Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic - 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 125 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Major Work Activity A – Performs common occupational skills - 13 questions
Major Work Activity B – Performs routine trade activities - 19 questions
Major Work Activity C – Plans installation - 18 questions
Major Work Activity D – Performs installation - 26 questions
Major Work Activity E – Performs commissioning - 21 questions
Major Work Activity F – Performs maintenance and service - 28 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 20 and 30% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
Which cooling coil is selected for maximum dehumidification?
- 4 row high velocity.
- 4 row low velocity.
- 8 row low velocity.
- 8 row high velocity.
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 50 and 60% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
A manual pump down is required. How is the king valve adjusted?
- By turning the stem clockwise to front seat.
- By turning the stem clockwise to back seat.
- By turning the stem counter-clockwise to front seat.
- By turning the stem counter-clockwise to back seat.
Answer: A
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:
There is high suction pressure on a heat pump. What is the cause?
- Low refrigerant charge.
- Leaking reversing valve.
- Leaking liquid line solenoid.
- Restricted liquid line filter-drier.
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.
Acronyms
The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
- A
- ampere
- AB
- alkylbenzene
- AC
- alternating current
- A/C
- air conditioning / air conditioner
- AHJ
- authority having jurisdiction
- ANT.
- anticipator
- ASHRAE
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- BTU
- British thermal unit
- Btuh
- British thermal units per hour
- BTU/lb
- British thermal units per pound
- C.E.C.
- Canadian Electrical Code
- CFH
- cubic feet per hour
- CFM
- cubic feet per minute
- cm
- centimetre
- COP
- coefficient of performance
- CPR
- crankcase pressure regulator
- CRAC
- computer room air conditioning
- CSA
- Canadian Standards Association
- CSIR
- capacitor start / induction run rotor
- dBA
- A-weighted decibel
- °C
- degree Celsius
- °F
- degree Fahrenheit
- DHUM
- dehumidifier
- DIP
- dual in-line package
- DPDT
- double-pole, double-throw
- DTFD
- defrost terminate fan delay
- DX
- direct expansion
- ECM
- electronic control module
- EEV
- electronic expansion valve
- EPR
- evaporator pressure regulator
- ERV
- energy recovery ventilation
- EXV
- electric expansion valve
- FLA
- full load amperage
- fpm
- feet per minute
- ft.
- foot
- GFCI
- ground fault circuit interrupter
- GND
- ground
- Hg
- mercury
- hp
- horsepower
- HRV
- heat recovery ventilator
- Hz
- hertz
- HVAC
- heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- HVAC/R
- heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration
- ID
- inside diameter
- IMDG
- International Maritime Dangerous Goods
- in²
- square inch
- inHg
- inches of mercury
- inHg vac
- inches of mercury vacuum
- IR
- infrared
- ISO
- International Organization for Standardization
- kPaG
- kilopascal gauge
- JOHSC
- Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee
- lb.
- pound
- LED
- light-emitting diode
- LLSV
- liquid line solenoid valve
- LOTO
- lock-out and tag-out
- LPS
- low pressure switch
- LR
- long radius
- µm
- micron
- mm
- millimetre
- MO
- mineral oil
- NC
- normally closed
- NO
- normally open
- NTC
- negative temperature coefficient
- OAT
- outside air temperature
- OD
- outside diameter
- OFC
- oil failure control
- OFM
- outdoor fan motor
- OHS
- Occupational Health and Safety
- ORD
- open on rise of differential
- ORI
- open on rise of inlet
- ORO
- open on rise of outlet
- P/E
- pressure enthalpy
- POE
- polyolester
- PPE
- personal protective equipment
- PSC
- permanent split capacitor
- psi
- pounds per square inch
- psia
- pounds per square inch absolute
- psig
- pounds per square inch gauge
- P/T
- pressure temperature
- PTAC
- packaged terminal air conditioner
- PTC
- positive temperature coefficient
- R / °R
- Rankin scale
- R.H.
- relative humidity
- rpm
- revolutions per minute
- RTU
- rooftop unit
- SCBA
- self-contained breathing apparatus
- SDS
- safety data sheet
- SPDT
- single-pole, double-throw
- SPST
- single-pole, single-throw
- SST
- saturated suction temperature
- t
- imperial ton
- TDG
- transportation of dangerous goods
- TDR
- time delay relay
- TEV
- thermostatic expansion valve
- TXV
- thermostatic expansion valve
- USG
- United States gallons
- USGPM
- United States gallons per minute
- UV
- ultraviolet
- V
- volt
- VA
- volt-ampere
- VAC
- volts alternating current
- VAV
- variable air volume
- VDC
- volt direct current
- VFD
- variable frequency drive
- VRF
- variable refrigerant flow
- W
- watt
- w.c.
- water column
- WHMIS
- Workplace Hazardous Information Management System
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.