Ironworker (Reinforcing) - 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 - 19 questions

Task 1 Interprets occupational documentation

6 questions

Task 2 Communicates in the workplace

3 questions

Task 3 Uses and maintains tools and equipment

6 questions

Task 4 Organizes work

4 questions

Block B - Rigging and hoisting - 28 questions

Task 5 Selects rigging equipment

14 questions

Task 6 Uses hoisting and lifting equipment

14 questions

Block C - Cranes - 5 questions

Task 7 Selects, assembles and erects cranes and components

3 questions

Task 8 Disassembles cranes

2 questions

Block D - Reinforcing - 57 questions

Task 9 Fabricates on-site

13 questions

Task 10 Installs reinforcing material

44 questions

Block E - Pre-stresses/post-tensions - 11 questions

Task 11 Places pre-stressed/post-tensioning systems

4 questions

Task 12 Stresses tendons

5 questions

Task 13 Grouts tendons

2 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 65 and 75% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Which type of drawing supercedes the rebar placing drawing?

Electrical.
Structural.
Mechanical.
Architectural.

Answer: B

Procedural and Application

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

For this trade, between 25 and 35% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

How is a 6-m bundle of epoxy coated rebar rigged for lifting?

Nylon slings with a two-leg choker hitch.
Nylon slings with a two-leg bridle hitch.
Wire rope slings with a two-leg choker hitch.
Wire rope slings with a two-leg bridle hitch.

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:

If the building height is 62.5 m, and the under hook height is 84.37 m,how many 6-m tower sections weighing 1 750 kg (3 850 lb) each can be hoisted and placed inside an elevator shaft using a crane with a capacity of 5 tons?

Answer: B

Math Formulas

Formulas [PDF, 79 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
lb.: pound

Constants

$π = 3. 1416$

$1 ft. \times 1 ft. \times 1 in. of steel plate = 40.8 lb.$

$Bending pin diameter for uncoated bar = Up to 25M = 6D Greater than 25M = 8D$

Formulas

Formulas
Descriptions	Full	Abbreviated
$Area of a circle$	$π \times {radius}^{2}$	$π r^{2}$
$Circumference$	$π \times diameter$	$π D$
$Cut length$	$all lengths + 2 bar diameters per bend$	$all L + {2 d}_{b} / bend$
$Force$	$area \times pressure$	$A \times P$
$Number of wire rope clips$	$(3 \times diameter of the rope) + 1 to next whole number$	$3D + 1$
$Pythagorean Theorem$	${(side a)}^{2} + {(side b)}^{2} = {(side c)}^{2}$	$a^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}$
$Sling tension$	$\frac{weight}{number of slings} \times \frac{length}{vertical length}$	$\frac{W}{# slings} \times \frac{L}{vert . length}$
$Spacing between clips$	$6 \times diameter$	$6D$
$Working load limit$	${diameter}^{2} \times 2000$	$D^{2} \times 2000$

Acronyms

Acronyms [PDF, 64 KB]

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

ANSI: American National Standards Institute
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials International
BLL: bottom lower layer
BUL: bottom upper layer
CCOHS: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
CHRC: Canadian Human Rights Commission
CL.: clearance
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
CSC: Canadian Safety Council
D: pin diameter
d_b: bar diameter
E.E.: each end
E.S.: each side
E.W.: each way
EWO: extra work order
fc: specified compressive strength of concrete
FCAW: flux-cored arc welding
ft.: foot
ft³: cubic foot
FLRA: field level risk assessment
GMAW: gas metal arc welding
GTAW: gas tungsten arc welding
H.C.: high chair
hr: hour
I.F.: inside face
in.: inch
IWRC: independent wire rope core
JHA: job hazards analysis
k: strength coefficient
kg: kilogram
kg/ft.: kilograms per foot
kg/m: kilograms per metre
lb.: pound
lb./ft.: pounds per foot
lb./m: pounds per metre
m: metre
MEWP: mobile elevating work platform
min.: minimum
mm: millimetre
mm²: square millimetre
MPa: megapascal
N-S: non-skid
N.T.S.: not to scale
No.: number
O.F.: outside face
OHS: Occupational Health and Safety
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PPE: personal protective equipment
psi: pounds per square inch
QAR: quality assurance report
RFI: request for information
RSIC: Reinforcing Steel Institute of Canada
S.B.: slab bolster
SMAW: shielded metal arc welding
t: ton
THA: task hazard assessment
TLL: top lower layer
TUL: top upper layer
TYP.: typical
WWF: welded wire fabric

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.