G1 is the best first certification for most technicians, and it is the one that gets explained badly. It is not a junior version of the A-series. It is a wide test — 55 scored questions plus 10 unscored research questions in 90 minutes — covering seven systems at the depth a maintenance and light repair technician actually works at. Broad and shallow, where the A-series is narrow and deep.
If you are a lube tech, a tire tech, or somebody two years in who has never sat an ASE test, G1 is where to start. It is also the fastest credential to point at when you ask for more money.
Where the questions actually are
Seven content areas, and the weighting reflects what an MLR technician touches most:
- Suspension and steering — 13 questions (24%)
- Brakes — 11 questions (20%)
- Engine systems — 9 questions (16%)
- Electrical — 8 questions (15%)
- Manual drive train and axles — 6 questions (11%)
- Automatic transmission/transaxle — 4 questions (7%)
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning — 4 questions (7%)
Suspension, steering and brakes are 44 percent of the test between them. If you work in a tire and brake shop, you already live in the largest part of G1 — which is exactly why it is the right first test for a Midas technician.
What depth to study to
This is the thing people get wrong. G1 asks about inspection, service, maintenance and light repair, not overhaul. On automatic transmissions you need fluid checking procedure, fluid condition, leak identification and external service — you do not need valve body diagnosis. On engine systems you need oil and filter service, cooling system service, belts, hoses, fluid leaks and basic warning-lamp interpretation — you do not need cam timing procedures.
So study the maintenance and inspection side of all seven areas rather than the deep diagnostic side of any one. A common failure pattern is a strong brake technician who spent their study time going deeper on brakes and never opened the HVAC or drive train sections.
The big three sections
Suspension and steering (24%). Inspection procedures above all: checking ball joints loaded versus unloaded, tie rod and idler play, shock and strut condition, bushings, ride height. Tire wear pattern interpretation, rotation patterns, torque procedure and TPMS relearn. Know what camber, caster and toe are and which one wears tires, but you are not expected to run full alignment diagnostics.
Brakes (20%). Pad and shoe measurement, rotor and drum measurement against minimum thickness and discard specs, hydraulic system inspection, fluid service and condition, parking brake adjustment, and correct bleeding procedure. Recognising an ABS warning lamp and what it means for the service you are performing. Our nine mistakes that cause comebacks maps closely onto this section.
Engine systems (16%). Oil service and viscosity selection, filter types, coolant types and why mixing matters, pressure testing a cooling system, belt and tensioner inspection, air and cabin filters, battery service, and identifying a leak by colour and location.
The four smaller sections
Electrical (15%). Battery testing and service, jump starting and charging procedure, lighting circuits, fuses and relays, and basic meter use. Parasitic draw at concept level. Eight questions, and they are gettable.
Manual drive train (11%). Clutch inspection and adjustment, fluid levels and types in transmissions, transfer cases and differentials, CV joint and boot inspection, driveshaft and u-joint inspection, and four-wheel-drive operation basics.
Automatic transmission (7%). Fluid level and condition checking — including the vehicles with no dipstick — external leaks, cooler lines, mount inspection and service intervals.
HVAC (7%). Cabin filter service, blower operation, basic refrigerant handling and safety, recognising a system that is low on charge, and heater performance complaints tied to coolant level or a stuck thermostat. Four questions, but easy points if you read the section.
Test-taking tips specific to G1
Study the systems you do not touch. The single most reliable way to fail G1 is to be excellent at brakes and blank on drive train and HVAC. Those two are 18 percent together.
Stay at maintenance depth. If an answer option describes an overhaul procedure, it is usually the wrong answer for G1. The test wants inspect, measure, service, refer.
Know your specs and limits. A lot of G1 is measure-and-compare: pad thickness, rotor minimum, fluid condition, tread depth. Know what the go/no-go line is and which spec you compare against.
Technician A / Technician B: evaluate each separately. Decide true or false for each statement, then answer. Do not read the pair as one claim.
Answer nothing blank. No penalty for wrong answers. Flag and return.
There is more general strategy in how to pass your ASE test the first time.
Two things worth knowing about G1 specifically
Recertification is short. The G1 recertification test is 28 questions in 45 minutes. G1 is also excluded from ASE remote proctored testing, which is recertification-only to begin with — so plan on a Prometric test centre either way.
Students can earn it without the exam. Students in an ASE-accredited training programme who complete the eight specified entry-level tests can be awarded G1 certification without sitting the G1 test. If you came through a programme recently, check before you pay.
Booking it
The registration fee is charged once per order rather than per test, so book G1 alongside A4 or A5 and pay it once. The current cost and registration windows are in what ASE certification costs and how to register.
G1 is valid for five years. It does not count toward Master Automobile Technician status, which requires A1 through A8 — but it is the right rung to stand on while you work toward those. From lube tech to master tech lays out the order.
Once G1 is behind you, the A-series is the next step. Study guides: A1 engine repair, A2 automatic transmission, A3 manual drive train, A4 suspension and steering, A5 brakes, A6 electrical, A7 heating and air conditioning, A8 engine performance and A9 light vehicle diesel.
Related reading
- Your First Tool Box: What a New Technician Actually Needs
- From Lube Tech to Master Tech: The Actual Career Path
- What Shops Actually Look For When Hiring Technicians
Work somewhere that pays for this
Arnaz Group pays for every ASE test you pass, and G1 is usually the first one we put people through. If you are doing maintenance and light repair somewhere that has never mentioned certification to you, see our open roles across Wayne, Oakland and Washtenaw counties.