Skilled Trades Assessment Readiness

These estimates reflect anticipated annual average growth rates over the next decade. Occupations related to new technologies, such as renewable energy or advanced manufacturing, may see even higher demand.

Factors Influencing Skilled Trades Growth

• Demographics: The retirement of experienced tradespeople is creating significant opportunities for new workers to enter the field.
• Economic Development: Ontario’s focus on infrastructure, housing, and green energy projects is fueling demand for skilled trades.
• Education and Training: Expanded apprenticeship programs and government incentives are helping to attract more people to the trades.
• Technological Change: Adoption of new technologies is requiring tradespeople to upgrade their skills and credentials.

Factors Affecting Salaries

• Experience: Journeypersons and those with several years of experience typically earn at the higher end of the salary range.
• Location: Salaries may be higher in urban centers like Toronto compared to rural areas.
• Union Membership: Unionized trades often receive better pay and benefits.
• Industry Demand: Trades with higher demand, such as electricians and millwrights, may command higher salaries.

Reading Comprehension usually covers:

• Finding specific information in a passage – the information may be stated directly or implied
• Meaning of words from the context
• Drawing conclusions from the information in the passage

Why Reading Comprehension is important for the Skilled Trades Test

1. Manuals and Documentation You will have to follow complex instructions, operate machinery, and work with equipment. Good reading comprehension skills ensure that you can read and understand instruction manuals, safety guidelines, and technical documentation.
2. Safety  You will work with heavy machinery, electrical systems, and other potentially hazardous materials. In the trades work environment, which is often hazardous, so misunderstanding safety guidelines  or operating procedures, because of poor reading comprehension can cause accidents and injuries. A high level of reading comprehension is essential to prioritize safety on the job.
3. Regulations and Codes Tradespeople must follow industry regulations, building codes, and standards. These are technical and legal documents that require strong reading comprehension skills.

Reading Comprehension The Complete Guide

Reading Comprehension Practice I

Reading Comprehension Practice II

Multiple Choice Strategy

The Basic Math Section includes: 

• Estimation
• Order of Operation
• Exponents
• Fractions, Decimals and Percent

How to Study for a Math Test

Why Basic Math is Important for the Skilled Trades Entrance Test and Industry Training

1. Measuring and Calculating You will often need to make precise measurements and calculations. Accurate measurements and calculations are required for materials, dimensions and quantities.
2. Reading Blueprints  You will frequently read and interpret and must thoroughly understand, dimensions, angles, and other mathematical information on blueprints and similar documents.
3. Safety Basic math skills are important for calculating load capacities, understanding weight distribution, and determine safe working distances. Accurate calculations prevents accidents and injuries.
4. Cost Estimation You will use basic math skills to calculate material costs, labor expenses, and project budgets accurately.

Exponents
Basic Math
Basic Math 2
Word Problems
Percent
Fractions, Percent and Decimals
Order of Operation

The Mechanical Aptitude section includes

• Reading gauges
• Reading maps
• Visualizing floor plans and houses
• Following direction on given maps
• Gears, levers and mechanical devices

Mechanical  Comprehension I
Mechanical Comprehension II 
Spatial Ability