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Free NRT Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style RESNET National Rater Test (NRT) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free NRT practice test to study every exam domain.

The NRT exam has 55 questions and runs 2 hours.

These 10 free NRT questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the RESNET National Rater Test blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 1: General 7.7% of exam

Question 1

A rater performs a single-point blower door test on a home and measures 1,500 CFM50. The home has a conditioned volume of 16,000 cubic feet. What is the air leakage rate expressed in ACH50?

  1. 5.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals
  2. 10.7 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals
  3. 0.09 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals
  4. 93.8 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - 5.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals

Domain 2: Health and Safety 10.0% of exam

Question 2

A home has a natural-draft water heater and a larger natural-draft furnace located in the same combustion appliance zone. When conducting worst-case depressurization spillage testing, which appliance should the rater fire and test FIRST?

  1. The furnace, since the appliance with the largest Btu input is tested first
  2. Whichever appliance is physically closest to the home's exhaust fans
  3. Both appliances at the same time to capture combined depressurization
  4. The water heater, since the smallest-Btu appliance is tested first
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - The water heater, since the smallest-Btu appliance is tested first

Domain 3: Building Science Topics 9.7% of exam

Question 3

A window is labeled with a U-factor of 0.25. Ignoring other assembly effects, what is the approximate R-value of this window?

  1. R-4, because R-value is the reciprocal of the U-factor
  2. R-0.25, because the R-value equals the labeled U-factor
  3. R-40, because the U-factor is shifted by one decimal place
  4. R-2.5, because the U-factor is multiplied by ten
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - R-4, because R-value is the reciprocal of the U-factor

Domain 4: Insulation 9.7% of exam

Question 4

During an inspection, a rater finds wall batt insulation that is compressed behind electrical wiring, with the insulation edges rounded over and small gaps left along roughly 3% of the cavity face. Which RESNET insulation installation grade is MOST appropriate?

  1. Grade I, because the cavity is filled and the gaps are under 5%
  2. Grade II, reflecting moderate but not substantial installation defects
  3. Grade III, because any compression and gaps require the lowest grade
  4. Ungradable, because the cavity must be re-insulated before rating
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Grade II, reflecting moderate but not substantial installation defects

Domain 5: Heating and Cooling Systems 9.7% of exam

Question 5

An HVAC designer has completed a residential load calculation and now needs to choose specific heating and cooling equipment that matches those calculated loads. Which ACCA manual governs this equipment-selection step?

  1. Manual J, which is used to calculate the building's loads
  2. Manual D, which is used to design and size the duct system
  3. Manual S, which is used to select equipment to the loads
  4. Manual T, which is used to design the supply register layout
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Manual S, which is used to select equipment to the loads

Question 6

In 2023, the federal efficiency metrics for central air conditioners and heat pumps changed from SEER and HSPF to SEER2 and HSPF2. What was the PRIMARY change introduced by the SEER2 test procedure?

  1. It raised only the minimum efficiency values that manufacturers must meet
  2. It tests equipment at a higher external static pressure to reflect installed conditions
  3. It converts the efficiency rating from imperial units over to metric units
  4. It merges heating and cooling performance into one combined seasonal figure
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - It tests equipment at a higher external static pressure to reflect installed conditions

Domain 6: Domestic Water Heating Systems 7.7% of exam

Question 7

While performing a duct leakage-to-outside test, the rater operates the blower door at the same time as the duct testing fan and pressure-matches the two. What is the PRIMARY reason for running the blower door simultaneously?

  1. To raise the duct test pressure from 25 Pa up to the 50 Pa blower door standard
  2. To equalize pressure across the boundary so leaks to inside are not counted
  3. To pre-condition the ducts so the leakage reading stabilizes more quickly
  4. To meet the rule that two technicians must verify every duct leakage test
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - To equalize pressure across the boundary so leaks to inside are not counted

Domain 7: Appliances and Lighting 7.0% of exam

Question 8

A newly constructed home receives a HERS Index of 0. What does this score indicate about the home?

  1. It exactly meets the minimum requirements of the 2006 IECC reference home
  2. It uses no purchased or on-site energy at any point during the year
  3. It produces as much energy on an annual basis as it consumes from all sources
  4. It has reached the lowest score that is physically possible on the HERS scale
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - It produces as much energy on an annual basis as it consumes from all sources

Domain 8: Air Leakage 10.7% of exam

Question 9

Using the ASHRAE 62.2 whole-house mechanical ventilation formula, what is the required ventilation rate for a 2,200 sq ft home with 3 bedrooms?

  1. 66 cfm (using conditioned floor area only)
  2. 88.5 cfm (using floor area and the number of bedrooms)
  3. 127.5 cfm (using one occupant per 500 sq ft of area)
  4. 96 cfm (using floor area plus bedrooms plus one)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - 96 cfm (using floor area plus bedrooms plus one)

Domain 9: Conditioned Air Distribution Systems 9.7% of exam

Question 10

A rater is asked to rate a home being built by a company in which the rater's spouse holds a financial interest. Under the RESNET Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, the rater should:

  1. Disclose the conflict of interest in advance and obtain the required waiver
  2. Proceed without comment, since the rater performs all of the work personally
  3. Decline every project connected to the rater under any and all circumstances
  4. Complete the rating and disclose the relationship only if a QA review asks for it
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Disclose the conflict of interest in advance and obtain the required waiver

The rest of the NRT blueprint

The NRT exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

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