ASE practice test 2026: free A1, A4, A5, A6 and A8 questions

This free ASE-style practice test has 100 original questions, 20 for each of the five most-booked Automobile tests (A1 Engine Repair, A4 Suspension and Steering, A5 Brakes, A6 Electrical and A8 Engine Performance), each part on the real test's pace. About a third are in ASE's "Technician A says, Technician B says" format. You get a score for each test against our 70% target and every answer explained.

100
questions, 20 per test: 5
A-series tests covered: 133 min
at the real tests' pace: Free
no sign-up

Last checked 22 October 2026 · Test facts from ASE's Automobile study guide (2026); questions written for LifeScore

100
questions
133 min
time limit
Free
instant score

5 timed parts, each on its own clock: A1 Engine Repair, 20 questions in 27 minutes, then A4 Suspension and Steering, 20 questions in 24 minutes, then A5 Brakes, 20 questions in 27 minutes, then A6 Electrical, 20 questions in 30 minutes, then A8 Engine Performance, 20 questions in 25 minutes. A part's clock starts when you begin it, and you cannot go back to an earlier part.

By the LifeScore Editorial Team · Updated 22 October 2026 · How we check facts · How this is scored

What is on this ASE practice test?

100 questions in five timed parts, one for each test: A1 Engine Repair, A4 Suspension and Steering, A5 Brakes, A6 Electrical and A8 Engine Performance. Each part mixes knowledge questions, two-technician questions and questions with a measurement or reading.

The real tests and our mock, test by test
Test	Real questions	Real time	Our mock
A1 Engine Repair	55 (45 scored)	75 minutes	20 in 27 minutes
A4 Suspension and Steering	50 (40 scored)	60 minutes	20 in 24 minutes
A5 Brakes	55 (45 scored)	75 minutes	20 in 27 minutes
A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems	60 (50 scored)	90 minutes	20 in 30 minutes
A8 Engine Performance	60 (50 scored)	75 minutes	20 in 25 minutes

Every question is original and written from standard service practice, the way a shop foreman would explain it. About a third are two-technician questions, the format ASE is known for. About one in five uses numbers: a bore taper, a toe reading, a rotor thickness, a voltage drop, a fuel trim. Those numbers change in every mock, so you cannot pass by remembering an answer.

The rest test what a technician has to know cold: which test separates rings from valves, what a feathered tire edge means, why a pedal sinks, what P0171 says, what a good battery holds under load.

What this practice test copies, and what it does not
Tests	A1, A4, A5, A6 and A8: the five most-booked A-series tests, one timed part each
Questions	20 per test, 100 in all, four options each
Clock	Each part on the real test's pace (its minutes over all its questions): 133 minutes for the whole mock
Question types	About a third are "Technician A says, Technician B says"; about one in five uses a measurement or reading with numbers that change in every mock
Your result	Percent right on each test against our 70% target, and a practice band. ASE publishes no percentage, so this is never a pass or fail

Can I practise one ASE test at a time?

Yes. Each test has its own page with a free 12-question drill at the real test's pace, the content areas, the formulas and the traps.

ASE A1 Engine Repair practice test
1 free drill
General engine diagnosis; cylinder head and valve train; engine block; lubrication and cooling systems; fuel, electrical, ignition and exhaust checks an engine repair needs
ASE A4 Suspension and Steering practice test
1 free drill
Steering systems (columns, gears, power steering, linkage, electric steering); suspension systems; wheel alignment diagnosis and adjustment; wheels and tires
ASE A5 Brakes practice test
1 free drill
Hydraulic system; drum brakes; disc brakes; power assist; parking brakes, wheel bearings and electrical; ABS and electronic brake control
ASE A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems practice test
1 free drill
General electrical diagnosis; battery; starting and charging systems; lighting; gauges and driver information; horn, wiper and accessories; body electronics and networks
ASE A8 Engine Performance practice test
1 free drill
General engine diagnosis; ignition system; fuel, air induction and exhaust; emission control; computerized engine controls and OBD II

Most people book one or two tests at a time. Take the full mock to see all five, then drill the test you are booking first. A strong A5 cannot carry a weak A6: each test is scored on its own.

How do the real ASE tests work?

Each ASE certification test is taken on its own, on a computer at a Prometric test center, with 40 to 50 scored questions and 10 unscored research questions mixed in. ASE does not publish a fixed passing percentage: a panel sets the standard for each test.

The real tests, with where each fact comes from
Who gives it	The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), by appointment at Prometric test centersPublished by the ownerASE, "Testing": registration and Prometric test centers
How it is split	One test per system (A1 Engine Repair to A9 Light Vehicle Diesel). Each test is booked, timed and scored on its ownPublished by the ownerASE, "Automobile & Light Truck Certification Tests, A Series: A1-A9"
Questions	40 to 50 scored multiple-choice questions per test, plus 10 unscored research questions you cannot tell apartPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026)
Time	60 to 90 minutes per test, depending on the testPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026)
Passing score	Not published as a percentage. A panel sets the standard for each test, and you get pass or fail with a breakdown by content areaPublished by the ownerASE, "The Official ASE Study Guide: ASE Automobile Tests" (2026)
Cost	A $34 registration fee plus a fee for each test; 2026 guides quote about $62 per standard test. Check ase.com before you bookSourcedTorquePrep, "ASE Certification Cost 2026: Test Fees & Renewals"
Certification	A pass plus 2 years of hands-on work experience (a two-year automotive degree can count for one). Certifications last 5 yearsSourcedUniversal Technical Institute, "ASE Certification: How To Become ASE Certified"

You cannot tell which 10 questions are unscored, so treat every one as if it counts. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave one blank.

Passing a test is half of certification: you also need hands-on work experience. The whole path, from registration to the Master Technician patch, is in the ASE certification test guide.

What are "Technician A says, Technician B says" questions?

A situation, two statements from two technicians, and four options: A only, B only, both or neither. Judge each statement on its own as true or false first, and the answer follows.

The format tests diagnosis, not vocabulary. A statement can name a real fault that does not fit the symptom, or a right test done in the wrong order. Words like "always", "only" and "proves" usually make a statement false. The step-by-step method is on each test page and in how to pass the ASE test.

ASE-style question 1 · Diagnosis
An engine has a steady miss. A cylinder leakage test on the dead cylinder shows 45% leakage, and air can be heard at the throttle body. Technician A says the intake valve is not sealing. Technician B says the piston rings are the cause. Who is right?
1. AA only
2. BB only
3. CBoth A and B
4. DNeither A nor B
Worked answer
A: A only. Where the air comes out tells you where it leaks. Air at the throttle body or intake means an intake valve; at the tailpipe, an exhaust valve; at the oil filler or PCV, the rings; bubbles in the coolant, a head gasket or crack.
1. Air is heard at the throttle body.
2. That path runs past an intake valve.
3. Rings would vent into the crankcase, so B is wrong.
The trap: Treating a high percentage as proof of ring wear. The percentage says how bad; the sound says where.
ASE-style question 2 · Voltage drop
With the starter cranking, a voltmeter between the battery negative post and the engine block reads 0.9 V. Technician A says the ground side has too much resistance. Technician B says the reading proves the starter draws too much current. Who is right?
1. AA only
2. BB only
3. CBoth A and B
4. DNeither A nor B
Show the worked answer
A: A only. A ground-side voltage drop under load should be small (typically 0.2 to 0.3 V at most; follow the maker's limit). 0.9 V means resistance in the ground cable or its connections. A voltage drop reading on a cable says nothing on its own about how much current the starter draws; that needs a current test.
1. The meter spans the ground path under load.
2. 0.9 V is well over a typical limit: resistance in that path.
3. Starter draw is measured with an ammeter, so B is wrong.
The trap: Reading a high drop as a starter fault. The drop is across the cable, so the fault is in the cable or its ends.

What do ASE test questions look like?

Short shop situations with four options: a noise, a reading, a measurement against a spec, or two technicians disagreeing. Try the five below; two are worked step by step and the rest open when you tap.

ASE-style question 1 · Hydraulics
A master cylinder piston has an area of 0.8 square inch and is pushed with 400 pounds. Each front caliper piston has an area of 4 square inches. What force does each caliper piston apply?
1. A2,000 pounds
2. B500 pounds
3. C1,600 pounds
4. D400 pounds
Worked answer
A: 2,000 pounds. Pressure = force ÷ area = 400 ÷ 0.8 = 500 psi, the same everywhere in the closed system. Caliper force = pressure × area = 500 × 4 = 2,000 pounds.
1. Pressure: 400 ÷ 0.8 = 500 psi.
2. Pressure is equal throughout the system.
3. Force: 500 × 4 = 2,000 pounds.
The trap: Stopping at 500. That is the pressure in psi, not the force at the caliper.
ASE-style question 2 · Alignment
Camber reads −0.4° on the left front and +0.5° on the right front. Caster and toe are within specification. Which way will the vehicle tend to drift?
1. ATo the left
2. BTo the right
3. CIt will not drift
4. DIt will wander side to side
Show the worked answer
B: To the right. A vehicle drifts toward the side with more positive camber. The right side is more positive (+0.5° against −0.4°), a cross-camber of 0.9°, so it drifts right.
1. Find the more positive side: +0.5° on the right.
2. The vehicle drifts toward it.
3. So it drifts to the right.
The trap: Using the caster rule. Caster pulls toward the less positive side; camber pulls toward the more positive side.
ASE-style question 3 · Fuel trims
At idle, short-term fuel trim is +4% and long-term is +18%. At 2,500 rpm both trims are near 0%. What is the most likely cause?
1. AA vacuum leak
2. BA weak fuel pump
3. CA leaking fuel injector
4. DA restricted exhaust
Worked answer
A: A vacuum leak. Total trim at idle is +22%: the PCM is adding a lot of fuel for a lean condition. A vacuum leak lets in a fixed amount of unmetered air, which is a big share of the airflow at idle and a small share at 2,500 rpm, so the trims come back toward zero as rpm rises. A weak pump gets worse with load.
1. Idle total: +4 + 18 = +22%, lean.
2. The lean condition fades at higher rpm.
3. Unmetered air at idle: a vacuum leak.
The trap: Picking the weak fuel pump. A fuel delivery problem is worst under load, not at idle.
ASE-style question 4 · Engine measurement
A cylinder measures 3.6248 in at the top of ring travel and 3.6221 in at the bottom. The maximum allowed taper is 0.0020 in. What is the taper, and what does it mean?
1. A0.0027 in; over the limit, so the cylinder needs machining or the block replacing
2. B0.0027 in; within the limit
3. C0.0014 in; within the limit
4. D3.6248 in; over the limit
Show the worked answer
A: 0.0027 in; over the limit, so the cylinder needs machining or the block replacing. Taper is the top-of-travel diameter minus the bottom: 3.6248 − 3.6221 = 0.0027 in. That is more than the 0.0020 in limit, so the bore must be machined oversize (or sleeved) before new rings will seal.
1. Taper = top diameter − bottom diameter.
2. 3.6248 − 3.6221 = 0.0027 in.
3. 0.0027 in is over the 0.0020 in limit.
The trap: Halving the difference (0.0014 in). Halving is for out-of-round on some charts, never for taper.
ASE-style question 5 · Circuit basics
A 12-volt circuit has a 2 Ω resistor in series with two 6 Ω resistors that are in parallel with each other. What current flows from the battery?
1. A2.4 A
2. B0.86 A
3. C6 A
4. D1.5 A
Show the worked answer
A: 2.4 A. The two 6 Ω resistors in parallel give (6 × 6) ÷ (6 + 6) = 3 Ω. Add the 2 Ω in series: 5 Ω. I = E ÷ R = 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4 A.
1. Parallel pair: 36 ÷ 12 = 3 Ω.
2. Total: 3 + 2 = 5 Ω.
3. Current: 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4 A.
The trap: Adding all three resistors (14 Ω, 0.86 A). Only resistors in series add.

These were written for this page, so none of them is in a mock. More, each with its trap, are on ASE practice questions.

After the free ASE-style test

One mock shows your weakest test. Seven more, and four drills for each test, prove you are over 70% on questions you have not seen.

The ASE Pass Pack gives you 8 full mocks on the real clock, 20 drills of 12 questions for the sections that cost you points, and a predictor that turns your mocks into the odds of reaching your target. One payment, no subscription, and your free score stays free.

Prep courses for these tests usually cost $19 to $129. The ASE Pass Pack is US$39 (£29), once.

See the ASE Pass Pack How our questions are built and checked

8
timed mocks: 20
topic drills: 1
score predictor

How do I read my ASE practice result?

You get your percent right on each of the five tests against our 70% target, an overall practice band (Early practice, Building 55%+, Close 65%+, On target 70%+, Strong 85%+), and the questions you missed with the reason. These are our labels, not an ASE result.

ASE does not publish a passing percentage, and a practice test is never a perfect copy of the real one. So we use 70% on each test as the line to clear with some margin, and we never call a practice score a pass.

Look at the parts, not only the total. An 80% overall with A6 at 55% says you are ready to book A1, A5 and A8 and not yet A6. Your result names the weakest test and starts your plan there.

The safest sign you are ready for a test is clearing 70% on it in two different mocks, on questions you have not seen.

Do ASE practice tests help you pass?

Yes, when every miss sends you to the rule or the diagnostic step behind it. Memorizing answers does not work, because the real test asks the same ideas in new situations.

Technicians who fail usually know the systems. They lose points on test order (what you check first), on exact rules (which way camber pulls), and on two-technician questions read too fast. A timed practice test finds those in an evening, and every answer here says why.

A fail costs you the test fee again and another trip to the test center, and certification often decides pay grade and which jobs a shop gives you. The plan to avoid that is in how to pass the ASE test.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the real ASE test?

No. It is an ASE-style practice test with original questions. The real tests are given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence at Prometric test centers. LifeScore is not affiliated with ASE.

Which ASE tests does this cover?

A1 Engine Repair, A4 Suspension and Steering, A5 Brakes, A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems and A8 Engine Performance. It does not cover A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles, A7 Heating and Air Conditioning or A9 Light Vehicle Diesel Engines.

How many questions are on an ASE test?

Between 50 and 60, of which 40 to 50 are scored and 10 are unscored research questions, depending on the test.

What score do I need to pass an ASE test?

ASE does not publish a fixed percentage; a panel sets the standard for each test. We use 70% as a practice target.

Is there a penalty for guessing on ASE tests?

No. Only right answers count, so answer every question.

Do I have to pay?

The full practice test and one drill per test are free with no sign-up. The Pass Pack, with seven more mocks, 20 drills and the study guide, is a one-time payment.

Book your next ASE test knowing you are over 70%

Eight full ASE-style mocks across five tests, four drills for each test and every answer explained, in one payment with no subscription.