Minnesota Class A Journeyman Exam

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I'm scheduled to take my Minnesota Class A Journeyman Exam on June 10th. I have no problem with code questions as I know the code book fairly well and can find most answers rather quickly. So, the code part of the exam should not be much of a problem for me.


I got this information about the exam from this website. "Exam includes 25 code question, open book, & 50 theory practical wiring questions".

Does anyone have any recent experience with this exam? I'm wondering what kind of questions the "50 theory practical wiring" ones are?

Like I said, the open book code questions should be no problem and code calculations shouldn't be to bad for me either.

I have been reviewing basic theory such as series, parallel, and series parallel circuits including all of the associated formulas as well as voltage, current, resistance, and power interactions.

Other than the above, what type of "theory practical wiring" questions might I expect to run into? Will I need to memorize some of the more complex formulas dealing with capacitive and inductive reactance as well as more in depth theory on AC circuits?


I wasn't to worried about this exam when I thought it was all going to be code questions. Now, I'm getting a little more concerned about what kind of questions they may throw in there.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
 

westernexplorer

Senior Member
one eye,
I believe the State of Minnesota administers the exam, much like Oregon. The State controls, designs and writes the exam and allows colleges to proctor the exam once you are approved.... atleast that is how Oregon does it.... Not sure about Minnesota since my Minnesota Class A Journeyman License was obtained by Reciprocity....
 
Wow. That was brutal. I've been studying my ass off for over a month and I'll be surprised if I get a 50% on this exam. Through all schooling, including college, this is by far the most difficult exam I have ever taken in my life. The questions and answers are written in such a way that I'm not sure there is any way to prepare for this exam other than to just take it so you have a better idea for the second try.

Sadly, Mike Holt's Exam Prep book was absolutely no help. Everything in the prep book was extremely simple compared to the questions on the actual exam. I know they don't want to make it to easy, but it was pretty damn ridiculous. I read online that only 40 to 50 percent of first time takers pass this test. I'd be awfully surprised if the actual number is even above 40%.
 
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wow that bad???

wow that bad???

im scheduled to take the test on the 8th of july... what else can you tell me about the test?? i never went to tech school but did 2 years of union apprenticship.
 
im scheduled to take the test on the 8th of july... what else can you tell me about the test?? i never went to tech school but did 2 years of union apprenticship.


Just to give you an idea of where I stand, I just completed my last year of school in a five year apprenticeship program so theory, calc, code, etc is still pretty fresh with me. I also spent the last month studying Mike Holt's Exam Prep book, sample questions from the MN Dept of Labor, and anything else I could get my hands on. None of that helped at all with this exam.

The questions are worded in a manner that is neither concise nor clear and the answers aren't much different. Almost every multiple choice question has at least two answers and most have three(apparently they want to limit your ability to guess). Generally, in order to find all of the correct answers, you'll need to search numerous sections of the code book, which, wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that the wording of the questions is intended to be confusing and usually the answers will not be found where you expect them to be.

Almost none of the calculations are multiple choice. Instead, you will be asked a complex question full of superfluous details and you will have to do the calc and write in your answer. And, do to the wording of the questions, coupled with no multiple choice, you will be unsure if your calc is right even though you know every formula and percentage calc like the back of your hand.

To answer your question a little more specifically, make sure you study NM cable. Almost every calc involving conductors includes something like 12-2,12-3,14-2,14-3,etc... type NM.

They also seemed to be big on permitted use and uses not permitted of conduits and cables. Generally, you will not find the answers to these types of questions in Article 320 through 362 which is probably the first place you'll look. So, be aware of other areas of the code where certain factors apply to conduits and cables but are not specified in 320 through 362.

Other than that, I don't know what else I can tell you to help you. There are a lot of motor and transformer questions, some of which include a diagram where you will have to determine configurations. Those are the easy ones. The hard ones will be calcs that, again, are worded in such a way as to make simply applying a memorized formula insufficient to arrive at the correct answer.

I went into this thing pretty confident. My plan was to skip questions that I wasn't sure of or that were taking to long and come back to them later. After skipping 14 out of the first 20 questions and double checking my exam to make sure they didn't accidentally slip me a masters, my confidence was shot and I knew I was in trouble.

Hopefully you will have an easier time than I did.

Good luck. I'll be curious to here what you think of the exam after you take it.
 
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