G1 Auto Maintenance and Light Repair is one test that spans the whole vehicle: seven content areas, from engine systems to HVAC, in 90 minutes. The A-series is eight separate tests, A1 to A8, each covering one system in depth. G1's task list is about inspection, routine service and part replacement; the A-series task lists add diagnosis, measurement, adjustment and overhaul. G1's biggest areas are suspension and steering (13 questions) and brakes (11), while A4 and A5 put 40 and 45 scored questions on those systems. G1 does not count toward Master Automobile Technician; only A1 to A8 do. Both cost the same per test at ASE. If your work is maintenance and light repair, G1 matches it; if you already diagnose one system every day, that system's A test is the natural first step.
01How is G1 different from the A-series?
The difference is width against depth. G1 asks about most of the car in one sitting, while each A test takes one system and goes further into it. You can see it in the verbs of the task lists. G1's tasks mostly say inspect, check, verify, replace and service. The A-series tasks say diagnose, measure, adjust, disassemble and determine needed action, and they include overhaul work such as ring and pinion setup or automatic transmission clutch pack clearance that G1 leaves out.
G1's task list has 173 tasks across seven areas, and you get 90 minutes. It has 55 scored questions plus the usual 10 unscored; our G1 study guide breaks them down by area. The A-series tests have 40 to 50 scored questions each and 60 to 90 minutes.
02How do G1's areas line up with the A-series?
Each G1 area corresponds to one A test, except engine systems, which draws on both A1 and A8. The table puts G1's question count for each area beside the scored questions in the matching A test.
| G1 content area | G1 questions | Matching A test (scored questions) |
|---|---|---|
| A. Engine Systems | 9 | A1 (45) and A8 (50) |
| B. Automatic Transmission/Transaxle | 4 | A2 (45) |
| C. Manual Drive Train and Axles | 6 | A3 (40) |
| D. Suspension and Steering | 13 | A4 (40) |
| E. Brakes | 11 | A5 (45) |
| F. Electrical | 8 | A6 (50) |
| G. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning | 4 | A7 (50) |
Brakes show the gap clearly. G1 gives brakes 11 questions and 34 tasks, all at the service level; its only ABS-related task is checking the ABS warning light. A5 gives brakes 45 questions and 68 tasks, including a 10-question area on ABS, traction control and stability control diagnosis. HVAC is the same story: 7 G1 tasks against 74 in A7.
03How much deeper does the A-series go?
Task counts show the depth. This table sets the number of tasks in each G1 area beside the number in the whole matching A test (for engine systems, A1 and A8 together).
| G1 content area | G1 tasks | A-series tasks |
|---|---|---|
| A. Engine Systems | 22 | A1 + A8: 145 |
| B. Automatic Transmission/Transaxle | 7 | A2: 63 |
| C. Manual Drive Train and Axles | 22 | A3: 86 |
| D. Suspension and Steering | 59 | A4: 81 |
| E. Brakes | 34 | A5: 68 |
| F. Electrical | 22 | A6: 52 |
| G. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning | 7 | A7: 74 |
Suspension and steering is the G1 area whose task list comes nearest to its A-series counterpart, because G1 includes alignment, wheels and tires in detail. Automatic transmission and HVAC are the thinnest, with 7 tasks each in G1. If you take G1 first, those two areas are where A2 and A7 add the most beyond it.
04Does G1 count toward Master Technician?
No. ASE's Automobile study guide lists A1 to A8 as the tests required for Master Automobile Technician. G1 is a certification in its own right. More in how to become an ASE Master Technician.
The G1 study guide also describes a student route: someone enrolled in an ASE-accredited training program can be awarded G1 without sitting the G1 test, once they have passed eight specific ASE entry-level Automobile tests. Check ase.com for the current list.
05Which should you take first?
ASE does not set an order, so this comes down to your work. G1 suits technicians whose day is maintenance and light repair: oil and fluid service, tires and alignment, brake jobs, batteries, belts and inspections. Its task list reads like that work, and studying for it is also a quick tour of every area the A-series covers in more depth.
If you already diagnose and repair one system every day, brakes or electrical for example, that system's A test fits better, and it counts toward Master Technician where G1 does not. If you plan to go for Master eventually, the A-series is the path either way; G1 can still be a useful first test if it matches your current job.
Cost does not decide it. Both are $62 per test at ASE, plus $34 per order, and both last 5 years. G1's recertification test (G1R) is 28 questions in 45 minutes; the A-series recertification tests are 20 to 25 questions in 30 to 45 minutes.
06Questions people ask
- What is the difference between ASE G1 and the A-series?
- G1 is one test covering maintenance and light repair across seven areas of the vehicle in 90 minutes. The A-series is eight tests, A1 to A8, each covering one system in depth, including diagnosis and overhaul work G1 leaves out.
- Does ASE G1 count toward Master Technician?
- No. Only A1 to A8 count toward ASE Master Automobile Technician. G1 is a separate certification.
- Is G1 easier than the A-series tests?
- ASE's study guides do not compare the tests' difficulty. G1's task list stays at the inspection, service and replacement level, while the A-series task lists add diagnosis, measurement and overhaul, so the two test different depth.
- Can students get G1 without taking the test?
- Yes, according to ASE's G1 study guide. A student enrolled in an ASE-accredited training program can be awarded G1 without sitting the G1 test, once they have passed eight specific ASE entry-level Automobile tests.
- Is ToolboxPrep affiliated with ASE?
- ToolboxPrep is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by ASE (the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence). Our questions are original practice questions written to the published ASE test specifications; they are not actual test questions.
07Sources
- ASE Automobile Study Guide (Tests A1 to A9), 2026: question counts, testing times, recertification test lengths, the unscored-question rule, the Master Automobile Technician test list, the work experience requirement and the sample-question formats
- ASE Auto Maintenance and Light Repair (G1) Study Guide, 2026: the G1 content areas, testing time, G1R recertification test and the student route to G1
- ASE (ase.com): the $34 registration fee per order, the $62 fee per test, the 5-year certification period and the 30-day retest wait
The question counts and testing times were checked against ASE's published study guides on October 11, 2026; fees and rules are as ASE publishes them on ase.com, and they can change. ASE is the final word. If you find one of ours out of date, tell us.
Related: free practice questions · ASE G1 study guide · ASE Master Technician
08Practice tests
ToolboxPrep practice tests are weighted to each ASE test specification, area by area, and every answer is explained, all four options. Each practice page has five sample questions you can try with no account.
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ToolboxPrep is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by ASE (the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence). Our questions are original practice questions written to the published ASE test specifications; they are not actual test questions.