The Red Seal exam has 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions depending on the trade, and the writing time is four hours for every trade. Each question carries one mark, offers four options and has a single correct answer. The Red Seal Program publishes the exact count for each trade on that trade's exam information page. Across the eighteen trades covered here, the Construction Electrician (309A), Carpenter (403A) and Industrial Electrician (442A) exams have 100 questions, Hairstylist (332A), Parts Technician (240P), Sheet Metal Worker (308A) and each of the three Ironworker exams, Generalist (420B), Structural/Ornamental (420A) and Reinforcing (452A), have 120, Automotive Service Technician (310S), Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic (313A), Welder (456A) and Plumber (306A) have 125, Steamfitter/Pipefitter (307A) and Painter and Decorator (404C) have 130, Truck and Transport Mechanic (310T, Ontario's Truck and Coach Technician), Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (421A), Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) (433A) and Machinist (429A) have 135, and Cook (415A) has 150. Divide 240 minutes by your count and you get the average time per question, which lands between 1.6 and 2.4 minutes. The Red Seal Program also publishes how many questions come from each major work activity, and that breakdown is the part worth studying from.
01How many questions are on the Red Seal exam?
Red Seal exams run from 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions depending on the trade, and the writing time is four hours in every trade. Each question is worth one mark, has four options and one correct answer, and the pass mark is 70 per cent. The Red Seal Program publishes the exact count for each trade on that trade's exam information page, so the number for your trade is public rather than a matter of rumour in the shop.
The count differs by trade because the exam is built from the trade's occupational standard, and some trades are larger than others. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so an unanswered question is a mark given away. The exams are administered by the provincial and territorial apprenticeship and certification authorities — in Ontario, Skilled Trades Ontario — and that is who to ask about eligibility, fees and sitting dates.
02How do the eighteen trades compare?
Four hours is fixed, so the question count sets your pace. The minutes-per-question column below is 240 divided by the number of questions, the same calculation the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide asks you to work out for yourself. Major work activities, tasks and sub-tasks are the three levels the occupational standard uses, from broadest to narrowest.
| Trade | Questions | Time | Min / question | Major work activities | Tasks | Sub-tasks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 310S Automotive Service Technician | 125 | 4 hrs | 1.9 | 8 | 23 | 96 |
| 310T Truck and Transport Mechanic | 135 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 11 | 41 | 127 |
| 309A Construction Electrician | 100 | 4 hrs | 2.4 | 5 | 28 | 97 |
| 403A Carpenter | 100 | 4 hrs | 2.4 | 7 | 22 | 81 |
| 421A Heavy Duty Equipment Technician | 135 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 9 | 41 | 133 |
| 332A Hairstylist | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 8 | 19 | 65 |
| 433A Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) | 135 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 6 | 24 | 101 |
| 313A Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic | 125 | 4 hrs | 1.9 | 6 | 15 | 57 |
| 415A Cook | 150 | 4 hrs | 1.6 | 13 | 41 | 142 |
| 307A Steamfitter/Pipefitter | 130 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 7 | 26 | 107 |
| 456A Welder | 125 | 4 hrs | 1.9 | 4 | 16 | 60 |
| 306A Plumber | 125 | 4 hrs | 1.9 | 7 | 21 | 95 |
| 429A Machinist | 135 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 8 | 20 | 110 |
| 442A Industrial Electrician | 100 | 4 hrs | 2.4 | 6 | 31 | 112 |
| 240P Parts Technician | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 5 | 16 | 52 |
| 420B Ironworker (Generalist) | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 6 | 19 | 70 |
| 420A Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 4 | 14 | 52 |
| 452A Ironworker (Reinforcing) | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 4 | 14 | 53 |
| 308A Sheet Metal Worker | 120 | 4 hrs | 2.0 | 5 | 19 | 77 |
| 404C Painter and Decorator | 130 | 4 hrs | 1.8 | 6 | 19 | 61 |
Every exam question is written to a sub-task, so that column shows how much ground a trade covers. The 421A standard has 133 sub-tasks against 135 questions, roughly one question each. The 332A standard has 65 sub-tasks against 120 questions, so most get covered more than once.
03How many questions are on the 310S exam?
The 310S Automotive Service Technician exam has 125 questions and a four-hour writing time, which works out to about 1.9 minutes per question. The 2023 Red Seal Occupational Standard for the trade covers eight major work activities, 23 tasks and 96 sub-tasks, and the Red Seal Program's published breakdown spreads the 125 questions across the blocks as follows.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 9 |
| B | Engine and engine support systems | 22 |
| C | Vehicle module communications systems | 12 |
| D | Driveline systems | 17 |
| E | Electrical and comfort control systems | 23 |
| F | Steering, suspension, braking, control systems, tires, hubs and wheel bearings | 23 |
| G | Restraint systems, body, accessories and trim | 10 |
| H | Hybrid and electric vehicle systems | 9 |
| Total | 125 |
More on this exam: Automotive Service Technician (310S) practice exam, the 310S exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Automotive Service Technician.
04How many questions are on the 310T exam?
The 310T exam has 135 questions in four hours, roughly 1.8 minutes each, which ties with the 421A for the tightest pace here. Ontario calls the trade Truck and Coach Technician; the Red Seal Occupational Standard calls it Truck and Transport Mechanic. The 2022 standard is a large one: 11 major work activities, 41 tasks and 127 sub-tasks. The published breakdown is below.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 8 |
| B | Engines and supporting systems | 21 |
| C | Air systems and brake systems | 17 |
| D | Electrical and electronic systems | 22 |
| E | Drive trains | 17 |
| F | Steering, chassis, suspension, tires and wheels | 18 |
| G | Cabs | 5 |
| H | Trailers | 8 |
| I | Climate control systems | 7 |
| J | Hydraulic systems | 8 |
| K | Hybrid and electric vehicles | 4 |
| Total | 135 |
More on this exam: Truck and Coach Technician (310T) practice exam, the 310T exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Truck and Transport Mechanic.
05How many questions are on the 309A exam?
The 309A exam has 100 questions in four hours, about 2.4 minutes per question. The trade is Construction Electrician in the Red Seal Occupational Standard and Electrician - Construction and Maintenance in Ontario. The 2021 standard sets out only five major work activities, but they hold 28 tasks and 97 sub-tasks, so each block covers a lot of ground.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 11 |
| B | Generating, distribution and service systems | 28 |
| C | Wiring systems | 30 |
| D | Motors and control systems | 21 |
| E | Signalling and communication systems | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
More on this exam: Electrician - Construction and Maintenance (309A) practice exam, the 309A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Construction Electrician.
06How many questions are on the 403A exam?
The 403A exam has 100 questions in four hours, about 2.4 minutes per question. The trade is Carpenter in the Red Seal Occupational Standard and General Carpenter in Ontario. The standard covers seven major work activities, 22 tasks and 81 sub-tasks, and the questions fall out like this.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 12 |
| B | Planning and layout | 14 |
| C | Concrete work | 16 |
| D | Framing | 20 |
| E | Exterior finishing | 14 |
| F | Interior finishing | 14 |
| G | Renovations | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
More on this exam: General Carpenter (403A) practice exam, the 403A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Carpenter.
07How many questions are on the 421A exam?
The 421A Heavy Duty Equipment Technician exam has 135 questions in four hours, about 1.8 minutes per question. The standard covers nine major work activities, 41 tasks and 133 sub-tasks, more sub-tasks than any other trade on this page, so the ground each question can come from is wide.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 10 |
| B | Engines and supporting systems | 20 |
| C | Steering, suspension, brakes, undercarriage and wheels | 16 |
| D | Electrical and electronic systems | 25 |
| E | Drivetrain systems | 17 |
| F | Environmental control systems | 9 |
| G | Hydraulic, hydrostatic and pneumatic systems | 25 |
| H | Structural components, operator stations and attachments | 9 |
| I | Hybrid and all-electric equipment | 4 |
| Total | 135 |
More on this exam: Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (421A) practice exam, the 421A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Heavy Duty Equipment Technician.
08How many questions are on the 332A exam?
The 332A Hairstylist exam has 120 questions in four hours, about 2.0 minutes per question. The standard covers eight major work activities, 19 tasks and 65 sub-tasks. Hair colour and cutting hair are the two largest blocks, together 49 of the 120 questions.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 14 |
| B | Hair and scalp care | 11 |
| C | Cutting hair | 24 |
| D | Styling hair | 16 |
| E | Chemical texture services | 17 |
| F | Hair colour | 25 |
| G | Specialized services | 6 |
| H | Salon operations | 7 |
| Total | 120 |
More on this exam: Hairstylist (332A) practice exam, the 332A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Hairstylist.
09How many questions are on the 433A exam?
The 433A exam has 135 questions in four hours, about 1.8 minutes per question, the same pace as the 310T and 421A. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Industrial Mechanic (Millwright); Ontario calls it Industrial Mechanic Millwright. The current exam is built on the 2017 standard, which covers six major work activities, 24 tasks and 101 sub-tasks. The Red Seal Program has published a newer standard and says new exams based on it are under development, with no date given. The published breakdown for the current exam is below.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Common occupational skills | 25 |
| B | Rigging, hoisting/lifting and moving | 17 |
| C | Mechanical power transmission components and systems | 32 |
| D | Material handling / process systems | 24 |
| E | Fluid power systems | 21 |
| F | Preventative and predictive maintenance, commissioning and decommissioning | 16 |
| Total | 135 |
More on this exam: Industrial Mechanic Millwright (433A) practice exam, the 433A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Industrial Mechanic (Millwright).
10How many questions are on the 313A exam?
The 313A exam has 125 questions in four hours, about 1.9 minutes per question, the same pace as the 310S. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic; Ontario calls it Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, a compulsory trade. The current exam is built on the 2019 standard, which covers six major work activities, 15 tasks and 57 sub-tasks. The Red Seal Program has published a 2024 standard and says new exams based on it are under development, with no date given. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting. The published breakdown for the current exam is below.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 13 |
| B | Performs routine trade activities | 19 |
| C | Plans installation | 18 |
| D | Performs installation | 26 |
| E | Performs commissioning | 21 |
| F | Performs maintenance and service | 28 |
| Total | 125 |
More on this exam: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic (313A) practice exam, the 313A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic.
11How many questions are on the 415A exam?
The 415A exam has 150 questions in four hours, about 1.6 minutes per question, the fastest pace of the eighteen trades here. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Cook; 415A is Ontario’s trade code, and the trade is non-compulsory there. The current exam is built on the 2020 standard, which covers thirteen major work activities, 41 tasks and 142 sub-tasks, all common core. Meats and fish together carry 31 of the 150 questions; hygiene, sanitation and safety carries 13, the same as sauces.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Hygiene, sanitation and safety | 13 |
| B | Common occupational skills | 11 |
| C | Produce | 12 |
| D | Stocks, broths and soups | 12 |
| E | Sauces | 13 |
| F | Cheese, dairy, plant-based dairy alternatives, eggs and egg products | 10 |
| G | Pastas, noodles, stuffed pastas and dumplings | 10 |
| H | Grains, pulses, seeds, nuts and alternative proteins | 11 |
| I | Meats, game, poultry, game birds and variety meats | 16 |
| J | Fish and seafood | 15 |
| K | Salads and sandwiches | 9 |
| L | Specialty preparation | 8 |
| M | Sweet and savoury baked goods and desserts | 10 |
| Total | 150 |
More on this exam: Cook (415A) practice exam, the 415A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Cook.
12How many questions are on the 307A exam?
The 307A exam has 130 questions in four hours, about 1.85 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Steamfitter/Pipefitter; 307A is Ontario’s trade code for Steamfitter, a compulsory trade there. The current exam is built on the 2022 standard, which covers seven major work activities, 26 tasks and 107 sub-tasks, of which 104 are common core (the fire-protection task is not common core and carries no questions). Layout, fabrication and piping installation carries 29 of the 130 questions; heating, cooling and process piping 27; steam and condensate systems 24. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 16 |
| B | Performs layout, fabrication and piping installation | 29 |
| C | Performs rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning | 15 |
| D | Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs low and high pressure steam and condensate systems | 24 |
| E | Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heating, cooling and process piping systems | 27 |
| F | Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs renewable energy systems | 8 |
| G | Performs commissioning, start-up and turnover | 11 |
| Total | 130 |
More on this exam: Steamfitter/Pipefitter (307A) practice exam, the 307A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Steamfitter/Pipefitter.
13How many questions are on the 456A exam?
The 456A exam has 125 questions in four hours, about 1.9 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Welder; 456A is Ontario’s trade code, and the trade is voluntary there. The current exam follows the structure of the 2023 standard: four blocks, and the welding-processes block alone carries 54 of the 125 questions, split across SMAW (18), FCAW, MCAW and GMAW (18), GTAW (13) and SAW (5). A short formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 20 |
| B | Performs layout and fabrication of components for welding | 28 |
| C | Performs cutting and gouging | 23 |
| D | Performs welding processes | 54 |
| Total | 125 |
More on this exam: Welder (456A) practice exam, the 456A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information page.
14How many questions are on the 306A exam?
The 306A exam has 125 questions in four hours, about 1.9 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Plumber; 306A is Ontario’s trade code, and the trade is compulsory there. The current exam is built on the 2023 standard, which covers seven major work activities, 21 tasks and 95 sub-tasks, of which 85 are common core (communication and mentoring, low-pressure steam and potable water fire protection carry no questions). Sewers, sewage treatment and drainage, waste and vent (DWV) systems carry 32 of the 125 questions, 20 of them on interior DWV alone; water service and distribution carries 24. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 14 |
| B | Prepares and assembles tube, tubing and pipe | 13 |
| C | Installs, tests and services sewers, sewage treatment systems and drainage, waste and vent (DWV) systems | 32 |
| D | Installs, tests and services water service and distribution | 24 |
| E | Installs, tests and services fixtures, appliances and water treatment systems | 17 |
| F | Installs, tests and services low-pressure steam and hydronic systems | 16 |
| G | Installs, tests and services specialized systems | 9 |
| Total | 125 |
More on this exam: Plumber (306A) practice exam, the 306A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Plumber.
15How many questions are on the Machinist (429A) exam?
The Machinist exam has 135 questions in four hours, about 1.8 minutes per question, the same pace as the 310T, 421A and 433A. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Machinist; Ontario calls it General Machinist, 429A is Ontario’s trade code, and the trade is non-compulsory there. The current exam is built on the 2018 standard, which covers eight major work activities, 20 tasks and 110 sub-tasks. Conventional lathes and conventional milling machines carry 28 questions each and computer numerical control (CNC) machines carry 27, so those three blocks are 83 of the 135 questions. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 13 |
| B | Performs benchwork | 11 |
| C | Machines using power saws | 8 |
| D | Machines using drill presses | 9 |
| E | Machines using conventional lathes | 28 |
| F | Machines using conventional milling machines | 28 |
| G | Machines using precision grinding machines | 11 |
| H | Machines using computer numerical control (CNC) machines | 27 |
| Total | 135 |
More on this exam: Machinist (429A) practice exam, the Machinist exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Machinist.
16How many questions are on the 442A Industrial Electrician exam?
The 442A exam has 100 questions in four hours, about 2.4 minutes per question, the same pace as the 309A and 403A. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Industrial Electrician, Ontario uses the same name, and 442A is Ontario’s trade code. The current exam is built on the 2021 standard, which covers six major work activities, 31 tasks and 112 sub-tasks; communication and mentoring is the one task with no questions. Generating, distribution and service systems carries 23 questions, motors, drives and their controls 21 and wiring systems 20, so those three blocks are 64 of the 100, and process control adds 17. It is a separate exam from the 309A, and it is not a Red Seal trade in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Nunavut. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 9 |
| B | Installs and maintains generating, distribution and service systems | 23 |
| C | Installs and maintains wiring systems | 20 |
| D | Installs and maintains rotating and non-rotating equipment and control systems | 21 |
| E | Installs and maintains signalling and communication systems | 10 |
| F | Installs and maintains process control systems | 17 |
| Total | 100 |
More on this exam: Industrial Electrician (442A) practice exam, the 442A exam guide and the Red Seal Program's exam information for Industrial Electrician.
17How many questions are on the Parts Technician (240P) exam?
The Parts Technician exam has 120 questions, the same count as the 332A Hairstylist exam; at the four hours the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives, that is about 2.0 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Parts Technician, the title it has carried since 2019 (it was Partsperson before, and Manitoba and Yukon still use that name), and 240P is Ontario’s trade code. The current exam is based on the 2020 standard, which covers five major work activities, 16 tasks and 52 sub-tasks, and every task carries questions. Warehousing and inventory carries 30 questions, parts acquisition 29 and customer service 26, so those three blocks are 85 of the 120. The trade’s exam information page lists an acronym list, provided at the sitting, and no formula sheet. It is a Red Seal trade in all thirteen provinces and territories.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 19 |
| B | Performs customer service | 26 |
| C | Performs parts acquisition | 29 |
| D | Performs warehousing and inventory | 30 |
| E | Applies business practices | 16 |
| Total | 120 |
More on this exam: Parts Technician (240P) practice exam, the Parts Technician exam guide and the Red Seal Program’s exam information for Parts Technician.
18How many questions are on the Ironworker Red Seal exams?
Ironworker is three Red Seal trades, Generalist (420B in Ontario), Structural/Ornamental (420A) and Reinforcing (452A, Reinforcing Rodworker in Ontario), and each has its own exam of 120 questions; at the four hours the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives, that is about 2.0 minutes per question. All three trades have a Red Seal Occupational Standard published in 2025: Generalist covers six major work activities, 19 tasks and 70 sub-tasks, Structural/Ornamental four, 14 and 52, and Reinforcing four, 14 and 53. The exam information pages publish the breakdowns below on those standards, while the Red Seal trade pages still say exams on the new standards are under development, so ask your apprenticeship authority which version you will sit. All three exams share common occupational skills and rigging, hoisting and cranes; Structural/Ornamental adds erection and maintenance, Reinforcing adds reinforcing materials and post-tensioning, and Generalist has all six blocks. Each exam information page lists that exam’s own formula sheet and acronym list, provided at the sitting.
| Major work activity (Generalist letters) | Generalist | Structural/ Ornamental | Reinforcing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Performs common occupational skills | 14 | 20 | 29 |
| B Performs rigging, hoisting and positioning, and mobilization, erection, and demobilization of cranes (Reinforcing: participates in crane and equipment mobilization and demobilization) | 32 | 38 | 28 |
| C Fabricates and installs reinforcing materials | 21 | · | 49 |
| D Performs pre-stressing/post-tensioning | 10 | · | 14 |
| E Performs erection, assembly and installation (block C on Structural/Ornamental) | 31 | 43 | · |
| F Performs maintenance and upgrading (block D on Structural/Ornamental) | 12 | 19 | · |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 120 |
More on these exams: Ironworker Red Seal practice exam, the Ironworker Red Seal exam guide and the Red Seal Program’s exam information for Generalist, Structural/Ornamental and Reinforcing.
19How many questions are on the Sheet Metal Red Seal exam (308A)?
The Sheet Metal Worker exam has 120 questions, the same count as the 332A Hairstylist and 240P Parts Technician exams; at the four hours the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives, that is about 2.0 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Sheet Metal Worker (Tinsmith in Quebec), and 308A is Ontario’s trade code. The current exam is based on the 2018 standard, which covers five major work activities, 19 tasks and 77 sub-tasks, and every task carries questions. A 2026 standard has been published, and the Red Seal Program says exams for it are under development. Installing air and material handling systems carries 41 questions and fabrication 38, so those two blocks are 79 of the 120. The trade’s exam information page lists a formula sheet and an acronym list, both provided at the sitting. It is a Red Seal trade in all thirteen provinces and territories.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 24 |
| B | Performs fabrication | 38 |
| C | Installs air and material handling systems | 41 |
| D | Installs roofing and specialty products | 10 |
| E | Performs maintenance and repair | 7 |
| Total | 120 |
More on this exam: Sheet Metal Red Seal practice exam (308A), the Sheet Metal Red Seal exam guide and the Red Seal Program’s exam information for Sheet Metal Worker.
20How many questions are on the Red Seal Painter and Decorator exam?
The Painter and Decorator exam has 130 questions, the same count as the 307A Steamfitter/Pipefitter exam; at the four hours the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives, that is about 1.85 minutes per question. The Red Seal Occupational Standard calls the trade Painter and Decorator (Painter in Quebec, Painter Decorator in Nunavut); Ontario certifies it as Painter and Decorator – Commercial and Residential, trade code 404C. The exam is based on the 2022 standard, the only one for the trade, which covers six major work activities, 19 tasks and 61 sub-tasks, and every task carries questions. Applying residential, institutional and commercial coatings carries 31 questions, surface preparation 30 and industrial paints and coatings 29, so those three blocks are 90 of the 130. The trade’s exam information page lists an acronym list provided at the sitting and no formula sheet. It is a Red Seal trade in all thirteen provinces and territories. Ontario’s separate 404D Industrial exam is a provincial exam, not Red Seal.
| Block | Major work activity | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 20 |
| B | Prepares surfaces | 30 |
| C | Prepares and applies residential, institutional and commercial paints, coatings and finishes | 31 |
| D | Prepares and applies wall coverings | 9 |
| E | Prepares and applies wood finishes | 11 |
| F | Prepares and applies industrial paints and coatings | 29 |
| Total | 130 |
More on this exam: Red Seal Painter practice exam, the Red Seal Painter exam guide and the Red Seal Program’s exam information for Painter and Decorator.
21Who decides how many questions each section gets?
Tradespeople from across Canada do. According to the Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide, journeypersons from every province and territory build the occupational standard for a trade and also decide how many questions each section of it should get. A sub-task is testable only if at least 70 per cent of jurisdictions confirm that journeypersons in the trade perform it; below that threshold it is not common core and no exam question is written to it.
The Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide describes the structure plainly: an occupational standard breaks a trade into major work activities, those into tasks, and tasks into sub-tasks, and every exam question is based on a sub-task. The same tradespeople who build the standard also write and review the questions, which is why the exams use workplace vocabulary rather than textbook phrasing. The guide is explicit that the exam is work-based, not textbook-based, and that the occupational standard, not any textbook, is the basis of the exam.
Two consequences follow. The exam covers the trade as it is practised across Canada, not as it is practised in your shop. And the block counts on the exam information pages are deliberate decisions about emphasis, not an accident of sorting.
22How do you use the weighting to study?
Split your study time roughly in proportion to the block counts. On the 309A exam, wiring systems is 30 questions out of 100 and signalling and communication systems is 10, so wiring systems is worth three times the hours. On the 310S exam, electrical and comfort control systems and the steering, suspension and braking block are 23 questions each, against nine for hybrid and electric vehicle systems. Studying every block for the same number of evenings is the most common way to over-prepare a small block and under-prepare a large one.
Then work out your pace, and practise at the average from the table above so four hours is never the thing that beats you. The preparation guide suggests checking at the halfway mark whether you have completed half the questions and adjusting from there. Flag anything you cannot settle quickly and come back to it, since every question is worth the same one mark.
For a study plan built around these weightings, see how to study for the Red Seal exam.
23Sources
- Red Seal Program: Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide — exam format, the four-hour writing time, the 70 per cent pass mark, the major work activity / task / sub-task structure, the 70-per-cent-of-jurisdictions rule for testable sub-tasks, who sets the question counts, and the 240-minutes-divided-by-questions pacing calculation.
- Red Seal Program: 310S exam information — 125 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 310T exam information — 135 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 309A exam information — 100 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 403A exam information — 100 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 421A exam information — 135 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 332A exam information — 120 questions and block counts.
- Red Seal Program: 433A exam information — 135 questions and block counts; the current exam is built on the 2017 standard.
- Red Seal Program: 313A exam information — 125 questions and block counts; the current exam is built on the 2019 standard.
- Red Seal Program: 442A exam information — 100 questions and block counts; the current exam is built on the 2021 standard (checked October 3, 2026).
- Red Seal Program: Parts Technician (240P) exam information — 120 questions and block counts; the current exam is based on the 2020 standard (checked October 3, 2026).
- Red Seal Program: Ironworker exam information for Generalist (420B), Structural/Ornamental (420A) and Reinforcing (452A) — 120 questions each and block counts on the 2025 standards (checked October 4, 2026); the Red Seal trade pages say exams on those standards are under development.
- Red Seal Program: Sheet Metal Worker (308A) exam information — 120 questions and block counts; the current exam is based on the 2018 standard, and exams for the 2026 standard are under development (checked October 26, 2026)
- Red Seal Program: Painter and Decorator (404C) exam information — 130 questions and block counts on the 2022 standard; acronym list, no formula sheet (checked October 27, 2026)
- Red Seal Occupational Standards — major work activity, task and sub-task counts, and block titles: 310S, 310T, 309A, 403A, 421A, 332A, 433A (2017 standard, the basis of the current exam), 313A (2019 standard, the basis of the current exam).
Figures here were last checked against those pages on September 15, 2026. The Red Seal Program revises standards and breakdowns on its own schedule, so check your trade's page before you book.
24Practice for this exam
Every TicketPrep practice test is built to the block counts on this page, so a 309A test draws 30 of its questions from wiring systems the way the published breakdown does. Every answer is explained, all four options, and there are free sample questions in each trade with no account.
Related: all guides · how hard the exam is · fees and rules by province · how our questions are made