PG&E Physical Test Battery: Practice Questions and Study Guide

We may earn a commission from some links on this page. Recommendations remain editorially independent.

PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric Company), also searched as PGE, uses pre-employment tests for a wide variety of jobs. Candidates for some physical-job classifications may be invited to take the Physical Test Battery (PTB).

Important distinction: the PG&E Physical Test Battery is not primarily a physical-fitness test. Despite the name, PG&E’s currently linked official PTB preparation guide describes a short cognitive aptitude battery for physical-job applicants. That guide presents two components: Numerical Ability and Space Visualization. It is not a workout, medical exam, climbing test, lifting test, strength test, endurance test, or practical trade demonstration.

PG&E’s currently linked official guide is dated 2006. Current invitations and candidate instructions control if they differ from that published guide. JobTestPrep currently sells third-party PTB preparation. JobTestPrep is not PG&E and does not administer the official assessment.

Based on the live JobTestPrep product area at publication review, the PrepPack currently displays:

• Trades Math: 2 numeric simulations, 6 basic-math practice tests, and 3 mathematics study guides;
• Spatial Reasoning: 1 spatial-visualization simulation, 2 spatial-reasoning practice tests, and 6 additional spatial-practice tests;
• Personality Profiling: 1 professional personality test and 30 single-trait drills;
• detailed explanations;
• a one-time payment option with 1-month access.

The same product page also summarizes these totals in different wording in places, such as 6 numerical-reasoning practice tests and 9 spatial-reasoning tests, plus personality-profiling materials. Treat Basic, Advanced, and Premium labels as current page-display elements and confirm the selectable access option at checkout. These quantities describe JobTestPrep’s third-party product. They are not the official PG&E PTB structure.

The practice questions on this page are original exercises. They are not official PG&E, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, employer, utility, or test-provider questions, and they do not reproduce a live assessment. Always follow your current PG&E testing invitation and the official preparation guide.

What Is the PG&E Physical Test Battery?

The PTB is one of PG&E’s currently listed prerequisite tests on the official pre-employment testing program page. It is associated with certain physical-job recruitment. According to the currently linked official guide, it evaluates cognitive foundations through numerical problem solving and space visualization rather than exercise performance.

Not every PG&E applicant takes the PTB. The job posting and invitation determine the required assessment. JobTestPrep’s package is third-party preparation, not an official test specification.

Is the PTB a Physical-Fitness Test?

No, not according to the official PTB guide.

The name refers to its use for physical-job classifications. It should not be confused with a post-offer physical assessment, medical examination, physical-ability testing, practical job demonstration, or strength or endurance testing. Those processes, when used, are separate from the PTB aptitude battery described in the official guide.

Does Every PG&E Applicant Take the PTB?

No.

Assessment requirements depend on the exact job, business unit, location, classification, recruitment cycle, candidate invitation, and PG&E testing requirements.

Before you prepare, verify:

• exact job title;
• requisition number;
• assessment name;
• testing deadline;
• delivery method;
• permitted materials;
• accommodation process;
• retest eligibility;
• any secondary assessments.

Official PG&E PTB Format

Component	Officially published description
Numerical Ability	75 questions covering whole numbers, decimals, and fractions
Published time limit	10 minutes
Space Visualization	50 questions involving piles of equal-sized blocks
Published time limit	5 minutes

These specifications come from PG&E’s currently linked official PTB preparation guide, which is dated 2006. Follow your current invitation if it provides different information.

Numerical Ability

PG&E’s currently linked official guide, dated 2006, describes a 75-item Numerical Ability exercise with a 10-minute total limit. The guide divides the exercise into three groups of 25 questions: whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. Problems use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Speed and accuracy both matter.

The official illustrated format may include an X response when the correct result is not among the listed choices. This page uses ordinary four-choice practice items and is not an exact interface replica.

Do not treat the original questions below as copies of PG&E sample items.

Space Visualization

PG&E’s currently linked official guide, dated 2006, describes a Space Visualization exercise with 50 questions and a 5-minute limit. The published task involves piles of equal-sized blocks. Candidates identify how many other blocks touch a specified block by a face. Edge-only or corner-only contact does not count. Some blocks may be hidden behind or below visible blocks. Speed and accurate three-dimensional visualization matter.

This page uses original coordinate models and diagrams. It does not copy PG&E’s sample pile.

What Does Face Contact Mean?

For the original practice questions on this page, two equal cubes touch by a face when their positions differ by exactly one unit on one axis and are identical on the other two axes.

Examples:

• (1,1,1) and (2,1,1) touch by a face;
• (1,1,1) and (2,2,1) touch only along an edge and do not count;
• (1,1,1) and (2,2,2) touch only at a corner and do not count.

Coordinate form of the rule:

abs(x1 - x2) + abs(y1 - y2) + abs(z1 - z2) = 1

Official Current Testing Policies

PG&E’s current pre-employment testing program page states that:

• invited online candidates receive instructions, a test link, and a test key;
• the current published online test window is five calendar days, and the test key expires after five calendar days;
• candidates should complete the assessment early enough to handle technical problems;
• scratch paper and a pencil or pen are currently permitted for online prerequisite testing;
• duplicate invitations for the same test should be completed only once;
• delivery may be online unproctored, proctored electronic, or paper-and-pencil depending on the assessment;
• accommodations may be requested through the process stated in the invitation;
• current retesting generally requires at least 90 calendar days between attempts.

Policies can change. The invitation controls. This article is not a substitute for PG&E instructions.

Personality Materials in the JobTestPrep PrepPack

JobTestPrep currently includes personality-related supplementary materials in the commercial PrepPack. PG&E’s official PTB guide does not list personality profiling as one of the two PTB components. Personality practice should not be represented as an official PTB section. Personality items generally do not have objectively correct answers. No personality questions are included in the scored practice test on this page.

PG&E PTB vs PG&E IST

The PTB and the Industrial Skills Test (IST) are separate prerequisite assessments listed by PG&E.

• PTB: numerical ability and space visualization, according to the currently linked official PTB guide.
• IST: a separate prerequisite assessment with its own preparation path. See the PG&E Industrial Skills Test guide.

Do not merge IST reading-comprehension, tables-and-graphs, or mechanical-principles practice into this PTB article.

PG&E PTB vs Clerical / Meter Reader Test

The Clerical Test Battery (CTB), also described as the Clerical/Meter Reader Test Battery (CTB/MTB) in PG&E’s currently linked guide, is a separate prerequisite assessment. It uses a five-component clerical and cognitive profile rather than the PTB’s numerical and space-visualization focus. See the PG&E Clerical and Meter Reader Test guide.

PG&E PTB vs Post-Offer Physical Assessment

The PTB is a prerequisite aptitude assessment. A post-offer physical assessment is a later, role-specific process for certain positions. Not all candidates complete the same post-offer assessment. This article does not provide physical-training, climbing, lifting, or endurance coaching.

Safety and Scope Boundary

This article does not teach electrical line work, energized equipment, substations, gas systems, pipelines, gas-leak response, outage restoration, utility switching, power generation, nuclear operations, climbing, pole work, excavation, confined-space entry, lockout or tagout, welding, rigging, crane signalling, heavy lifting, emergency response, bypassing equipment or safety systems, real PG&E infrastructure, facility locations, equipment codes, utility maps, or operational vulnerabilities.

Practice content is limited to arithmetic, abstract blocks, fictional coordinates, harmless spatial diagrams, and general test-preparation advice.

PG&E Physical Test Battery Practice Questions

These original scored questions focus on numerical ability and space-visualization skills associated with the currently linked official guide. They use the repository’s four-choice format rather than an exact replica of the official interface.

Question 1

1. Compute 47 + 38.

(This page uses ordinary multiple-choice format with four options. It is not an exact replica of the official five-choice interface shown in PG&E’s guide.)

A) 85

B) 75

C) 95

D) 84

Correct answer: A

47 + 38 = 85.

Question 2

2. Compute 120 - 76.

A) 34

B) 46

C) 54

D) 44

Correct answer: D

120 - 76 = 44.

Question 3

3. Compute 18 x 7.

A) 116

B) 126

C) 136

D) 124

Correct answer: B

18 x 7 = 126.

Question 4

4. Compute 144 / 12.

A) 10

B) 11

C) 12

D) 14

Correct answer: C

144 / 12 = 12.

Question 5

5. Compute 6 + 4 x 5.

A) 50

B) 26

C) 46

D) 30

Correct answer: B

Multiply first: 4 x 5 = 20, then 6 + 20 = 26.

Question 6

6. Find the missing value: 35 + __ = 92.

A) 57

B) 47

C) 67

D) 55

Correct answer: A

92 - 35 = 57.

Question 7

7. Which estimate is closest to 198 + 304?

A) 400

B) 700

C) 600

D) 500

Correct answer: D

198 is about 200 and 304 is about 300, so 200 + 300 = 500.

Question 8

8. A tray holds 8 kits. Each kit has 9 bolts. How many bolts are there in 3 trays?

A) 216

B) 192

C) 224

D) 200

Correct answer: A

8 x 9 = 72 bolts per tray. 72 x 3 = 216.

Question 9

9. Compute 2.4 + 1.35.

A) 3.65

B) 3.75

C) 3.85

D) 3.55

Correct answer: B

2.40 + 1.35 = 3.75.

Question 10

10. Compute 5.60 - 2.85.

A) 2.65

B) 2.85

C) 2.75

D) 3.75

Correct answer: C

5.60 - 2.85 = 2.75.

Question 11

11. Compute 1.25 x 0.4.

A) 0.4

B) 5

C) 0.05

D) 0.5

Correct answer: D

1.25 x 0.4 = 0.5.

Question 12

12. Compute 3.6 / 0.9.

A) 4

B) 3

C) 0.4

D) 40

Correct answer: A

3.6 / 0.9 = 4.

Question 13

13. What is 15% of 80?

A) 8

B) 12

C) 10

D) 16

Correct answer: B

0.15 x 80 = 12.

Question 14

14. Which decimal is greatest?

A) 0.67

B) 0.69

C) 0.7

D) 0.605

Correct answer: C

0.7 = 0.70, greater than 0.69, 0.67, and 0.605.

Question 15

15. Convert 0.45 to a percentage.

A) 4.5%

B) 450%

C) 0.45%

D) 45%

Correct answer: D

0.45 x 100% = 45%.

Question 16

16. Compute 2.5 x 4 + 1.5.

A) 11.5

B) 10.5

C) 12.5

D) 9.5

Correct answer: A

2.5 x 4 = 10, then 10 + 1.5 = 11.5.

Question 17

17. Which fraction is equivalent to 2/3?

A) 3/6

B) 4/6

C) 6/8

D) 2/5

Correct answer: B

2/3 = 4/6.

Question 18

18. Simplify 18/24.

A) 2/3

B) 4/5

C) 3/4

D) 5/6

Correct answer: C

Divide by 6: 18/24 = 3/4.

Question 19

19. Compute 1/4 + 1/2.

A) 1/6

B) 2/4

C) 1/8

D) 3/4

Correct answer: D

1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4.

Question 20

20. Compute 5/6 - 1/3.

A) 1/2

B) 1/3

C) 1/6

D) 2/3

Correct answer: A

5/6 - 2/6 = 3/6 = 1/2.

Question 21

21. Compute 2/5 x 3/4.

A) 5/9

B) 3/10

C) 6/20

D) 8/15

Correct answer: B

2/5 x 3/4 = 6/20 = 3/10.

Question 22

22. Compute 3/4 / 1/2.

A) 3/8

B) 1/2

C) 3/2

D) 2/3

Correct answer: C

3/4 x 2/1 = 6/4 = 3/2.

Question 23

23. Convert 2 1/4 to an improper fraction.

A) 5/4

B) 7/4

C) 3/4

D) 9/4

Correct answer: D

2 x 4 + 1 = 9, so 9/4.

Question 24

24. Which fraction is greatest?

A) 3/7

B) 2/5

C) 1/3

D) 4/11

Correct answer: A

2/5 = 0.40, 3/7 is about 0.429, 1/3 is about 0.333, 4/11 is about 0.364. Greatest is 3/7.

Question 25

25. Compute 9 x 8 - 17.

A) 54

B) 55

C) 53

D) 52

Correct answer: B

72 - 17 = 55.

Question 26

26. Compute 0.8 + 0.25.

A) 0.95

B) 1.25

C) 1.05

D) 0.85

Correct answer: C

0.80 + 0.25 = 1.05.

Question 27

27. Compute 2/3 + 1/6.

A) 1/2

B) 3/6

C) 2/9

D) 5/6

Correct answer: D

4/6 + 1/6 = 5/6.

Question 28

28. What is 20% of 45?

A) 9

B) 8

C) 10

D) 12

Correct answer: A

0.20 x 45 = 9.

Question 29

29. 14 x 3 =

A) 40

B) 42

C) 41

D) None of the listed values

Correct answer: B

14 x 3 = 42.

Question 30

30. Which value equals 6.0 - 1.25?

A) 4.65

B) 4.85

C) 4.75

D) None of the listed values

Correct answer: C

6.00 - 1.25 = 4.75.

Question 31

31. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (1,0,0), (0,1,0)

Target cube: (0,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 4

B) 1

C) 3

D) 2

Correct answer: D

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (0,0,0) has 2 face neighbor(s).

Question 32

32. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (1,0,0), (2,0,0), (1,1,0)

Target cube: (1,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 3

B) 2

C) 4

D) 1

Correct answer: A

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (1,0,0) has 3 face neighbor(s).

Question 33

33. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (0,0,1), (0,1,0), (1,0,0), (0,-1,0)

Target cube: (0,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 3

B) 4

C) 2

D) 5

Correct answer: B

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (0,0,0) has 4 face neighbor(s).

Question 34

34. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(1,1,1), (1,1,2), (1,2,1), (2,1,1), (0,1,1), (1,0,1)

Target cube: (1,1,1).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 4

B) 3

C) 5

D) 6

Correct answer: C

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (1,1,1) has 5 face neighbor(s).

Question 35

35. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (1,0,0), (0,1,0), (1,1,0), (0,0,1)

Target cube: (0,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 4

D) 3

Correct answer: D

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (0,0,0) has 3 face neighbor(s).

Question 36

36. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(2,2,2), (2,2,3), (2,3,2), (3,2,2), (2,1,2), (1,2,2), (2,2,1)

Target cube: (2,2,2).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 6

B) 5

C) 4

D) 7

Correct answer: A

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (2,2,2) has 6 face neighbor(s).

Question 37

37. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (1,0,0), (1,1,0), (1,1,1)

Target cube: (1,1,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

Correct answer: B

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (1,1,0) has 2 face neighbor(s).

Question 38

38. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,2,0), (1,1,0), (-1,1,0)

Target cube: (0,1,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 2

B) 5

C) 4

D) 1

Correct answer: C

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (0,1,0) has 4 face neighbor(s).

Question 39

39. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(3,0,0), (4,0,0), (3,1,0), (3,0,1), (2,0,0), (3,-1,0)

Target cube: (3,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 6

B) 4

C) 3

D) 5

Correct answer: D

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (3,0,0) has 5 face neighbor(s).

Question 40

40. Equal cubes occupy these coordinates:

(0,0,0), (1,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,0,1), (1,1,0), (1,0,1), (0,1,1)

Target cube: (0,0,0).

Only full-face contact counts. Edge-only and corner-only contact do not count. How many other cubes touch the target by a face?

A) 3

B) 2

C) 4

D) 1

Correct answer: A

Using the face-contact rule abs(dx)+abs(dy)+abs(dz)=1, the target (0,0,0) has 3 face neighbor(s).

Question 41

41. Supporting spatial exercise (not claimed as an extra official PTB section).

A 2-by-2 square of equal cubes sits on a table:

Front-left: A Front-right: B Back-left: C Back-right: D

The square is rotated 90 degrees clockwise when viewed from above. After the rotation, which cube is in the front-left position?

A) A

B) C

C) B

D) D

Correct answer: B

Positions before: front-left A, front-right B, back-left C, back-right D. A 90-degree clockwise turn from above moves each cube one slot clockwise: A to front-right, B to back-right, D to back-left, and C to front-left. The new front-left cube is therefore C.

Question 42

42. Supporting spatial exercise.

In a 3-by-1 row of cubes ordered left to right as L-M-R, the row is flipped end-to-end (left and right swap). Which cube is on the left after the flip?

A) L

B) M

C) R

D) None; the middle cube disappears

Correct answer: C

End-to-end flip swaps ends: left becomes former right R. Middle stays middle.

Question 43

43. Supporting spatial exercise.

A layered stack has:

Bottom layer: two cubes side by side (Left and Right). Top layer: one cube centered on Left only.

From a top view looking straight down, how many cubes are visible?

A) 1

B) 4

C) 3

D) 2

Correct answer: D

Top cube covers Left. Right remains visible. Two cubes are visible from directly above.

Question 44

44. Supporting spatial exercise.

Front view of a small construction shows two cubes side by side. The right cube has one additional cube stacked on it. From the front, how many cube faces form the outline height on the right side?

A) 2 cubes high

B) 1 cube high

C) 3 cubes high

D) 4 cubes high

Correct answer: A

The right column has base + stacked cube, so it is 2 cubes high.

Question 45

45. Supporting spatial exercise.

Coordinates occupied: (0,0,0), (1,0,0), (0,1,0). After rotating the whole assembly 180 degrees around the vertical z-axis about the origin, which coordinate is occupied by the cube that started at (1,0,0)?

A) (1,0,0)

B) (0,1,0)

C) (-1,0,0)

D) (0,-1,0)

Correct answer: C

Rotation 180 degrees about the vertical z-axis sends (x,y,z) to (-x,-y,z). So (1,0,0) moves to (-1,0,0).

Practice Answer Key

1. A
2. D
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. D
8. A
9. B
10. C
11. D
12. A
13. B
14. C
15. D
16. A
17. B
18. C
19. D
20. A
21. B
22. C
23. D
24. A
25. B
26. C
27. D
28. A
29. B
30. C
31. D
32. A
33. B
34. C
35. D
36. A
37. B
38. C
39. D
40. A
41. B
42. C
43. D
44. A
45. C

How to Score This Practice Test

• 41-45 correct: Strong baseline
• 35-40 correct: Good readiness
• 27-34 correct: Moderate readiness
• 18-26 correct: Needs improvement
• 17 or fewer correct: Start with fundamentals

This scoring guide applies only to the unofficial practice questions on this page. It is not an official PG&E PTB score, passing result, qualification decision, retest decision, interview decision, job offer, or employment result.

Timed-Practice Guidance

PG&E’s currently linked official guide, dated 2006, describes an unusually speeded format: 75 numerical questions in 10 minutes and 50 spatial questions in 5 minutes.

Because this page contains fewer and more explanatory questions, completing it does not replicate official timing. Start with untimed accuracy practice, then use shorter timed drills. Follow your invitation for actual timing. No particular practice pace guarantees qualification.

Unofficial training suggestions:

• 24 numerical questions untimed;
• 24 numerical questions in 8 to 10 minutes after mastering accuracy;
• 10 block-contact questions untimed;
• 10 block-contact questions in 3 to 5 minutes after mastering the method.

How to Prepare for the PG&E PTB

1. Confirm that the invitation names the PTB.
2. Read the current PG&E testing-program page.
3. Download the official PTB preparation guide.
4. Check the deadline in the invitation.
5. Verify permitted materials.
6. Review whole-number arithmetic.
7. Review decimal arithmetic.
8. Review fraction operations.
9. Practise mental calculation and estimation.
10. Learn the face-contact rule for equal cubes.
11. Practise visualizing hidden blocks.
12. Build spatial accuracy before adding speed.
13. Complete short numerical speed drills.
14. Complete short spatial speed drills.
15. Review every error.
16. Request accommodations through the official procedure when needed.
17. Follow the current invitation on test day.

For broader spatial drills beyond this page, spatial reasoning preparation may help with visualization practice. If your invitation names the separate Industrial Skills Test instead of or in addition to the PTB, use the dedicated PG&E Industrial Skills Test preparation product rather than treating the two assessments as interchangeable.

Common Mistakes

• thinking the PTB is a fitness test;
• confusing it with a post-offer physical assessment;
• confusing PTB with IST;
• relying on JobTestPrep as the official source;
• treating personality profiling as an official PTB component;
• overlooking that the official PDF is dated 2006;
• assuming the published guide can override a current invitation;
• practising advanced mechanical theory instead of numerical and spatial skills;
• performing fraction operations without a common denominator;
• misplacing decimal points;
• calculating percentages from the wrong base;
• counting edge or corner contact as face contact;
• ignoring hidden cubes;
• counting the target cube itself;
• rotating an object in the wrong direction;
• sacrificing too much accuracy for speed;
• inventing a passing score;
• assuming practice performance guarantees advancement.

Free versus Paid Preparation

Free preparation may help candidates understand the official published format, review whole numbers, review decimals and fractions, practise block-contact reasoning, identify weak areas, and become familiar with rapid aptitude questions.

Paid preparation may be useful for candidates seeking larger numerical question banks, repeated timed simulations, more spatial exercises, study guides, detailed explanations, structured practice, and supplementary personality materials.

No free or paid resource can guarantee score improvement, passing, qualification, an interview, an offer, or employment.

JobTestPrep is a third-party preparation provider. It is not PG&E, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, an employer representative, a government agency, or the official test administrator.

Official PG&E Resources

• PG&E Pre-Employment Testing Program
• PG&E Physical Test Battery Preparation Guide
• PG&E Careers

The current testing-program page is the primary source for current process information. The linked PTB PDF is dated 2006. The current invitation controls when information differs. Current job postings determine whether a position requires the PTB. No affiliate link belongs in this section. JobTestPrep is not an official PG&E resource.

Related Internal Guides

• Employer Assessment Tests
• PG&E Industrial Skills Test
• PG&E Clerical and Meter Reader Test
• Numerical Reasoning
• Free Numerical Reasoning Test
• Spatial Reasoning
• Mechanical Spatial Reasoning
• Spatial Reasoning Test Types
• Mechanical Aptitude Tests

FAQ

Final CTA