ISRI Entrance Examination study guide
ISRI Entrance Examination · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ISRI Entrance Examination is the entry assessment used in the scrap recycling industry to gauge whether a candidate has the foundational knowledge to work competently in a scrap yard, brokerage, or processing operation. It is aimed at people entering the trade - new hires, career changers, and staff moving from adjacent fields such as logistics, manufacturing, or waste management - rather than at seasoned veterans seeking an advanced credential. The ISRI Entrance Examination study guide has 8 sections and about 2,228 words.
01Scrap Metal Identification and Classification
Every downstream decision - price, processing route, buyer, and regulatory handling - depends on correctly identifying what a material is. Candidates must know the major ferrous grades (heavy melting scrap, shredded or auto shredder feed, plate and structural, busheling, turnings, cast iron) and the nonferrous families (copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, nickel alloys, stainless, and the precious metals).
340 words, about 2 min02Ferrous and Nonferrous Metallurgy Fundamentals
Candidates should understand the iron-carbon system: carbon content distinguishes steel from cast iron, and carbon plus alloying elements control hardness, strength, and weldability. Know the basic families: carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless (chromium-bearing, corrosion resistant), tool steels, and cast irons.
306 words, about 2 min03Scrap Processing, Sorting, and Preparation Equipment
Scrap moves from receipt through sorting, size reduction, cleaning, and densification to a saleable product. Candidates should know the main equipment and its purpose: shears for cutting plate and structural; balers for compressing light iron and nonferrous; shredders (hammermills) for reducing mixed feed, followed by separation; briquetters for turnings; granulators for wire and cable; and magnets, eddy-current separators, and air classifiers for sorting.
253 words, about 1 min04Recycling Industry Safety and Environmental Compliance
Scrap yards present hazards from heavy equipment, falling material, sharp edges, fire, and confined spaces. Candidates must know the hierarchy of controls, the purpose of personal protective equipment, lockout/tagout for equipment maintenance, machine guarding, and safe lifting and rigging.
282 words, about 1 min05Material Handling, Weighing, and Inventory Control
Scrap is bought and sold by weight, so accuracy is commercial. Candidates should understand scale types (truck scales, platform scales, crane scales), calibration and certification, tare weight, and the difference between gross, tare, and net weight.
258 words, about 1 min06Scrap Markets, Pricing, and Commodity Trading Basics
Scrap prices respond to mill demand, steel and metal production, construction and manufacturing activity, export demand, energy costs, freight, and currency movements. Candidates should understand the difference between published indices and negotiated transaction prices, the role of monthly or periodic settlements, and the concepts of spot versus contract sales.
275 words, about 1 min07Regulatory, Trade, and Transportation Requirements
Candidates should understand that scrap handling is regulated at multiple levels: environmental rules for waste and emissions, workplace safety rules, and trade rules for imports and exports. Know the concept of hazardous versus nonhazardous waste, the need for proper manifests and records, and the role of permits.
260 words, about 1 min08Business Operations and Customer Relations
Operations combine purchasing, processing, sales, logistics, and administration. Candidates should understand the buy-sell margin, operating costs (labor, energy, maintenance, freight), and how processing adds value.
254 words, about 1 min