NATE Core Knowledge Exam Vocabulary Game
Exam terms with clues and explanations by OpenExamPrep.
About the NATE Core Knowledge Exam Vocabulary Games
4 free word games built on 20 NATE Core Knowledge Exam terms across 7 topics. Every game deals terms at random and shows what each term means, so you can keep playing as long as you like.
How to Play
- 1.Read the clue and type the term (3 to 6 letters).
- 2.Green: right spot. Yellow: wrong spot. Gray: not in the term.
- 3.Solve it in 6 tries, then read the explanation.
- 1.Swap two neighboring tiles to line up 3 of the same term.
- 2.Longer lines, two lines at once and chains score more.
- 3.Play until no swap can make a line.
- 1.Flip two cards. A matching pair stays face up.
- 2.Each pair you find shows what the term means.
- 3.Clear the board in as few moves as you can.
- 1.Find each listed term in the letter grid.
- 2.Drag across its letters: across, down or diagonally.
- 3.Find all five as fast as you can.
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Topics in the NATE Core Knowledge Exam Vocabulary Game
Basic Electricity
Jobsite hazards
Achieving Desired Conditions
Temperature & Humidity
Hand tools
Using Basic Science
Basic Construction
Sources for these terms (19)
- Improving Motor and Drive System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Full Text Glossary · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Ampere: Introduction · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Volt (V) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- SI Units - Electric Current · Source checked 2026-11-04
- 1910.399 - Definitions applicable to this subpart · Source checked 2026-11-04
- eTool: Construction - Electrical Incidents - Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets · Source checked 2026-11-04
- 29 CFR Part 1926, Subpart I - Tools - Hand and Power (2025) · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) - Overview · Source checked 2026-11-04
- What is a MERV rating? · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Standard 62.2-2022 Fact Sheet · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Glossary · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Module 11: Glossary and Conversions · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Energy Savings Potential and RD&D Opportunities for Non-Vapor-Compression HVAC Technologies · Source checked 2026-11-04
- National Weather Service Glossary 'S' · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Solutions for Electrical Contractors eTool - Tool Index · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Trusses · Source checked 2026-11-04
- Boyle's Law (Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics) · Source checked 2026-11-04
About the NATE Core Exam
The NATE Core Knowledge Exam is the foundational test every HVAC/R technician must pass to earn most NATE installation or service specialty certifications. It contains 50 multiple-choice questions delivered closed-book over 1.5 hours, and requires 70% (35 of 50) to pass.
Exam sponsor: North American Technician Excellence (NATE). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
50 multiple-choice questions over a 1.5-hour (90-minute) closed-book exam, 70% to pass (35 of 50); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
Time Limit
1.5 hours (90 minutes)
Passing Score
70% (35 of 50)
Exam / Certification Fees
About $75 in-person; up to ~$150 for live online proctoring (varies by testing organization)
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the NATE-Core vocabulary game free?
Yes. The game is free to play with no sign-up. Signing in adds AI explanations for any term.
How do the NATE-Core vocabulary games work?
There are 4 games built on 20 NATE-Core terms. In Guess the Term, a clue describes one term and you have six tries to spell it, with green, yellow and gray letters showing how close you are. In Term Match, six terms appear as colored tiles; swap neighbors to line up three or more of the same term, and each match shows what the term means. In Term Pairs, twelve face-down cards hide six pairs of terms; flip two at a time to find each pair, and every pair you find shows what the term means. In Term Search, five terms hide in a grid of letters, reading across, down or diagonally; drag across a term to circle it, and each term you find shows what it means.
Where do the NATE-Core terms come from?
OpenExamPrep researched each term from the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) content outline and primary sources, listed under Sources on this page. The game is independent study material, not an official exam resource.
How many questions are on the NATE Core exam and how long is it?
The NATE Core Knowledge Exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and a 1.5-hour (90-minute) time limit. It is a closed-book exam, and you need 70% (35 of 50 correct) to pass.
What score do I need to pass the NATE Core exam?
You need 70% to pass, which is 35 of the 50 questions. Because Basic Electricity is the largest domain at 26% and Safety is 18%, balanced study weighted toward those areas is the most efficient path to passing.