Painter & Decorator (404C) — Red Seal
603 practice questions
Also known as: Painter and Decorator - Commercial and Residential, 404C, painter.
Practice questions for the Painter & Decorator (Red Seal) exam, organized by Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS) section. 603 questions are available across 6 sections. Written to the Red Seal standard.
Practice Painter & Decorator (Red Seal) free →
Sections (RSOS blocks)
| Section | RSOS block | Exam weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Performs common occupational skills | 16% | 97 |
| B | Prepares surfaces | 23% | 138 |
| C | Prepares and applies residential, institutional and commercial paints, coatings and finishes | 24% | 143 |
| D | Prepares and applies wall coverings | 7% | 42 |
| E | Prepares and applies wood finishes | 8% | 46 |
| F | Prepares and applies industrial paints and coatings | 22% | 137 |
Mock exams are composed to match the official weightings above exactly — the question counts per section don't need to match 1:1.
Practice mock exam
The full practice mock for this trade is 130 questions, a 240-minute time limit, scored against a 70% pass line — the same question style used throughout this bank.
Sample questions
Performs common occupational skills
A specification calls for a two-coat system over primed drywall, and the painter must order paint for a 200 square metre wall area at a coverage rate of 10 square metres per litre per coat. How much paint is needed for both coats?
- 20 litres
- 10 litres
- 40 litres
- 200 litres
Each coat covers 200 divided by 10, which is 20 litres, and two coats double that to 40 litres before any allowance for waste. Twenty litres covers a single coat only. Ten litres would cover half a coat. Two hundred litres confuses area with volume. Estimating both coats from the coverage rate prevents under-ordering and a return trip to the supplier.
RSOS 2022 | A-3.02 Determines project requirements
Prepares surfaces
When using an electric heat gun to soften old paint for removal, what is the chief hazard a painter must control?
- The paint becoming glossy for a durable, professional finish
- The gun running out of paint for the substrate and coating in use
- Scorching the wood or igniting debris because of the high heat
- The colour of the paint changing according to the product data sheet
A heat gun produces enough heat to char wood and ignite dust or loosened paint, so the operator must keep the gun moving and clear of combustibles. Gloss change, paint supply, and colour are irrelevant to the safety of the method. Heat is also unsuitable on suspected lead paint because it can release fumes, so the hazard and substrate must be assessed first.
RSOS 2022 | B-6.01 Removes existing paints and coatings
Prepares and applies residential, institutional and commercial paints, coatings and finishes
A painter applies a coating with a pad applicator on a smooth flush door. What is the main advantage of the pad here?
- It builds the thickest possible film for a durable, professional finish
- It reaches deep texture better than a roller for the substrate and coating in use
- It is the fastest tool for rough stucco according to the product data sheet
- It lays a smooth, even coat with minimal texture on a flat surface
A flat pad applicator glides over a smooth flush surface and lays a thin, even coat with little stipple, ideal for a flat door. It does not build the heaviest film, does not reach into deep texture as a long-nap roller would, and is not the tool for rough stucco. The pad suits smooth, flat work where a fine finish is wanted.
RSOS 2022 | C-12.03 Applies residential, institutional and commercial paints and coatings with applicators
Trade Report
Wages by province, real job outlook, the Red Seal path, and exam weightings for Painter & Decorator (Red Seal) — sourced and dated.