IBEW Reading Comprehension Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'The IBEW Aptitude Test is designed to assess a candidate's ability to learn electrical trade skills. It consists of two sections: algebra and functions, and reading comprehension. Both sections are timed.' According to this, what does the test measure?
- Current electrical knowledge and work experience
- Potential to learn electrical skills, not existing knowledge (Correct answer)
- Physical fitness and manual dexterity for electrical work
- Knowledge of the NEC and local electrical codes
Correct answer: Potential to learn electrical skills, not existing knowledge
The passage states the test assesses the 'ability to learn' electrical trade skills, indicating it measures potential and aptitude rather than existing knowledge.
Question 2: A job posting reads: 'Applicants must possess a valid state journeyman electrician license. Reciprocal licenses from other states may be accepted at the discretion of the hiring authority.' What does 'reciprocal' mean in this context?
- A license that has been renewed after expiration
- A license issued by one state that may be recognized by another (Correct answer)
- A license that covers both electrical and mechanical work
- A temporary license issued while a permanent one is pending
Correct answer: A license issued by one state that may be recognized by another
A reciprocal license is one issued by another state that the hiring state may recognize and accept as equivalent to its own license.
Question 3: An electrical blueprint note reads: 'ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. VERIFY ALL DIMENSIONS IN FIELD BEFORE INSTALLATION.' What should an electrician do FIRST upon receiving these plans?
- Begin installation immediately using the blueprint dimensions
- Order all materials based solely on blueprint dimensions
- Confirm the actual field measurements before starting work (Correct answer)
- Convert all dimensions to metric before proceeding
Correct answer: Confirm the actual field measurements before starting work
The note explicitly instructs workers to 'verify all dimensions in field before installation,' meaning field measurements must be confirmed before starting work.
Question 4: A passage reads: 'When a conductor is installed in a conduit with other conductors, its ampacity must be derated due to the effects of mutual heating. The more current-carrying conductors present, the greater the derating factor applied.' This means that adding more conductors to a conduit:
- Increases the ampacity of each individual conductor
- Requires each conductor to carry less current than its rated capacity (Correct answer)
- Has no effect on ampacity if conduit size is increased
- Increases the overall circuit voltage rating
Correct answer: Requires each conductor to carry less current than its rated capacity
Derating means reducing the allowable current below the conductor's rated ampacity; more conductors cause more mutual heating, requiring greater derating (lower allowable current).
Question 5: A union agreement states: 'Overtime shall be defined as any hours worked in excess of eight (8) hours in a single workday or forty (40) hours in a single workweek, whichever results in the greater total overtime pay for the employee.' An electrician works 10 hours Monday and 6 hours each remaining day (Tue–Fri). How many overtime hours are earned by daily calculation?
- 0 overtime hours
- 2 overtime hours (Correct answer)
- 4 overtime hours
- 10 overtime hours
Correct answer: 2 overtime hours
Only Monday exceeds 8 hours (10 – 8 = 2 overtime hours); all other days are 6 hours, which is below the 8-hour daily threshold.
Question 6: A technical bulletin reads: 'A ground fault occurs when current flows through an unintended path to ground. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) detect imbalances as small as 4 to 6 milliamperes between the hot and neutral conductors and trip within 1/40 of a second.' What does a GFCI detect?
- Voltage spikes above the rated circuit voltage
- Current imbalance between hot and neutral conductors (Correct answer)
- Overloaded circuits drawing more than rated amperage
- Open circuits caused by broken conductors
Correct answer: Current imbalance between hot and neutral conductors
The passage states GFCIs detect imbalances between the hot and neutral conductors, which indicates current is taking an unintended path (ground fault).
Question 7: A passage states: 'Electrical drawings use a variety of line types to convey information. A heavy solid line represents walls or structures. A thin solid line represents wiring. A centerline (alternating long and short dashes) indicates the center of a symmetrical object.' Which line type shows wiring on a drawing?
- Heavy solid line
- Thin solid line (Correct answer)
- Centerline (alternating dashes)
- Dashed line
Correct answer: Thin solid line
According to the passage, thin solid lines represent wiring on electrical drawings.
IBEW Reading Comprehension Skills 5
A passage reads: 'The IBEW Aptitude Test is designed to assess a candidate's ability to learn electrical trade skills.
It consists of two sections: algebra and functions, and reading comprehension.
Both sections are timed.' According to this, what does the test measure?