What is a mechanical comprehension test?

A mechanical comprehension test is an aptitude assessment that’s widely used by employers to assess candidates for technical or engineering roles.

(Occasionally, mechanical comprehension tests are also used for non-engineering roles, as part of a wider assessment of spatial awareness and the ability to think laterally.)

What will I have to do in my mechanical comprehension test?

You’re going to have to use your knowledge of mechanical principles, in order to solve problems.

What does the test measure?

A mechanical comprehension test measures two things:

1.      Your ability to understand mechanical concepts and principles

2.      Your ability to use those concepts and principles to make deductions and inferences

Sounds complicated? It’s not really. Essentially, a mechanical comprehension test poses two simple questions:

·         Do you understand this concept? (Diagram/Model/Principle/Thing.)

·         What does this concept tell us? (How can we use it? What decisions should we make?

What type of questions will I have to answer?

Mechanical comprehension tests are designed to assess your knowledge across many different areas; these might include friction, gravity, acceleration, pressure, moments, circuit diagrams, energy transformation, kinetic and potential energy, charge, magnetism, work and power, levers, pulleys, screws, gears, springs, etc.

A picture paints a thousand words. Here’s a simple example question:

So here you can see the above points in action: 1) Do you understand this concept? and 2) What does it tell us?

Two important points

Nearly all mechanical comprehension tests are multiple choice.

There will only be one correct answer.

How long will I have for each question?

This will vary based on the format of your test, but as a general practice rule, aim to give yourself 20-30 seconds to answer each question.

Do I have to sit the test at a computer?

The vast majority of mechanical comprehension tests are now computer-based. But unlike most other areas of aptitude testing, mechanical comprehension tests are sometimes still taken with a good ol’ fashioned pen and paper.

(If this isn’t clear in your interview documentation contact the employer and clarify this important point.)

The huge variety of mechanical comprehension tests

Unlike other areas of aptitude testing, there is huge variety across the format of mechanical comprehension tests. If you have questions around the pass rate/pass score, the timings of the test or the amount of questions you should contact the employer and ask them.

Don’t be afraid to ask the employer for this info; it shows that you are preparing diligently and are serious about succeeding. They will be impressed.

Will my mechanical comprehension test be relevant to my specific role?

Sometimes. The type of mechanical comprehension test you sit can depend on the industry of your role, but most tests assess common principles so they tend to remain fairly consistent.

Remember that it is your knowledge of mechanical principles that will help you answer the questions, not knowledge of the job role itself.