The Ramsay Test (2024 Guide)
Updated November 20, 2023
- What Is the Ramsay Test?
- Who Should Take a Ramsay Test?
- Which Ramsay Test Will I Be Required to Take?
- What to Expect on a Ramsay Mechanical Test in 2024
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- How Are the Ramsay Aptitude Tests Scored?
- How to Prepare For a Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude Test in 2024
- Tips When Taking the Ramsay Test
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- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What Is the Ramsay Test?
Ramsay Corporation is an HR company established in 1973, specializing in creating aptitude tests for technical, maintenance and operational job roles.
Some of its tests are designed for apprentice-level candidates with little to no experience and focus on aptitude.
They can be taken in English, French and Spanish.
The Ramsay mechanical tests for more experienced applicants focus on knowledge and are available in English and Spanish.
Most of the tests are available both online and in pencil and paper, while some are pencil and paper only.
The tests available are:
- Mechanical Aptitude Test (MAT-4)
- MultiCraft Aptitude Test
- MultiCraft Entry
- MultiCraft Trainee
- MecTest
These tests are used worldwide by companies operating in the manufacturing, industrial, mechanical and maintenance sectors, including:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Cintas
- Volvo
- Coca-Cola
- Johnson & Johnson
Who Should Take a Ramsay Test?
The Ramsay mechanical aptitude tests are taken during the recruitment process to assess if a candidate can apply mechanical reasoning to problem-solving.
It is common practice for the following job roles:
- Engineering
- Maintenance technicians
- Machine operators
- Tool setters and installers
- Production management
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Which Ramsay Test Will I Be Required to Take?
The test you are required to sit depends on your current skill level, decided by Ramsay Corporation.
The levels are:
- Aptitude or Apprentice – No previous training
- Entry – One to two years of training but in need of an additional two or three
- Trainee – Two to three years of experience but in need of a further one or two
- Journey – Two to five years of experience
- Advanced Journey – More than five years of experience and ready for C, B or A-level positions
Apprentice and entry-level applicants will likely take:
- MAT-4
- MultiCraft Aptitude Test
They do not test your knowledge, just your ability to learn and apply mechanics.
Entry-level and trainee applicants will complete:
- MultiCraft Entry
- MultiCraft Trainee
- MecTest
To pass these tests, you need knowledge in maintenance, mechanics, electricity and repair.
What to Expect on a Ramsay Mechanical Test in 2024
The three Ramsay tests that this article will focus on are:
- MAT-4
- MecTest
- MultiCraft Test
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Mechanical Aptitude Test (MAT-4)
MAT-4 consists of 36 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 20 minutes. Each question has a picture and three answer choices.
The test can be taken online at home or with pencil and paper at a testing center.
It is designed for entry-level or apprentice positions in roles such as:
- Apprentices
- Millwrights
- Mechanics
The four areas covered in the test are:
- Household objects
- Production and maintenance
- Hand and power tools
- Science and physics
The pass mark is decided by the hiring company. It is presented on a scorecard with a raw score for each section and the percentile.
The percentile can be compared on a national or local level, depending on the job role.
Example MAT-4 Question:
Which of the above items will heat quicker in a microwave?
a) Burger
b) Bowl of soup
c) Both will heat at the same rate
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MecTest
The MecTest, also known as the Ramsay Maintenance Test, consists of 60 multiple-choice questions.
There is no time limit. However, your time is recorded and compared with other candidates, so it is advised you take no more than 60 minutes to complete the test.
The MecTest is designed for those in the ‘journey’ stage of their career and tests the following areas:
- Hydraulics and pneumatics
- Print reading
- Welding and rigging
- Power transmission
- Lubrication
- Pumps and piping
- Mechanical maintenance
- Shop mechanics – tools and equipment
Example MecTest Question:
What valve would you use for an unrestricted, high-volume flow?
a) Gate valve
b) Needle valve
c) Both (a) and (b)
d) Neither (a) nor (b)
MultiCraft Test
The MultiCraft Test is very similar to the MecTest. It has 60 multiple-choice questions, no official time limit, and is tested on those in the journey level.
The only difference is that while the MecTest only assesses mechanics, the MultiCraft Test assesses mechanics and electrical knowledge.
The topics covered are:
- Hydraulics and pneumatics
- Welding and rigging
- Power transmission and lubrication
- Mechanical maintenance
- Shop machines, tools and equipment
- Pumps and piping
- Combustion
- Motors
- Control circuits
- Schematics and print reading
- Digital electronics
- Power supplies
- Computers and PLCs
- Test instruments
- Basic AC/DC theory
- Power distribution
- Electrical maintenance
Example MultiCraft Question:
If you added another identical power source parallel to a circuit, would the current be:
a) No different
b) Weaker
c) Stronger
d) More details are needed
How Are the Ramsay Aptitude Tests Scored?
Upon completing your Ramsay test, your employer will be sent a copy of your results.
The first result is the individual score report. This result shows your raw score and your percentile rank.
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Raw score – Number of correctly answered questions. Depending on your employer, these may be the questions from the whole test or each section.
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Percentile rank – Percentage of participants that scored the same or lower than you. These other participants could have taken the test locally or nationally. The local percentile is from a test account set up by your employer. The national rank is in comparison with everyone that has taken that test across the country.
Another report that your employer may request is the qualification report, which shows if you qualify for different positions and skills. You will be marked ‘qualified’ or ‘unqualified’ for each skill or position, depending on the Ramsay cutoff score.
There are many score reports that Ramsay Corporation can generate, but they are rarely used.
It is recommended that you aim for the 80th percentile to be competitive. However, as your employer will compare your results to others looking for the same job role, it is best to aim for the highest score possible.
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How to Prepare For a Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude Test in 2024
The key to passing any test or exam is good preparation. Following the steps below will help you feel confident and prepared when you sit your Ramsay assessment.
Step 1. Revise and Learn Basic Scientific and Mechanical Principles
The Ramsay mechanical tests are designed to test your ability to apply mechanical and electrical ideas.
Take the time to learn the principles of mechanics such as:
- Newton’s laws of motion
- Ohm’s law
- The laws of thermodynamics
The common subjects in all tests are hydraulics, pneumatics, welding and mechanical maintenance. Use these as a starting point to build your knowledge.
Step 2. Practice
Take advantage of any online test prep packages or free websites. If you can find any specific to the Ramsay test, practice any mechanical aptitude tests as the content will be similar to the real thing.
For those sitting the higher-level tests, take advantage of your on-the-job experience and ask as many questions as you need to understand the test content.
Step 3. Create a Study Plan
Creating a schedule allows you to manage your time and ensure that all the subjects are covered.
Aim to focus on all the subject areas equally and try to relate the theory to practical situations to give context.
When creating your study plan, ensure you also leave time for social activities, sleep and exercise. You cannot perform at your best if you are not taking care of your health.
Step 4. Practice Against the Clock
The MAT-4 is timed, so practice questions under exam conditions to know how long you should spend on each question and to realize how quickly the time goes.
Twenty minutes is a very short space of time, especially when you are stressed. Practicing under time constraints will help eliminate some of that anxiety.
The MecTest and MultiCraft Test are not timed, but the amount of time you take is considered when your score report is generated.
Tips When Taking the Ramsay Test
Answer All the Questions
You don’t get marked down for any incorrect answers.
If you find a question difficult, start by eliminating the impossible answers, then choose the option that seems most likely.
Read the Questions Carefully
With such a short time limit, you might be tempted to skim over the questions.
Take time to slowly read and understand each question. Many candidates have made silly mistakes because they read the question too quickly.
Rely On Your Experience
Try to place the questions into real-life scenarios to help you find the answer. If you can visualize the scenario, you will see the most likely answer.
You need to prepare and practice for the Ramsay test, as you would with any other exam. You can find practice tests online.
On the day, make sure you read the questions properly as they are known to be intentionally vague. Answer all of the questions on the paper, stay focused and use your prior, scientific knowledge to help you to pass the Ramsay test.
The Ramsay Mechanical Skills and Aptitude Test (MAT-4) is made up of 36 multiple-choice questions. The Multicraft and MecTest assessments both have 60 questions.
The Mechanical Aptitude Test has questions about household objects, handheld and power tools, work – production and maintenance and, finally, school – science and physics (high school level).
The test is not focused on knowledge or skill level, it is designed to evaluate whether a candidate might succeed in their entry-level or apprenticeship role and if they are able to pick up the relevant mechanical skills.
Questions might ask which would be hottest when exposed to heat for 90 seconds, a slice of pizza or a slice of toast? Or which would empty quicker, followed by a photo or drawing of buckets with varying numbers of holes.
Other questions rely on the candidate’s ability to get information from simple diagrams and understand basic concepts such as electricity, magnets and forces.
The Ramsay Mechanical Skills and Aptitude Test MAT-4 is designed for entry-level candidates. The questions are generally straightforward and only require some logical thinking to solve.
However, the lack of detail in the questions and answers means you have to be able to fill in the blanks quickly.
The possible answers are given in a multiple-choice format and there is only one correct answer each time. You need to be able to think clearly and quickly to answer the questions on the test correctly.
Those with a practical and logical thought process should perform well on this test.
Candidates have 20 minutes in which to complete the 36 questions on the Ramsay Mechanical Skills and Aptitude Test (MAT-4).
The Multicraft and Mectest exams do not have an official time limit, although the time it takes candidates to complete them is recorded.
You can practice questions on online practice tests to help you to prepare. This will help you to get familiar with the test layout and the kinds of questions that are asked.
The MAT-4 test in particular is short, with only 20 minutes to answer 36 questions, so practicing under timed test conditions will help you to prepare.
Elsewhere, thinking practically will help you; research how items fit together, how forces work, which direction things screw or unscrew, how containers fill or empty, and how materials react to heat and pressure.
A strong foundation in the basics of physics and mechanics will assist greatly in preparing for this test. Instructional videos are also available to view online – these are helpful for people who struggle to focus on solely written content when studying.
The Ramsay test is used all over the world as part of pre-employment screening within the fields of manufacturing, machine operating and maintenance.
Companies that use the test include Amazon, Walmart, Wheatland Tube Zekelman Industries, Aerotek and Essity.
The Ramsay Multicraft test is one of the most popular Ramsay tests. It is more in-depth than the MAT-4 test and is given to maintenance mechanics and technicians during their hiring process; it is described as a ‘journey-level’ test.
The Ramsay Mechanical Skills and Aptitude test (MAT-4) is the most frequently used test for entry-level candidates who require very little working knowledge of the industry before being hired.
The test focuses on knowledge of basic scientific principles, and more specifically, how to apply them to everyday situations.
Skills within logic and reasoning are assessed here as well as knowledge of everyday items and activities such as using handheld power tools or heating food in the microwave.
A basic working knowledge of simple science is also tested such as how magnets attract or repel each other, how currents flow and how forces (such as gravity or friction) affect items.
The Multicraft and Mectest assessments require a more in-depth understanding of scientific and mechanical concepts and are more industry-specific tests than the MAT-4. Time management skills are important in all of the Ramsay tests.
Final Thoughts
Taking any test can be stressful, especially when it affects your career plan.
Before applying for any mechanical job roles, take the time to prepare for the Ramsay mechanical tests, as you may be asked to complete one of these.
Complete as many practice questions as possible under test conditions and create a study schedule that gives you enough time to learn everything you need to.
Before the test, ensure you have had enough sleep, a nutritious meal and are properly hydrated.
If you follow this advice, you will be in a good position to do well at a Ramsay mechanical test.
