If you’ve looked at an ASE study guide, you’ve seen this style of question: a short scenario, two technicians making claims, and the question “Who is right?” You’ll also see questions that ask for the one option that doesn’t fit, flagged with the word EXCEPT.
Neither format is hard once you have a method, but both punish rushing. This post walks through each format, explains the four fixed answer options, and gives you original practice items to try. The formats come from the sample questions in ASE’s official study guides. The example items below are our own.
Why ASE uses these formats
ASE’s study guides say the sample questions show the multiple-choice formats used on the real tests, and that some questions carry special instructions that will also appear on the real test. Two-technician items show up in the sample questions for every test from A1 to A8 and for G1. EXCEPT items show up in most of them.
On a standard question you can pick whichever answer looks most right. These two formats make you judge every statement.
Technician A / Technician B questions
The four fixed options
Every two-technician question uses the same four answers in the same order:
| Option | Means | Statement A | Statement B |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) A only | Only Technician A is correct | True | False |
| (B) B only | Only Technician B is correct | False | True |
| (C) Both A and B | Both are correct | True | True |
| (D) Neither A nor B | Neither is correct | False | False |
Since the options never change, you don’t need to read them each time. The work is deciding whether each statement is true or false, then reading off the row that matches.
The method: two separate true/false questions
- Read the scenario first. Note the symptom, when it happens, and any test results or readings.
- Cover Technician B and judge Technician A alone. Is A’s statement true for this scenario? Mark T or F.
- Cover Technician A and judge Technician B alone. Mark T or F.
- Match your T/F pair to the table. T/F is A only, F/T is B only, T/T is Both, and F/F is Neither.
Judging each statement separately keeps one technician’s claim from influencing how you read the other.
Strategy for each answer
When you’re leaning toward “A only” or “B only”: Make sure the statement you rejected is actually wrong and not just less likely. If the question asks what could be the cause, a cause that’s possible but uncommon still counts as true.
When you’re leaning toward “Both A and B”: Check that each statement fits the scenario as given. Two statements can both be true in general while one of them doesn’t explain this particular symptom.
When you’re leaning toward “Neither A nor B”: Don’t avoid it. ASE’s own samples include items where neither technician is right. If both statements are wrong for the scenario, pick (D) and move on.
Watch the verbs. “Could be the cause” is a lower bar than “is the cause” or “must be replaced.” A technician who jumps to a conclusion the evidence doesn’t support is usually wrong.
Practice item 1
A vehicle cranks slowly. With the engine cranking, the voltage drop across the positive battery cable measures 1.2 volts. Technician A says the positive cable or its connections have excessive resistance. Technician B says the battery must be replaced. Who is right? (A) A only (B) B only (C) Both A and B (D) Neither A nor B
Answer: (A) A only. A drop of 1.2 V across one cable while cranking points to high resistance in that cable or its ends, so A is true. Nothing in the scenario shows a bad battery, so B’s “must be replaced” goes beyond the evidence and is false.
Practice item 2
Tires are being rotated on a passenger car. Technician A says the rotation pattern can depend on whether the tires are directional. Technician B says the lug nuts should be tightened to specification with a torque wrench. Who is right? (A) A only (B) B only (C) Both A and B (D) Neither A nor B
Answer: (C) Both A and B. Directional tires limit which positions they can move to, and lug nuts should be torqued to spec. Both statements are true.
Practice item 3
A vehicle pulls to the right only when the brakes are applied. Technician A says a seized slide pin on the left front caliper could be the cause. Technician B says a restricted brake line to the right front caliper could be the cause. Who is right? (A) A only (B) B only (C) Both A and B (D) Neither A nor B
Answer: (A) A only. A seized left slide pin reduces braking on the left, so the car pulls right. A restricted line to the right front reduces braking on the right, which would pull the car left. B names the wrong side.
EXCEPT questions
How to recognize them
In ASE’s study guides, EXCEPT items follow a pattern. A note above the question tells you the item contains the word EXCEPT and to read carefully, and the stem uses wording like “Any of these could cause … EXCEPT:”. The word EXCEPT is in capital letters.
The method: flip it around
An EXCEPT question has three true options and one false option. The false one is the answer.
- Restate the stem without EXCEPT. For example, “Any of these could cause a low brake pedal EXCEPT” becomes “Could this cause a low brake pedal?”
- Ask that question about each option. Mark it T or F.
- Pick the one F. If you have two F’s or none, reread the stem and the options.
The common mistake is going into “find the right answer” mode and picking the first true option you see. Restating the stem prevents that.
Strategy for each option slot
On a normal question, you’re looking for one standout option. On an EXCEPT question, every option needs a quick check:
- Options that clearly fit: Mark them T quickly and move on.
- Options that relate to the system but cause a different symptom: These are often the answer. A part can be in the right system and still not produce the condition in the stem.
- Options that are rare but possible: These still count as T. “Could cause” includes less common causes.
Practice item 4
Any of these could cause a low brake pedal EXCEPT: (A) air in the hydraulic system. (B) rear drum brake shoes out of adjustment. (C) an internal leak in the master cylinder. (D) a vacuum leak in the power brake booster supply hose.
Answer: (D). Air, excessive shoe clearance and an internal master cylinder leak can all give a low pedal. A booster vacuum leak reduces power assist, which causes a hard pedal, not a low one.
Exhibits make both formats harder
Many ASE questions point to an exhibit, such as a meter reading, a wiring diagram, an alignment printout or a clutch/band apply chart. When a two-technician or EXCEPT item comes with an exhibit, read the exhibit before you judge any statement. Find the values that are out of spec first, then decide whether each claim fits those readings.
Practice until the method is automatic
On test day you want to be thinking about the content, not the method. Get there by working through enough of these items that judging each statement separately becomes automatic.
GearheadPass includes these question styles throughout its A1–A8 and G1 banks, along with exhibit questions and exam-style timed mocks. Each question can be read in English or Spanish. Start with free questions on the practice quiz page, see what each test covers on the tests and topics pages, or download the app. For the numbers behind each test, read how the ASE A1–A8 and G1 tests work.
ASE is a registered trademark of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NIASE). GearheadPass is an independent study app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ASE.
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