Free Practice Questions for SOLAS Refrigeration
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Key Facts: SOLAS Refrigeration Exam
100
Practice Questions
OpenExamPrep
4 years
Apprenticeship Length
SOLAS
7 phases
On/Off-the-Job
SOLAS
50%
Pass Mark
SOLAS
NFQ Level 6
Advanced Cert (Craft)
QQI
EU 517/2014
F-Gas Regulation
EPA Ireland
The SOLAS Refrigeration & Air Conditioning apprenticeship is Ireland's standards-based craft route to becoming a qualified refrigeration and air conditioning technician, leading to a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Craft). It runs over four years across seven alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases, with modular theory, practical and skills-demonstration assessments. Phase theory exams are graded Pass (50-64%), Merit (65-79%) or Distinction (80-100%), with Merit and Distinction available only at the first attempt and up to three attempts allowed. Content spans the refrigeration cycle and components, refrigerants and EU/Irish F-gas rules, pipework and brazing, controls and electrical work, air conditioning systems, charging and commissioning, fault finding and safety. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.
Sample SOLAS Refrigeration Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the SOLAS Refrigeration exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In the basic vapour-compression refrigeration cycle, which component absorbs heat from the space or product being cooled?
2Which component in the refrigeration cycle increases the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant vapour?
3Superheat is best defined as the number of degrees a refrigerant vapour has been heated:
4Subcooling of the liquid refrigerant in the liquid line is important mainly because it:
5During the change of state in the evaporator, the refrigerant absorbs heat while its temperature remains essentially constant. This heat is called:
6What is the primary function of the receiver in a refrigeration system?
7A filter drier is installed in the liquid line primarily to:
8On a pressure-enthalpy (p-h) diagram, the work of compression is represented by the change in enthalpy across the:
9The throttling process through an expansion valve takes place at approximately constant:
10The Coefficient of Performance (COP) of a refrigeration system is calculated as:
About the SOLAS Refrigeration Exam
The SOLAS Refrigeration & Air Conditioning apprenticeship is a four-year, standards-based craft programme in Ireland leading to a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Craft). It runs across seven alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases, with modular theory, practical and skills assessments graded Pass (50-64%), Merit (65-79%) or Distinction (80-100%).
Exam sponsor: SOLAS (Further Education and Training Authority) with QQI-validated awards delivered by education providers. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Modular off-the-job phase assessments (theory written exams, practical skills demonstrations and assignments). Theory papers mix multiple-choice and short-answer questions; this practice bank is 100 selected-response items.
Time Limit
Set per module by the provider (typically 1.5-3 hours per written exam)
Passing Score
50% (Pass 50-64%, Merit 65-79%, Distinction 80-100%)
Exam / Certification Fees
No separate phase exam fee; apprentices pay the annual student contribution at the off-the-job education provider
Exam sponsor websiteFees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Refrigeration Cycle & Components
Vapour-compression cycle, compressor/condenser/evaporator/metering devices, latent and sensible heat, superheat and subcooling, COP and the p-h diagram
Refrigerants & F-Gas
Refrigerant properties, ASHRAE 34 classes, GWP/ODP, natural and low-GWP refrigerants, oils, and EU/Irish F-gas regulation, recovery and the venting ban
Air Conditioning Systems
Split, ducted, VRF and chilled-water systems, psychrometrics, dehumidification and condensate, ventilation, filtration, inverter and heat-pump operation
Charging & Commissioning
Evacuation and dehydration, deep vacuum and triple evacuation, pressure/tightness testing, superheat and subcooling charging, weigh-in charging and commissioning records
Controls & Electrical
Thermostatic and electronic expansion valves, pressure cut-outs, motors and capacitors, contactors, defrost controls and safe isolation
Fault Finding
Diagnosing undercharge/overcharge, restrictions, coil icing, condenser fouling, compressor faults and burnouts using pressures, superheat and subcooling
System Pipework & Brazing
Refrigeration-grade copper, silver and copper-phosphorus brazing, nitrogen (OFN) purging, flare and mechanical joints, tube bending and line sizing
Safety
Asphyxiation and frostbite hazards, A2L and flammable-refrigerant precautions, cylinder handling, hot work, PPE, risk assessment and the 2005 Act
Preparing for the SOLAS Refrigeration Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 50% (Pass 50-64%, Merit 65-79%, Distinction 80-100%)
- Assessment: Modular off-the-job phase assessments (theory written exams, practical skills demonstrations and assignments). Theory papers mix multiple-choice and short-answer questions; this practice bank is 100 selected-response items.
- Time limit: Set per module by the provider (typically 1.5-3 hours per written exam)
- Exam / certification fees: No separate phase exam fee; apprentices pay the annual student contribution at the off-the-job education provider Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
SOLAS Refrigeration: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
What pass mark do I need in the SOLAS refrigeration phase exams?
You need 50% to pass each SOLAS phase assessment. Results are graded Pass (50-64%), Merit (65-79%) or Distinction (80-100%). Merit and Distinction can only be achieved at the first attempt, and you may attempt each off-the-job assessment up to three times.
How long is the SOLAS Refrigeration & Air Conditioning apprenticeship?
It is a four-year, standards-based craft apprenticeship delivered across seven alternating phases: on-the-job phases with your employer (1, 3, 5, 7) and off-the-job phases at an education provider (2, 4, 6). On completion you receive a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Craft).
What qualification do I get at the end?
Successful apprentices are awarded a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate (Craft) in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning on the National Framework of Qualifications, recognising them as a qualified refrigeration and air conditioning craftsperson.
Do I need an F-gas certificate as well?
Working on equipment containing fluorinated refrigerants requires F-gas certification under EU Regulation 517/2014, implemented in Ireland by S.I. 658 of 2016. A Category I certificate covers all activities on any size of equipment. The apprenticeship builds the knowledge underpinning F-gas competence.
What topics do the phase exams cover?
The phase exams cover the refrigeration cycle and components, refrigerants and F-gas, system pipework and brazing, controls and electrical work, air conditioning systems, charging and commissioning, fault finding and safety, alongside science and calculations.
Is this free SOLAS refrigeration practice as good as paid prep?
Our 100 practice questions cover the same craft knowledge tested in the SOLAS phase theory exams, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor interactions. All content is free forever and updated for 2026.