Anyone else hit this wall? How many practice questions were you doing per day, and did you find any particular ASE - Automotive Service Excellence study guide more useful than others for the diagnostic reasoning side? I've got maybe eight weeks before I want to sit for it again.

Brian Y.

May 28, 2026

Honestly the Delmar book is fine for concepts but it won't prepare you for how ASE actually writes questions. The test loves to give you a scenario where two answers seem right and you have to pick the MOST correct one. I failed A2 my first attempt for the same reason. Once I switched to doing 30-40 practice questions a day and really reading the explanations — not just checking right/wrong — my score jumped 12 points. The diagnostic reasoning stuff clicks when you stop thinking "what's true" and start thinking "what would a tech diagnose first."

Carlos B.

May 28, 2026

Eight weeks is plenty of time if you're focused. Do timed practice tests, not just reading. Being slow on questions kills you even when you know the material — I used to second-guess myself and run out of time on the last 10 questions. Treat every practice session like the real test.

David K.

May 28, 2026

What's your weak area within A1 specifically? Because engine performance questions hit differently than internal engine assembly stuff. I passed on my second attempt but I had to basically make a spreadsheet of every task list item and rate myself honestly on each one. The ASE task list is public and free — if you haven't built your study around that exact list, that might be your problem. A lot of study guides cover extra stuff that just isn't tested.

Failed ASE A1 twice — what am I actually doing wrong here?

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