CoreForge: HVAC Exam Prep
HVAC certification exam prep: 1,000 questions, mock exams, fully offline.
CoreForge is offline exam prep for HVAC technicians, built to prepare you for the NATE certification exams - the Core exam plus a service specialty.
1000 practice questions. 21 study lessons. Full-length timed mock exams. No account, no subscription, and no signal required.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- 1000 practice questions, each with a written explanation and a topic reference
- Core exam preparation: 50 questions, 90 minutes, weighted exactly as the certifying body publishes it - Basic Electricity 26%, Safety 18%, Temperature and Humidity 14%, Achieving Desired Conditions 14%, Tools 10%, Using Basic Science 10%, Basic Construction 8%
- Three service specialty tracks - Air Conditioning, Air-to-Air Heat Pump, and Gas Heating - at 100 questions and 150 minutes each
- 21 study lessons, one per exam domain, so a weak area on your stats maps to exactly one lesson
- 24 field formulas, an R-410A and R-22 pressure/temperature chart, and 47 glossary terms
- Spaced review: questions you miss come back on a schedule instead of disappearing
- A blueprint-weighted readiness score showing where you stand against the 70% pass line
BUILT THE WAY THE EXAM IS BUILT
Most prep apps shuffle a pile of questions and hand you twenty. CoreForge draws each domain's published share for every practice set and every mock exam, so a weak 26% domain shows up in your score the way it will show up on exam day. Answer options are ordered fresh each time, so a repeat sitting is never memorisable by position.
WORKS WHERE YOU WORK
Completely offline. Nothing to sign into in a mechanical room, an attic, or a crawlspace.
SOURCES AND STANDARDS
CoreForge is an independent study aid published by TapForge Studios. It is NOT affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or authorized by North American Technician Excellence (NATE). NATE is a trademark of its owner and is referred to here only to identify the examinations this material prepares for. All questions are original work written for this app; no actual exam content is reproduced.
DISCLAIMER - NOT A GOVERNMENT APP. This application is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Where regulatory material is referenced, consult the official sources directly:
Certification requirements and exam outlines: https://natex.org/technician/take-an-exam/kate
EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification: https://www.epa.gov/section608
40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F, refrigerant recycling: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-82/subpart-F
OSHA 29 CFR 1910 general industry: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 construction: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926
DOE appliance efficiency standards: https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/appliance-and-equipment-standards-program
International Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes: https://codes.iccsafe.org/
NFPA codes and standards: https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards
ASHRAE standards: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/standards-and-guidelines
ACCA Manual J, S and D: https://www.acca.org/standards
AHRI certified equipment directory: https://www.ahridirectory.org/
Always verify current exam requirements, fees and scheduling with the certifying body before your test date.
Video
CoreForge: HVAC Exam PrepScreenshots
Free calculators
Try the tools in your browser. The app has them offline.
Try a few questions first
A question of the day and a 10-question sample with explanations. The full question bank and the timed mock exams are in the app.
How-to guides
How to Check Superheat and Subcooling on an AC System
Which reading to charge by, where to clamp, and what high or low superheat and subcooling tell you about the charge.
5 min readHow to Measure Total External Static Pressure
Two test ports, one manometer, and a number you compare to the data plate. How to measure TESP and read what it tells you.
5 min readHow to Size an Air Conditioner for Your Home
BTU per square foot gets you a starting size; Manual J gets you the right one. Why bigger is worse and what the numbers mean.