ASE Automobile (A1–A8) — All Questions
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Technician A says ignored worn brake pads can score the rotor. Technician B says continued metal-to-metal braking reduces stopping power. Who is correct?
- a.Technician B only
- b.Neither A nor B
- c.Both A and B✓
- d.Technician A only
When the friction material is gone, the metal backing grooves the rotor and braking suffers. Both technicians are correct. Timely pad replacement avoids rotor damage and a longer stop.
How hard is the exam?
ASE Automobile certification is eight separate tests (A1-A8). Each initial test has 40-50 scored questions (plus 10 unscored research items) and runs 60-90 minutes; fees are $34 per registration plus $62 per test. ASE uses a criterion-referenced scaled score and does not publish a pass percentage. Automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median of about $49,670/year (BLS, May 2024).
- Recommended study hours
- 20-40 hours per test for most, plus the required hands-on work experience for full certification.
- Pass rate
- We read ASE's own published material in September 2026 and there is no pass rate in it. ase.com has no statistics page — the URL that looks like one redirects to the About page — and neither the A1-A9 test pages nor the FAQs carry a rate. Each test uses a criterion-referenced cut score set by a panel, so there is no curve to report.Source: ASE — FAQs and Test Results · ASE — Automobile tests A1-A9
- Where to focus first
- Varies by test — e.g. General Engine Diagnosis is 40% of A1 (Engine Repair) and Computerized Engine Controls is 26% of A8 (Engine Performance).
Fees and salaries are approximate and change over time. The pass rate above is quoted from the source linked beside it, for the period that source covers — where we have not checked a source, we say so and give no number.