GAN HR Aptitude Test Comprehensive Study Guide

General Testing Information

• Test Purpose: The GAN HR Aptitude Test is designed to measure an applicant's ability to think, solve problems, and predict success within an apprenticeship. The tests were developed by expert psychologists to determine apprenticeship potential and ensure fairness across all backgrounds.
• Methodology: No special knowledge or prior experience is required to succeed. Performance can be enhanced by reviewing the study guide and practicing essential skills.

Preparation Strategies

• Mindset: Stay positive to reduce stress and improve success chances. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or visualization.
• Study Habits: Take notes while learning and review them regularly. High repetition via practice questions increases comfort level during the actual session.
• Night Before the Test:     * Refresh existing knowledge rather than learning new skills.     * Set multiple alarms if necessary.     * Go to bed early and minimize phone/TV usage to keep information fresh and improve sleep quality.

Testing Day Protocols

• Morning Routine: Eat a healthy, light breakfast. Heavy meals should be avoided.
• Arrival: Arrive at least $30\,\text{minutes}$ early. Doors close exactly at the start time; there is no late admittance.
• Last-Minute Review: Use waiting time to review notes to keep skills fresh.

During the Test

• Administration: Listen to all verbal directions and read all written directions and examples carefully.
• Pacing and Time Management:     * Budget time carefully; every question carries the same weight.     * Do not spend excessive time on a single difficult question. Skip hard items and return to them later.
• Accuracy Check: Regularly verify that the question number in the booklet matches the number on the answer sheet.
• Answering Process:     1. Read the entire question carefully.     2. Predict the answer before viewing options.     3. Read every possible answer choice.     4. Eliminate obviously incorrect answers if unsure.     5. Double-check markings if time remains.
• Sheet Maintenance: Erase changed answers completely and remove any stray marks on the answer sheet.

Mechanical Comprehension

• Overview: This test measures the understanding of physical forces and simple mechanical elements in authentic situations. Problems involve frequently encountered mechanisms and do not require formal mechanical training.
• Core Concepts:     * Center of Gravity: Stability is determined by the center of gravity; the lower the center of gravity, the more stable the object.         * Example: A tower $4$ boxes wide and $4$ boxes tall is more stable than a tower $2$ boxes wide and $8$ boxes tall because its center of gravity is at box level $2$ instead of level $4$.         * Real-World Connections: Ice skaters keeping arms close to the body, sedans being less likely to tip than SUVs, and low-profile doorstops.     * Torque: Leverage determines the ease of movement. Points further from the resistance (the object to be moved) provide more leverage.         * Example: Moving object $C$ is easiest at point $D$, which is the furthest point on a lever.         * Real-World Connections: Children on a seesaw, long-handled vs. short-handled shovels, and carrying long beams at the ends.     * Gears: Speed is determined by size and tooth count. Smaller objects have less distance to travel for a full rotation.         * Rule: Smaller gears rotate faster than larger gears.         * Real-World Connections: Tricycle back wheels rotating faster than the front wheel, small diameter screws penetrating faster, and race car lug nuts spinning faster than tires.     * Pulleys: Work/force distribution is determined by the number of supporting cables.         * Rule: The more cables pulling a force upward in a pulley system, the less work/force is required to lift the weight.         * Real-World Connections: Window blind operation, roofing shingles lifted via multiple cables, and elevator shaft pulley systems.

Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test Data

• Duration: $8\,\text{minutes}$.
• Items: $18$ problems.
• Key Results (Sample):     * Gears connected side-by-side rotate in opposite directions.     * Objects with higher weight distribution on a support (closer to the center) require different force vs. leverage.     * Ratios (e.g., $1:1$ vs. $2:1$) determine RPM relative to size.
• Practice Answers: 1) A, 2) A, 3) B, 4) B, 5) A, 6) A, 7) B, 8) B, 9) B, 10) A, 11) A, 12) B, 13) A, 14) C, 15) B, 16) C, 17) C, 18) A.

Numerical Computation

• Overview: Assesses arithmetic knowledge involving fractions and decimals. Calculations should be performed on scratch paper without a calculator.
• Key Strategies:     * Identify the operation first.     * Estimate the answer to check for calculation errors.     * Always reduce fractions to the simplest terms.     * If a calculated answer isn't an option, it is faster to redo the problem than search for the error.

Mathematical Definitions

• Fraction: A part of a whole.
• Numerator: The top number; indicates parts of the whole.
• Denominator: The bottom number; indicates the total number of parts in the whole.
• Proper/Common Fraction: A reduced fraction where the numerator is smaller than the denominator.
• Unreduced Fraction: Numerator is smaller than the denominator, but they share a common divisor.
• Mixed Number: A whole number combined with a proper fraction.
• Improper Fraction: The numerator is larger than the denominator; can be converted to a mixed number.
• Common Denominator: The same number in the denominator for all fractions in a problem. Required for addition and subtraction.

Fractions Operations

• Reducing: Divide the numerator and denominator by the same number. If the numerator is $1$, it is fully reduced ($\frac{6}{12} \div \frac{2}{2} = \frac{3}{6} \div \frac{3}{3} = \frac{1}{2}$).
• Finding Common Denominators:     1. Multiply denominators ($2 \times 7 = 14$).     2. Check if the larger denominator is divisible by the smaller (e.g., $36 \div 3 = 12$).     3. Find multiples of the larger denominator and check for divisibility by the smaller.
• Conversions:     * Improper to Mixed: Divide numerator by denominator. The quotient is the whole number; the remainder goes over the original denominator ($\frac{18}{4} = 4\,\text{R}2 = 4\,\frac{2}{4} = 4\,\frac{1}{2}$).     * Mixed to Improper: (Whole Number $\times$ Denominator) $+$ Numerator. Place result over original denominator ($4\,\frac{2}{3} = (4 \times 3) + 2 = \frac{14}{3}$).
• Addition/Subtraction: Must have common denominators. For whole numbers, use a denominator of $1$ ($7 = \frac{7}{1}$). Always simplify the final answer.
• Multiplication: Multiply numerators together and denominators together across ($\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{4}{5} = \frac{4}{15}$).
• Division: Change the division sign to multiplication and "flip" the second fraction (the reciprocal) ($\frac{1}{4} \div \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{4} \times \frac{3}{2} = \frac{3}{8}$).

Decimal Operations

• Addition/Subtraction: Always align the decimal points vertically. Add a decimal and placeholder zeros ($.00$) to whole numbers ($47 = 47.00$).
• Multiplication: Multiply as if whole numbers. Count total digits to the right of decimals in the original problem and move the decimal left by that count in the final product.     * Example: $32.4 \times 6.03$. There are $3$ total digits right of the decimal. Result: $195.372$.
• Division:     1. Move the divisor's decimal right to make it a whole number.     2. Move the dividend's decimal the same number of spaces.     3. Bring the decimal point up into the answer line ($6.2 \div .04 = 620 \div 4 = 155$).
• Percents: To convert a percent to a decimal, move the decimal two spaces to the left ($6\% = .06$; $30\% = .30$). Multiply the number by this decimal to find the percentage.

Numerical Computation Practice Test Data

• Duration: $35\,\text{minutes}$.
• Practice Answers: 1) C, 2) A, 3) A, 4) B, 5) D, 6) E, 7) B, 8) C, 9) B, 10) D, 11) D, 12) D, 13) C, 14) A, 15) A, 16) E, 17) C, 18) E, 19) B, 20) E, 21) D, 22) A, 23) E, 24) E, 25) C, 26) B, 27) B, 28) A, 29) D, 30) C.

Numerical Reasoning

• Overview: Measures the ability to identify patterns in a series of numbers.
• Strategy:     * Identify if the series is increasing, decreasing, or both.     * Increasing: Addition or multiplication.     * Decreasing: Subtraction or division.     * Both: Alternating operations.     * Large numbers: Work backwards from the smaller numbers to find the rule.
• Pattern Types:     * One Operation: e.g., adding $4$ consistently ($1, 5, 9, 13 \rightarrow 17$) or dividing by $5$ ($125, 25, 5, 1 \rightarrow \frac{1}{5}$).     * Two Operations: e.g., alternating between multiplication and subtraction ($4, 8, 6, 12 \rightarrow 10$ via $\times 2, -2$) or using two different multipliers/divisors ($\div 5, \div 2$).     * Incremental Patterns: The operation amount increases by a set value ($1, 2, 4, 7 \rightarrow 11$ via $+1, +2, +3, +4$).     * Squares: Series follows the formula $x^2$ where $x$ increases by $1$ ($1, 4, 9, 16 \rightarrow 25$).

Numerical Reasoning Practice Test Data

• Duration: $15\,\text{minutes}$.
• Practice Answers: 1) D, 2) B, 3) C, 4) B, 5) A, 6) E, 7) D, 8) B, 9) A, 10) E, 11) C, 12) C, 13) B, 14) A, 15) D, 16) E, 17) D, 18) A, 19) C, 20) E.

Paper Folding

• Overview: Designed to test three-dimensional visualization. A square of paper is folded and holes are punched; the test taker must identify the unfolded appearance.
• Key Rules:     * No scratch paper or physical folding is allowed.     * Every fold effectively doubles the layers of paper being punched ($1\,\text{fold} = 2\,\text{layers}$, $2\,\text{folds} = 4\,\text{layers}$, etc.).     * Visualize the symmetry created by each unfold.
• Tips:     * Note exactly where holes are located (e.g., top right corner vs. bottom left).     * Visualize the unfolded holes reflecting across the fold line.     * Mentally "refold" your selected answer to see if it matches the original question state.     * Be prepared for rotation: the correct answer might represent the unfolded paper turned to a different orientation.

Paper Folding Practice Test Data

• Duration: $26\,\text{minutes}$.
• Practice Answers: 1) C, 2) D, 3) A, 4) B, 5) E, 6) C, 7) E, 8) A, 9) B, 10) D, 11) E, 12) C, 13) A, 14) E, 15) D, 16) A, 17) B, 18) C, 19) D, 20) E, 21) E, 22) C, 23) D, 24) D.

Reading Comprehension

• Overview: Assesses textual comprehension via short paragraphs and follow-up questions. It is a test of understanding, not memory.
• Strategy:     * Read the questions first to know what information to search for.     * Read the passage closely the first time to avoid excessive repetitive reading.     * Search for keywords from the question within the text.     * Read all answer choices before selecting the best one.

Reading Scenario Summaries

• Scenario A: Girders in Steel Fabrication     * Girders are built-up beams made from plate stock.     * Inverted Girder: Used for long-span roofs (warehouses/factories).     * Beam-like Girder: Used for highway and railroad bridges (up to $120\,\text{feet}$).     * Box Girder: Used for heavy highway/railroad loads.     * Features: Connection stiffeners, bearing stiffeners at stress points, and shoe plates for resting on piers.
• Scenario B: Screwdrivers     * Sized by blade length (not overall length).     * Blade diameter, tip width, and tip thickness increase with blade length.     * Rule: Use the largest tip that fits the screw. Small tips damage screws or make turning difficult.     * Maintenance: Keep blade perpendicular to the head and push while turning. Avoid hammering (use a chisel/punch instead).
• Scenario C: Pliers     * Increase gripping power or handle hot/cold objects. Size is determined by length.     * Adjustable Joint: Jaws pivot to match object size.     * Lineman’s Side Cutting: For bending or cutting wire.     * Diagonal Cutting: Sloping edges, no gripping jaws; used for cotter pins.     * Vise Grip: Multi-purpose tool acting as pliers, clamp, or vise.
• Scenario D: Roof Types     * Span: Distance between opposite eaves.     * Run: Half of the span.     * Gable: Inverted V-shape with a ridge.     * Hip: Slopes in four directions; peaks at the ridge.     * Gambrel: Slopes in two directions with a break in the top field.     * Other types: Shed and Mansard.
• Scenario E: Pipe Threads     * Standardized nationally. Internal threads (inside) vs. external threads (outside).     * Tap: Cuts internal threads.     * Die: Cuts external threads.     * Full Width Die: Die width equals thread length; used for small pipes.     * Receding Die: Die width is less than thread length; travels along large pipes.     * Non-ratcheting Stocks: Stationary; moved by hand or power equipment.
• Scenario F: Drills and Bits     * Sizes designated by diameter in fractions of an inch.     * Anatomy: Cutting edge (one end) and Shank (opposite end).     * Shank Types: Straight, round end, hexagon, flats ground, tapered (for presses), tapered square (for bit braces).     * Wood Bits: Flat or multi-spur (power), solid center auger (strong/stiff), double twist (fast chip removal), single twist (best for deep holes).     * Twist Drill: Specific for metal drilling.

Reading Comprehension Practice Test Data

• Duration: $13\,\text{minutes}$.
• Practice Answers: 1) A, 2) B, 3) C, 4) D, 5) D, 6) B, 7) C, 8) D, 9) D, 10) A, 11) A, 12) B, 13) B, 14) D, 15) C, 16) A, 17) D, 18) A.