Short answer: Mechanical reasoning questions test direction, speed, force and motion. Trace gear and belt direction first, compare force and distance from the pivot for levers, and count supporting rope segments for ideal pulleys. These eight original questions are teaching exercises, not official GAN test questions.
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Original GAN-style practice, not official GAN questions.
What this section measures
GAN describes its battery as assessing basic math, reading and spatial skills. Nashville and Phoenix list Mechanical Reasoning among the five areas tested by their programs. These simplified models do not establish a national topic list, question count or time limit. Follow your program’s notice. Unless stated otherwise, assume ideal conditions, no slipping, and forces perpendicular to lever arms where applicable.
Four relationships to name first
| Topic | First question | Core relationship | Frequent error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gears | How many external contacts? | Each external contact reverses direction | Using size to decide direction |
| Levers | Where is the pivot? | Moment equals force times distance | Comparing force alone |
| Pulleys | Which segments support the moving load? | Ideal effort equals load divided by supports | Counting every visible segment |
| Belts | Is the belt open or crossed? | Open preserves, crossed reverses | Treating belts like gears |
Read the question, name the relationship, sketch arrows or distances, then calculate. Do not begin with arithmetic before deciding what the diagram represents.
Question 1: three touching gears
Gear A turns clockwise and touches B. B touches C. Which direction does C turn?
A. Clockwise B. Counterclockwise C. It cannot turn D. Gear size is required
Answer: A. A to B is one reversal, so B turns counterclockwise. B to C is a second reversal, so C turns clockwise. Gear size affects relative speed, not this direction result.
Question 2: gear speed
A 12 tooth gear turns at 60 rpm and drives a 36 tooth gear. What is the driven speed?
A. 20 rpm B. 36 rpm C. 60 rpm D. 180 rpm
Answer: A. Driver teeth times driver speed equals driven teeth times driven speed. Compute 12 times 60, then divide by 36. The result is 20 rpm. Check: three times the teeth should give one third the speed.
Question 3: lever balance
An ideal, weightless lever has a 40 lb downward load 2 ft from its pivot. A downward effort is applied on the opposite side, 4 ft from the pivot. Both forces act perpendicular to the lever. What effort balances the load?
A. 10 lb B. 20 lb C. 40 lb D. 80 lb
Answer: B. The load moment is 40 times 2, or 80 lb ft. Divide 80 by 4 ft to get 20 lb. Check: 20 times 4 also equals 80 lb ft.
Question 4: ideal pulley
An ideal pulley system holds a 200 lb moving load stationary. Four rope segments directly support the load. Assume equal rope tension, no friction and negligible pulley weight. What pull is required?
A. 25 lb B. 50 lb C. 100 lb D. 200 lb
Answer: B. Divide 200 by 4 supporting segments to get 50 lb. Check: 4 times 50 equals 200. Do not count a segment that only redirects the free end.
Question 5: open belt
Pulley X turns counterclockwise and drives Y with an uncrossed belt. Which direction does Y turn?
A. Clockwise B. Counterclockwise C. It alternates D. Diameter decides
Answer: B. An open belt preserves direction, so both turn counterclockwise. Diameter may change speed but not this direction rule.
Question 6: crossed belt
Pulley P turns clockwise and drives Q through a crossed belt. Which direction does Q turn?
A. Clockwise B. Counterclockwise C. It stops D. Tension decides
Answer: B. A crossed belt reverses direction. Trace one marked point along the belt to see why contact motion on Q opposes P.
Question 7: two lever positions
A weightless lever has a 30 lb downward load 3 ft from its pivot. A 15 lb downward effort acts on the opposite side, 6 ft from the pivot. Both forces are perpendicular to the lever. Does the effort balance the load?
A. Yes, both moments are 90 lb ft B. Yes, both forces are equal C. No, effort moment is 45 lb ft D. No, load moment is 180 lb ft
Answer: A. The load moment is 30 times 3, or 90 lb ft. The effort moment is 15 times 6, also 90 lb ft. Forces need not be equal when distances differ.
Question 8: compound direction
Gear A turns clockwise and touches gear B. B shares a shaft with pulley B. Pulley B drives C through an open belt. Which direction does C turn?
A. Clockwise B. Counterclockwise C. Pulley size decides D. It cannot be determined
Answer: B. Gear contact reverses, so B and its shaft turn counterclockwise. Pulley B turns with that shaft. The open belt preserves direction, so C also turns counterclockwise. Solve each connection separately.
Common wrong approaches
Using size to choose direction. A large gear turns more slowly than a small driver, but external contact still reverses. Solve direction and speed separately.
Counting drawn rope instead of support. Only segments pulling on the moving load count in the simplified ideal model. A free end or fixed redirection may appear without adding support.
Comparing lever forces without distance. A smaller force can balance a larger load when it acts farther from the pivot. Write both moments.
Applying the gear rule to belts. Touching external gears reverse. An open belt preserves direction. A crossed belt reverses. Identify the connection first.
Skipping a reasonableness check. A larger driven gear should be slower. More supporting segments should reduce ideal effort. A force farther from a pivot should need less magnitude for the same moment.
A repeatable process
- Circle what is asked: direction, speed, force or distance.
- Label the driver, driven part, pivot or moving load.
- Draw one arrow at each contact or write each lever moment.
- Use one relationship after labels are complete.
- Check whether the result changes in the expected direction.
- For several connections, solve one at a time.
Build fresh practice by changing one value. In question 2, change the driven gear to 24 teeth. The new speed is 30 rpm because 12 times 60 divided by 24 equals 30. In question 3, move the effort to 8 ft. The required force becomes 10 lb because the moment remains 80 lb ft. Variation tests the relationship instead of memory.
From text descriptions to mechanical diagrams
In a diagram, identify the driver and driven part, each actual gear contact, any shared shaft, the pivot, and the moving load. A visible rope segment counts toward ideal pulley support only if it directly supports the moving block.
If a drawing does not show which parts touch, share an axle, cross a belt, or support the load, the direction or force may not be uniquely determined. Do not guess from appearance. These text exercises teach relationships but do not replace complete diagram practice.
Short review drill
Cover the answers and solve all eight items again in a different order. Say the governing relationship before touching the numbers. Then change one direction, distance, gear size or support count and predict how the result should change. Record whether an error came from identifying the connection, applying the relationship or doing arithmetic. Repeat only the error category with fresh values. This makes the next session focused and prevents one memorized item from looking like broad improvement.
Source and format limits
GAN’s public page describes the battery at a high level. Program pages confirm mechanical reasoning at some locations, but do not publish a national list of mechanisms, count or section timing. Use the current notice from your exact program. Continue with the GAN study guide for a four week schedule.
If your JATC uses the electrical training ALLIANCE test instead, use the aptitude and interview kit.
In Texas? The Texas Electrical Apprenticeship Entry Kit covers 13 Texas programs.
Not affiliated with GAN, the IEC, ABC, the IBEW, NECA or any apprenticeship program. Program names belong to their owners.
Sources checked October 2026
- GAN: https://ganhumanresources.com/gan-aptitude-test
- Nashville: https://www.nejatc.org/test-prep
- Phoenix: https://pejatc.org/how-to-apply/
- iPREP: https://www.iprep.online/courses/gan-aptitude-practice-test/
