Mechanical Reasoning Test
Forces, gears, levers, pulleys, springs and electrical circuits, in the formats employers actually set. Every question comes with the principle explained, not just the answer.
- 10 questions
- 10 minutes
- Worked solutions
- Printable PDF
Free · No sign-up · Scored the moment you finish
What is a mechanical reasoning test?
A mechanical reasoning test measures how well you apply basic physical and mechanical principles to practical problems. Employers use it for technical, engineering and skilled trade roles before interview. You are shown diagrams of levers, gears, pulleys, forces and circuits and asked what will happen, choosing the correct answer from the options given. It rewards a clear grasp of how everyday mechanisms work rather than advanced physics.
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Free Mechanical Reasoning Test
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Question 1 of 10
Gear A turns clockwise. Which way does gear B turn?
- Clockwise
- Anticlockwise
- It stays still
- It turns clockwise, then reverses
Show the answer
Answer: B. Anticlockwise
The answer is B. When two gears mesh, their teeth push directly against each other, so meshed gears always turn in opposite directions. Gear A turns clockwise, so gear B must turn anticlockwise. Option A is the direction you would get if the gears were joined by an open belt or chain rather than meshing teeth. A driven gear does not stay still while A turns it, and a steady drive never makes a meshed gear reverse, so C and D are wrong.
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Question 2 of 10
Gear A turns clockwise. Which way does gear C turn?
- Anticlockwise
- Clockwise
- It cannot turn, it is locked
- It turns clockwise, then anticlockwise
Show the answer
Answer: B. Clockwise
The answer is B. Meshed gears alternate direction along a train: A clockwise makes B anticlockwise, and B anticlockwise makes C clockwise. With an odd number of gears the last one always matches the first, so C turns the same way as A. Option A is the direction of the middle gear B, a common slip. A three-gear train turns freely rather than locking, and a constant drive gives a constant direction, so C and D are wrong.
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Question 3 of 10
The small driver gear has 8 teeth and turns at 60 rpm. The large gear has 16 teeth. How fast does the large gear turn?
- 120 rpm
- 30 rpm
- 60 rpm
- 15 rpm
Show the answer
Answer: B. 30 rpm
The answer is B. For meshed gears the number of teeth times the turning speed is the same for both, because every tooth of one gear moves exactly one tooth of the other. So 8 times 60 equals 16 times the unknown speed, giving 30 rpm. The larger gear has twice the teeth, so it turns at half the speed. Option A doubles the speed instead of halving it, C leaves it unchanged, and D halves it twice over. Only 30 rpm fits 8 x 60 = 16 x 30.
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Question 4 of 10
Pulley A drives an open belt and turns clockwise. Which way does pulley B turn?
- Clockwise
- Anticlockwise
- It stays still
- It turns anticlockwise, then clockwise
Show the answer
Answer: A. Clockwise
The answer is A. An open, uncrossed belt keeps the same edge of the belt on top across both pulleys, so the two pulleys turn the same way. Driver A turns clockwise, therefore B also turns clockwise. Opposite directions would need the belt crossed into a figure of eight, which is not shown, so B is wrong. A taut belt drives B steadily, so it neither stays still nor flips direction, which rules out C and D.
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Question 5 of 10
Pulley A drives a crossed belt and turns clockwise. Which way does pulley B turn?
- Clockwise
- It stays still
- Anticlockwise
- It changes direction each turn
Show the answer
Answer: C. Anticlockwise
The answer is C. A crossed belt swaps which edge of the belt sits on top between the two pulleys, so the driven pulley turns the opposite way to the driver. A turns clockwise, so B turns anticlockwise. The same direction would need an open, uncrossed belt, which rules out A. The crossing does not stop the belt or make it flip on every turn, so B and D are wrong; it simply reverses the sense once.
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Question 6 of 10
The two pulleys are joined by a belt. Which pulley completes more turns each minute?
- The small pulley
- The large pulley
- They complete the same number
- Neither pulley turns
Show the answer
Answer: A. The small pulley
The answer is A. A belt moves at the same speed all along its length, so both pulleys pass the same length of rim in a given time. The small pulley has a shorter circumference, so it needs more turns to move that length and therefore spins faster. The large pulley covers more rim per turn and so turns fewer times, making B wrong. Equal turns would need equal-sized pulleys, ruling out C, and the belt clearly drives both, ruling out D.
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Question 7 of 10
The load weighs 200 N. Ignoring friction, what effort is needed to hold it using this single movable pulley?
- 200 N
- 100 N
- 400 N
- 50 N
Show the answer
Answer: B. 100 N
The answer is B. A single movable pulley hangs from two sections of rope, and together they share the load so each section carries half. The effort on the free end equals the tension in one section, which is half of 200 N, or 100 N, once friction is ignored. Option A forgets that the pulley helps at all. Option C doubles the force the wrong way, and D would need four supporting ropes rather than two. Two supporting ropes give a mechanical advantage of two, so 100 N is correct.
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Question 8 of 10
The beam is released from level. Which way does it tip?
- The left-hand side goes down
- The right-hand side goes down
- It stays balanced
- It tips right, then left
Show the answer
Answer: A. The left-hand side goes down
The answer is A. A beam turns towards the side with the larger turning effect, found by multiplying each weight by its distance from the pivot. The left side gives 5 kg x 4 m = 20, the right gives 8 kg x 2 m = 16. Because 20 is greater than 16, the left-hand side drops. Option B is tempting because the right-hand weight is heavier, but distance from the pivot counts just as much as weight. The turning effects are unequal, so it neither balances nor rocks to and fro, ruling out C and D.
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Question 9 of 10
Pressing down at which point raises the load with the least effort?
- Point A
- Point B
- Point C
- Point D
Show the answer
Answer: D. Point D
The answer is D. The further the effort acts from the fulcrum, the longer its lever arm, and the less force is needed to raise the same load, because turning effect is force multiplied by distance. Point D is furthest from the fulcrum, so pressing there needs the least effort. Point A is nearest the pivot and would need the most force, while B and C sit in between. Choosing the longest available lever arm always minimises the effort, so D is correct.
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Question 10 of 10
Which support carries more of the load’s weight?
- Support P
- Support Q
- They carry equal weight
- The plank carries it, not the supports
Show the answer
Answer: A. Support P
The answer is A. When a load rests between two supports, each support carries more of the weight the closer the load sits to it. Here the load is much nearer P than Q, so P bears the greater share. Support Q still carries some of the weight, but less, which makes B wrong. The shares would only be equal if the load sat midway between the supports, ruling out C. The supports are what hold the plank up, so D is wrong.
How to interpret your score
| Score | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| 9 to 10 | Comfortably above the bar for most graduate schemes |
| 7 to 8 | Around the typical pass mark. Worth practising for speed |
| 5 to 6 | Below most employer thresholds. Focus on method before speed |
| 4 or fewer | Work through the worked solutions above before retrying |
Employers set their own thresholds and many sift on the top percentage of applicants rather than a fixed mark, so treat these as a guide.
Practise with the full pack
One test tells you the style. A pack gives you the pace: batches under time pressure, marked, with the working shown.
- 8
- Mechanical Reasoning tests
- 66
- questions, all solved
Types of mechanical reasoning question
Questions draw on a defined set of physics topics. The four below carry most of the marks; forces and motion, springs and simple tools follow the same principles.
Gears
Meshed gears turn in opposite directions, and the one with fewer teeth turns faster. Most gear questions are that one principle in disguise.
How gear questions workLevers and moments
A lever balances when force times distance is equal on both sides of the pivot.
How lever questions workPulleys
The more rope sections support the load, the less force you need. Count the ropes.
How pulley questions workCircuits and magnets
Series circuits fail whole; parallel circuits fail one branch at a time. Trace the current's path.
How circuit questions workWhat is the format and timing of a mechanical reasoning test?
A mechanical reasoning test is a timed, multiple-choice assessment, typically around 20 to 30 questions in 20 to 30 minutes, which works out at roughly a minute per question and sometimes less. Each question shows an image of a mechanical or electrical scenario followed by a set of options.
The difficulty and focus vary by role. Military and emergency-services assessments tend to test fundamental principles without heavy calculation, while engineering and technical roles may require you to work figures out. Knowing which sector you are applying into tells you how deep to revise: fundamentals for a uniformed or entry-level role, and the underlying calculations for an engineering one.
How are mechanical reasoning tests scored?
Most employers score you against other candidates, not against a fixed pass mark: your raw score becomes a percentile. Attempting questions matters, because most tests are built so few candidates finish, and guessing usually pays: negative marking is rare, but check the instructions.
Practice Aptitude Tests · Original data
How our test takers score
Results from every test in our Mechanical Reasoning pack, past and present.
Key findingOn Mechanical Reasoning tests, the quickest score 25 points higher than the slowest quarter.
How scores spread
47% scored 80% or more, and 13% scored under 40%.
Share of sittings in each score band.
Does practice help?
Regular practisers scored about the same on their fifth test as their first.
3,747 people who took five or more tests.
Does speed help?
Speed pays here. The quickest quarter scored 25 points higher than the slowest.
Typical pace: 20 seconds a question.
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The methods behind the questions above, from our team
