In addition to taking practice tests, knowing how to use them is equally important for Red Seal exam preparation. Practice testscan help identify where your trade knowledge is strong and where it needs more work before the exam.
The biggest exam prep mistake happens when candidates treat all practice tests like a final exam.
You answer 100 questions, review your score and take more practice tests.
This tells you how you answered 100 questions, but does not actually help you learn anything.
Using practice tests as a diagnostic tool is a better approach. Answer the questions without looking for the answers, review your mistakes, look for patterns, study those areas, and take more <b>practice tests</b>.
This process can help you use practice tests to better prepare for the Red Seal exam.
What Is a Red Seal Practice Test?
A Red Seal practice test is a collection of questions about a trade that help candidates familiarize themselves with a particular multiple-choice format and prepare for the Red Seal exam.
The Red Seal exam is composed of multiple-choice questions. Each of the four answer choices is followed by one correct answer. The passing score is 70%.
Therefore, practice tests should familiarize candidates with this type of multiple-choice format and exam structure.
Depending on your trade, trade exam questions may include:
- Safety
- Tools and equipment
- Materials
- Procedures
- Installation
- Maintenance
- Diagnosis
- Calculations
- Trade terminology
- Scenarios that occur in a workplace
The detailed content depends on your occupation and its occupational standard.
Practice tests obtained from companies that are not related to the Red Seal examination are useful for studying. They must not be considered as part of the confidential section of the Red Seal examination questions.
Practice a Test Before Starting to Study
Many candidates do the opposite.
Instead of taking a practice test, they begin to study starting at the first page of a study guide to review what they learn throughout the years of being an apprentice or through their career.
Try not to study the content of the practice test.
Incorrect answers should not be looked up during the completion of the practice test. The practice test helps to discover the current level of understanding.
Your results may show: Safety- 82%; Tools - 78%: Installation - 71%; Troubleshooting - 58%: Calculations - 52%
You now have some data that you can use to prioritize your study time.
It is likely that you do not need to study the basic safety questions for more than an hour if you scored 82% on that section.
You need to study troubleshooting and calculations more.
This is one of the most valuable aspects of practice tests.
Candidates Should Not Only Be Concerned with Their Practice Test Results
It is human nature to check what score you received.
This is completely normal. It is also important to recognize that this result is only a score.
If two candidates receive a score of 72%, this does not mean that they should spend the same time studying.
One candidate may have been careless in marking their answers while the other candidate may have guessed 15 answers correctly and has large gaps in two sections.
The final result of the practice test is 72% for both candidates.
To elaborate, after a practice test, divide your answers into three categories:
Answered correctly and confidently.
These are your better areas.
They still require review, but they should be a small proportion of study time.
Questions You Previously Answered but Guessed
You should not consider these as completely learned.
It may have been a case of you eliminating two options and guessing the final correct answer.
Review these.
Questions You Previously Answered Incorrectly
These should take precedence during review time.
Understand why you answered incorrectly.
Review Every Incorrect Answer
Now, practice exam question responses should be utilized as study guides.
For every response you granted incorrectly to a practice question, consider the following:
Why Is The Correct Answer Correct?
Familiarize yourself with the trading principle involved.
Do not memorize the correct answer.
Why Was My Answer Wrong?
This can happen for a variety of reasons.
You may have:
- Forgotten a trade principle
- Used the wrong formula
- Misread the question
- Neglected a safety requirement
- Chose the wrong sequence
- Mixed two components
- Answered quickly
Understanding why you made the mistake also helps understand what you should study next.
Would I Get It Right If the Question Changed?
This can also help with deciding if the answer you selected was correct or not.
Knowing how to apply the answer to a new situation or different context is what will determine if the answer was correct.
Easy to Use Error Log
You do not need a complicated system.
A simple, notepad style system works.
After each Red Seal practice exam, write the following in your error log:
- Topic
- Response you selected which was incorrect
- Why you got this wrong
- What you need to review
There are certain trends that can become apparent after a few tests.
Some missed calculations. This is common.
Others can become unstuck in a Troubleshooting question
Another type of mistake can be word choice, - use of "First", "Next", "Best" and "Most Appropriate" can cause you to miss trade / technical questions.
Your error log will inform you of your 'overall percentage' and what you're missing.
Study Between Practice Tests
Don't do full practice tests back to back. Set aside time to correct what the first test showed you was wrong
For example if your results show weak knowledge in three areas, spend the next few study sessions reviewing these three areas.
Utilize your Red Seal Study Guide, apprenticeship notes and other trade related technical resources and code, and the occupational standard, then answer targeted questions.
Your Red Seal study guide can assist with some of your practice sessions.
Practice test cycle is:
Test --> Review --> Study--> Practise --> Test Again
The first is way more beneficial than:
Test --> Test --> Test --> Test --> Test
When is it appropriate to use a Red Seal practice test?
One of the first practice tests is useful to establish a baseline.
Early tests show what is required for targeted studying.
Uninterrupted practice tests should be done in a quiet place.
Set a timer, and don't get up to check answers.
skips a question if your practice system allows and if you are using it to practice exam management and time management.
Make use of the Timed Practice feature.
While advanced candidates have the time management aspect of the exam under control and spend the time allocated to answer the questions, some spend too much time on difficult questions making it difficult for them to finish the exam.
One difficult multiple choice question will still be worth one mark.
You may not want to spend ten minutes on it if it means you have less time for easier multiple choice questions.
An online practice test or an exam simulator will tell you if you have an issue with pacing.
It is very discouraging to keep taking the same practice test repeatedly
and keeping your score relatively high.
Eventually, you may be remembering the questions on the test.
Suppose you received:
First attempt: 64%
Second attempt: 76%
Third attempt: 91%
Does improvement on these scores mean you can answer a new set of questions the same way?
That is the better measure.
Take different sets of questions where possible and answer older questions to see if you still understand the concepts.
A Simple Red Seal Exam Practice Routine
A practical study routine can look like this:
Study Step 1: Review Your Official Trade Information
Take the time to learn about the trade and understand the occupational standard and exam weighting.
Study Step 2: Take a Breakline Practice Test
Take this test with no assistance.
Study Step 3: Review Each and Every Mistake
Include correct answers that were guesses.
Step 4: Identify Your Three Weakest Areas
These can help plan your next study sessions.
Step 5: Complete Targeted Practice Questions
These can be used to work on those weaker topics.
Step 6: Take Another Mixed Test
This can determine whether your weaker areas are improving.
Step 7: Move to Timed Mock Exams
These can be used closer to the exam to practice completing long, mixed tests under test-like conditions.
How Red Seal Study Guide Can Help Your Practice
Red Seal Study Guide is an independent Canadian exam-preparation tool for many skilled trades dependent on the trade.
These resources can be used with official Red Seal information and documentation, occupational standards, apprenticeship materials, technical references, and your trade experience.
Red Seal Study Guide does not administer the official Red Seal exam, determine exam eligibility, certify, or guarantee exam success.
The practice resources are intended to help you identify gaps in knowledge and practice more prior to the exam.
Make Every Practice Test Teach You Something
Knowing how to use a practice test correctly changes the reason for taking and scoring a test.
The reason for taking practice tests is not to achieve high test scores.
The reason is to ensure your weaknesses are not reflected on the actual exam.
Begin by taking a practice test. Correct all guessed answers. Record all repeated mistakes. Study on those topics.
Now answer some mixed questions and answer-free mock exams that have time limits.
Use your first score as a starting point (even if it’s low).
Red Seal Study Guide offers trade-specific questions, explanations, study resources, and practice tests online for the Red Seal exam.
Treat each practice test you’re given as a way to help you determine your next step:
What should I study next?
Determining your next study step is a sign that you have used the test practices in your studies effectively.
Red Seal Practice Tests
Making notes
Reviewing hints and working out each question
Finding out your weak trade sections
Important GIFs
This GIF shows how to answer a practice exam without researching.
This GIF shows how to review a Red Seal mock test.