The Red Seal Cook exam is different from every other Red Seal trade exam: 150 questions (versus the typical 100–130) and 13 Major Work Activities (versus the typical 4–7). You have 4 hours. Pass mark is 70% (105 correct). 55–65% of questions are procedural application.

The 13 Major Work Activities (from red-seal.ca)

A — Hygiene, sanitation and safety: 13 questions (9%)

B — Common occupational skills: 11 questions (7%)

C — Produce: 12 questions (8%)

D — Stocks, broths, and soups: 12 questions (8%)

E — Sauces: 13 questions (9%)

F — Cheese, dairy, plant-based dairy alternatives, eggs and egg products: 10 questions (7%)

G — Pastas, noodles, stuffed pastas and dumplings: 10 questions (7%)

H — Grains, pulses, seeds, nuts and alternative proteins: 11 questions (7%)

I — Meats, game, poultry, game birds and variety meats: 16 questions (11%) — largest section

J — Fish and seafood: 15 questions (10%)

K — Salads and sandwiches: 9 questions (6%)

L — Specialty preparation: 8 questions (5%)

M — Sweet and savoury baked goods and desserts: 10 questions (7%)

Where Candidates Fail

Food safety specifics (temperature danger zone 4°C–60°C, chicken at 74°C, cooling from 60°C to 20°C within 2 hours). Food costing (EP Cost = AP Cost ÷ Yield %). Baking science (gluten development, leavening). Sauce classification (five mother sauces and their derivatives). If you are an experienced cook who did not go through a formal apprenticeship, see our article on trade qualifier vs apprentice pathways. For pass rate context, see our article on Red Seal exam pass rates. The Hairstylist exam is another high-pass-rate trade — see our Hairstylist exam guide.

The Cook Red Seal 415A Exam Prep book gives you 1,000 practice questions across 8 full-length tests covering all 13 MWAs.

[Get the Cook Red Seal 415A Exam Prep book on Amazon →]

[See the full Cook trade page → /cook/]

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Red Seal Cook exam?

150 multiple-choice questions across 13 MWAs. 4 hours. Pass mark is 70% (105 correct).

Is the Red Seal Cook exam the hardest Red Seal exam?

Not by pass rate — it is actually one of the higher pass rates. But it covers the widest range of topics (13 MWAs versus the typical 4–7).

What math is on the Red Seal Cook exam?

Food costing (EP cost, yield percentage, recipe costing, food cost percentage), recipe scaling, unit conversions, and portion control math.