How many questions on an ASE certification test actually count?

Each certification test includes 10 unscored questions on top of the scored ones. A1, A2 and A5 have 55 questions with 45 scored. A3 and A4 have 50 with 40 scored. A6, A7 and A8 have 60 with 50 scored.

Can I tell which ASE questions are unscored research questions?

No. ASE uses those 10 questions to collect statistics for future tests and does not tell you which ones they are, so answer every question as if it counts.

Which ASE tests do I need for Master Automobile Technician?

ASE's Automobile study guide lists A1 through A8 as the tests required for recognition as a Master Automobile Technician. Certification also requires documented work experience, and suitable vocational training may count toward it.

Are the recertification tests the same length?

No, they are shorter. For example, the A1 recertification test has 23 questions in 30 minutes. You must have passed the matching certification test once to be eligible.

How ASE A1–A8 and G1 Tests Work: Questions, Time Limits and Content Weights

When you sign up for an ASE certification test, you want to know three things before you sit down: how many questions there are, how long you have, and what the questions cover. ASE answers all three in its free official study guides. This post pulls those numbers together for the nine tests most working techs start with: A1 through A8 and G1 Maintenance & Light Repair.

Everything below comes from ASE’s 2026 Automobile study guide and its G1 study guide. ASE updates these guides, so check the current versions on ase.com before your test date.

The nine tests at a glance

Each certification test is multiple choice. The total includes 10 unscored questions (more on those below), so the scored count is always 10 less than the total.

Test	Name	Total questions	Scored	Time
A1	Engine Repair	55	45	75 min
A2	Automatic Transmission/Transaxle	55	45	75 min
A3	Manual Drive Train and Axles	50	40	60 min
A4	Suspension and Steering	50	40	60 min
A5	Brakes	55	45	75 min
A6	Electrical/Electronic Systems	60	50	90 min
A7	Heating and Air Conditioning	60	50	75 min
A8	Engine Performance	60	50	75 min
G1	Auto Maintenance & Light Repair	55	45*	90 min

*The G1 guide’s timing table lists 55 total and 45 scored. Its content table, however, lists question counts that add up to 55. Check ase.com for the current G1 numbers before you test.

A few patterns stand out:

A6 has the most time per question. It has the same 60 questions as A7 and A8, but you get 90 minutes instead of 75.
A3 and A4 are the shortest tests, with 50 questions in 60 minutes.
G1 gives you 90 minutes, the same as A6.

The Automobile guide also covers A9 Light Vehicle Diesel Engines. A9 isn’t part of the A1–A8 group that ASE lists for Master Automobile Technician status, so we’ve left it out here.

Unscored research questions

Every ASE certification test includes 10 questions that don’t count toward your score. ASE uses them to collect performance statistics before a question goes into the scored part of future tests.

What this means for you:

You can’t tell which questions they are. They look like every other question.
Answer everything. A question that seems odd or off-topic could still be scored.
Pace yourself on the total, not the scored count. On A1 you’re answering 55 questions in 75 minutes, which is a little under 1.4 minutes per question.

Content areas and their weights

Each test has a Test Specification, which is a table of content areas showing how many scored questions come from each one. Under that sits a Task List, a detailed checklist of the skills each area covers. According to ASE, every question is tied to one or more tasks, but a given version of the test may not include every task.

The weights tell you where most of your points come from. Here they are, test by test.

A1 Engine Repair (45 scored)

General Engine Diagnosis: 18 (40%)
Cylinder Head and Valve Train: 6 (13%)
Engine Block: 4 (9%)
Lubrication and Cooling Systems: 8 (18%)
Fuel, Electrical, Ignition, Air Induction and Exhaust: 9 (20%)

A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxle (45 scored)

Transmission/Transaxle Diagnosis: 26 (58%)
In-Vehicle Maintenance and Repair: 12 (27%)
Unit Removal, Inspection and Installation: 7 (15%)

A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles (40 scored)

Clutch: 6 (16%)
Transmission: 7 (17%)
Transaxle: 7 (17%)
Drive Shaft/Half-Shaft and U/CV Joints: 5 (13%)
Drive Axle: 7 (17%)
Four-Wheel/All-Wheel Drive: 8 (20%)

A4 Suspension and Steering (40 scored)

Steering Systems: 12 (30%)
Suspension Systems: 12 (30%)
Wheel Alignment: 11 (28%)
Wheels and Tires: 5 (12%)

A5 Brakes (45 scored)

Hydraulic, Power Assist and Parking Brake: 19 (43%)
Drum Brakes: 5 (11%)
Disc Brakes: 11 (24%)
Electronic Brake Controls (ABS, TCS, ESC): 10 (22%)

A6 Electrical/Electronic Systems (50 scored)

General Electrical/Electronic Diagnosis: 13 (26%)
Battery and Starting: 9 (18%)
Charging: 5 (10%)
Lighting: 6 (12%)
Body Electrical: 17 (34%)

A7 Heating and Air Conditioning (50 scored)

HVAC and Engine Cooling Diagnosis/Service: 21 (42%)
Refrigeration System Components: 10 (20%)
Operating Systems and Related Controls: 19 (38%)

A8 Engine Performance (50 scored)

General Diagnosis: 12 (24%)
Ignition: 8 (16%)
Fuel, Air Induction and Exhaust: 9 (18%)
Emissions Control: 8 (16%)
Computerized Engine Controls: 13 (26%)

G1 Maintenance & Light Repair

Engine Systems: 9 (16%)
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle: 4 (7%)
Manual Drive Train and Axles: 6 (11%)
Suspension and Steering: 13 (24%)
Brakes: 11 (20%)
Electrical: 8 (15%)
Heating, Ventilation and A/C: 4 (7%)

For a closer look at G1, see our G1 Maintenance & Light Repair guide. You can also browse every content area on the topics page.

How to use the weights when you study

The weights are the most useful study-planning tool ASE gives you. Some practical ways to use them:

Start with the biggest area. Diagnosis makes up 58% of A2. If you’re weak on diagnosis, it doesn’t matter much how well you know unit removal.
Don’t skip the small areas. A1’s Engine Block area is only 4 questions, but a few points can still decide a close result.
Use the Task List as a checklist. Go through the tasks for each area and mark the ones you couldn’t explain to an apprentice. Those are your study list.
Practice by area, then mix. Drill one area until you’re steady, then take a full mixed test under time pressure.

GearheadPass sorts its practice questions by these same content areas, so you can drill the ones you’re weakest on. Try a few free questions on the practice quiz page or see how each test is laid out on the tests page.

Question styles you’ll see

ASE’s sample questions show several multiple-choice formats:

Direct questions, such as “Which of these could be the cause?”
Completion items, where you pick the option that finishes the sentence.
Technician A / Technician B items, where you decide whether one, both or neither technician is right.
EXCEPT items, where three options are true and you pick the one that isn’t. These come with a note telling you to read carefully.
Exhibit items that refer to an illustration, a meter reading, a wiring diagram or a chart.

We cover the two-technician and EXCEPT formats in detail in how to answer Technician A/B and EXCEPT questions.

Certification, recertification and Master status

A few more rules from the study guides:

Passing the test isn’t the whole requirement. ASE certification also requires documented, relevant work experience. Suitable vocational training may count toward it.
Recertification tests are shorter. For example, A1, A2 and A5 recertification tests have 23 questions in 30 minutes. A6 and A8 have 25 questions in 45 minutes. G1 recertification has 28 questions in 45 minutes. You must have passed the matching certification test once to be eligible.
Master Automobile Technician status requires A1 through A8.
ASE has a free test demo on its website that shows how the testing platform works. Try it if you haven’t tested in a while.

Practice under real test conditions

Knowing the format is half the job. The other half is practicing at the pace the real test sets. GearheadPass includes exam-style timed mock tests for each of the nine tests, plus exhibit questions. Every question is in both English and Spanish. Download the app to try a full timed mock, or keep reading on the GearheadPass blog.

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.