Conduit bending practice for the journeyman exam
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
Conduit bending math can come up on a journeyman exam: offset distances, shrink, saddles and 90° marks. Know the multiplier (1 ÷ sin of the angle), shrink per inch, the trade’s rounded rules and how to subtract a deduct. Practice under time pressure with the problems on this page, and check your jurisdiction’s exam outline for what is covered and which calculator is allowed.
Exam-style problems
Work each problem on paper first, then open the answer. Answers are rounded to 1/16".
Problem 1
4 conduits, 3" apart, are offset 5" at 45°. Find the distance between bends, how far each next conduit’s marks move, and the last conduit’s total move.
Show the answer
- Distance between bends
- 7 1/16" (7.07")
- Move each next conduit’s marks by
- 1 1/4" (1.24")
- Last conduit’s marks move by
- 3 3/4" (3.73")
- Shrink of each conduit
- 2 1/16" (2.07")
Problem 2
A run has to rise 10" and roll 24" sideways, bent at 30°. Find the true offset, the roll angle, the distance between bends and the shrink.
Show the answer
- True offset
- 26"
- Roll angle
- 67.38°
- Distance between bends
- 52"
- Shrink
- 6 15/16" (6.97")
Problem 3
A 4-point saddle clears a 4" high, 14" wide box using 45° bends. Find the distance between the bends of each offset, the distance across the top and the shrink.
Show the answer
- Between the bends of each offset
- 5 11/16" (5.66")
- Across the top of the obstruction
- 14"
- Total shrink
- 3 5/16" (3.31")
Problem 4
A 90° sweep of 36" radius is made of 7 equal bends. How far apart are the bends, how big is each, and how much conduit does the sweep use?
Show the answer
- Between the shots’ marks
- 8 1/16" (8.08")
- Angle of each shot
- 12.86°
- Conduit used by the sweep
- 56 9/16" (56.55")
Problem 5
A 3-point saddle clears a 3" high obstruction using 30° outer bends. How far is each outer mark from the center mark, and what is the shrink?
Show the answer
- Center mark to each outer mark
- 6"
- Center bend angle
- 60°
- Total shrink
- 1 5/8" (1.61")
Problem 6
5 conduits, 2" apart, are offset 3" at 22.5°. Find the distance between bends, how far each next conduit’s marks move, and the last conduit’s total move.
Show the answer
- Distance between bends
- 7 13/16" (7.84")
- Move each next conduit’s marks by
- 3/8" (0.4")
- Last conduit’s marks move by
- 1 9/16" (1.59")
- Shrink of each conduit
- 5/8" (0.6")
Problem 7
A run has to rise 8" and roll 6" sideways, bent at 22.5°. Find the true offset, the roll angle, the distance between bends and the shrink.
Show the answer
- True offset
- 10"
- Roll angle
- 36.87°
- Distance between bends
- 26 1/8" (26.13")
- Shrink
- 2" (1.99")
Problem 8
A stub-up must be 42" to the back of the 90, and the bender deducts 11". Where is the mark?
Show the answer
- Mark the conduit at (from the stub end)
- 31"
Problem 9
A 90° sweep of 48" radius is made of 9 equal bends. How far apart are the bends, how big is each, and how much conduit does the sweep use?
Show the answer
- Between the shots’ marks
- 8 3/8" (8.38")
- Angle of each shot
- 10°
- Conduit used by the sweep
- 75 3/8" (75.4")
Problem 10
A 9" kick is bent at 22.5°. How far from the back of the 90 is the kick mark, and what is the shrink?
Show the answer
- Back of the 90 to the kick mark
- 23 1/2" (23.52")
- Shrink
- 1 13/16" (1.79")
Problem 11
An offset is 15" high and bent at 45°. How far apart are the bends, and how much does the conduit shrink?
Show the answer
- Distance between bends
- 21 3/16" (21.21")
- Shrink
- 6 3/16" (6.21")
Problem 12
A 4-point saddle clears a 6" high, 18" wide box using 30° bends. Find the distance between the bends of each offset, the distance across the top and the shrink.
Show the answer
- Between the bends of each offset
- 12"
- Across the top of the obstruction
- 18"
- Total shrink
- 3 3/16" (3.22")
What bending questions usually test
Exams differ by state and jurisdiction, so check your jurisdiction’s exam outline for what it lists. In general, a bending question gives you a bend, some measurements and an angle, and asks for a distance, a mark or an amount of shrink. They usually reward knowing a formula and applying it cleanly, not memorizing a long chart.
Formulas to know cold
Distance between bends = offset height × (1 ÷ sin angle)Shrink = offset height × tan(angle ÷ 2)Mark for a 90 = stub length − deductSetback = radius × tan(angle ÷ 2)Exact numbers and trade rules
| Angle | Exact multiplier | Rounded rule | Exact shrink per inch | Rounded rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10° | 5.759 | 6 | 0.087 | 1/16" |
| 22.5° | 2.613 | 2.6 | 0.199 | 3/16" |
| 30° | 2.000 | 2 | 0.268 | 1/4" |
| 45° | 1.414 | 1.4 | 0.414 | 3/8" |
| 60° | 1.155 | 1.2 | 0.577 | 1/2" |
An exam-style example
- Offset height
- 9"
- Angle
- 45°
- Multiplier
- 1.414
- Distance between bends
- 9 × 1.414 = 12 3/4"
- Shrink
- 9 × 0.414 per inch of offset height
A question like this may go on to ask for the length of conduit. The bent piece spans less than its cut length by the shrink, so read the wording carefully to decide whether to add it.
Traps that cost marks
- Reading the offset height from the wrong edge instead of center to center.
- Using the wrong multiplier after a change of angle.
- Adding the deduct instead of subtracting.
- Leaving out shrink when a question asks for the length of conduit to cut.
- Switching between fractions and decimals mid-problem.
- Calculator in degree mode versus radians.
An exam-day method
- Write the formula, then the numbers, then the answer with units.
- Estimate first: the distance between bends must be longer than the offset height.
- Calculate, and check the answer is reasonable against your estimate.
- Work the unsure questions last, with time left to return.
Phone apps are often not allowed in an exam room, so check your testing rules. BendMate is for studying: use its calculators to confirm your answers to the practice problems on this page, then do the same sets by hand.
Get the marks for your bender
BendMate works this out from your bender’s radius and deduct, flags a bend that won’t work, and shows you every mark.
Common questions
Does the journeyman exam include conduit bending?
It depends on your jurisdiction, so check its exam outline. Where bending math is covered, expect offsets, shrink, saddles and 90° marks.
Which calculator can I use on the exam?
That is set by your testing agency, not by this site. Check the rules before test day and practice on the calculator you will be allowed to use.
How should I practice for the bending questions?
Work problems on paper under a time limit, check each answer, and keep a log of mistakes. Use the problems on this page, then confirm a few in a calculator.