ASE G1 Maintenance & Light Repair Practice Test
The ASE G1 test covers maintenance and light repair across every major system, which makes it the entry point for new technicians and students. It's broad but shallow — basic service judgment, not deep diagnosis. The worked questions below cover tire wear, brake service limits, and fluid checks the way G1 asks them, then point you to free interactive practice.
What G1 is — and who takes it
G1 Auto Maintenance & Light Repair spans the basics of every system: engine, brakes, steering and suspension, electrical, HVAC, drivetrain, and routine service. It’s the lowest-barrier ASE credential and a common starting point for students and first-year techs. It does not count toward Master Automobile (A1–A8), but it’s a real, recognized certification — see the certification guide for how it fits a career path.
Worked G1 questions
1. Tire wear. A tire shows wear on both outer edges with the center tread still good. Most likely cause?
- Answer: Underinflation. Low pressure lets the tire ride on its shoulders, wearing both outer edges. Overinflation does the opposite — center wear. Wear on only one edge points to a camber or toe alignment issue, not pressure.
2. Brake service. During a brake inspection you find the pads worn down to the wear indicator, which is just contacting the rotor. What’s the correct action?
- Answer: Replace the pads (and service the rotors to spec). The wear indicator contacting the rotor is the designed signal that the pads have reached their service limit. Don’t return the vehicle to service on indicator-worn pads; measure the rotors against the manufacturer’s minimum thickness and machine or replace as needed.
3. Engine oil check. A customer’s engine is one quart low; the oil on the dipstick is dark but smooth, with no grit or milkiness. At a maintenance level, what’s the right call?
- Answer: Top off to the full mark (or change per the service interval). Dark oil alone is normal — oil darkens as it does its job. There’s no sign of coolant (milky) or metal (grit), so this is routine top-off or a scheduled change, not a diagnosis. Note the consumption and recheck at the next service.
Reading your result
Because G1 is broad, your misses will usually point to whole systems you’re rusty on — brakes, electrical, HVAC — rather than fine details. Study those systems at a basic level, get consistently above ~80%, then start free ASE practice. Planning to go further? Map the full path on the A-series prep page.