Wiesen mechanical aptitude test practice

What the real test usually looks like

The WTMA is a picture-based test of everyday mechanical principles. It was written by Joel P. Wiesen, PhD, and is published in the PAR Edition by PAR, Inc. Employers also give it online through Criteria and Ramsay Corporation. Here is what those publishers say:

• 60 questions in about 30 minutes. Criteria lists 60 questions with an estimated time of 30 minutes (Criteria), and Ramsay lists 60 multiple-choice items in 30 minutes (Ramsay Corporation). PAR gives 30 minutes of administration time (PAR).
• A drawing in every question. Ramsay says each question uses a diagram of everyday objects to show a mechanical principle or fact, and PAR describes simple drawings of common objects, tools and devices.
• Three choices. Criteria's sample question shows two pictures, A and B, and a third choice, "There is no difference" (Criteria).
• Six content areas. PAR lists basic machines, movement, gravity and center of gravity, basic electricity and electronics, heat transfer, and basic physical properties (PAR).
• Easy reading. PAR and Criteria both put the reading level at about grade 6, so the challenge is the mechanics, not the words.
• Paper or online. PAR sells a paper-and-pencil kit for adults aged 18 to 65, and Ramsay notes that its online version must be proctored.

What our mocks cover. Our full mocks have 60 questions in 30 minutes, the same length and time as the WTMA, in one mechanical aptitude section across the six content areas. Every question offers the two setups first, then "There is no difference", always in that order. You can go back and flag questions, and there is no calculator. The drawings are simple line figures of our own.

Question types with worked examples

One worked example for each content area, with the trap built into the wrong choice.

1. Basic machines. Two wrenches turn the same stuck nut, one held near the jaw and one held at the far end of the handle. Which needs less force? The one held at the end: a longer distance from the nut gives more turning effect. Trap: "There is no difference" because the wrench is the same. Where you hold it changes everything.

2. Movement. A small wheel and a large wheel roll side by side along the floor at the same speed. Which spins more times? The small wheel, because it covers less ground per turn. Trap: thinking the larger wheel must turn more because it looks busier.

3. Gravity and center of gravity. Two identical ladders lean on a wall, one with a heavy toolbag tied near the top and one with the bag tied near the bottom. Which is steadier? The one with the bag near the bottom, because the center of gravity stays low. Trap: ignoring where the weight sits and looking only at how much there is.

4. Basic electricity. Two identical flashlights, one with fresh cells and one with cells half used. Which shines brighter? The fresh one, because the cells give more voltage. Trap: choosing "There is no difference" because the bulbs are the same. The bulb is not what changed.

5. Transfer of heat. A metal cup and a foam cup hold the same hot coffee. Which outside feels hotter? The metal cup, because metal carries heat to your hand quickly. Trap: thinking the thicker-looking cup must be hotter.

6. Basic physical properties. A steel bolt and a wooden peg of the same size are dropped into a bucket of water. Which floats? The wooden peg, because wood is less dense than water and steel is more dense. Trap: "There is no difference" because they are the same size. Size is the same, but what they are made of is not.

When to pick "There is no difference". Pick it when the only change between A and B does not matter to the question: the color of a pipe, the material of a falling object, the shape of a container when only depth matters. In our sample, the feather and steel question is one of these. It is a fair answer, not a trick, so do not avoid it.

How to prepare

1. Know the pace. 60 questions in about 30 minutes is 30 seconds a question (Criteria). Most questions take one look and one rule.
2. Learn the six areas. Basic machines, movement, gravity and center of gravity, basic electricity, heat transfer and physical properties (PAR). Spend most time on the area you know least.
3. Find the one difference. Each question shows two setups that differ in one way. Spot it first, then ask whether it matters to the question.
4. Take "There is no difference" seriously. It is the right answer whenever the change does not affect the result. Do not treat it as a last resort.
5. Use your kitchen and garage. Pots and lids, doors, ladders, flashlights and hoses show most WTMA principles. Try them and notice what changes the result.
6. Practice with pictures. The WTMA is all drawings. For more practice on gears, levers and pulleys, try our mechanical aptitude practice test too.
7. Practice at the real pace. Take full timed mocks of 60 questions in 30 minutes so the speed feels normal on the day.

How scoring usually works

Raw score and percentile. Criteria's sample report shows a raw score, the number of questions answered correctly, and a percentile that compares it with others who have taken the test. It also shows score ranges recommended by position (Criteria). In Criteria's example, a raw score of 45 out of 60 matched the 66th percentile.

The employer sets the bar. There is no universal pass mark. Each employer decides what range fits the job, and many combine the result with other tests and an interview. Criteria names machine operators, electricians, construction workers, field service technicians and mechanics as the top positions for the WTMA.

Our practice score is the number of our own questions you answered correctly, with a breakdown by content area. It is a practice score: it is not a WTMA raw score or percentile and does not predict whether you will pass or be selected.

Who takes the Wiesen test

• Machine operators and production staff. Criteria lists machine operators first among the top positions for the WTMA (Criteria).
• Mechanics and field service technicians. Jobs that keep equipment running.
• Electricians and construction workers. Hands-on trades where how things move and carry load matters.
• Manufacturing and industrial employers. PAR names employment and training in manufacturing and industrial settings (PAR).

PAR also says the test was written to reduce academic, gender and ethnic bias and does not rely on objects found only in some places, so the drawings stay with things most adults have seen.

Common mistakes on the WTMA

• Missing the one difference. Compare A and B before reading the choices. If you cannot say what changed, look again.
• Avoiding "There is no difference". It is right whenever the change does not affect the answer.
• Judging by size or weight alone. A heavier ball does not fall faster, and a bigger wheel does not spin more.
• Forgetting where the pivot is. Leverage is measured from the pivot, hinge or nut, not from the end of the bar.
• Reading too much into the drawing. The drawings are simple on purpose. Use only what is shown and stated.
• Spending a minute on one item. At 30 seconds each, flag a hard one and come back.