ASE G1 Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

The numbers to remember

• 55 total questions, 45 scored — the extra 10 are unscored pretest items you can't identify, so treat every question as counting.
• 90 minutes total time limit, roughly 100 seconds per question if you use the full window.
• $62 test fee plus a separate $34 registration fee per order, regardless of how many tests you schedule together.
• Certification must be renewed by retesting every five years to stay current.
• Recertification exam (G1R): 28 questions in 45 minutes — shorter than the initial test, so don't over-plan your recert pacing around the full-length exam.
• 1 to 3 years of relevant hands-on work experience required for the credential itself, varying by role — separate from the knowledge exam.

Blueprint areas and weights

• Suspension and Steering — 13 questions (largest area)
• Brakes — 11 questions
• Engine Systems — 9 questions
• Electrical — 8 questions
• Manual Drive Train and Axles — 6 questions
• Automatic Transmission/Transaxle — 4 questions
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning — 4 questions

Suspension/Steering and Brakes alone account for nearly half of the exam's questions — weight your final review accordingly, and treat the three smallest areas (drive train, automatic transmission, HVAC) as quick-hit topics rather than deep dives.

Diagnostic quick rules

• Verify the complaint before chasing a fix — don't assume the symptom description given is complete or accurate.
• Gather service history and do a visual inspection before recommending teardown.
• Isolate with the least invasive test first; don't jump straight to parts replacement.
• Always confirm the repair actually resolved the original complaint, not just that a part was swapped.
• Follow verify → isolate → confirm; answer choices that skip a step in that order are usually wrong.

Top traps

• On Technician A / B questions, evaluate each statement independently before comparing them — don't let one statement's plausibility convince you of the other.
• Watch for absolute words like "always" or "never" in a statement; they often signal a false claim with an unstated exception.
• "Both are correct" and "Neither is correct" are valid answers — don't avoid them purely by instinct.
• Don't confuse passing the knowledge test with holding certification — the credential also requires the documented work-experience requirement, separate from the exam score.
• Pace yourself against the 90-minute limit early; a timed practice run the night before helps the real pace feel familiar rather than rushed.