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
Block B - Rigging and hoisting - 30 questions
Block C - Cranes - 16 questions
Block D - Erection, assembly and installation - 48 questions
Block E - Maintenance and upgrading - 12 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?
- Architectural.
- Mechanical.
- Structural.
- 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?
- Verify bill of lading, select proper rigging, then place in staging area.
- Verify bill of lading, shake out steel, then remove load binders.
- Position trailer, place in staging area, then remove load binders.
- 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.?
- 3 1/2 in.
- 3 in.
- 2 1/5 in.
- 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
Formulas
Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
---|---|---|
Area of a circle | ||
Circumference | ||
Force | ||
Not applicable | ||
Pythagorean Theorem | ||
Spacing between clips | ||
Tension | Not applicable | |
Working load limit |
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.