Oil Heat System Technician - Exam Information

Table of Contents

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 Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 110 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:

Major Work Activity A – Performs common occupational skills – 7 questions
Task 1 Maintains safe and healthy workplace
1 questions
Task 2 Uses tools and equipment
3 questions
Task 3 Organizes work
3 questions
Task 4 Maintains continuous learning
0 questions
Task 5 Uses communication and mentoring techniques
0 questions
Major Work Activity B – Installs fuel supply and storage systems – 20 questions
Task 6 Installs fuel storage tanks
10 questions
Task 7 Installs fuel supply system
10 questions
Major Work Activity C – Installs oil-fired heating systems – 23 questions
Task 8 Installs and retrofits oil-fired and wood/oil appliances and components
5 questions
Task 9 Installs and retrofits forced-air heating systems
8 questions
Task 10 - Installs and retrofits hydronic heating systems
10 questions
Major Work Activity D – Installs venting systems, and combustion air and make-up air equipment and components – 17 questions
Task 11 Installs venting systems
8 questions
Task 12 Installs equipment and components for combustion air and make-up air
9 questions
Major Work Activity E – Installs and tests electrical and electronic systems – 22 questions
Task 13 Installs electrical and electronic systems
10 questions
Task 14 Tests electrical and electronic systems
11 questions
Major Work Activity F – Performs maintenance, diagnosis, repair and removal – 21 questions
Task 15 Maintains oil-fired heating systems and components
5 questions
Task 16 Diagnoses oil-fired heating systems and components
8 questions
Task 17 Repairs oil-fired heating systems and components
6 questions
Task 18 Removes appliances and components
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 10 and 20% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Which type of antifreeze solution is recommended for hydronic heating because of its good heat conductivity and non-toxic properties?

  1. Ethylene glycol.
  2. Brine.
  3. Methyl hydrate.
  4. Propylene glycol.

Answer: D

Procedural and Application

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

For this trade, between 65 and 75% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

What is the first step when replacing a heating system?

  1. Remove the burner.
  2. Remove the vent pipe.
  3. Disconnect the fuel lines.
  4. Shut off the electrical power.

Answer: D

Critical Thinking

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

For this trade, between 10 and 20% of questions are this type.

Example of a Critical Thinking Question:

When replacing a pressure control, the set point of the control is 7 psi. The control is subtractive and has a differential of 3 psi. When will the control open and close its contacts?

  1. Open at 10 and close at 4.
  2. Close at 4 and open at 7.
  3. Close at 7 and open at 4.
  4. Close at 3 and open at 7.

Answer: B

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.

Math Formulas

Formulas [PDF, 60 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

Btu/gal.
British thermal units per gallon
gal.
gallon
psi
pounds per square inch

Constants

1 gal. of heating oil
139 000 Btu/gal.
Relative density of fuel oil
0.893
Static head pressure
2.31

Formulas

Formulas
Description Full
Pump pressure (psi) height  ×  relative density of oil static head pressure
Slope rise run

Acronyms

Acronyms [PDF, 83 KB]

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

Ω
ohm
°C
degree Celsius
°F
degree Fahreinheit
µm
micrometre
A
ampere
BTU
British thermal unit
Btu/h
British thermal units per hour
BX
armoured
cad
cadmium
cm2
square centimetre
CO2
carbon dioxide
ft.
foot
ga
gauge
gal.
gallon
gph
gallons per hour
in.
inch
in2
square inch
in. Hg
inch of mercury
kPa
kilopascal
kW
kilowatt
L
litre
L/h
litres per hour
m
metre
mm
millimetre
No.
number
O2
oxygen
PPE
personal protective equipment
psi
pounds per square inch
RH
right hand
rpm
revolutions per minute
RSI
Resistance System International
SAE
Society of Automotive Engineers
USGPH
American gallons per hour
V
volt
VA
volt-ampere
VAC
volt alternating current
VDC
volt direct current
w.c.
water column

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