IBEW Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the IBEW exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 IBEW Exam Format at a Glance
📚 IBEW Topics to Study (74)
✍️ Sample IBEW Questions & Answers
1. What does the word 'NOMINAL' mean as used in electrical specifications?
Nominal means 'in name only' — a stated value used for identification that is approximate in practice (e.g., 120V nominal may be 114-126V).
2. A blueprint uses a scale of 1/4 inch = 1 foot. A wall measures 3.5 inches on the blueprint. What is the actual length?
Scale: 1/4 inch = 1 foot, so 1 inch = 4 feet. Actual length = 3.5 × 4 = 14 feet.
3. Use the quadratic formula to solve: x² - 4x - 5 = 0
a=1, b=-4, c=-5. Discriminant=16+20=36. x=(4±6)/2. x=5 or x=-1.
4. The sum of the first 5 terms of an arithmetic sequence is 65. If the first term is 5, what is the common difference?
S_n = n/2 × (2a + (n-1)d). 65 = 2.5 × (10 + 4d). 26 = 10 + 4d. 4d = 16. d = 4.
5. Which sentence uses the word 'circuit' correctly in an electrical context?
In electrical context, a circuit is a complete path for current flow. Circuit breakers protect electrical circuits.
6. A circuit requires two resistors, R1 and R2. The resistance of R1 is 5 ohms more than twice the resistance of R2. The total resistance of the circuit is 32 ohms. What is the resistance of R2?
Let R2 be 'x'. Then R1 can be expressed as '2x + 5'. Since the total resistance is the sum of the individual resistances, the equation is (2x + 5) + x = 32. Combine the like terms: 3x + 5 = 32. Subtract 5 from both sides: 3x = 27. Divide by 3 to find x: x = 9. So, the resistance of R2 is 9 ohms.