The “Villain” of this exam is almost always the Mathematical Reasoning section. Specifically, the Applied Word Problems.

You might know how to multiply fractions or calculate the area of a circle. But the Alberta TEE doesn’t just ask you to solve 2/3 + 4/5.

Instead, they bury the math inside a paragraph of text about gear ratios, blueprint scales, or material waste. This is called “Data Sufficiency” and “Translation.” The test implies that you need to be a mathematician, but what you really need to be is a translator.

The Trap: The test writers include “distractor” numbers—information that looks important but is irrelevant to the answer. Under time pressure, unprepared test-takers try to use every number in the paragraph, resulting in a wrong answer and wasted time.

The “Pro Tip” Strategy: To beat this, you need to use the “Last Sentence First” technique.

• Ignore the scenario initially. Do not read the story about the carpenter or the electrician yet.
• Read the very last sentence first. This usually contains the question (e.g., “How many linear feet of pipe are required?”).
• Now, scan the text specifically for that data.

By isolating what you are looking for before you read the problem, you make your brain immune to the “distractor” data. This simple switch in tactics can save you 30-45 seconds per question.

Strategies like this aren’t about being a math genius; they are about understanding the game of the test.

The Question: An apprentice is tasked with tiling a utility room that measures 12 feet by 18 feet using standard 1-foot square tiles. The tiles are sold in boxes of 12. The project manager mandates a 15% overage to account for cutting waste and breakage. The tiles cost $2.25 each and the crew can install 50 sq. ft. per hour.

What is the minimum number of boxes required to complete the job according to the manager’s specifications?

A) 18 Boxes

B) 20 Boxes

C) 21 Boxes

D) 24 Boxes

With a passing threshold of 70%, there is almost no margin for error on the difficult Geometry and Science components. Rather than risking a retake and delaying your apprenticeship, we recommend reviewing the targeted tutorials in our comprehensive Alberta Trades Study Guide to ensure you are comfortably scoring in the 80% range before you pay your exam fees.”

Most applicants spend 90% of their study time on Math. While understandable, this is a critical strategic error.

The Alberta TEE is an endurance test. The Reading, Science, and Mechanical sections are designed to catch you when you are mentally exhausted. If you rely on “common sense” or memories from high school science class, these sections will drain your score below the 70% cutoff.

Ask yourself if you are truly ready for these specific traps:

• Reading Comprehension (The “Safety Manual” Trap): This isn’t about reading a story; it’s about decoding rigid technical instructions. Can you spot the “Conditional Double-Negatives” often found in safety regulations? (e.g., “Do not disengage the clutch unless the safety valve is not unsecured”). One misread word changes the entire meaning—and your answer.
• Science (The “Memory” Trap): There is no formula sheet provided. Do you recall the specific equations for Mechanical Advantage, Work, and Power from Grade 11 Physics? If you don’t have the formulas for levers, pulleys, and wedges memorized before you walk in, you cannot solve the problems.
• Mechanical: Can you look at a flat, 2D drawing of a 5-gear system and visualize exactly how the final gear rotates in 3D space? Can you do it in **under 45 seconds**? This section tests your “spatial reflex.” If you have to trace the path with your finger, you will run out of time.

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Alberta Trades Entrance Test Course —  Alberta Trades Study Guide and Practice (PDF Download)