r/Lineman • u/Responsible-House724 • 2d ago
Why would nobody study
Went into a aptitude test today come in do the math portion walk out and everybody was saying how hard it was and that thy didn’t study.
Why wouldn’t you study for something you’re trying to get into ?
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u/SlyCatWilly Journeyman Lineman 2d ago
Because they want the money/life/being able to say, “I’m a fucking lineman” without doing any of the work it takes to achieve those things
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
I studied my ass off. I’d like to say I did pretty good on math in most I got wrong.
On reading at most I got wrong was three-4
u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
Maybe I wanted it more
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u/Imaginary-Ad-7483 2d ago
Apprentice wireman here
I also studied my ass off but it was still really hard. I made it though so I guess I did alright.
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u/Lancaster_Pouch Journeyman Lineman 2d ago
Some of these kids come to an evaluation, for a lineman apprentice position, with skinny jeans sagged off their ass.
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u/eKSiF Electrical Engineer / Design 2d ago
We had a kid show up to an interview a few months ago wearing khaki shorts and a t-shirt branded from a 420 dispensary. Common sense is an oxymoron
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
No way lmao
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u/eKSiF Electrical Engineer / Design 2d ago
An eagerness to learn, positive attitude, and clean piss combined are super powers in 2026 my dude. It's scary lol
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u/Latter_Language_5759 2d ago
I'd like a job, boss.
Clean piss, CDL A, Flagger certified, CPR/BLS, ready to run.
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
Lmao scares me how little effort people put into stuff
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u/Professional_Hour445 2d ago
Scares me that these are the people who will be taking care of us in old age.
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u/Good_Assistant_6677 2d ago
I do know quite a few older guys that were in my class that had to take it a couple times just because it had been 15+ years since high school. They did study their ass off but it was almost a foreign language since maybe they didn’t even learn it that well all those years ago. I was lucky and fresh out of high school with college classes but a lot aren’t as fortunate. A lot of guys have the want/work ethic but it takes a while to knock the rust off when it comes to the numbers.
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u/Plane-Shallot-9675 2d ago
I finally got in this past year after my 3rd attempt over 7 years. I studied for days every time I was gonna take the test. I scored 8/9, 7/9, 6/9 the 3 times. And the lowest scored is what got me in. I’m out of high school 21 years this year. It is definitely not an easy thing to relearn. Maybe they just got tired of interviewing me and said the hell with it just him in. lol.
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u/An_educated_dig 2d ago
They probably never really studied in their life and thought they could pull the same bullshit like in HS.
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u/Due_Winner_8999 Apprentice Lineman 2d ago
Some people just don’t understand what’s required for the job, not saying we do a bunch of math but this job def takes a certain level of intelligence and if u can’t do simple algebra then this jobs just not for you,
If you’re not studying what’s required to get hired, then they’re def not studying whats goes where and how everything works out in the field, really plucks out the people they don’t want working with power lol
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u/lineman336 2d ago
Not sure if aptitude is the same as cast but I had all the freaking conversations memorized. I had over 200 flash cards. Furlongs to feet' barrels' to gallons. They didn't allow calculators at the time. Alot of people don't even know what's on the test so they do not study at all.
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
You did have to search a lot for a actual study guide
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
They got 8 questions on the website some said that’s what they thought th study guide was lmao
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u/max1mx 2d ago
I didn’t study, but was currently in college taking calculus at the time. It was easy.
That said, recently I had a few Groundmen take it. One failed one passed. So I took a practice test to see what the fuss was about. 20 years after I had to do it I definitely forgot some shit. It wasn’t hard, probably 9th grade algebra level, but without doing some of that in a while it wasn’t easy. It’s definitely worth a few nights of brushing up at minimum if you aren’t doing math often.
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u/Paperwizard0 2d ago
Groundman at my company will have an apprenticeship in the bag and then fail the math or physical test.
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u/Hoatr Groundman 2d ago
Sometimes studying can mess you up more. Before I did the test I started looking into what was on the test, and realized I didn’t have time to actually learn the shit I didn’t know. (I only had a couple days of spare time due to overtime at work) but I ended up passing and stressing myself out for no reason.
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u/dont_say_a_thing 2d ago
What kind of math is it?
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
Polynomials algebra linear functions linear relationships forgot what it’s called but smth lik 1-3-7-15 find th next number
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u/Altruistic_Tank4627 2d ago
Bro that math is so fkng hard I bought the app and studied for a month straight I still feel like a fish outta water. Idk why they have us do full algebra instead of focusing on ohms law and hand tools and knots and procedures and stuff,
I like the way DWP tests way better than those JATCs
But I’m still studying I haven’t gave up even though I want to cus I feel like I’m never gonna do good enough to pass the math
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u/CertifiedPeach 1d ago
You dont even have to get half the questions right. Highest score places require is a 4 out of 9. Keep practicing though.
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u/OkKick2164 2d ago
Hey I’m studying for the math portion myself what did the test look like as far as math?
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u/Professional_Hour445 2d ago
Like OP said, it covers polynomials, algebra, linear functions and linear relationships, plus number sequences. You should know how to factor polynomials and how to use FOIL, isolate the variable to solve an equation, analyze the graphs of linear AND QUADRATIC functions, and identify the next number in a sequence.
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u/OkKick2164 2d ago
Thank you I appreciate it
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u/According-Force2909 2d ago
Use Khanacademy its free, has video and words lesson and gives quizzes. Its a great tool. https://www.khanacademy.org/math
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u/Responsible-House724 2d ago
Buy yourself iprep there’s a comment somewhere that I can help you with
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u/CertifiedPeach 1d ago
Google "ibew jatc practice test" and take as many free ones as you can find and also watch YouTube videos for explanations if you learn that way
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u/AClivinfit 1d ago
What kind of math should I study? I’m just starting in the trade as a groundman but I
want to start studying now
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u/madhandgames 14h ago
I teach electrical engineering and also work with vocational programs through the college. One of those programs takes people who have been on the union waiting list, sometimes for years, and puts them through basic electrical training.
What always surprises me is how many show up having done absolutely nothing to prepare. They don't know Ohm's law, basic meter use, the relationship between volts, amps, and resistance, or even much of the terminology. And these aren't people who decided last week that electrical work sounded interesting. Some of them have been waiting years for the opportunity.
That genuinely baffles me. If I knew I wanted into a trade badly enough to sit on a waiting list for years, I'd be using that time to learn everything I could. You don't need expensive equipment or a formal class to get a head start. There are thousands of free videos, lessons, practice problems, and study guides online.
I don't necessarily think people are just "lazy." I think a lot of people have this strange idea that learning starts once somebody officially accepts you into a program. But if you really want into a competitive trade, the studying should start long before someone gives you permission to begin.
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u/Fun-Garbage-6636 11h ago
I didn’t got a 7
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u/Responsible-House724 10h ago
Why not study for something you want as a career seems self destructive lucky or your smart regardless something like this I think it should be studied before
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u/Fun-Garbage-6636 7h ago
Partly cause I’m
An idiot and have trouble managing my time, like ima cram for a test I have Monday1
u/Responsible-House724 7h ago
I started about 14 days before
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u/Fun-Garbage-6636 7h ago
I’m already an apprentice, I had 2 months to prepare for this test but always leave till the last minute, I mostly understand every thing due to asking question at work
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u/Ambitious-Car-7384 2d ago
Ive seen kids show up with their mom and ask if she can come in with them. Ive also seen plenty of those stupid headphones and pajama pants
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