Just finished the BGE hiring process last week and wanted to share what the exam actually looks like since there's almost nothing useful online. The test covered mechanical reasoning, reading comprehension, and basic math - nothing too crazy but you need to be sharp on the mechanical stuff if you're applying for a field position. I studied about 3 weeks, putting in maybe 1.5 hours a day after work.
The mechanical reasoning section was the hardest for me. Think pulleys, gears, fluid pressure - stuff you probably haven't touched since high school physics. I ended up scoring 87% overall, which I'm happy with, but I could've done better on that section if I'd started earlier. The math portion was mostly arithmetic and percentages - nothing beyond 8th grade level honestly.
Reading comp was straightforward, maybe 8-10 passages with multiple choice questions. You don't need to memorize utility regulations or anything like that - just read carefully and don't overthink it. The whole test was about 2.5 hours with no breaks built in, so come in rested.
If you're applying for a lineman or technician role, make sure you know your mechanical advantage formulas cold. That's where I saw people struggle the most when we were waiting around before the test started.
This matches my experience from about 8 months ago. The mechanical section is no joke - I'd recommend grabbing a mechanical aptitude workbook from the library before you go in. I scored 79% my first attempt and they let me retest after 6 months.
3 weeks sounds about right for solid prep. I tried cramming in 1 week the first time and bombed it. Second attempt with proper prep I got an 83% and got the call for an interview the following Monday.
Did they tell you your score breakdown by section or just the overall number? I'm trying to figure out where I fell short - they only gave me the total when I got my results back.
For the math part, brush up on unit conversions too. I got a few questions about converting measurements that caught me off guard. Spent 2 weeks on mechanical reasoning and barely touched the math - big mistake.