Mechanical reasoning tests for firefighters: what to expect

Mechanical reasoning appears in almost every Australian firefighter aptitude test: the FRV Written Selection Test (32 questions in 20 minutes), the QFD cognitive assessments, the Fire and Rescue NSW psychometric tests, and the DFES and SA MFS assessments.

What it covers

• Levers: where to place a load or pivot to lift with the least effort.
• Pulleys: how many supporting ropes share the load.
• Gears and belts: which way a gear turns and which turns fastest.
• Forces and motion: balance, centre of gravity, friction and momentum.
• Fluids and pressure: water flow, pipe sizes and pressure.
• Simple circuits and springs.

How to get faster

• Learn the handful of rules behind most questions. For example, gears that touch turn in opposite directions, and smaller gears turn faster.
• Practise under time pressure. At FRV pace you have under 40 seconds per question.
• Draw arrows. Tracing direction through a gear train or belt system quickly prevents careless errors.