Question 1: Which formula correctly expresses Ohm's Law?
- V = I ÷ R
- R = I × V
- I = R ÷ V
- V = I × R
NATE_CORE
NEC 2023
NATE Core Practice Test 8
This practice test covers basic electrical concepts from the NATE Core exam blueprint, focused on Ohm's Law and circuit behavior. You will see questions on voltage, current, resistance calculations, and how series and parallel circuits behave.
TOPICS COVERED
NATE Core
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Look for absolute words like always / never — they often distinguish the right answer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — completely free with no signup required. Every question includes a full explanation of the correct answer.
Two: the NATE Core exam plus at least one specialty exam (for example AC Service, Heat Pump Service, or Air Distribution Service). You can take them on the same day or separately.
The Core exam has 50 questions and each installation or service specialty exam has 100 questions. You need 70% on each to pass — 35 of 50 on Core and 70 of 100 on a specialty. Check natex.org for the current format before you book.
NATE certification lasts two years. To renew, you submit 16 hours of continuing education or retake the specialty exam before your certification expires.
No. These are independent practice tests written to match the published NATE exam topics. They are not official NATE exam questions.
Exam Tip: Memorize the Ohm's Law triangle: V = I × R, I = V ÷ R, R = V ÷ I. Also remember: series circuits share one path, parallel circuits offer multiple paths.
30
Questions
30 min
Time
70%
Pass
Timer starts immediately. Progress is auto-saved.
NATE Core Practice Test 8 — Question List
Question 2: A circuit has 120 volts and 24 ohms of resistance. What is the current?
- 5 amps
- 2 amps
- 10 amps
- 48 amps
Question 3: A circuit has 3 amps of current flowing through 40 ohms of resistance. What is the voltage?
- 13.3 volts
- 120 volts
- 43 volts
- 37 volts
Question 4: A circuit has 240 volts and 10 amps of current. What is the resistance?
- 250 ohms
- 2,400 ohms
- 24 ohms
- 230 ohms
Question 5: In a series circuit, how does current behave throughout the circuit?
- Current is different at every point in the circuit
- Current only flows at the very end of the circuit
- Current splits evenly between each component
- Current stays the same throughout the entire circuit
Question 6: In a series circuit, what happens if one component fails and creates an open circuit?
- The entire circuit stops working because there is only one path for current
- Only that component stops working, everything else still runs
- The circuit automatically reroutes power
- The voltage doubles at every other component
Question 7: In a parallel circuit, how does voltage behave across each branch?
- Voltage is different across every branch
- Voltage is the same across each parallel branch
- Voltage only exists in the main branch
- Voltage splits evenly between each branch
Question 8: In a parallel circuit, how does current behave as it flows through the different branches?
- Current only flows through one branch at a time
- Current is exactly the same in every branch, no matter the resistance
- Current splits between the different branches
- Current does not flow in a parallel circuit
Question 9: In a parallel circuit, if one branch fails and creates an open circuit, what happens to the other branches?
- All branches stop working, just like a series circuit
- The voltage on the other branches drops to zero
- The other branches lose their power source entirely
- The other branches continue to work normally, since they have their own separate path
Question 10: What does voltage measure in an electrical circuit?
- The electrical pressure or force that pushes current through a circuit
- The rate of current flow
- The opposition to current flow
- The physical size of a wire
Question 11: What does current measure in an electrical circuit?
- The electrical pressure pushing electrons
- The rate of flow of electrons through a circuit
- The opposition to electron flow
- The physical length of the wire
Question 12: What does resistance measure in an electrical circuit?
- The rate of current flow
- The electrical pressure pushing current
- The opposition to the flow of current
- The total power used by a circuit
Question 13: A circuit has 208 volts and 8 ohms of resistance. What is the current?
- 16 amps
- 20 amps
- 2 amps
- 26 amps
Question 14: A circuit has 120 volts and 4 amps of current. What is the resistance?
- 30 ohms
- 480 ohms
- 124 ohms
- 40 ohms
Question 15: A circuit has 12 amps of current flowing through 10 ohms of resistance. What is the voltage?
- 0.83 volts
- 120 volts
- 22 volts
- 100 volts
Question 16: What unit is used to measure voltage?
- Ohms
- Amps
- Volts
- Watts
Question 17: What unit is used to measure current?
- Volts
- Ohms
- Watts
- Amps
Question 18: What unit is used to measure resistance?
- Ohms
- Volts
- Amps
- Watts
Question 19: If voltage stays the same but resistance in a circuit increases, what happens to the current?
- Current increases
- Current decreases
- Current stays exactly the same
- Current becomes impossible to calculate
Question 20: In a series circuit with multiple resistors, how is the total resistance found?
- By taking the average of all the resistors
- By multiplying the resistance of each resistor
- By adding up the resistance of each resistor
- Total resistance cannot be found in a series circuit
Question 21: A series circuit has two resistors: one at 15 ohms and one at 25 ohms. What is the total resistance?
- 10 ohms
- 375 ohms
- 20 ohms
- 40 ohms
Question 22: Three light bulbs are wired in series, and one bulb burns out (creating an open circuit). What happens to the other two bulbs?
- They also turn off, because the circuit is broken
- They stay on, but dimmer than before
- They get brighter to compensate
- Only the bulb closest to the power source stays on
Question 23: Three light bulbs are wired in parallel, and one bulb burns out (creating an open circuit) in its branch. What happens to the other two bulbs?
- They also turn off, because the circuit is broken
- They stay on normally, since each bulb has its own separate path
- They flicker randomly
- They get dimmer permanently
Question 24: Older-style holiday lights, where the entire string goes dark if one bulb burns out, are wired in what kind of circuit?
- Neither series nor parallel
- Parallel circuit
- Series circuit
- A circuit with no current at all
Question 25: In a home, why are most branch circuits and outlets wired in parallel rather than in series?
- Parallel wiring is required to reduce voltage to zero
- So that all outlets share exactly the same current
- So that only one outlet in the house can be used at a time
- So that a failure in one device or outlet does not shut off power to the others
Question 26: Which formula correctly finds current (I) using Ohm's Law?
- I = V ÷ R
- I = V × R
- I = R ÷ V
- I = V + R
Question 27: Which formula correctly finds resistance (R) using Ohm's Law?
- R = I × V
- R = V ÷ I
- R = I ÷ V
- R = V + I
Question 28: A low-voltage control circuit has 24 volts and 6 ohms of resistance. What is the current?
- 30 amps
- 18 amps
- 4 amps
- 144 amps
Question 29: What is the key difference between how series and parallel circuits are wired?
- Series circuits use no wires at all
- Parallel circuits never use resistors
- There is no real difference between the two
- A series circuit has one single path for current; a parallel circuit has multiple paths
Question 30: True or False: In a parallel circuit, each branch always has the same voltage as the source.
- True
- False, voltage is always different in each branch
- False, only current is the same across branches
- False, voltage cannot be measured in a parallel circuit
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