The exam at a glance
- 100multiple-choice questions
- 70%pass mark (70 of 100 correct)
- 4 hourswriting time
- ~2.4 minper question on average
Every question has four options and one correct answer. There are no trick questions, and every question is worth one mark. A formula sheet and an acronym list are provided at the sitting.
Question types: knowledge and recall 5–15%, procedural and application 75–85%, critical thinking under 10%.
What's on the exam
The questions follow the Carpenter Red Seal Occupational Standard, grouped into major work activities. The biggest blocks are Performs framing (20), Performs concrete work (16), Performs planning and layout (14).
| Block | Major work activity | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 12 | 12% |
| B | Performs planning and layout | 14 | 14% |
| C | Performs concrete work | 16 | 16% |
| D | Performs framing | 20 | 20% |
| E | Performs exterior finishing | 14 | 14% |
| F | Performs interior finishing | 14 | 14% |
| G | Performs renovations | 10 | 10% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
How to study
- Up to 85% of questions are procedural, so focus on the order of steps: how things are built, in what sequence, and why.
- Framing (D, 20 questions) and formwork (C, 16) are the heaviest blocks. Know form pressure, bracing, floor and roof framing and rafter math.
- Practise plan reading and scale conversions (B, 14 questions). Measure off real drawings and convert both metric and imperial.
- Renovation questions (G) often test what to check before you cut or remove: hazardous materials, load paths and temporary support.
- Do the free self-assessment on the official exam page and spend your time on the tasks you rated lowest, weighted by how many questions they carry.
- Practise every day in short sets. When you get one wrong, work out why each wrong option is wrong, not just which one is right.
Try 3 sample questions
These are original practice questions from our Carpenter question bank, not real exam questions.
Question 1 · Drawings & documents
A plan is drawn at 1:50. A wall measures 84 mm on the sheet. How long is the real wall?
- A. 0.42 m
- B. 42 m
- C. 1.68 m
- D. 4.2 m
Show the answer
D. 4.2 m
At 1:50, every 1 mm on paper is 50 mm on site: 84 mm x 50 = 4 200 mm = 4.2 m. Don't scale a drawing if a written dimension is given, though. Written dimensions win.
Question 2 · Formwork
Which change raises the lateral pressure on a wall form the most?
- A. Placing concrete faster, so it's taller before it sets
- B. Using a stiffer, lower-slump mix for the pour
- C. Pouring on a hot day, when the concrete sets much quicker
- D. Placing the wall in shorter, slower lifts
Show the answer
A. Placing concrete faster, so it's taller before it sets
Fresh concrete pushes like a fluid until it starts to set. A faster pour builds a taller fluid head and more pressure at the bottom. Cold weather, retarders and high slump also raise pressure. Follow the form design's maximum rate of placement.
Question 3 · Exterior doors & windows
When flashing a new window in a house-wrapped wall, what order do the pieces go on?
- A. Head first, then the sides, then the sill flashing last
- B. Sill first, then sides, then head, each lapping the one below
- C. The sides first, then the sill and head flashing together
- D. The order doesn't matter, as long as every seam gets taped well
Show the answer
B. Sill first, then sides, then head, each lapping the one below
Water runs down, so every layer has to lap over the one below it, shingle style. The sill flashing goes in first, ideally sloped or with a back dam. The head flashing goes in last, tucked under the wrap above.
Every question in every trade is free for everyone until Dec 1. No sign-up needed.
Try 10 questions free, no account needed. Every question has a plain-language explanation.
Start practisingSources
- Red Seal Program: Carpenter exam information (number of questions, breakdown, question types)
- Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide (70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, format)
- SkilledTradesBC: What to expect on exam day (four-hour time limit, materials provided)
Checked October 2026. Exam details can change, so confirm with the official page and your provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority before you write. RedSkillTrade is an independent study tool and isn't affiliated with the Red Seal Program.
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