This overview includes information to help you prepare for the Power Plant Maintenance Positions Selection System, commonly called the MASS test. You will find details about the test format, registration, scoring, test-day procedures, preparation, and study resources.
Questions118 multiple-choice questions | Testing TimeAbout 2 hours |
Aptitude Tests4 separately timed sections | Test DeveloperEdison Electric Institute |
Exam Background and Purpose
The Power Plant Maintenance Positions Selection System, or MASS, is a pre-employment aptitude test battery developed by the Edison Electric Institute. Electric utilities use the test to help evaluate applicants for maintenance and craft positions.
Positions that may require MASS testing include electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, welding, machining, pipefitting, rigging, and other power plant maintenance jobs. The exact positions covered depend on the hiring company.
Key point: MASS is used for power plant maintenance and craft positions. POSS is a different EEI test battery used primarily for power plant operator positions.
MASS Test Overview
The MASS test contains 118 multiple-choice questions divided among four separately timed aptitude tests. The four timed sections total approximately 67 minutes.
The complete testing appointment may take about two hours when check-in, instructions, practice questions, administrative activities, and breaks are included.
EEI test batteries can be delivered in different formats. Your employer may administer MASS on paper, by computer, or through another approved testing arrangement.
The test is aggressively timed. Mathematical Usage allows an average of about 23 seconds per question, while Mechanical Concepts allows an average of about 27 seconds per question.
Registration, Costs, and Locations
You cannot register for the MASS test directly through EEI. The test is administered as part of an employer’s hiring or selection process.
Begin by applying for a position with an electric utility or another employer that uses the MASS battery. If the employer selects you to continue in the hiring process, it will provide the testing invitation, appointment details, and instructions.
Registration Basics
- EEI does not schedule MASS appointments directly for applicants.
- The hiring company determines who is invited to test.
- Testing may take place at a company facility, testing center, training facility, or another approved location.
- The delivery method may vary by employer.
- Follow the instructions in the employer’s invitation rather than relying on general online information.
How Much Does the MASS Test Cost?
There is no universal applicant fee for the MASS test. Because MASS is normally administered as part of an employer’s hiring process, many applicants are not charged a separate testing fee.
Any fee, rescheduling charge, or missed-appointment policy is determined by the company or organization administering your test.
What Should I Expect on Test Day?
Test-day procedures vary by employer and delivery method. Read the invitation carefully and contact the hiring company when an instruction is unclear.
How Is the MASS Test Scored?
Performance on the four aptitude tests is combined into an overall cognitive index. Employers use that result to help estimate whether an applicant is likely to succeed in training and perform effectively in covered maintenance positions.
EEI does not publish one universal passing score for every applicant. Each participating employer establishes its own selection standards and determines how MASS results are used with the rest of the hiring process.
A score accepted by one employer does not automatically guarantee acceptance by another employer. Hiring standards and available positions may differ.
Receiving Your Results
EEI does not provide test results directly to applicants. Contact the company that administered the test for information about your result and the next stage of its hiring process.
If you previously took an EEI employment test for another company, tell the new employer. The employer will determine whether it can obtain or accept the previous result.
Retaking the MASS Test
EEI does not impose one applicant-facing retesting rule that applies to every company. Waiting periods, retest limits, and score-validity policies are established by the employer administering the selection process.
Contact the employer’s recruiter or testing administrator for the rule that applies to your application.
How Can I Prepare for the MASS Test?
MASS is an aptitude battery rather than a test of detailed power plant maintenance procedures. Preparation should focus on becoming familiar with the question formats and completing each type of problem accurately under strict time limits.
Begin with untimed practice to learn each question type. Once you understand the methods, repeat the exercises under the official section limits.
MASS Study Checklist
- Practice reading technical passages and locating supporting details quickly.
- Review gears, pulleys, levers, balance, force, pressure, fluids, motion, and basic machine principles.
- Practice visualizing how flat or separate pieces fit together.
- Review fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, proportions, conversions, and basic formulas.
- Memorize common arithmetic procedures so you do not waste time deciding how to begin.
- Complete short timed drills before attempting a full practice battery.
- Skip a difficult item temporarily when the testing instructions permit it rather than sacrificing an entire section.
- Review why each missed answer was wrong before repeating the practice set.
Section-Specific Strategies
Reading and Mechanical Concepts
| Objects and Mathematics
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MASS Study Resources
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MASS and Power Plant Maintenance Positions Selection System are test names associated with the Edison Electric Institute. EEI is not involved with or affiliated with Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com, nor does EEI endorse or sponsor any products or services offered by Mometrix Media LLC or StudyGuideZone.com.
