1.1 ASE T1 Exam Format, Scoring, Fees & Certification Requirements

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Medium/Heavy Truck Test T1: Gasoline Engines evaluates gasoline-engine diagnosis, service and repair within the T-Series program for Class 4 through Class 8 trucks and tractors. Its official task list combines mechanical engine repair with ignition, fuel delivery, air induction, emissions control and computerized engine management. The breadth matters: a misfire can originate in valve sealing, a loaded ignition circuit, injector delivery or a control input, so preparation must connect mechanical measurements with electrical and scan-data evidence. T1 is distinct from the Automobile A1 credential and the Medium/Heavy Truck T2 Diesel Engines credential. This guide follows the current 98 numbered T1 tasks across eight content areas. It also includes clearly identified LPG fleet-service examples as supplementary instruction; those examples do not establish an additional ASE fuel-system endorsement or replace the published T1 task list.

Official 2026 ASE T1 and T1R Exam Specifications

When registering for the T1 credential, technicians must distinguish between the full initial certification examination (T1) and the shorter recertification examination (T1R) taken every five years to keep an active credential current. Every initial T1 examination contains 60 total multiple-choice questions administered within a 75-minute (1 hour 15 minute) seat-time limit. Of those 60 items, 50 questions are scored toward your pass/fail determination, and 10 questions are unscored research questions used by ASE psychometricians to evaluate statistical item performance for future test forms. Because unscored research questions are distributed randomly throughout the test and cannot be identified by the candidate, you must answer all 60 questions with equal care, maintaining an average pacing of 75 seconds per question (75 minutes ÷ 60 questions).

The Eight Official ASE T1 Content Areas

Unlike the Automobile A1 exam—which restricts its scope primarily to internal mechanical repair while deferring deep ignition, fuel, and electronic diagnostics to A6 and A8—the Medium/Heavy Truck T1 exam tests the entire spark-ignited engine system from mechanical base-engine hardware to onboard diagnostics (OBD) and emissions controls. Across the 50 scored questions, ASE distributes items across eight functional content areas covering 98 official tasks:

Notice how the exam weights diagnostic proficiency: Area A (General Engine Diagnosis, 28%) and Area H (Computerized Engine Controls, 16%) together account for 44% of your entire score (22 of 50 scored questions). Meanwhile, Area E (Ignition, 12%), Area F (Fuel, Air Induction, and Exhaust, 12%), and Area G (Emissions Control, 10%) add another 34% (17 questions). Together, system-level driveability, ignition, fuel, emissions, and electronic controls represent 78% of the scored exam, whereas internal mechanical teardown and machining across Areas B, C, and D account for 22% (11 questions).

2026 Official Fees, Order Caps, and Language Support

Under the 2026 ASE fee schedule, every purchase transaction includes a flat $34 registration fee per order (charged once per checkout regardless of how many tests are purchased in that transaction) plus a $62 test fee for each individual T-series test:

• Single Initial T1 Exam Order: Purchasing the T1 exam by itself costs $96 total (\$34 registration fee + \$62 test fee).
• Bundled Multi-Test Order: Purchasing two T-series exams in a single order (for example, T1 and T6) costs $158 total (\$34 registration fee + [2 × \$62 test fees]), saving an extra $34 registration fee compared to placing two separate orders.
• Recertification Fee Cap (T1R): For recertification exams, individual test fees are $62 each, but ASE caps total recertification test fees at $186 per order once 3 or more recertification tests are purchased in the same transaction (3 × \$62 = \$186). Including the $34 registration fee, your maximum total order cost for recertification is $220 per transaction, even if you bundle four to eight recertification tests together.

All ASE computer-based exams provide a built-in English-to-Spanish pop-up glossary of technical terms that any candidate can open on screen during the test. However, full split-screen Spanish translation is limited to the Automobile (A1–A9) and G1 exams and is not available on Medium/Heavy Truck (T1–T8) exams.

Scheduling Windows, Cancellations, Retakes, and Master Truck Status

Strict administrative rules govern exam scheduling, rescheduling, retakes, and credential issuance:

• 90-Day Eligibility Window: Candidates have 90 calendar days from the date of purchase to schedule and take the exam at a Prometric test center.
• 3-Day Reschedule and Cancellation Cutoff: Appointments cannot be rescheduled or canceled within 3 days of the scheduled test date.
• 30-Day Retake Waiting Period: After receiving either a Pass or Fail result, candidates must observe a mandatory 30-day waiting period (30 full calendar days) before repurchasing and retesting the same exam.
• 2-Year Work Experience Requirement: Earning official ASE T1 certification requires 2 years of relevant hands-on work experience in automotive or medium/heavy truck repair. ASE-approved formal training may substitute for part of the requirement. The current ASE table grants 1 year for completing an ASE-accredited program or passing three different Entry-Level tests, up to 1 year for other training at two months or 200 program hours per month of credit, and 2 years for a completed ASE-accredited OEM-sponsored co-op program, including its hands-on portion. These alternatives cannot be combined. Passing the T1 exam before fulfilling the experience requirement earns an official test score report, not certification, until experience verification is completed. Once issued, certification is valid for 5 years.

Official Sources Checked October 13, 2026

• ASE T-series scope and certification requirements
• 2026 owner task list and test specifications
• Registration, fees and scheduling
• Detailed experience and training credits
• T1R remote testing

ASE reports pass/fail and content-area performance. Its public T1 specifications do not publish a fixed passing percentage or a guaranteed number of correct responses; do not invent either.