IBEW Reading Comprehension Section — Strategy and Practice
The reading section is tight on time. Most applicants don't fail because the passages are hard — they fail because the clock runs out. This guide shows you the right strategy and gives you two practice passages.
What the Reading Section Covers
- Short passages (3-5 sentences) on practical topics
- Workplace procedures, electrical safety, mechanics
- Detail questions — "According to the passage…"
- Inference questions — what does the passage imply?
Time Limit and Format
36 questions in 51 minutes, spread across four passages — about 85 seconds per question including reading time. That’s workable if you keep moving, but dwelling on one passage starves the others. Pace, not difficulty, is what costs people points here.
The Strategy: Question First, Passage Second
- Read the question before the passage
- Skim the passage with the question in mind
- Underline key facts as you read
- Eliminate obviously wrong answer choices
- Choose between the remaining two
Sample Passage 1
Question: What is the primary purpose of each worker applying their own lock?
Answer: So no single person can remove all the locks. Each lock protects the worker who applied it. If one person could remove every lock, the equipment could be re-energized while other workers were still in the danger zone.
Sample Passage 2
Question: What must be done BEFORE inserting the fish tape?
Answer: Remove burrs and sharp edges. The passage establishes this as the first step, before the fish tape is inserted.
How to Eliminate Wrong Answers
- Cross out anything not mentioned in the passage
- Cross out absolutes ("always", "never") if the passage uses hedged language
- Cross out answers that are partly right but contain a wrong detail
- If two answers seem right, the more specific one usually wins
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the IBEW reading comprehension section?
The IBEW reading section has 36 questions in 51 minutes — about 85 seconds per question, including time to read the four passages. Pace still matters: dwelling on one passage can starve the rest.
What kind of passages are on the IBEW reading section?
Passages are short (3-5 sentences) on practical topics like electrical safety, basic mechanics, and workplace procedures. They are written at roughly an 8th-10th grade reading level.
How do I prepare for IBEW reading comprehension?
Read the question first, then scan the passage with the question in mind. Practice with timed passages so you build pace. Eliminate obviously wrong answers before choosing.
Related Resources
Michael Briglio
IBEW Local 134 Journeyman · Licensed Contractor · IL Educator
Michael started in the IBEW at 18 and made foreman as a 3rd-year apprentice. Thirteen years in, he’s a Local 134 journeyman, a licensed electrical contractor, a licensed Illinois teacher, and OSHA 30 and EPA 608 certified. He teaches a federally recognized pre-apprenticeship on the south side of Chicago — where he’s helped 100+ students get into the IBEW. He built Sparky AI around exactly what the NJATC exam tests and what trips people up. Prep with this and you walk in ready.
Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.