Just finished the BGE hiring process last week and wanted to share what the exam actually looks like since there's almost nothing useful online. The test covered mechanical reasoning, reading comprehension, and basic math - nothing too crazy but you need to be sharp on the mechanical stuff if you're applying for a field position. I studied about 3 weeks, putting in maybe 1.5 hours a day after work.
The mechanical reasoning section was the hardest for me. Think pulleys, gears, fluid pressure - stuff you probably haven't touched since high school physics. I ended up scoring 87% overall, which I'm happy with, but I could've done better on that section if I'd started earlier. The math portion was mostly arithmetic and percentages - nothing beyond 8th grade level honestly.
Reading comp was straightforward, maybe 8-10 passages with multiple choice questions. You don't need to memorize utility regulations or anything like that - just read carefully and don't overthink it. The whole test was about 2.5 hours with no breaks built in, so come in rested.
If you're applying for a lineman or technician role, make sure you know your mechanical advantage formulas cold. That's where I saw people struggle the most when we were waiting around before the test started.
This matches my experience from about 8 months ago. The mechanical section is no joke - I'd recommend grabbing a mechanical aptitude workbook from the library before you go in. I scored 79% my first attempt and they let me retest after 6 months.
3 weeks sounds about right for solid prep. I tried cramming in 1 week the first time and bombed it. Second attempt with proper prep I got an 83% and got the call for an interview the following Monday.
Did they tell you your score breakdown by section or just the overall number? I'm trying to figure out where I fell short - they only gave me the total when I got my results back.
For the math part, brush up on unit conversions too. I got a few questions about converting measurements that caught me off guard. Spent 2 weeks on mechanical reasoning and barely touched the math - big mistake.
I failed the first time and honestly it stung because I thought I was prepared. Mechanical reasoning was my downfall - I hadn't touched that stuff since high school and it showed. What changed for the second attempt was actually understanding the material instead of just skimming practice questions. I spent a week going deep on the sustainability and energy concepts BGE actually cares about, and I found some free bge renewable energy sustainability practice material that was way more relevant than the generic aptitude prep I'd been using.
Second time I scored an 84 so not quite OP's 87 but enough to move forward. The mechanical section isn't impossible, you just can't wing it. Time yourself on practice tests because the real thing feels faster than you expect. Reading comprehension is easy points if you're careful, don't rush through it trying to save time for the hard stuff.