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Free Mechanical Reasoning Test

Physics & engineering concepts · Used for technical & aviation roles

20 min

15 questions

Medium–Hard

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Mechanical Reasoning

Practice Test

Levers and mechanical advantage

Gears and gear ratios

Pulleys and force

Electrical circuits

Used by:

SHL Mechanical ComprehensionHogrefe TechnicalDLR Technical Battery

What is a Mechanical Reasoning Test?

A mechanical reasoning test assesses your understanding of basic physics and mechanical principles: levers, gears, pulleys, circuits, fluid dynamics, and force. These tests are used for engineering, technical, military, and aviation roles.

Mechanical reasoning tests are essential for technical roles in engineering, manufacturing, aviation, and the military. Employers like Siemens, Lufthansa, Deutsche Bahn, and the Dutch military (Defensie) use these tests to screen technical candidates.

What Skills Does It Test?

Levers and mechanical advantage

Gears and gear ratios

Pulleys and force

Electrical circuits

Fluid dynamics and pressure

Sample Questions

Try these example questions to get a feel for the format. Click "Show Answer" to see the explanation.

A lever has a fulcrum in the middle. A 60kg weight is placed 2m from the fulcrum on the left. How much force is needed 3m from the fulcrum on the right to balance it?

A.40kg

B.45kg

C.30kg

D.50kg

Gear A (10 teeth) drives Gear B (30 teeth). If Gear A rotates at 90 RPM, what is Gear B's speed?

A.30 RPM

B.270 RPM

C.45 RPM

D.60 RPM

Expert Tips

Master the basics of physics

Most questions test a small set of principles: levers (force × distance), gears (inverse speed ratio), pulleys (force reduction), and pressure. Master these fundamentals.

Use diagrams actively

Draw force arrows, label directions, and annotate diagrams. Mechanical reasoning is visual, so working with the diagram is faster than working in your head.

Remember gear rules

Adjacent gears rotate in opposite directions. Larger gears rotate slower. If gear A has 20 teeth and gear B has 40 teeth, B rotates at half the speed of A.