Steamfitter/Pipefitter - 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 130 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:

Major Work Activity A – Performs common occupational skills - 16 questions
Task A-1 Performs safety-related functions
5 questions
Task A-2 Uses and maintains tools and equipment
5 questions
Task A-3 Organizes job
6 questions
Major Work Activity B – Performs layout, fabrication and piping installation - 29 questions
Task B-4 Performs fabrication
9 questions
Task B-5 Lays out, identifies and installs piping, tubing, fittings and related components
11 questions
Task B-6 Installs, maintains, troubleshoots, repairs and tests valves
6 questions
Task B-7 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heat tracing systems
3 questions
Major Work Activity C – Performs rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning - 17 questions
Task C-8 Performs common rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning
11 questions
Task C-9 Performs complex and critical rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning
6 questions
Major Work Activity D – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs low and high pressure steam and condensate systems - 24 questions
Task D-10 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs low pressure steam and condensate systems
11 questions
Task D-11 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs high pressure steam and condensate systems
13 questions
Major Work Activity E – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heating, cooling and process piping systems - 26 questions
Task E-12 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs hydronic systems
6 questions
Task E-13 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs process piping systems
6 questions
Task E-14 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs industrial water and waste treatment systems
2 questions
Task E-15 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs hydraulic systems
2 questions
Task E-16 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems
3 questions
Task E-17 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs fuel systems
2 questions
Task E-18 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs medical gas systems
2 questions
Task E-19 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs compressed air and pneumatic systems
3 questions
Task E-20 Installs and tests fire protection systems (NOT COMMON CORE)
0 questions
Major Work Activity F – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs renewable energy systems - 7 questions
Task F-21 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs geo-exchange and geothermal systems
2 questions
Task F-22 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs solar heating systems
1 questions
Task F-23 Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heat recovery systems
4 questions
Major Work Activity G – Performs commissioning, start-up and turnover - 11 questions
Task G-24 Prepares system for commissioning, start-up and turnover
6 questions
Task G-25 Commissions systems
5 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 35 and 45% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Which type of drawing is used for shop assembly?

  1. Architectural detail drawing.
  2. Schematic drawing.
  3. Flow sheet.
  4. Spool sheet.

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 45 and 55% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

When a job is complete, what is done with shackles and pins?

  1. Replace worn pins with bolts, then keep in accessible rigging box.
  2. Replace worn pins with bolts, then store together in clean, dry environment.
  3. Remove pins from shackles, then keep in accessible rigging box.
  4. Place pins in shackles, then store in clean, dry environment.

Answer: D

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:

There are fluctuations on a test gauge reading during a 24-hour air test. What is the cause?

  1. Change in elevation.
  2. Change in volume of system.
  3. Change in ambient air temperature.
  4. Test air absorbed by moisture in system.

Answer: C

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.