Arkansas AR-RF Refrigeration
Contractor Practice Exam |
Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales |
Complete Contractor License
Exam Prep Study Guide |
Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a refrigeration
system?
A. Increase the temperature of a conditioned space
B. Increase atmospheric pressure
C. Remove heat from a refrigerated space
D. Add moisture to the refrigerated space
Correct Answer: Remove heat from a refrigerated space
Rationale: Refrigeration is the process of transferring
heat from a lower-temperature space to a higher-
temperature location by means of a refrigeration cycle.
2. What occurs to refrigerant as it passes through an
evaporator?
A. It rejects heat and condenses
B. It absorbs heat and evaporates
C. It increases in pressure and condenses
D. It rejects heat and becomes subcooled liquid
Correct Answer: It absorbs heat and evaporates
,Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the
refrigerated space, causing the refrigerant to boil and
change from liquid to vapor.
3. What is superheat?
A. The temperature below saturation
B. The pressure difference between suction and discharge
C. The temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
D. The temperature of liquid below its boiling point
Correct Answer: The temperature of vapor above its
saturation temperature
Rationale: Superheat is calculated by subtracting the
refrigerant's saturation temperature from its actual
vapor temperature.
4. A refrigerant has a saturation temperature of 20°F
and a suction-line temperature of 32°F. What is the
superheat?
A. 8°F
B. 10°F
C. 12°F
D. 52°F
Correct Answer: 12°F
Rationale: Superheat = actual vapor temperature −
saturation temperature. Therefore, 32°F − 20°F = 12°F.
5. What is subcooling?
A. Heating vapor above saturation
B. Cooling liquid below its saturation temperature
C. Heating liquid above saturation
D. Reducing suction pressure below atmospheric pressure
,Correct Answer: Cooling liquid below its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Subcooling indicates how far a liquid
refrigerant has been cooled below its condensing
saturation temperature.
6. A condenser primarily performs which function?
A. Absorbs heat from the refrigerated space
B. Rejects heat from the refrigerant to the surroundings
C. Raises evaporator superheat
D. Meters refrigerant into the evaporator
Correct Answer: Rejects heat from the refrigerant to the
surroundings
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from the
refrigerant and changes high-pressure vapor into high-
pressure liquid.
7. What is the primary function of a compressor?
A. Meter liquid refrigerant
B. Remove moisture
C. Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant
D. Reduce condensing pressure
Correct Answer: Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and
circulate refrigerant
Rationale: The compressor receives low-pressure vapor
and compresses it into high-pressure vapor for delivery
to the condenser.
8. What is the primary purpose of a thermostatic
expansion valve?
, A. Control compressor oil pressure
B. Maintain condenser temperature
C. Meter refrigerant into the evaporator while
controlling superheat
D. Remove noncondensable gases
Correct Answer: Meter refrigerant into the evaporator
while controlling superheat
Rationale: A TXV responds to evaporator outlet
conditions and regulates refrigerant flow to maintain
the desired superheat.
9. What condition is generally indicated by low suction
pressure and high superheat?
A. Overcharge
B. Starved evaporator
C. Flooded condenser
D. Excessive liquid-line subcooling only
Correct Answer: Starved evaporator
Rationale: A starved evaporator receives insufficient
refrigerant, resulting in low suction pressure and
excessive vapor superheat.
10. Which condition commonly causes high head
pressure?
A. Extremely clean condenser
B. Low outdoor temperature
C. Dirty condenser or inadequate condenser airflow
D. Low refrigerant charge
Correct Answer: Dirty condenser or inadequate
condenser airflow
Rationale: Poor condenser heat rejection raises
condensing temperature and pressure.
Contractor Practice Exam |
Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales |
Complete Contractor License
Exam Prep Study Guide |
Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a refrigeration
system?
A. Increase the temperature of a conditioned space
B. Increase atmospheric pressure
C. Remove heat from a refrigerated space
D. Add moisture to the refrigerated space
Correct Answer: Remove heat from a refrigerated space
Rationale: Refrigeration is the process of transferring
heat from a lower-temperature space to a higher-
temperature location by means of a refrigeration cycle.
2. What occurs to refrigerant as it passes through an
evaporator?
A. It rejects heat and condenses
B. It absorbs heat and evaporates
C. It increases in pressure and condenses
D. It rejects heat and becomes subcooled liquid
Correct Answer: It absorbs heat and evaporates
,Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from the
refrigerated space, causing the refrigerant to boil and
change from liquid to vapor.
3. What is superheat?
A. The temperature below saturation
B. The pressure difference between suction and discharge
C. The temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
D. The temperature of liquid below its boiling point
Correct Answer: The temperature of vapor above its
saturation temperature
Rationale: Superheat is calculated by subtracting the
refrigerant's saturation temperature from its actual
vapor temperature.
4. A refrigerant has a saturation temperature of 20°F
and a suction-line temperature of 32°F. What is the
superheat?
A. 8°F
B. 10°F
C. 12°F
D. 52°F
Correct Answer: 12°F
Rationale: Superheat = actual vapor temperature −
saturation temperature. Therefore, 32°F − 20°F = 12°F.
5. What is subcooling?
A. Heating vapor above saturation
B. Cooling liquid below its saturation temperature
C. Heating liquid above saturation
D. Reducing suction pressure below atmospheric pressure
,Correct Answer: Cooling liquid below its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Subcooling indicates how far a liquid
refrigerant has been cooled below its condensing
saturation temperature.
6. A condenser primarily performs which function?
A. Absorbs heat from the refrigerated space
B. Rejects heat from the refrigerant to the surroundings
C. Raises evaporator superheat
D. Meters refrigerant into the evaporator
Correct Answer: Rejects heat from the refrigerant to the
surroundings
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from the
refrigerant and changes high-pressure vapor into high-
pressure liquid.
7. What is the primary function of a compressor?
A. Meter liquid refrigerant
B. Remove moisture
C. Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant
D. Reduce condensing pressure
Correct Answer: Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and
circulate refrigerant
Rationale: The compressor receives low-pressure vapor
and compresses it into high-pressure vapor for delivery
to the condenser.
8. What is the primary purpose of a thermostatic
expansion valve?
, A. Control compressor oil pressure
B. Maintain condenser temperature
C. Meter refrigerant into the evaporator while
controlling superheat
D. Remove noncondensable gases
Correct Answer: Meter refrigerant into the evaporator
while controlling superheat
Rationale: A TXV responds to evaporator outlet
conditions and regulates refrigerant flow to maintain
the desired superheat.
9. What condition is generally indicated by low suction
pressure and high superheat?
A. Overcharge
B. Starved evaporator
C. Flooded condenser
D. Excessive liquid-line subcooling only
Correct Answer: Starved evaporator
Rationale: A starved evaporator receives insufficient
refrigerant, resulting in low suction pressure and
excessive vapor superheat.
10. Which condition commonly causes high head
pressure?
A. Extremely clean condenser
B. Low outdoor temperature
C. Dirty condenser or inadequate condenser airflow
D. Low refrigerant charge
Correct Answer: Dirty condenser or inadequate
condenser airflow
Rationale: Poor condenser heat rejection raises
condensing temperature and pressure.
