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NATE_HEATPUMP_SERVICE NEC 2023

NATE Heat Pump Service Practice Test 6

This practice test covers COP, HSPF, and SEER, the main efficiency ratings used for heat pumps. You will practice simple COP calculations and review why heat pumps carry both a heating and a cooling efficiency rating. A few questions on balance point and refrigerant basics are mixed in for review.

TOPICS COVERED

NATE Heat Pump Service

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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: COP is just heat output divided by electrical input, in matching units. Practice the division and the calculation questions become easy points.

30

Questions

30 min

Time

70%

Pass

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NATE Heat Pump Service Practice Test 6 — Question List

Question 1: What does COP stand for?

Cost Of Power
Compressor Operating Pressure
Coefficient Of Performance
Cooling Output Percentage

Question 2: How is COP calculated?

Electrical input divided by heat output
Heat output minus electrical input
Heat output multiplied by electrical input
Useful heat output divided by electrical energy input, using matching units

Question 3: What does a COP of 1 represent?

The baseline of electric resistance heating, where 100% of energy input becomes heat
The maximum possible COP for any heat pump
A system that is losing more energy than it uses
A system running in defrost mode

Question 4: A heat pump produces 6,000 watts of heat while using 1,500 watts of electricity. What is its COP?

2
4
6
1.5

Question 5: What does HSPF measure?

Cooling efficiency for a single hot day
Refrigerant charge accuracy
Seasonal heating efficiency for heat pumps
Compressor amperage draw

Question 6: What does SEER measure?

Heating capacity in BTU/h
Defrost cycle frequency
Crankcase heater wattage
Seasonal cooling efficiency

Question 7: Does a heat pump have both an HSPF and a SEER rating?

Yes, since it operates in both heating and cooling modes
No, only SEER applies to heat pumps
No, only HSPF applies to heat pumps
No, heat pumps do not have efficiency ratings

Question 8: A higher HSPF number generally means what?

Lower cooling efficiency
Better heating efficiency over a season
A smaller compressor
A shorter defrost cycle

Question 9: Two heat pumps are compared at the same outdoor temperature: Unit A has a COP of 3, Unit B has a COP of 2. Which unit is moving more heat energy per unit of electrical energy at that temperature?

Unit B, since lower COP means more heat moved
Both units move the same amount of heat
Unit A, since a higher COP means more heat moved per unit of electricity
It cannot be determined without knowing the refrigerant type

Question 10: Why does a heat pump's COP typically drop as outdoor temperature drops?

The compressor becomes less durable
The refrigerant type changes automatically
The reversing valve begins to leak
There is less available heat to extract from colder outdoor air

Question 11: Which statement is true about COP?

A COP greater than 1 means the heat pump moves more heat energy than the electrical energy it consumes
COP applies only to gas furnaces
A COP of 1 is considered excellent for a heat pump
COP cannot be calculated for heat pumps, only air conditioners

Question 12: A heat pump uses 1,800 watts of electricity and produces 5,400 watts of heat. What is its COP?

2
3
4
5

Question 13: Which of these best explains why SEER does not tell you anything about a heat pump's winter performance?

SEER measures compressor amperage
SEER only applies to gas furnaces
SEER measures cooling season efficiency, not heating performance
SEER and HSPF always have the same numeric value

Question 14: A customer wants to compare the heating efficiency of two different heat pump models before purchase. Which single rating should they primarily look at for this comparison?

SEER rating only
The reversing valve brand
The crankcase heater wattage
HSPF rating

Question 15: A COP of 4 means what, in simple terms?

The system delivers about 4 times more heat energy than the electrical energy it uses
The system uses 4 times more electricity than it delivers in heat
The system runs at 4 times normal compressor speed
The system has 4 reversing valves

Question 16: Which of these would generally support a higher real-world COP at a given outdoor temperature?

A dirty, restricted outdoor coil
Proper refrigerant charge and clean coils
A failing compressor
A stuck reversing valve

Question 17: A heat pump delivers 12,000 watts of heat while using 3,000 watts of electricity. What is its COP?

3
3.5
4
4.5

Question 18: Which rating would a technician check to compare the summer cooling efficiency of two heat pumps?

HSPF
AFUE
COP only
SEER

Question 19: Why is COP typically expressed as a single number rather than a percentage?

Because it directly compares heat output to energy input as a ratio, and can be greater than 1, unlike a percentage efficiency
Because percentages cannot describe heating systems
Because COP is always less than 1
Because COP only applies to cooling equipment

Question 20: A heat pump's COP drops from 3.5 at 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 2.0 at 10 degrees Fahrenheit. What does this trend show about the system?

The system becomes more efficient as it gets colder
The system becomes less efficient at extracting and delivering heat as outdoor temperature drops, which is expected heat pump behavior
The system is defective and needs replacement
The system has switched to cooling mode

Question 21: Which of these terms applies specifically to a heat pump's cooling mode efficiency rating?

HSPF
AFUE
SEER
COP only

Question 22: A technician explains to a customer that HSPF and SEER are both important for a heat pump, unlike a standard air conditioner. Why?

Because heat pumps use more refrigerant than air conditioners
Because heat pumps require larger ductwork
Because heat pumps only operate in summer
Because a heat pump operates in both heating and cooling modes, while a standard air conditioner only cools

Question 23: If a heat pump has a COP of exactly 1 during extremely cold weather, what does this suggest?

It is performing no better than plain electric resistance heat at that specific temperature
It has failed completely and produces no heat
It is performing at its absolute best efficiency
The refrigerant charge is at 100 percent

Question 24: A heat pump uses 4,000 watts of electricity and produces 14,000 watts of heat output. What is its COP, rounded to one decimal place?

3.0
3.5
4.0
2.5

Question 25: Which statement correctly compares HSPF and SEER?

They measure the exact same thing using different units
HSPF measures cooling, SEER measures heating
HSPF measures seasonal heating efficiency, SEER measures seasonal cooling efficiency
Neither applies to heat pumps

Question 26: A customer is deciding between two heat pumps with similar SEER ratings but very different HSPF ratings. In a cold winter climate, which factor matters more for their decision?

SEER rating, since HSPF is irrelevant in winter
Neither rating matters in a cold climate
The compressor brand name alone
The HSPF rating, since it reflects heating season performance which matters more in a cold climate

Question 27: Why might a heat pump's actual field COP be lower than its rated laboratory COP?

Real-world factors like duct losses, incorrect charge, or dirty coils can reduce actual performance below lab conditions
Field COP is always higher than lab COP
Lab conditions always match field conditions exactly
COP cannot be measured outside a laboratory

Question 28: True or False: A heat pump's SEER rating tells you how efficiently it heats in winter.

True, SEER covers both seasons equally
False, SEER reflects cooling season efficiency, not heating performance
True, but only in mild climates
True, because SEER and HSPF are the same number

Question 29: A heat pump delivers 7,500 watts of heat using 2,500 watts of electricity. What is its COP?

2
2.5
3
3.5

Question 30: A technician measures a heat pump's actual output as 9,000 watts of heat using 3,600 watts of electricity, but the manufacturer's rated COP at these conditions is 3.0. Is the system performing as expected?

Yes, it exactly matches the rated COP
Yes, it exceeds the rated COP
It cannot be determined from this information
No, the measured COP of 2.5 is below the rated 3.0, suggesting a performance issue worth investigating

EXAM CARD NATE_HEATPUMP_SERVICE

Questions30

Time limit30 min

Pass score70%

Code editionNEC 2023

DifficultyIntermediate

Last reviewedJun 2026

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Source: NEC 2026 (NFPA 70)