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Mechanical
Hard
MCT

Mechanical Comprehension

The physics of machines and flight

Computer-adaptive mechanical reasoning: forces and equilibrium, work and energy, simple machines (levers, pulleys, gears, inclined planes), mechanical advantage, fluid pressure and practical formulas — with a SIFT lean toward the physics of flight. Often shown as a diagram to reason about.

Duration
~12 min
Length
Adaptive · 15 min
Difficulty
Hard

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New to the SIFT? Read the complete guide
Every subtest explained, how the 20–80 score works, the retake rule, and how to study.

What to expect

  • Four-option questions, many with a diagram of a mechanism.
  • On the real SIFT: adaptive, about 15 minutes.
  • An explanation with the principle and, where useful, the formula.

What it measures

  • Simple machines and mechanical advantage
  • Force, work, energy and equilibrium
  • Fluid pressure and the physics of flight

Instructions

  1. 1Understand mechanical advantage — trading force for distance.
  2. 2For gears and pulleys, track direction and how force/speed change.
  3. 3Work = force × distance; pressure = force ÷ area.

Tips

  • A longer lever arm or more pulley ropes = less force needed.
  • A larger gear turns slower but with more torque.
  • Read the diagram carefully before the question.
Format: Mechanical subtest · adaptive · 4-option MCQ · real test ~15 min