Construction Electrician - Exam Information

Self-Assessment
Exam Breakdown
Types of Exam Questions
Math Formulas
Acronyms

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 100 questions^{Footnote *}, which are distributed as follows:

Major Work Activity A - Performs common occupational skills - 11 questions

Task A-1 Performs safety-related functions

2 questions

Task A-2 Uses tools and equipment

2 questions

Task A-3 Organizes work

2 questions

Task A-4 Fabricates and installs support components

2 questions

Task A-5 Commissions and decommissions electrical systems

2 questions

Task A-6 Uses communication and mentoring techniques

1 question

Major Work Activity B - Installs, services and maintains generating, distribution and service systems - 28 questions

Task B-7 Installs, services and maintains consumer/supply services and metering equipment

4 questions

Task B-8 Installs, services and maintains protection devices

4 questions

Task B-9 Installs, services and maintains power distribution equipment

4 questions

Task B-10 Installs, services and maintains power conditioning, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and surge suppression systems

2 questions

Task B-11 Installs, services and maintains bonding and grounding, and ground fault protection and detection systems

4 questions

Task B-12 Installs, services and maintains power generation and conversion systems

2 questions

Task B-13 Installs, services and maintains renewable energy generating and storage systems

2 questions

Task B-14 Installs, services and maintains high-voltage systems

2 questions

Task B-15 Installs, services and maintains transformers

4 questions

Major Work Activity C - Installs, services and maintains wiring systems - 30 questions

Task C-16 Installs, services and maintains raceways, conductors, cables and enclosures

9 questions

Task C-17 Installs, services and maintains branch circuitry and devices

9 questions

Task C-18 Installs, services and maintains heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems

4 questions

Task C-19 Installs, services and maintains electric heating systems

4 questions

Task C-20 Installs, services and maintains exit and emergency lighting systems

3 questions

Task C-21. Installs, services and maintains cathodic protection systems

1 question

Major Work Activity D - Installs, services and maintains motors and control systems - 21 questions

Task D-22 Installs, services and maintains motor starters and controls

8 questions

Task D-23 Installs, services and maintains drives

4 questions

Task D-24 Installs, services and maintains motors

6 questions

Task D-25 Installs, programs, services and maintains automated control systems

3 questions

Major Work Activity E - Installs, services and maintains signalling and communication systems - 10 questions

Task E-26 Installs, services and maintains signaling systems

4 questions

Task E-27 Installs, services and maintains communication systems

3 questions

Task E-28 Installs, services and maintains integrated control systems

3 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 5 and 15% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Where are the overload relays placed for a motor that is not thermally protected?

In the contactor enclosure.
In the emergency stop station enclosure.
At the motor.
At the distribution panel.

Answer: A

Procedural and Application

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

For this trade, between 60 and 70% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

When performing a lockout on an electrical circuit, what must be done to ensure safety?

Inform supervisor, de-energize circuit, lock the switch, then tag the switch.
De-energize circuit, tag the switch, inform supervisor, then lock the switch.
Tag the switch, lock the switch, remove the fuse, then inform supervisor.
Inform supervisor, lock the switch, tag the switch, then remove the fuse.

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 20 and 30% of questions are this type.

Example of a Critical Thinking Question:

Given the following information:

1 1/2-in. × 4-in. standard octagonal box
Box contains:
- 1 fixture stud
- 5 wire connectors

What is the maximum number of No. 12 AWG copper conductors permitted?

Answer: A

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, 140 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

E: voltage
hp: horsepower
I: current
P: power
PF: power factor
R: resistance
VA: volt‑ampere

Constants

$\sqrt{3}$: 1.73
π: 3.14

Formulas

Formulas
Description	Full	Abbreviated
Current	$\frac{voltage}{resistance}$	$\frac{E}{R}$
Frequency	$\frac{poles \times speed}{120}$
Kilovolt‑amperes	$line voltage \times line current \times \sqrt{3}$	$E_{line} \times I_{line} \times \sqrt{3}$
Line current (I_line)	$phase current \times \sqrt{3}$	$I_{phase} \times \sqrt{3}$
Line current (I_line)	$\frac{volt-ampere}{line voltage \times \sqrt{3}}$	$\frac{VA}{E_{line} \times \sqrt{3}}$
Line voltage (E_line)	$phase voltage \times \sqrt{3}$	$E_{phase} \times \sqrt{3}$
Power	${current}^{2} \times resistance$	$I^{2} \times R$
Power	$voltage \times current$	$E \times I$
Power	$\frac{{voltage}^{2}}{resistance}$	$\frac{E^{2}}{R}$
Power factor	$\frac{true power}{apparent power}$
Resistance	$\frac{{voltage}^{2}}{power}$	$\frac{E^{2}}{P}$
Short‑circuit current	$\frac{secondary current}{impedence}$	$\frac{l_{secondary}}{%Z}$
Three‑phase power	$voltage \times current \times \sqrt{3} \times power factor$	$E \times I \times \sqrt{3} \times PF$
Total power (P_total)	$line voltage \times line current \times power factor \times \sqrt{3}$	$E_{line} \times I_{line} \times PF \times \sqrt{3}$
Total power (P_total)	$phase voltage \times phase current \times power factor \times 3$	$E_{phase} \times I_{phase} \times PF \times 3$
Turn ratio	$\frac{number of primary turns}{number of secondary turns} =$ $\frac{primary voltage}{secondary voltage} =$ $\frac{current in the secondary}{current in the primary}$	$\frac{N_{p}}{N_{s}} = \frac{E_{p}}{E_{s}} = \frac{I_{s}}{I_{p}}$
Volt‑amperes	$line voltage \times line current \times \sqrt{3}$	$E_{line} \times I_{line} \times \sqrt{3}$
Volt‑amperes	$phase voltage \times phase current \times 3$	$E_{phase} \times I_{phase} \times 3$
Watts	$horsepower \times 746$	$hp \times 746$

Acronyms

Acronyms [PDF, 131 KB]

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

°C: degree Celsius
A: ampere
AC: alternating current
AFCI: arc-fault circuit interrupter
Ah: ampere-hour
ANSI: American National Standards Institute
AWG: American wire gauge
CATV: community antenna television
CFC: communication flat cable
CO₂: carbon dioxide
CR: control relay
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
CT: current transformer
DC: direct current
EMT: electrical metallic tubing
ENT: electrical non-metallic tubing
FCC: flat conductor cable
FLA: full load amps
FLC: full load current
FS: float switch
GFCI: ground-fault circuit interrupter
hp: horsepower
HID: high intensity discharge
HRV: heat recovery ventilator
HVAC: heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Hz: hertz
I/O: input/output
IC: insulation contact
IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission
IFR: indoor fan relay
in.: inch
in.-lb.: inch-pound
IP: ingress protection
IR: interrupting rating
K-rating: Kelvin-rating
kcmil: thousand circular mil
kg: kilogram
kV: kilovolt
kVA: kilovolt-ampere
kW: kilowatt
LED: light emitting diode
m: metre
m²: square metre
mA: milliampere
MCC: motor control centre
min: minute
mL: millilitre
mm: millimetre
mm²: square millimetre
NACE: National Association of Corrosion Engineers
NBC: National Building Code
NC: normally closed
NEMA: National Electrical Manufacturers Association
NGR: neutral grounding resistor
N•m: newton-metre
NMD: non-metallic dry
NMWU: non-metallic wet underground
NO: normally open
O.L.: overload
PCB: polychlorinated biphenyl
PIR: passive infrared
PLC: programmable logic controller
PPE: personal protective equipment
PS: pressure switch
PVC: polyvinyl chloride
rpm: rotation per minute
RTRC: reinforced thermosetting resin conduit
s: seconde
SCR: silicon-controlled rectifier
SDS: safety data sheet
SQIM: squirrel-cage induction motor
SWD: switching duty
TC: thermocouple
TR: timed relay
UPS: uninterrupted power supply
V: volt
VFD: variable frequency drive
W: watt

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

Construction Electrician - Exam Information

Table of Contents

Knowledge and Recall

Procedural and Application

Critical Thinking

Measurement unit abbreviations

Constants

Formulas