Ironworker (Generalist) - Exam Information

Self-Assessment
Exam Breakdown
Types of Exam Questions
Math Formulas
Acronyms

Self-Assessment

This tool can be used to reflect on your own experience and knowledge in the trade compared with what is on the exam.

Exam Breakdown

Each Red Seal exam's questions are developed to assess the activities laid out in the National Occupational Analysis. This trade's Red Seal exam has 120 questions^{Footnote *}, which are distributed as follows:

Block A - Occupational skills - 15 questions

Task 1 Interprets occupational documentation

4 questions

Task 2 Communicates in the workplace

2 questions

Task 3 Uses and maintains tools and equipment

5 questions

Task 4 Organizes work

4 questions

Block B - Rigging and hoisting - 22 questions

Task 5 Selects rigging equipment

10 questions

Task 6 Uses hoisting and lifting equipment

12 questions

Block C - Cranes - 11 questions

Task 7 Selects, assembles and erects cranes and components

7 questions

Task 8 Disassembles cranes

4 questions

Block D - Reinforcing - 19 questions

Task 9 Fabricates on-site

6 questions

Task 10 Installs reinforcing material

13 questions

Block E - Pre-stresses/post-tensions - 8 questions

Task 11 Places pre-stressed/post-tensioning systems

4 questions

Task 12 Stresses tendons

3 questions

Task 13 Grouts tendons

1 question

Block F - Erection, assembly and installation - 34 questions

Task 14 Installs primary and secondary structural members

17 questions

Task 15 Installs ornamental components and systems

9 questions

Task 16 Installs conveyors, machinery and equipment

8 questions

Block G - Maintenance and upgrading - 11 questions

Task 17 Repairs components

5 questions

Task 18 Dismantles and removes structural, mechanical and miscellaneous components

6 questions

Types of Exam Questions

All Red Seal exam questions are written in multiple-choice format. A multiple-choice question consists of question followed by four possible responses (A, B, C, D). Every question has exactly one correct answer and three incorrect options. They are not misleading or trick questions, but the incorrect options are not always obvious.

There are three types of questions that you will see on Red Seal Exams:

Knowledge and Recall
Procedural and Application
Critical Thinking

Knowledge and Recall

This type of question tests your ability to recall and understand definitions, facts and principles.

For this trade, between 50 and 60% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Which colours of the colour code represent a reinforcing steel bar 5280 mm in length?

Dark blue, pink, light blue, red.
Light blue, red, dark blue, pink.
Dark blue, red, light blue, pink.
Light blue, pink, dark blue, red.

Answer: C

Procedural and Application

This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.

For this trade, between 35 and 45% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

What is the proper sequence prior to disconnecting the conveyor chain from an existing system?

Disengage the take-up, check the elevations and secure the chain.
Disengage the drive, remove the pins and secure the chain.
Remove the chain pins, check and secure the take-up.
Remove the drive chain, check the take-up and remove the pins.

Answer: A

Critical Thinking

This type of question tests your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.

For this trade, less than 10% of questions are this type.

Example of a Critical Thinking Question:

How many 20 ft. sections of tower weighing 3400 lb. each can be hoisted and placed inside an elevator shaft at the same time with a crane capacity of 5 tons, a building height of 210 ft. and an under-hook height of 273 ft.?

Answer: A

Math Formulas

Formulas [PDF, 67 KB]

The following formulas used in this trade may be needed to answer some questions on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.

Measurement unit abbreviations

ft.: foot
in.: inch
kg: kilogram
lb.: pound

Constants

π = 3.1416

1 ft. × 1 ft. × 1 in. of steel plate = 40.8 lb.

1 kg = 2.2 lb.

Formulas

Formulas
Descriptions	Full	Abbreviated
Area of a circle	$π \times {radius}^{2}$	$π r^{2}$
Circumference	$π \times diameter$	$π D$
Force	$area \times pressure$	$A \times P$
Ladder ratio	$A^{2} + B^{2} = C^{2} + 3 overhang$	$A^{2} + B^{2} = C^{2} + 3$
Number of wire rope clip	$(3 \times diameter of the rope) + 1 to the next whole number$	$3 D + 1$
Overall length encompassing 2 bends for double hooks	$length + 18 \times diameter \times number of bars$	$L + 18 D \times # bars$
Pythagorean Theorem	${(side a)}^{2} + {(side b)}^{2} = {(side c)}^{2}$	$a^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}$
Sling tension	$\frac{weight}{number of slings} \times \frac{length}{vertical length}$	$\frac{W}{# slings} \times \frac{L}{vert. L}$
Spacing between clips	6 × diameter	$6 D$
Weight on snatch block	2 × weight	$2 W$
Working load limit	${diameter}^{2} \times 2000$	$D^{2} \times 2000$

Acronyms

Acronyms [PDF, 63 KB]

The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.

ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials International
BM: beam
BTM: bottom
CH: channel
CL.: clearance
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
CT: computed tomography
D.L.: dead load
d_b: bar diameter
dBA: A-weighted decibel
DWG: drawing
DO: ditto
E.W.: each way
ft.: foot
ft²: square foot
hr: hour
HSS: hollow structural section
I.F.: inside face
in.: inch
in²: square inch
IWRC: independent wire rope core
kg: kilogram
kg/ft.: kilograms per foot
kg/m: kilograms per metre
L.L.: live load
lb.: pound
lb./ft.: pounds per foot
lb./ft²: pounds per square foot
lb./m: pounds per metre
lin. ft.: linear foot
m: metre
m²: square metre
min.: minimum
mm: millimetre
mm²: square millimetre
MPa: megapascal
N.T.S.: not to scale
No.: number
o/c: on centre
O.F.: outside face
OHS: Occupational Health and Safety
PPE: personal protective equipment
PSF: pounds per square foot
RT: rough terrain
SDS: safety data sheet
STL.: steel
t: ton
TC: tension control
TDG: transportation of dangerous goods
TYP.: typical
U.S.: underside
WHMIS: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

Try more sample questions for this trade and check out the Exam Preparation Guide. It will give you practical insights on what goes into Red Seal exams, and how you can best prepare yourself to do well.

For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.

Ironworker (Generalist) - Exam Information

Table of Contents

Knowledge and Recall

Procedural and Application

Critical Thinking

Measurement unit abbreviations

Constants

Formulas