Floorcovering Installer - 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 120 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Block A – Performs common occupational skills - 13 questions
Block B – Prepares floor - 28 questions
Block C – Installs and repairs carpet - 26 questions
Block D – Installs and repairs resilient flooring - 35 questions
Block E – Installs and services wood, laminate and floating vinyl plank flooring - 18 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 15 and 25% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
Which tool is used to trim finished carpet seams?
- Napping shears.
- A utility knife.
- A loop pile cutter.
- An electric rotary knife.
Answer: A
Procedural and Application
This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.
For this trade, between 70 and 80% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
When installing a vinyl or rubber stair nosing for use with a glue-down carpet installation, what is done to fit the nosing?
- Measure and cut.
- Double scribe.
- Cut and glue.
- Use a mitre box.
Answer: A
Critical Thinking
This type of question tests your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.
For this trade, less than 10% of questions are this type.
Example of a Critical Thinking Question:
There are loose or missing tufts along the seam of an installed carpet. What is the probable cause?
- Pile direction was reversed.
- Seam edges were not sealed.
- Incorrect field adhesive was used.
- Trowel notches were too small.
Answer: B
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.
Math Formulas
The following formulas used in this trade may be needed to answer some questions on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
Formulas
| Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
|---|---|---|
| Area of rectangle | length × width | |
| Area of triangle | ||
| Conversion to yardage | ||
| Pythagorean Theorem | ||
| Volume of cube | length × width × height |
Acronyms
The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
- °C
- degree Celsius
- ASTM
- American Society for Testing and Materials
- ft.
- foot
- ft²
- square foot
- HEPA
- high efficiency particulate air filter
- hr
- hour
- ICI
- industrial-commercial-institutional
- in.
- inch
- L
- litre
- lb.
- pound
- lin. ft.
- linear foot
- LVT
- luxury vinyl tile
- m
- metre
- min
- minute
- mm
- millimetre
- pH
- potential of hydrogen
- PPE
- personal protective equipment
- PVC
- polyvinyl chloride
- RH
- relative humidity
- SDS
- safety data sheet
- SDT
- static dissipative tile
- SPC
- stone plastic composite
- TSP
- trisodium phosphate
- VCT
- vinyl composite tile
- VOC
- volatile organic compound
- yd²
- square yard
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.