Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) - 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 National Occupational Analysis. This trade's Red Seal exam has 120 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:

Block A - Occupational skills - 14 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
3 questions
Block B - Rigging and hoisting - 30 questions
Task 5 Selects rigging equipment
14 questions
Task 6 Uses hoisting and lifting equipment
16 questions
Block C - Cranes - 16 questions
Task 7 Assembles and erects cranes
10 questions
Task 8 Disassembles cranes
6 questions
Block D - Erection, assembly and installation - 48 questions
Task 9 Installs primary and secondary structural members
24 questions
Task 10 Installs ornamental components and systems
14 questions
Task 11 Installs conveyors, machinery and equipment
10 questions
Block E - Maintenance and upgrading - 12 questions
Task 12 Repairs components
6 questions
Task 13 Decommissions, disassembles 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 type of drawings indicate piece numbers for assembly of structural steel buildings?

  1. Architectural.
  2. Mechanical.
  3. Structural.
  4. Erection.

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 35 and 45% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

What is the procedure for off-loading a trailer of structural steel?

  1. Verify bill of lading, select proper rigging, then place in staging area.
  2. Verify bill of lading, shake out steel, then remove load binders.
  3. Position trailer, place in staging area, then remove load binders.
  4. Position trailer, attach rigging, then calculate weight of steel.

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:

What length of 3/4-in. bolt is required to fasten a double connection through the web of a column when the beam end connections are 5/8 in. each and the web thickness is 1/2 in.?

  1. 3 1/2 in.
  2. 3 in.
  3. 2 1/5 in.
  4. 2 in.

Answer: B

Math Formulas

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

in.
inch
ft.
foot
lb.
pound

Constants

π = 3. 1416

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

Formulas

Formulas
Descriptions Full Abbreviated
Area of a circle π × radius 2 π r 2
Circumference π × diameter π D
Force area × pressure A × P
Number of wire rope clip diameter of the rope × 3 + 1 to the next whole number Not applicable
Pythagorean Theorem (side a) 2 + (side b) 2 = (side c) 2 a 2 + b 2 = c 2
Spacing between clips 6 × diameter 6 × D
Tension weight number of slings × length of sling vertical length Not applicable
Working load limit diameter 2 × 2000 D 2 × 2000

Acronyms

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

AT
all-terrain
AC
alternating current
ACS
American Chemistry Society
ANSI
American National Standards Insitute
ASME
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials
AWS
American Welding Society
c/c
centre to centre
CAD
computer-assisted drawing
CRSI
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute
CSA
Canadian Standards Association
cu. ft.
cubic foot
CWB
Canadian Welding Bureau
db
bar diameter
DC
direct current
EOT
electric overhead travelling
f'c
specified compressive strength of concrete
FCAW
flux-cored arc welding
ft.
foot
GMAW
gas metal arc welding
GTAW
gas tungsten arc welding
hr
hour
HSS
hollow structural section
ID
inside diameter
in.
inch
IWRC
independent wire-rope core
JHA
job hazards analysis
kg
kilogram
kN
kilonewton
lb.
pound
m
metre
mm
millimetre
MPa
megapascal
OD
outside diameter
OH&S
Occupational Health and Safety
OWSJ
open web steel joist
PPE
personal protective equipment
psi
pounds per square inch
RSIC
Reinforcing Steel Insitute of Canada
SAE
Society of Automotive Engineers
SDS
safety data sheet
SMAW
shielded metal arc welding
TC
tension control
TOC
top of concrete
TOS
top of steel
WHMIS
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WLL
working load limit
WWF
welded wide flange
SWL
safe working load
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.