The exam at a glance
- 135multiple-choice questions
- 70%pass mark (95 of 135 correct)
- 4 hourswriting time
- ~1.8 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. Check the official page for the formula sheet and acronym list provided at the sitting.
Question types: knowledge and recall 30–40%, procedural and application 40–50%, critical thinking 20–30%.
What's on the exam
The questions follow the Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Red Seal Occupational Standard, grouped into major work activities. The biggest blocks are Services mechanical power transmission components and systems (32), Performs common occupational skills (25), Services material handling / process systems (24).
| Block | Major work activity | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 25 | 19% |
| B | Performs rigging, hoisting/lifting and moving | 17 | 13% |
| C | Services mechanical power transmission components and systems | 32 | 24% |
| D | Services material handling / process systems | 24 | 18% |
| E | Services fluid power systems | 21 | 16% |
| F | Performs preventative and predictive maintenance, commissioning and decommissioning | 16 | 12% |
| Total | 135 | 100% |
How to study
- Power transmission (C, 32) is the biggest block. Know bearing fits and mounting, seals, couplings, belt and chain drives, gear types and shaft alignment.
- Rigging (B, 17) is mostly math and judgment. Practise sling angle tension, load weights and centre of gravity until you can do them quickly.
- Fluid power (E, 21): read hydraulic and pneumatic symbols and know what each valve does, especially pressure, sequence and counterbalance valves.
- Pumps, compressors, fans and conveyors (D, 24) reward knowing the common faults: cavitation, belt tracking and surging, and what fixes each one.
- 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 Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) question bank, not real exam questions.
Question 1 · Hydraulics
You need one cylinder to finish clamping completely before the second cylinder starts its work stroke. Which valve does that job?
- A. Pressure-reducing valve
- B. Counterbalance valve
- C. Sequence valve
- D. Shuttle valve
Show the answer
C. Sequence valve
A sequence valve stays closed until pressure builds at the first actuator, which happens when it bottoms out. Then it opens and sends flow on to the next cylinder.
Question 2 · Bearings
You're driving a tapered-bore spherical roller bearing up its adapter sleeve. What do you use to keep an eye on how much internal clearance is left?
- A. Dial bore gauge
- B. Outside micrometer on the shaft beside the adapter sleeve
- C. Feeler gauges between rollers and outer ring
- D. Torque wrench on the lock nut
Show the answer
C. Feeler gauges between rollers and outer ring
As the bearing climbs the taper, the inner ring expands and radial internal clearance drops. Feeler gauges slid over the unloaded rollers let you track that reduction against the maker's chart.
Question 3 · Rigging & hoisting
A 2,000 lb load hangs on a two-leg bridle. Each leg is 10 ft long and the height from hook to load is 8 ft. What's the tension in each leg?
- A. 1,250 lb
- B. 1,000 lb
- C. 1,600 lb
- D. 2,500 lb
Show the answer
A. 1,250 lb
Share per leg = 2,000 ÷ 2 = 1,000 lb. Multiply by length ÷ height: 1,000 × 10/8 = 1,250 lb. Flatter angles mean more leg tension.
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: Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) 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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