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Free Practice Questions for EEA Electrical Engineer Exam

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Key Facts: EEA Electrical Engineer Exam Exam

ETB 606.64

Total Grade 1 Certification Fee

Ethiopian Government eServices Portal (PEA/EEA Fee Schedule)

2 Years

Certificate Validity Period

Council of Ministers Energy Regulation No. 447/2019

EBCS 10

National Electrical Installation Code

Ministry of Works and Urban Development

Written + Practical

Official Assessment Format

PEA Competency Certification Directorate

Free 100-question English-language MCQ study bank for the Ethiopian Energy Authority (EEA) / Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA) Electrical Engineer Competency Certificate, covering EBCS 10 wiring design, distribution systems, earthing, protection, and Directive No. 1/2019 statutory regulations.

Sample EEA Electrical Engineer Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the EEA Electrical Engineer Exam exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under EBCS 10 clause 6.4.1, when converting a load expressed in watts or volt-amperes into a design current for a low-voltage a.c. system, which nominal voltage divisors must be used?
A.230 V for single-phase and 380 V for three-phase, as applicable
B.120 V for single-phase and 208 V for three-phase, as applicable
C.240 V for single-phase and 415 V for three-phase, as applicable
D.277 V for single-phase and 480 V for three-phase, as applicable
Explanation: EBCS 10 clause 6.4.1 states that when calculating currents from loads expressed in watts or volt-amperes for a low-voltage a.c. system, the voltage divisor shall be 230.0 V or 380.0 V as applicable. Ethiopia operates at 50 Hz, and Ethiopian Electric Power publishes the national supply voltage as 220 V; low-voltage design work in Ethiopia therefore sits in the 220–230 V phase-to-neutral / 380–400 V phase-to-phase band rather than any North American or British value.
2Under EBCS 10 clause 4.4.1, what is the minimum nominal cross-sectional area permitted for insulated copper cables and conductors serving power and lighting circuits?
A.1.0 mm²
B.1.5 mm²
C.2.5 mm²
D.4.0 mm²
Explanation: EBCS 10 clause 4.4.1(a) sets the minimum nominal cross-sectional area at 1.0 mm² for cables and insulated copper conductors serving power and lighting circuits. This is a floor, not a design target — the conductor actually installed must still satisfy ampacity, the clause 4.5.4 voltage-drop limit, and short-circuit withstand.
3Under EBCS 10 clause 4.5.4, what is the maximum voltage drop permitted between the supply terminal and any item of fixed current-using equipment when the conductors are carrying full load current?
A.4% of the nominal supply voltage, applied to every fixed current-using equipment circuit
B.2.5% for lighting circuits and 4% for power circuits
C.3% for branch circuits and 5% combined for feeder plus branch
D.5% of the nominal supply voltage, applied to every circuit
Explanation: EBCS 10 clause 4.5.4 states that conductors shall be sized so that the voltage drop between the supply terminal and fixed current-using equipment does not exceed 4% of the nominal supply voltage at full load current. Clause 6.4.2 adds that this drop is assessed on the calculated demand load of the branch circuits. EBCS 10 sets one figure for all fixed current-using equipment — it does not split the allowance by load type.
4A 32 A branch circuit in an Addis Ababa office block supplies a non-motor load that draws its maximum current without interruption throughout the working day. Applying EBCS 10 clauses 6.3 and 6.4.3, what is the greatest load this circuit may be designed to carry?
A.25.6 A, because a continuous load may not exceed 80% of the circuit rating
B.32 A, because the circuit rating already includes the necessary margin
C.40 A, because a 25% uplift is applied to the circuit rating
D.22.4 A, because a continuous load is limited to 70% of the circuit rating
Explanation: EBCS 10 clause 6.3 defines a continuous load as any condition in which the maximum load current flows without interruption for not less than 3.0 hours. Clause 6.4.3 then requires that, for loads other than motors, the total load on a consumer's service, feeder or branch circuit be 80% of the circuit rating when the load is continuous. For a 32 A circuit: 32 A × 0.80 = 25.6 A.
5A 230 V single-phase circuit supplies a resistive load of 20 A over a one-way distance of 30 meters. The copper cable has a conductor resistance of 4.61 mΩ/m. What is the total voltage drop in volts and its percentage relative to nominal voltage?
A.5.53 V (2.40%)
B.2.77 V (1.20%)
C.11.06 V (4.81%)
D.7.38 V (3.21%)
Explanation: In a single-phase circuit, current flows through both the phase and neutral conductors (loop distance = 2 × L = 60 m). Total resistance R_loop = 2 × 30 m × (4.61 × 10^-3 Ω/m) = 0.2766 Ω. Voltage drop ΔV = I × R_loop = 20 A × 0.2766 Ω = 5.532 V. Percentage drop = (5.532 / 230) × 100% = 2.405% ≈ 2.40%.
6A balanced 400 V, 3-phase, 50 Hz feeder carries 50 A over a length of 80 meters. The copper cable has an AC resistance of 1.15 mΩ/m and an inductive reactance of 0.08 mΩ/m. At a lagging power factor of 0.85 (sin φ = 0.527), what is the line-to-line voltage drop?
A.7.06 V
B.4.08 V
C.12.23 V
D.9.54 V
Explanation: For a balanced 3-phase feeder, the line-to-line voltage drop is ΔV = √3 × I × L × (R cos φ + X sin φ) / 1000. Here, (R cos φ + X sin φ) = (1.15 × 0.85 + 0.08 × 0.527) = (0.9775 + 0.0422) = 1.0197 mΩ/m. Thus, ΔV = √3 × 50 A × 80 m × (1.0197 / 1000) = 1.732 × 4000 × 0.0010197 = 7.064 V ≈ 7.06 V.
7A PVC-insulated copper cable has a nominal base current-carrying capacity of 36 A at a reference ambient temperature of 30°C. If installed in an industrial facility in the Afar region where the design ambient temperature is 45°C, what is the derated current-carrying capacity using an ambient temperature correction factor Ca of 0.79?
A.28.44 A
B.32.10 A
C.24.50 A
D.36.00 A
Explanation: The effective current-carrying capacity Iz is obtained by multiplying the base tabulated ampacity It by the environmental correction factor Ca: Iz = It × Ca = 36 A × 0.79 = 28.44 A.
8EBCS 10 clause 18.6.1 governs the raceways carrying the operating and control circuit conductors of a lift installation. What limit does it place on the sum of the cross-sectional areas of those conductors?
A.It shall not exceed 40% of the interior cross-sectional area of the raceway
B.It shall not exceed 75% of the interior cross-sectional area of the raceway
C.It shall not exceed 20% of the interior cross-sectional area of the raceway
D.There is no limit, provided every conductor is individually insulated for the circuit voltage
Explanation: EBCS 10 clause 18.6.1 states that the sum of the cross-sectional area of the operating and control circuit conductors in raceways shall not exceed 40% of the interior cross-sectional area of the raceway. Keeping a space factor of this order leaves room for heat to dissipate and limits the pulling tension that would otherwise abrade or tear conductor insulation.
9EBCS 10 Table 4.2 gives the colour identification of cores of non-flexible cable and bare conductors for fixed wiring. Which set of colours does it specify for a three-phase a.c. circuit?
A.Phase R red, Phase Y yellow, Phase B blue, neutral black, protective conductor green-and-yellow
B.L1 brown, L2 black, L3 grey, neutral blue, protective conductor green-and-yellow
C.L1 black, L2 red, L3 blue, neutral white, protective conductor bare copper
D.Phase R red, Phase Y yellow, Phase B blue, neutral blue, protective conductor plain green
Explanation: EBCS 10 Table 4.2 identifies fixed-wiring cores as red (phase R), yellow (phase Y) and blue (phase B), with a black neutral and a green-and-yellow protective conductor. Table 4.1, covering flexible cables and cords, uses the different harmonized set of brown for the phase, blue for the neutral and green-and-yellow for the protective core — so the same installation legitimately carries two colour conventions depending on cable type.
10A residential building consists of 10 identical apartments, each having an individual connected maximum demand of 8 kW. If the electrical design engineer applies an overall diversity factor of 0.65 for the main building distribution board, what is the diversified design load?
A.52 kW
B.80 kW
C.64 kW
D.45 kW
Explanation: The total connected load of the 10 apartments is 10 × 8 kW = 80 kW. Applying the diversity factor of 0.65, the diversified design load is 80 kW × 0.65 = 52 kW.

About the EEA Electrical Engineer Exam Exam

Prepare for the Ethiopian Energy Authority (EEA) / Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA) Electrical Works Professional Competency Certification (Grade 1 Electrical Engineer) with our free 100-question practice test. This English-language MCQ study adaptation covers the technical core required for professional practice in Ethiopia: Ethiopian Building Code Standard EBCS 10 (Electrical Installation of Buildings), low- and medium-voltage power distribution engineering under Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) standards, system earthing and protective relay coordination, lightning protection, testing and commissioning protocols, and statutory compliance under Energy Proclamation No. 810/2013 and Directive No. 1/2019. Passing the Authority's examination is mandatory for electrical engineers authorizing electrical design, supervision, and installation works across Ethiopia. Note: This is an independent study tool and not an official EEA/PEA examination paper.

Exam sponsor: Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA) / Ethiopian Energy Authority (EEA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Same-day written technical examination covering electrical installation design (EBCS 10), medium/low voltage distribution networks, earthing and protection schemes, and statutory regulatory compliance, followed by a practical competency evaluation. Grade 1 and 2 candidates are scheduled on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Grade 3 and 4 candidates on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Time Limit

Grade 1: 2-hour written examination (10:00-12:00) plus a 2.5-hour practical examination (13:30-16:00) on the same day

Passing Score

Not published

Exam / Certification Fees

ETB 606.64 (Grade 1: Registration ETB 51.56, Written Exam ETB 212.32, Practical Exam ETB 272.98, Certificate Issuance ETB 69.76)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Building Electrical Installation & Wiring Design (EBCS 10)

Conductor sizing, ampacity derating, voltage drop limits, conduit fill, wiring methods, branch circuit loading, and illumination design per EBCS 10.

25%

Power Distribution Systems & Substation Engineering

EEU distribution network standards (15 kV/33 kV), distribution transformer sizing and vector groups, switchgear selection, fault current calculations, and standby generator/UPS integration.

25%

Protection, Earthing & Safety Systems

System earthing arrangements (TT, TN-S, TN-C-S), protective device discrimination, RCD specifications, earth electrode resistance, and lightning protection systems per IEC 62305 / EBCS 10.

25%

Inspection, Testing, Standards & Regulatory Directives

Energy Proclamation No. 810/2013, Council of Ministers Energy Regulation No. 447/2019, Directive No. 1/2019, insulation resistance testing, loop impedance, commissioning procedures, and safety protocols.

Preparing for the EEA Electrical Engineer Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Not published
  • Assessment: Same-day written technical examination covering electrical installation design (EBCS 10), medium/low voltage distribution networks, earthing and protection schemes, and statutory regulatory compliance, followed by a practical competency evaluation. Grade 1 and 2 candidates are scheduled on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Grade 3 and 4 candidates on Mondays and Tuesdays.
  • Time limit: Grade 1: 2-hour written examination (10:00-12:00) plus a 2.5-hour practical examination (13:30-16:00) on the same day
  • Exam / certification fees: ETB 606.64 (Grade 1: Registration ETB 51.56, Written Exam ETB 212.32, Practical Exam ETB 272.98, Certificate Issuance ETB 69.76) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

EEA Electrical Engineer Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Thoroughly review Ethiopian Building Code Standard EBCS 10, focusing on the clause 4.4.1 minimum conductor sizes, the single 4% voltage-drop limit in clause 4.5.4, the clause 6.4.3 80% continuous-load rule, and the clause 6.5.1 dwelling load allowances.
2Practice multi-step 3-phase AC power calculations, including power factor correction capacitor bank sizing in kvar, symmetrical short-circuit MVA, and transformer full-load current.
3Understand the operational distinctions, disconnection times, and loop impedance requirements for TT, TN-S, and TN-C-S earthing configurations.
4Familiarize yourself with standard electrical testing instruments and acceptance thresholds, particularly 500V DC insulation resistance testing, where EBCS 10 Appendix 1 Table 1 sets a 0.5 MΩ pass criterion and current IEC 60364-6 sets 1.0 MΩ.
5Review the administrative rules, ethical duties, and renewal obligations stipulated under Energy Proclamation No. 810/2013, Council of Ministers Energy Regulation No. 447/2019, and EEA Directive No. 1/2019.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ethiopian Energy Authority Electrical Engineer Competency Certificate?

It is the statutory professional competency license issued by the Petroleum and Energy Authority (PEA, formerly the Ethiopian Energy Authority — EEA) under Energy Proclamation No. 810/2013 and Directive No. 1/2019. It authorizes qualified electrical engineers (Grade 1) to legally undertake electrical design, supervision, installation, and inspection works in Ethiopia.

What is the examination format for the EEA competency certificate?

Candidates must take both a written technical examination and a practical examination administered by the Authority's Competency Certification & Technical Regulation Directorate in Addis Ababa. Both sit on the same day: for Grade 1 and 2 applicants the written paper runs 10:00-12:00 and the practical 13:30-16:00, and the result is given the same day once marked. The written examination tests knowledge of Ethiopian electrical codes (EBCS 10), engineering calculations, and regulatory directives.

What are the fees and validity period for the Grade 1 competency certificate?

For Grade 1 electrical engineers, the total official fee is ETB 606.64, itemized as: Registration (ETB 51.56), Written Examination (ETB 212.32), Practical Examination (ETB 272.98), and Certificate Issuance (ETB 69.76). Certificates are valid for two years and require renewal at least 15 days before expiry with proof of active practice or continuing professional training.

Which technical standards are tested on the electrical engineer exam?

The examination tests the Ethiopian Building Code Standard for Electrical Installation of Buildings (EBCS 10), Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) distribution guidelines, international electrotechnical standards (IEC 60364, IEC 62305), and statutory safety regulations under Energy Proclamation No. 810/2013.

Is this practice question bank an official EEA exam paper?

No. This practice bank is an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation developed to help candidates review the technical principles, code requirements, and engineering calculations tested on the certification examination. It is not an official publication of the Petroleum and Energy Authority.