Arkansas AR HVACR Contractor
Practice Exam | Heating,
Ventilation, Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Complete Contractor License
Exam Prep Study Guide |
Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of an HVAC system?
A. To increase electrical consumption
B. To eliminate all outdoor air
C. To provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and control of
indoor environmental conditions
D. To increase building humidity
Answer: To provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and
control of indoor environmental conditions
Rationale: HVAC systems are designed to maintain
acceptable indoor temperature, humidity, air quality,
and comfort through heating, cooling, ventilation, and
air movement.
2. What does BTU stand for?
A. Basic Temperature Unit
B. Building Thermal Utility
C. British thermal unit
D. British Temperature Utility
,Answer: British thermal unit
Rationale: A British thermal unit is a unit of heat energy
commonly used in HVAC equipment capacity ratings.
3. One ton of refrigeration is approximately equal to
how much cooling capacity?
A. 6,000 BTU/h
B. 10,000 BTU/h
C. 12,000 BTU/h
D. 24,000 BTU/h
Answer: 12,000 BTU/h
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration is defined as
approximately 12,000 BTU/h of cooling capacity.
4. What component removes heat from the conditioned
space in a typical split air-conditioning system?
A. Condenser
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator coil
D. Receiver
Answer: Evaporator coil
Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from indoor air
as refrigerant evaporates inside the coil.
5. What is the primary function of a compressor?
A. Remove moisture from air
B. Filter refrigerant
C. Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant through the system
D. Lower condensing pressure
,Answer: Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant through the system
Rationale: The compressor raises low-pressure
refrigerant vapor to a higher pressure and temperature
while providing refrigerant circulation.
6. Which component rejects heat to the outdoor
environment?
A. Evaporator
B. Expansion valve
C. Accumulator
D. Condenser
Answer: Condenser
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from the
refrigerant and transfers it to outdoor air or another
cooling medium.
7. What is the primary function of a metering device?
A. Increase compressor horsepower
B. Control refrigerant flow into the evaporator and
create a pressure drop
C. Remove oil from the system
D. Increase condenser airflow
Answer: Control refrigerant flow into the evaporator and
create a pressure drop
Rationale: The metering device regulates refrigerant
entering the evaporator and separates the high-
pressure and low-pressure sides.
8. Which device is commonly used to control superheat
in a refrigeration system?
, A. Fixed resistor
B. Pressure relief valve
C. Thermostatic expansion valve
D. Condenser fan motor
Answer: Thermostatic expansion valve
Rationale: A TXV meters refrigerant according to
evaporator conditions and is designed to maintain
controlled superheat at the evaporator outlet.
9. What is superheat?
A. Liquid temperature below saturation temperature
B. Temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
C. Condenser temperature below outdoor temperature
D. Compressor oil temperature
Answer: Temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Superheat is the amount by which vapor
temperature exceeds its saturation temperature at a
given pressure.
10. What is subcooling?
A. Vapor temperature above saturation
B. Compressor temperature below room temperature
C. Liquid temperature below its saturation temperature
D. Evaporator temperature above room temperature
Answer: Liquid temperature below its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Subcooling indicates that liquid refrigerant
has been cooled below its saturation temperature at the
measured pressure.
Practice Exam | Heating,
Ventilation, Air Conditioning &
Refrigeration Questions, Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales |
Complete Contractor License
Exam Prep Study Guide |
Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of an HVAC system?
A. To increase electrical consumption
B. To eliminate all outdoor air
C. To provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and control of
indoor environmental conditions
D. To increase building humidity
Answer: To provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and
control of indoor environmental conditions
Rationale: HVAC systems are designed to maintain
acceptable indoor temperature, humidity, air quality,
and comfort through heating, cooling, ventilation, and
air movement.
2. What does BTU stand for?
A. Basic Temperature Unit
B. Building Thermal Utility
C. British thermal unit
D. British Temperature Utility
,Answer: British thermal unit
Rationale: A British thermal unit is a unit of heat energy
commonly used in HVAC equipment capacity ratings.
3. One ton of refrigeration is approximately equal to
how much cooling capacity?
A. 6,000 BTU/h
B. 10,000 BTU/h
C. 12,000 BTU/h
D. 24,000 BTU/h
Answer: 12,000 BTU/h
Rationale: One ton of refrigeration is defined as
approximately 12,000 BTU/h of cooling capacity.
4. What component removes heat from the conditioned
space in a typical split air-conditioning system?
A. Condenser
B. Compressor
C. Evaporator coil
D. Receiver
Answer: Evaporator coil
Rationale: The evaporator absorbs heat from indoor air
as refrigerant evaporates inside the coil.
5. What is the primary function of a compressor?
A. Remove moisture from air
B. Filter refrigerant
C. Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant through the system
D. Lower condensing pressure
,Answer: Raise refrigerant vapor pressure and circulate
refrigerant through the system
Rationale: The compressor raises low-pressure
refrigerant vapor to a higher pressure and temperature
while providing refrigerant circulation.
6. Which component rejects heat to the outdoor
environment?
A. Evaporator
B. Expansion valve
C. Accumulator
D. Condenser
Answer: Condenser
Rationale: The condenser removes heat from the
refrigerant and transfers it to outdoor air or another
cooling medium.
7. What is the primary function of a metering device?
A. Increase compressor horsepower
B. Control refrigerant flow into the evaporator and
create a pressure drop
C. Remove oil from the system
D. Increase condenser airflow
Answer: Control refrigerant flow into the evaporator and
create a pressure drop
Rationale: The metering device regulates refrigerant
entering the evaporator and separates the high-
pressure and low-pressure sides.
8. Which device is commonly used to control superheat
in a refrigeration system?
, A. Fixed resistor
B. Pressure relief valve
C. Thermostatic expansion valve
D. Condenser fan motor
Answer: Thermostatic expansion valve
Rationale: A TXV meters refrigerant according to
evaporator conditions and is designed to maintain
controlled superheat at the evaporator outlet.
9. What is superheat?
A. Liquid temperature below saturation temperature
B. Temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
C. Condenser temperature below outdoor temperature
D. Compressor oil temperature
Answer: Temperature of vapor above its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Superheat is the amount by which vapor
temperature exceeds its saturation temperature at a
given pressure.
10. What is subcooling?
A. Vapor temperature above saturation
B. Compressor temperature below room temperature
C. Liquid temperature below its saturation temperature
D. Evaporator temperature above room temperature
Answer: Liquid temperature below its saturation
temperature
Rationale: Subcooling indicates that liquid refrigerant
has been cooled below its saturation temperature at the
measured pressure.
