The Red Seal exam for the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic has 125 questions. Before dividing 90 days of study time, check which public breakdown applies: Red Seal currently labels its previous occupational standard as the basis for current exams while exams based on the newer standard are under development.
How is the current exam split?
| Area | Official title | Weight | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 10% | 13 questions |
| B | Performs routine trade activities | 15% | 19 questions |
| C | Plans installation | 14% | 18 questions |
| D | Performs installation | 21% | 26 questions |
| E | Performs commissioning | 17% | 21 questions |
| F | Performs maintenance and service | 23% | 28 questions |
These are the exact counts in Red Seal's current-exam self-assessment guide, checked 2026-09-24. More detail is on the 313A exam standards page.
Weeks 1 to 2: where do you actually stand?
Start with a diagnostic, not a textbook. A set of questions spread in proportion to the weights shows which areas are already solid and which are not. Two rules for reading the result:
- Look at correct out of answered per area, never a single overall percentage.
- Do not trust an area score built on two or three questions. Treat small samples as "not enough evidence yet".
The free five-question sample is a quick first look; a full 30-question diagnostic gives each area enough questions to mean something.
Weeks 3 to 10: how should practice time be divided?
Weight your time by exam weight × how weak you are. A weak high-weight area deserves more time than a lower-weight area with the same evidence of weakness. In the current-exam guide, maintenance and service (F), installation (D) and commissioning (E) carry the most questions.
- Short, frequent sessions beat long occasional ones for recall. Twenty focused questions on a break is useful.
- For every miss, read why the right answer is right and why your answer was wrong.
- Practise explaining troubleshooting out loud: symptom, measurement, conclusion, fix. The exam is multiple choice, but talking through a fault shows you where your reasoning has gaps.
Weeks 11 to 13: review, not new material
The last three weeks are for the questions you have already missed. Go back through them until you can explain each one. Take one or two timed mixed sets to practise pacing, and note which areas slow you down. Resist starting new topics in the final week.
What should you avoid?
- Question dumps claiming to be real exam questions. Beyond the ethics, memorizing answers without the reasoning fails as soon as the wording changes.
- Studying only what you like. Mechanics who live in service calls often neglect planning (C) and commissioning paperwork (E-14.04).
- A single overall score as your measure of readiness. It hides which area will cost you.
Sources
- Red Seal: current-exam self-assessment guide125 questions and current-exam counts by Major Work Activity; checked 2026-09-24
- Red Seal: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic trade pageCurrent versus newer standard status; checked 2026-09-24
- Skilled Trades Ontario: Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
Examen Studio is independent and not affiliated with the Red Seal Program or Skilled Trades Ontario. This article is a study aid; on the job, follow current codes, regulations and manufacturer instructions.