Wiesen Mechanical Aptitude Test 2026: Format and Scoring
November 2, 2026 · Alex S. · reviewed by Hana N., Quality Reviewer · how we write
The Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude has 60 multiple-choice questions and takes about 30 minutes. There is no published pass mark: you receive a raw score out of 60 and a percentile rank, and reports group scores into low, mid and high ranges.
The Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA) has 60 multiple-choice questions and takes about 30 minutes. The publisher's and the online provider's materials list no pass mark: you get a raw score out of 60 and a percentile rank, and the reports group scores into low, mid and high ranges.
Preparing for the Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)? Take a free readiness test and see which topics to study first. Or see the Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA) study guide.
What the test looks like
- Items: 60 multiple-choice questions built around simple drawings of everyday objects and situations.
- Time: about 30 minutes. The paper version needs a stopwatch to administer.
- Reading level: written at about a 6th-grade level, and a Spanish version exists.
- Who it is for: PAR lists an age range of 18 to 65 years and describes it as suited to vocational, staffing and employment programs.
- Formats: PAR publishes the paper-and-pencil test. Criteria Corp delivers it online.
PAR describes six content areas: basic machines, movement, gravity and center of gravity, basic electricity and electronics, heat transfer, and basic physical properties. The test is designed to measure the ability to learn to use and maintain equipment and machinery.
Two numbers and no pass or fail
Each test taker gets a raw score, which is the number of questions answered correctly out of 60, and a percentile ranking. A percentile of 45 means the person scored better than 45% of the comparison group. The raw score shows how much you got right. The percentile shows where that puts you among other people.
Criteria's sample report shows how an employer sees it. A candidate with a raw score of 45 appears at the 66th percentile, and the report groups scores into low, mid and high ranges described as "recommended by position". The text of that sample gives no numeric cutoff. Higher scorers are described as people who generally learn mechanical jobs faster, and lower scorers as people who may do many mechanical jobs but may need more training.
What a typical raw score is
The norms for the WTMA come from 1,817 adults aged 18 and older working in industrial occupations. In that total sample the mean raw score was 41.8 out of 60, with a standard deviation of 6.42, and the reliability was .97. The average moved a lot from one job group to another:
| Group in the norm sample | People | Mean raw score |
|---|---|---|
| Incumbent tufting machine operators and maintainers, carpet factory | 102 | 36.3 |
| Applicants for cleaner or serviceperson, public bus and rail agency | 161 | 39.5 |
| Applicants for maintenance worker, large school district | 909 | 41.5 |
| Applicants for production worker, diesel engine manufacturer | 258 | 44.2 |
| Incumbents in technical and mechanical jobs, public utility company | 76 | 45.5 |
| Candidates for promotion to skilled trade apprentice, diesel engine manufacturer | 123 | 47.6 |
This is why the percentile you see depends on the comparison group the report uses. The same raw score can rank differently against a general group and against a group of experienced mechanics, so a percentile only makes sense next to its comparison group.
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing score on the Wiesen mechanical aptitude test?
Neither PAR nor Criteria Corp publishes one in the materials we checked. You receive a raw score out of 60 and a percentile rank, and Criteria's reports group scores into low, mid and high ranges.
How many questions are on the WTMA?
Sixty multiple-choice questions, to be finished in about 30 minutes.
Is the Wiesen test hard to read?
The reading level is estimated at 6th grade, and a Spanish version is available.
Can I take the WTMA online?
PAR sells the paper-and-pencil version. Criteria Corp delivers the test online for employers.
Official sources
- PAR: Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)
- Criteria Corp help: Wiesen Test of Mechanical Aptitude (WTMA)
- Criteria Corp: WTMA overview
Checked against the sources above on November 2, 2026. Exam bodies change fees and rules: confirm on the official page before you register.