As such, it often makes up a part of the employment application process for these types of roles. The EEI CAST test is actually a battery of tests used to assess an applicant’s existing aptitude and their potential to learn information key to success in a specific role. There are four paper-and-pencil tests in CAST, and it takes around two hours to complete. The four tests that make up the full CAST test are as follows: The scores from all four sections of the CAST test are collated into a single overall score, called the Index Score, which ranges from 1 to 10 (1 is the lowest, 10 is the highest). A candidate’s overall Index Score in the CAST test reflects the predicted probability of them being successful in the given role. There is no singular ‘passing score’ for the CAST exam since it is an employment exam to assess aptitude for a variety of job roles. Therefore, employers are encouraged to define their own score standards for any given position. In a competitive recruiting environment, a successful performance on the CAST test doesn’t guarantee you will be hired.
Free CAST Exam Practice Questions
1. Graphic Arithmetic
(Source: JobTestPrep) This question is designed to assess a candidate’s ability to interpret a floor plan graphic with dimensions for all the walls and rooms. The question directs the candidate to examine the information that is provided in order to calculate a value that isn’t directly given, and the accompanying explanation will help you to understand how the answer is calculated.
2. Mechanical Concepts
(Source: JobTestPrep) This question is designed to test the candidate’s understanding of weight distributions when a fulcrum is involved. It is representative of the standard format for the Mechanical Concepts part of the exam.
3. Mathematical Usage
(Source: mometrix.com) Question: 4 furlongs = ? rods a) 160 b) 10 c) 40 d) 0.1 Remember, you can answer A, B or C (if you think the number will be the same). Essentially, these questions are designed to assess your ability to solve arithmetic problems from diagrams or drawings. Usually, you will face at least one graphic arithmetic question related to a building floorplan, as in the example below from the JobTestPrep site. You have four answers to choose from: a) 3 b) 3 ½ c) 3 ⅓ d) 3.6 So, let’s look at a sample question: a) 1,200 b) 600 c) 440 d) 640 e) None of the above
8. Reading Comprehension
Last but by no means least, you will be asked to complete 32 reading comprehension-based CAST questions. You will need to read each text passage correctly and then defer the correct corresponding statement using this information. Here’s an example below on Static Electricity: Most people will experience sparks coming out from their hands after touching a metal object at some point in their lives. They may not see the sparks, but they will feel them. It’s a bit like the game children play at birthday parties where they rub a balloon to see if their hair stands on end. These are examples of ‘static electricity,’ but the concept can be misunderstood. Static electricity can happen when two objects are rubbed together and cause friction. However, friction is not always required for static electricity to occur. In fact, it’s a common untruth that friction is required. Friction can increase the chances of static electricity happening, but it is not the cause. Static electricity is caused when negative and positive charges separate. Every object is made up of positive and negative electric charges, including humans. Most of the time, the number of positive and negative charges is equally balanced. Static electricity, also known as ‘net electric charge’, occurs when the balance is upset and unequal. For example, if you walk across a carpeted floor, your shoes absorb some negative charges while leaving behind positive footprints. Your body then acquires an unequal balance of the negative charge. So, the next time you touch an object, you may feel a shock from static electricity. The spark is painful because it is hot and leaves tiny burns on our skin for a few seconds. To avoid static electricity shocks, you can touch something made from wood, which will absorb the charge to create balance so that you will not get shocked. a) All the time b) Rarely c) Only in the Summer d) There’s not enough information to provide an answer If you are just entering the construction industry, completing a CAST test will provide employers with a standardized assessment of your skills and aptitudes, which will help them evaluate your suitability for a role. You will find that many employers in skilled trades will require you to take the test as part of the recruitment phase, so see it as an opportunity to show what you’re made of.
List of Companies That Require the CAST Test
There are many companies in the construction and skilled trades industries that require job applicants to take the CAST test as part of the screening phase of recruitment. The job roles involved in this process include, but are not limited to:
Facilities and repair Transmission and distribution Electrical repair Meter service and repairs Machining and vehicular repair
There are many corporations that utilize the CAST exam as part of their hiring process, including:
The PSEG Foundation Edison International NextEra Energy, Inc. CenterPoint Energy Hawaiian Electric
The CAST test is not administered directly by EEI; individual utility companies administer the test independently. As such, there is no published data from EEI to indicate how many people take the exam each year or what scores people manage to achieve. With that said, EEI represents hundreds of organizations and companies all over the United States, which collectively employ more than 500,000 staff. This indicates that the CAST exam is likely taken by a few thousand job applicants every single year.
How to Pass the CAST Test
The best way to prepare for the test is to develop a strong understanding of both its content and structure. We recommend looking at the CAST Exam Secrets Study Guide from Mometrix. It is a comprehensive study guide that provides everything you need to know for the CAST test, including:
A detailed overview of the CAST test A thorough analysis of the mechanical concepts you are likely to encounter A complete review of what reading comprehension and mathematical usage involves A breakdown of what is covered in graphic arithmetic Lots of CAST practice test questions with full explanations of all answers
Additionally, JobTestPrep offers a CAST study guide featuring 15 tests, including mechanical reasoning, verbal reasoning and math sections. Achieving the required score does not necessarily mean that you will be hired as other factors will be taken into account when deciding on your application. If you already work in construction, passing the CAST test could help you to achieve promotion by demonstrating your potential. If you are a new entrant to the construction industry, taking the CAST test will give employers a standardized overview of your skills and aptitudes, allowing them to consider your suitability for job roles. The better equipped you are before walking into the examination, the better your chances of success and making it through that phase of the hiring process.
