Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — 200+ CAST test cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card is drawn from the four sections the EEI Construction and Skilled Trades test measures, so you study exactly what shows up.[1]
Pair them with our free practice test and study guide. Want extra insurance for exam day? Capital Prep’s CAST premium study materials come with a CAST exam pass guarantee: your money back if you don’t pass — and Career Employer students get a special discount.
CAST Flashcard Study Modes
Flip mode is for first passes and review, Match turns terms and definitions into a timed matching game, Type hides the term so you write it from the definition, and Quiz builds multiple-choice items from the same cards. Type is where prompts like Torque, defined? stop feeling familiar and start proving you actually know the wording.
Why Flashcards Work for the CAST Test
Mechanical Concepts is the largest domain at 97 cards, and it carries the vocabulary and relationships the mechanical section leans on. You get core definition cards such as Power, defined? and Fulcrum, defined?, along with applied relationships like the card that asks Gear ratio formula? and the one on the Law of the lever? Work through these in blocks rather than all at once.
Mathematical Usage adds 51 cards covering the arithmetic, percent, and algebra moves you have to make quickly. Expect percent work in prompts like What is 20% of 150?, straightforward equation solving in Solve 3x − 5 = 16., and order-of-operations checks such as Evaluate 4 + 6 × 2. Definition cards like Proportion, defined? tie the setup language to the math.
Graphic Arithmetic holds 35 cards built around drawings, scale, and the formulas you apply to them. Area of a rectangle? and Circumference of a circle? handle the geometry, while cards such as Real value from a drawing measurement? and A drawing labeled NTS means? train the print-reading habits that keep your numbers honest.
Reading for Comprehension has 29 cards, and most of them are strategy rather than trivia. You get question-type attack plans in cards like Main-idea question — how to attack it? and Inference question — how to attack it?, plus warnings such as Most common wrong-answer trap in reading? that name the errors before you make them.
CAST Test Basics rounds out the deck with 28 cards on format and logistics. Prompts like What does CAST stand for?, Who takes the CAST?, and How is the CAST scored? keep the structure clear so nothing about timing or sections surprises you.
That matters for the CAST, which rewards instant recall of mechanical rules, scale conversions, and formulas on separately-timed sections.[1] Used alongside our practice test and study guide, flashcards turn review time into measurable progress.
CAST Flashcards by Section
The cards are organized by the four CAST sections (plus a CAST basics set). Mechanical Concepts is the largest section, so weight your study there — but the graphic-arithmetic, math, and reading cards are worth locking in too:[1]
| Section | What the cards cover | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Concepts | Pulleys, levers, gears, hydraulics, forces, simple machines | Largest section (44 Q) — most rules to learn |
| Graphic Arithmetic | Reading scaled drawings, then computing lengths, areas, ratios | Math you read off a print |
| Mathematical Usage | Formulas, unit conversions, percentages, ratios, equations | Fast, tightly timed section |
| Reading for Comprehension | Detail, main idea, inference, answering from the passage | Answer from the text only |
| CAST Test Basics | Sections, scoring, CAST vs. CAST-R, calculator & retake rules | Know how the test is built and scored |
How to Get the Most Out of These CAST Flashcards
- Start with the biggest block. Mechanical Concepts is 97 cards, the largest domain here, so give it your first sessions and split it into smaller runs you can finish.
- Type-drill the definitions. Cards such as Pressure, defined? and Gear ratio formula? reward exact recall, and typing them exposes the ones you only half remember from flipping.
- Use Match for formula cards. Pairing Graphic Arithmetic prompts like Perimeter of a rectangle? against their definitions under a clock builds the speed that section demands.
- Switch when accuracy holds. Once Quiz runs stop surprising you across Mathematical Usage and Mechanical Concepts, move to the practice test for full-length timing and pacing.
- Keep a steady rotation. With 240 cards, work one domain per session and re-flip missed cards the next day rather than restarting the whole deck each time.
CAST Flashcards FAQ
Hundreds of free CAST flashcards, organized across the four sections — mechanical concepts, graphic arithmetic, mathematical usage, and reading for comprehension — plus a set of CAST test basics. They're free to use with no account required.
Yes. Flashcards use active recall — retrieving an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective ways to make information stick, especially for the mechanical rules, formulas, and conversions the CAST tests under a tight, separately-timed clock.
All four cognitive sections: mechanical concepts (pulleys, levers, gears, fluids, forces), graphic arithmetic (reading scaled drawings then calculating), mathematical usage (formulas, conversions, percentages, ratios), and reading for comprehension — plus key facts about how the CAST and CAST-R are structured and scored.
Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself. Drill the recurring rules — pulley and gear mechanical advantage, the lever law, scale conversions, and fraction-to-percent values — until they're instant, since the CAST sections are tightly timed.
Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall.
CAST flashcard bank
All 240 cards, by topic
A reference copy of every card in this deck. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to show it. To study with Flip, Match, Type and Quiz modes and track what you have mastered, use Study Flashcards at the top of the page.
Mechanical Concepts (97)
- Fixed pulley: mechanical advantage?
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1 — a single fixed pulley only changes the direction of the force; it does not reduce the effort needed.
- Movable pulley: mechanical advantage?
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2 — a movable pulley supports the load on two rope segments, so it halves the effort (but you pull twice the rope).
- How do you find a pulley system's mechanical advantage?
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Count the rope segments that actually support the load. That number is the mechanical advantage.
- Effort needed to lift a load with a pulley system?
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Effort = load ÷ number of supporting rope segments.
- Block and tackle: what is it?
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A system of fixed and movable pulleys. Its mechanical advantage equals the number of rope segments supporting the load.
- Block and tackle with 4 supporting segments lifting 200 lb — effort?
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200 ÷ 4 = 50 lb of effort (you pull 4 ft of rope per 1 ft the load rises).
- The golden rule of every simple machine?
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A machine never gives free work — any force you save is paid back in extra distance.
- Mechanical advantage, defined?
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Output force ÷ input force — the factor by which a machine multiplies your effort.
- Law of the lever?
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Effort × effort-arm = load × load-arm. A longer effort arm multiplies your force.
- Class 1 lever: where is the fulcrum?
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In the middle, between effort and load. Examples: crowbar, seesaw, pliers.
- Class 2 lever: what's in the middle?
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The load is in the middle. It always multiplies force (MA > 1). Examples: wheelbarrow, nutcracker.
- Class 3 lever: what's in the middle?
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The effort is in the middle. It trades force for speed/range (MA < 1). Examples: tweezers, the human forearm.
- Fulcrum, defined?
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The fixed pivot point a lever turns on.
- Which lever class always multiplies force?
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Class 2 (load in the middle) — its effort arm is always longer than its load arm.
- Pry bar: 200 lb load 1 ft from fulcrum, effort applied 4 ft from fulcrum — effort?
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effort × 4 = 200 × 1, so effort = 50 lb (mechanical advantage of 4).
- Two externally meshed gears turn which way relative to each other?
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Opposite directions — if one turns clockwise, the other turns counterclockwise.
- Gear ratio formula?
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Driven gear teeth ÷ driver gear teeth.
- 20-tooth driver meshes a 60-tooth driven gear — gear ratio?
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60 ÷ 20 = 3 : 1. The driven gear turns 1/3 as fast with 3× the torque.
- A larger gear turns how, compared to a smaller one?
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Slower, but with more torque. A smaller gear turns faster with less torque.
- What does an idler gear do?
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It reverses the direction of rotation but does NOT change the overall gear ratio.
- Torque, defined?
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A turning or twisting force, equal to the applied force times the distance from the pivot (the lever arm).
- Two ways to increase torque?
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Push harder (more force) or apply the force farther from the pivot (longer lever arm).
- Why does a longer wrench loosen a tight bolt more easily?
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It increases the lever arm, so the same push produces more torque.
- Pascal's principle?
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Pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally throughout it.
- Hydraulic force formula?
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Force = pressure × area. A larger piston area produces a larger force at the same pressure.
- 50 lb on a 2 sq in piston — what is the pressure?
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P = F ÷ A = 50 ÷ 2 = 25 psi.
- 25 psi acting on a 20 sq in output piston — what force?
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F = P × A = 25 × 20 = 500 lb.
- Hydraulic mechanical advantage formula?
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Output piston area ÷ input piston area (A₂ ÷ A₁).
- Inclined plane: what does it do?
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Reduces the force needed to raise a load by spreading the work over a longer distance.
- Inclined plane mechanical advantage formula?
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Slope length ÷ vertical height.
- 5 ft ramp rising 1 ft, 100 lb load — effort to push it up?
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MA = 5 ÷ 1 = 5, so effort = 100 ÷ 5 = 20 lb (pushed the full 5 ft).
- A wedge is a type of which simple machine?
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A moving inclined plane — it converts a forward force into a splitting/sideways force.
- A screw is a type of which simple machine?
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An inclined plane wrapped around a cylinder.
- Screw pitch, defined?
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The distance a screw advances along its axis in one complete turn.
- Screw with 0.1 in pitch turned 50 times advances how far?
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0.1 × 50 = 5 inches.
- Wheel and axle mechanical advantage?
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Wheel radius ÷ axle radius. A big wheel turning a small axle multiplies force.
- Two pulleys joined by a belt — how do their speeds compare?
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The smaller pulley turns faster; speed is inversely proportional to diameter.
- 2 in pulley driving a 4 in pulley at 200 RPM — driven speed?
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200 × (2 ÷ 4) = 100 RPM (the larger pulley turns slower).
- Which way does a belt make two pulleys turn (open belt)?
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The same direction (unlike meshed gears, which turn opposite).
- Thrust bearing: what load does it support?
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Axial loads — forces acting along the shaft's axis.
- Where do you hook a cable to lift a uniform beam so it stays horizontal?
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At its center of gravity (the midpoint of a uniform beam).
- Center of gravity, defined?
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The point where an object's weight is balanced — it behaves as if all the weight acts there.
- Which wagon needs less force to pull up a ramp — heavier or lighter?
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The lighter one. Required force increases with the load's weight.
- Springs: a stiffer spring requires what to compress the same distance?
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More force. Force = spring constant × compression (Hooke's law).
- Friction acts in which direction?
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Opposite to the direction of motion (or attempted motion).
- Pressure, defined?
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Force per unit area: P = F ÷ A. Same force over a smaller area gives higher pressure.
- Gauge pressure vs. absolute pressure?
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Absolute = gauge + atmospheric. A gauge reads pressure above atmospheric.
- Gauge reads 300 kPa, atmosphere is 100 kPa — absolute pressure?
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300 + 100 = 400 kPa.
- Why does water exert more pressure at the bottom of a tank?
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Fluid pressure increases with depth (weight of the fluid above).
- Equilibrium: when is an object balanced?
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When all forces and all torques on it sum to zero — no net force, no net rotation.
- Two kids on a seesaw balance how?
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When weight × distance is equal on both sides of the fulcrum.
- Heavier child sits where to balance a lighter one on a seesaw?
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Closer to the fulcrum (shorter arm), so weight × distance matches the lighter, farther child.
- Compound machine, defined?
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Two or more simple machines working together; their mechanical advantages multiply.
- A gear with more teeth produces what, relative to a smaller meshed gear?
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More torque but lower speed.
- Cam and follower: what does the cam convert?
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Rotary motion into reciprocating (back-and-forth) linear motion.
- Cam lift, defined?
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How far the follower moves between the cam's base circle and its highest point.
- Velocity ratio of a machine?
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Distance moved by the effort ÷ distance moved by the load.
- Why isn't real mechanical advantage equal to the ideal value?
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Friction wastes some input, so actual mechanical advantage is a bit lower than ideal.
- Efficiency of a machine?
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Useful work output ÷ work input, always less than 100% because of friction.
- Linkage, defined?
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A set of connected rigid bars that transmit or transform motion and force.
- Hydraulic jack: why can a small pump force lift a car?
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A small input piston and a large output piston share one pressure; the large area gives a large force.
- Doubling a lever's effort arm does what to the force you can apply?
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Doubles the force (torque), for the same effort.
- What pictured cue tells you a CAST pulley question's answer?
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How many rope segments support the load — count them, that's the mechanical advantage.
- Conveyor with a smaller driver pulley — load belt moves how?
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Slower than the driver's surface speed only if diameters differ; same belt speed, but the larger pulley turns slower.
- Pinion and rack: 10-tooth pinion, one full turn moves the rack how?
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By the circumference covered by all 10 teeth — the pitch length times 10.
- Newton's first law in plain terms?
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An object at rest stays at rest, and one in motion keeps moving, unless a net force acts on it.
- More mechanical advantage always costs you what?
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Distance (or speed) — you move the effort farther than the load moves.
- Work done by a force?
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Work = force × distance moved in the direction of the force.
- Power, defined?
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The rate of doing work: power = work ÷ time.
- First-class lever that only changes direction (MA = 1) has what arm setup?
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Effort arm equals load arm (fulcrum centered) — it redirects force without multiplying it.
- How does adding a second movable pulley change mechanical advantage?
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It adds more supporting rope segments, increasing the mechanical advantage.
- Why does a smaller-radius axle on a wheel-and-axle multiply force more?
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Larger wheel-to-axle radius ratio means greater mechanical advantage (wheel radius ÷ axle radius).
- Three meshed gears (driver, idler, driven) — driven turns which way vs driver?
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The same way as the driver; each mesh flips direction, and two flips return to the original.
- Liquids are nearly incompressible — why does that matter for hydraulics?
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Pressure applied at one point transmits almost instantly and fully throughout the fluid.
- Bigger output piston, same pressure — what happens to force and travel?
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Force goes up; the output piston moves a shorter distance (force traded for distance).
- What balances a torque?
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An equal and opposite torque (force × distance) on the other side of the pivot.
- Ball bearings reduce what?
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Friction between moving parts, by replacing sliding contact with rolling contact.
- Static vs kinetic friction — which is usually larger?
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Static friction (to start motion) is usually larger than kinetic friction (to keep it moving).
- Why use a longer ramp to load heavy equipment?
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A longer, shallower ramp gives more mechanical advantage, so less force is needed (you push it farther).
- Counterweight: what does it do on a crane or lift?
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Balances the load's torque about the pivot so less effort lifts and the machine stays stable.
- Gear with 10 teeth drives one with 40 teeth — output speed vs input?
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One-quarter the input speed (ratio 40 ÷ 10 = 4:1), with 4× the torque.
- Pressure in a closed hydraulic system is the same everywhere — whose principle?
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Pascal's principle.
- If two gears must turn the SAME direction, what do you add?
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An idler gear between them (it flips direction once).
- Mechanical advantage of a single movable pulley plus a fixed pulley (2 segments)?
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2 — the fixed pulley only redirects; the movable pulley provides the advantage.
- Why does a nutcracker (class 2 lever) crack a nut easily?
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Load in the middle gives a long effort arm, multiplying your squeezing force.
- Cam base circle vs lift — what's the follower's max travel?
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The lift (the radial distance from base circle to the cam's highest point).
- On an inclined plane, a steeper ramp requires what?
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More force (less mechanical advantage) but a shorter push distance.
- Pressure unit psi means?
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Pounds per square inch — force (pounds) divided by area (square inches).
- Hydraulic brakes multiply pedal force using what?
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A larger area at the wheel cylinders than at the master cylinder (force = pressure × area).
- Equal weights at equal distances on a balance — result?
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Balanced (equal torques), so no rotation.
- Larger pulley on a belt drive turns at what speed vs the smaller one?
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Slower — speed is inversely proportional to pulley diameter.
- Why does sand on ice help a tire grip?
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It increases friction between the tire and the surface.
- A 3:1 block and tackle lifting a 90 lb load — effort?
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90 ÷ 3 = 30 lb (you pull 3 ft of rope per 1 ft of lift).
- Heavier flywheel does what to a rotating machine?
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Stores more rotational energy and smooths out speed changes (more inertia).
- Why hook a lift cable directly above an object's center of gravity?
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So the load hangs level and doesn't tip or swing.
- Two springs in series vs parallel — which is stiffer?
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Parallel springs are stiffer (forces add); series springs are softer (they stretch more).
- What is the effort distance vs load distance on a 4:1 machine?
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Effort moves 4× as far as the load moves.
Graphic Arithmetic (35)
- Scale, defined (graphic arithmetic)?
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The ratio of a length on a drawing to the real length it represents (e.g. 1 in = 10 ft).
- Real value from a drawing measurement?
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Real value = drawing measurement × scale factor.
- Scale 1 in = 30 ft; a wall is 4 in on the print — real length?
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4 × 30 = 120 feet.
- Finding a real area from a scaled drawing — what's the rule?
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Convert each dimension to real units FIRST, then multiply length × width.
- Room drawn 4 in by 6 in at 1 in = 30 ft — real area?
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120 ft × 180 ft = 21,600 sq ft.
- Pool drawn 3 in by 2 in at 1 in = 10 ft — real floor area?
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30 ft × 20 ft = 600 sq ft.
- Why can't you trust line lengths by eye on a CAST drawing?
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CAST drawings are often 'not drawn exactly to scale' — use the printed dimensions and stated scale.
- How many drawings does the Graphic Arithmetic section usually contain?
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Two drawings, each followed by several questions.
- Is a calculator allowed on Graphic Arithmetic?
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Yes — the official CAST-R brochure permits a calculator on this section. Confirm with your utility.
- Best way to avoid a scale conversion error?
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Write the scale as a fraction with units (10 ft / 1 in) so the inches cancel when you multiply.
- Perimeter of a rectangle?
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2 × (length + width).
- Area of a rectangle?
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Length × width.
- Total distance along a path on a print?
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Add the real lengths of each segment (convert each from the scale first).
- Scale model 8 in long represents 240 ft. The scale is?
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240 ÷ 8 = 30 ft per inch (1 in = 30 ft).
- Map: 2 in × 3 in lot at 1 in = ? if 2 in = 100 ft, the scale?
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100 ÷ 2 = 50 ft per inch (1 in = 50 ft).
- Hallway 9 in long at 1 in = 5 ft — real length?
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9 × 5 = 45 feet.
- Driveway 6.4 in long at 1 in = 25 ft — real length?
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6.4 × 25 = 160 feet.
- If a real length is reduced by a linear scale factor of 5, area shrinks by?
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25 (area scales by the square of the linear factor: 5² = 25).
- Most common graphic-arithmetic mistake?
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Misreading the scale, or measuring by eye on a not-to-scale drawing instead of using the printed dimension.
- How do you read a dimension line on a drawing?
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Use the number printed between the extension lines, not the visual length of the line.
- Equilateral triangle side 2 in at 1 in = 25 ft — perimeter?
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Each side 2 × 25 = 50 ft; perimeter = 3 × 50 = 150 ft.
- Why answer the EXACT quantity asked on graphic arithmetic?
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Wrong answers often give a related value (perimeter when asked for area) — read whether it wants length, area, or count.
- Reading a scale of 1/4 in = 1 ft — how many feet is a 3-inch line?
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3 in ÷ (1/4 in per ft) = 12 feet.
- Two dimensions on a print: 5 ft and 8 ft — area of the rectangle?
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5 × 8 = 40 square feet.
- A print shows a circle of radius 3 ft (after scaling) — area?
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π × 3² ≈ 3.14 × 9 ≈ 28.3 square feet.
- Circumference of a circle?
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2 × π × radius (or π × diameter).
- Find the missing side of an L-shaped floor plan — strategy?
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Subtract the known partial lengths from the total length on the opposite side.
- A drawing labeled NTS means?
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Not To Scale — rely on the printed dimensions, not the apparent size.
- Convert a real measurement back to drawing inches — how?
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Real length ÷ scale (real feet per inch) = drawing inches.
- A 200 ft wall at 1 in = 40 ft is how long on the print?
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200 ÷ 40 = 5 inches.
- Total wire run: 3 ft + 4 ft + 5 ft segments on a print — total?
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3 + 4 + 5 = 12 feet (sum the real segment lengths).
- Why convert each dimension before multiplying for area, not after?
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Area scales by the square of the linear factor, so converting last gives the wrong factor.
- A part is drawn 2× actual size (1 in drawing = 0.5 in real) — a 4 in line is?
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4 × 0.5 = 2 inches in reality.
- Read the scale before solving — why is it the first step?
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Every distance and area on the print depends on the scale; using the wrong scale dooms the whole answer.
- Square room of side 1.5 in at 1 in = 50 ft — real side?
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1.5 × 50 = 75 feet per side.
Mathematical Usage (51)
- Distance, rate, time formula?
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Distance = rate × time. Rearrange: time = distance ÷ rate; rate = distance ÷ time.
- 45 mph for 15 minutes — distance traveled?
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15 min = 0.25 hr; 45 × 0.25 = 11.25 miles. (Match units first.)
- Percent of a number — how to compute?
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Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 15% of 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12.
- Percent change formula?
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(change ÷ original) × 100. Always divide by the ORIGINAL value.
- 45 to 63 service calls — percent increase?
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(18 ÷ 45) × 100 = 40% increase.
- Proportion, defined?
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A statement that two ratios are equal (a/b = c/d). Solve by cross-multiplying.
- Cement-to-sand ratio 2 : 5, batch of 35 total parts — cement parts?
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2/(2+5) × 35 = 10 parts cement.
- Dimensional analysis — how does it prevent errors?
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Multiply by a factor written so the old unit cancels and the wanted unit remains.
- 1 foot equals how many inches?
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12 inches.
- 1 yard equals how many feet?
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3 feet.
- 1 mile equals how many feet?
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5,280 feet.
- 1 square yard equals how many square feet?
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9 square feet (3 ft × 3 ft).
- 144 sq ft is how many square yards?
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144 ÷ 9 = 16 square yards.
- 1 foot is about how many meters?
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About 0.305 meters (1 m ≈ 3.28 ft).
- Solve 3x − 5 = 16.
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3x = 21, so x = 7. (Add 5, then divide by 3.)
- Average (mean) formula?
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Sum of the values ÷ how many values.
- Area of a rectangle, with units?
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Length × width, giving square units (e.g. sq ft).
- Volume of a box?
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Length × width × height, giving cubic units.
- Sum of three consecutive even numbers is 90 — the smallest?
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Let them be n, n+2, n+4: 3n + 6 = 90, n = 28.
- Memorize: 1/4 as a percent?
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25%.
- Memorize: 1/5 as a percent?
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20%.
- Memorize: 3/4 as a percent?
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75%.
- Memorize: 1/3 as a percent?
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About 33% (0.333…).
- Memorize: 1/8 as a percent?
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12.5%.
- Tank 25% full, add 750 L to reach 50% — total capacity?
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750 L = 25% of capacity, so capacity = 3,000 L.
- Distribute 600 bricks equally among 6 workers — each gets?
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600 ÷ 6 = 100 bricks each. (Total ÷ number of people for an equal split.)
- Round-trip 40 km/h out and 60 km/h back — average speed?
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Use the harmonic mean: 2(40)(60)/(40+60) = 48 km/h, not 50.
- Find 10% of a number quickly?
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Move the decimal one place left (10% of 250 = 25).
- Find 5% of a number quickly?
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Take half of 10% (5% of 250 = 12.5).
- Why answer every CAST question even if guessing?
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There is no penalty for wrong answers, so a guess can only help your score.
- Set up a proportion consistently — what must match?
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Keep the same item type in the same position on both sides (e.g. bags over area on each side).
- Solve 2x + 7 = 19.
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2x = 12, so x = 6.
- What is 20% of 150?
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0.20 × 150 = 30.
- What is 1/4 of 240?
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240 ÷ 4 = 60.
- Average of 12, 18, and 24?
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(12 + 18 + 24) ÷ 3 = 54 ÷ 3 = 18.
- Volume of a box 2 ft × 3 ft × 4 ft?
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2 × 3 × 4 = 24 cubic feet.
- A tank holds 500 gal and drains at 125 gal/min — how long to empty?
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500 ÷ 125 = 4 minutes.
- Convert 36 inches to feet.
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36 ÷ 12 = 3 feet.
- Convert 2.5 hours to minutes.
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2.5 × 60 = 150 minutes.
- A wall needs 8 studs per 10 ft; how many for 50 ft?
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8 ÷ 10 = x ÷ 50 → x = 40 studs (set up a proportion).
- What is 3/5 written as a percent?
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3 ÷ 5 = 0.6 = 60%.
- Cost: 6 fittings for 18 dollars — price per fitting?
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18 ÷ 6 = 3 dollars each.
- A value drops from 80 to 60 — percent decrease?
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(20 ÷ 80) × 100 = 25% decrease.
- Perimeter of a 12 ft by 8 ft room?
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2 × (12 + 8) = 40 feet.
- If 3 bags cover 120 sq ft, how many cover 200 sq ft?
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3/120 = x/200 → x = 5 bags.
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)?
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Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left to right), Add/Subtract (left to right).
- Evaluate 4 + 6 × 2.
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Multiply first: 6 × 2 = 12, then 4 + 12 = 16.
- Convert 0.75 to a fraction.
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0.75 = 3/4.
- A motor runs 45 min; what fraction of an hour is that?
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45 ÷ 60 = 3/4 of an hour.
- 15% of 80 is?
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0.15 × 80 = 12.
- Round 11.25 to the nearest whole number.
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11 (the decimal 0.25 is below 0.5).
Reading for Comprehension (29)
- Golden rule of CAST reading comprehension?
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Answer using only what the passage says — never outside trade knowledge or what's true in general.
- Detail (fact) question — how to attack it?
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Scan the passage for the keyword from the question, then read the exact sentence.
- Main-idea question — how to attack it?
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Look at the first and last sentences for the overall point; ignore minor details.
- Inference question — how to attack it?
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Combine facts the passage states; don't add outside assumptions.
- Most common wrong-answer trap in reading?
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A choice that's true in real life but NOT supported by the passage.
- Qualifier words to watch (always, never, only, must)?
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They change a statement's meaning — the correct choice matches the passage's qualifiers exactly.
- How many passages does Reading for Comprehension usually have?
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About four passages, each followed by several multiple-choice questions.
- Time-saving reading strategy?
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Skim the questions before the passage so you know which keywords to scan for.
- A rule passage — what two parts should you separate?
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The condition (when it applies) and the required action (what must be done).
- Passage says a capacitor holds a charge after disconnection — safe conclusion?
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Treat a disconnected capacitor as if it may still hold a dangerous charge.
- If the passage doesn't state it, the answer is?
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Wrong — even if it sounds reasonable or is true on the job.
- Best clue for a vocabulary-in-context question?
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The surrounding sentence — use how the word is used in the passage, not a memorized definition.
- Why does the CAST test reading?
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Utility craft work runs on written orders, procedures, and safety rules you must understand precisely.
- Hot stick made of fiberglass — why?
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Fiberglass doesn't conduct electricity, so a lineworker can safely handle energized equipment from a distance.
- Before re-energizing a transformer taken out of service, confirm what?
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That the grounds are confirmed in place (per the passage's stated procedure).
- If a substation logbook records who leaves last, who is responsible for locking up?
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The last person to leave, per the logbook procedure.
- Read the question stem carefully — what's the risk if you don't?
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Answering a slightly different question than the one asked (e.g. cause vs. effect).
- A passage gives a step list — what kind of question often follows?
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An ordering or 'what comes first/next' question — track the stated sequence.
- Two choices both seem supported — how do you decide?
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Pick the one MORE directly and fully supported by the exact wording of the passage.
- A passage about waterproofing a foundation — its main purpose?
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To prevent water infiltration into the structure.
- Safety passage on working at heights — essential fall-prevention equipment?
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Harnesses (fall-arrest equipment).
- Electrical-safety passage — primary protection near power lines?
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Maintaining a safe distance from the lines.
- Why compact asphalt (per a construction manual)?
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To increase the asphalt's durability and lifespan.
- A suspension-bridge passage lists components — which is NOT typical?
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Electrical wiring isn't a typical structural component of a suspension bridge.
- Reading: should you use what you already know about the trade?
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No — answer only from the passage, even if your trade knowledge differs.
- Signal words for an inference (it 'suggests', 'implies', 'best concludes')?
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They tell you the answer isn't stated outright — build it from stated facts.
- How to handle a long passage on a short timer?
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Skim for structure, read the questions, then scan back for the specific keyword each one needs.
- Passage states a tool's purpose — what kind of question is that answering?
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A detail/fact question — the answer is stated directly in the text.
- An 'EXCEPT' or 'NOT' question — what's the task?
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Find the one choice the passage does NOT support; the other three are all supported.
CAST Test Basics (28)
- What does CAST stand for?
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Construction and Skilled Trades — an EEI selection test for utility craft jobs.
- Who publishes the CAST?
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The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the trade association of U.S. investor-owned electric utilities.
- What are the four sections of the legacy CAST?
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Graphic Arithmetic, Mechanical Concepts, Reading for Comprehension, and Mathematical Usage.
- What changed in CAST-R (the revised version)?
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It replaced Mathematical Usage with the Work Preferences Inventory, a work-style questionnaire.
- What is the Work Preferences Inventory?
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A behavioral/work-style questionnaire on CAST-R with no right or wrong answers — you rate how strongly you agree with statements.
- How is the CAST scored?
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Section scores combine into one Total Test Score (an index, 1–10 on CAST-R) predicting probability of job success.
- Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the CAST?
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No — answer every question, even guesses.
- How long does the CAST take?
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CAST-R is administered in about two hours; the legacy four-cognitive CAST runs roughly 87–90 minutes.
- Which CAST section has the most questions?
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Mechanical Concepts — 44 questions.
- How many questions is Graphic Arithmetic?
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16 questions, with a 30-minute limit.
- How many questions is Reading for Comprehension?
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32 questions, with a 30-minute limit.
- Who decides the passing/cutoff score on the CAST?
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Each hiring utility sets its own minimum score; there's no single national pass mark.
- Who takes the CAST?
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Candidates for utility construction and skilled-trade jobs — lineworker, T&D craft, substation, facilities, meter service.
- Is the CAST multiple choice?
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Yes — multiple choice, answered on a scannable bubble answer sheet.
- Can you retake the CAST if you don't pass?
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Usually yes after a waiting period set by the utility (often ~30 days); policy varies by employer.
- Is the CAST the same as POSS or MASS?
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No — POSS and MASS are EEI power-plant tests. CAST is for construction and skilled-trade (field/craft) roles.
- Are study aids allowed during the CAST?
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No — no study aids or electronics (other than a permitted calculator on Graphic Arithmetic).
- Each CAST section is timed how?
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Separately — each section has its own time limit, so pace each one independently.
- Which EEI test is for power-plant operators?
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POSS — the Plant Operator Selection System (not the CAST).
- Which EEI test is for power-plant maintenance/craft?
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MASS — the Power Plant Maintenance Positions Selection System.
- Which EEI test is for degreed technician roles?
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TECH — the Technician Occupations Selection System.
- Across how many job categories was CAST-R validated?
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Six — including transmission & distribution, facilities & repair, electrical repair, and meter service.
- Is the CAST taken at a public test center on demand?
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No — individual utilities administer it as part of their hiring process.
- What does a higher CAST Total Test Score mean?
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A higher predicted probability of success on the job — and a better chance against the employer's cutoff.
- Should you flatly tell candidates 'no calculator on the CAST'?
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No — the official CAST-R brochure permits one on Graphic Arithmetic; confirm with the administering utility.
- Mechanical Concepts items: how many answer choices each?
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Three (A, B, C), usually attached to a pictured mechanical situation.
- What's the smartest way to prepare for the timed sections?
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Take full, separately-timed practice runs so your pacing per section is automatic.
- Why does Mechanical Concepts deserve the most study time?
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It's the largest section (44 questions) and rewards learning a few rules that repeat across items.
References
- 1.Edison Electric Institute. “CAST-R Test Brochure (Construction and Skilled Trades, Revised).” Edison Electric Institute. ↑
- 2.Edison Electric Institute. “CAST-R Student Practice Tests (© 2020 EEI).” Southern Company (EEI-licensed). ↑
- 3.Institute of Education Sciences (U.S. Dept. of Education). “Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning (Practice Guide).” What Works Clearinghouse, IES. ↑
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