ASE Automobile (A1–A8) — All Questions
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Technician A says excessive valve guide clearance can cause oil consumption and smoke. Technician B says worn guides can cause erratic seating and a misfire. Who is correct?
- a.Technician B only
- b.Neither A nor B
- c.Both A and B✓
- d.Technician A only
Loose guides let oil down the stems and allow the valve to wander off its seat, causing oil burning and possible misfire. Both technicians are correct. Guide and seal service restores control of the valve and oil.
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.