Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) - 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 Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 135 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Major Work Activity A - Performs common occupational skills - 25 questions
Major Work Activity B - Performs rigging, hoisting/lifting and moving - 17 questions
Major Work Activity C - Services mechanical power transmission components and systems - 32 questions
Major Work Activity D - Services material handling / process systems - 24 questions
Major Work Activity E - Services fluid power systems - 21 questions
Major Work Activity F - Performs preventative and predictive maintenance, commissioning and decommissioning - 16 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 30 and 40% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
What is required when working from heights?
- Hard hat.
- Fall arrest equipment.
- Safety glasses.
- Steel-toed work boots.
Answer: B
Procedural and Application
This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.
For this trade, between 40 and 50% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
What is the procedure to drill a 1-in. hole in a mild steel plate?
- Scribe mark material, drill pilot hole, then drill final bit size.
- Drill pilot hole, then drill final bit size.
- Make punch mark, drill pilot hole, then drill final bit size.
- Scribe mark material, then drill final bit size.
Answer: C
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:
A conveyor belt is running out of line beneath a chute. What is the cause?
- Belt tension is uneven.
- Skirting is too close to belt.
- Skirting is too far away from belt.
- Scraper is out of alignment.
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.
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.