RETA Breeze Jul-Aug 2025

RETA TESTING CORNER NO. 49

EFFECTIVE USE OF PRACTICE TESTS HELPS CANDIDATES EARN RETA CREDENTIALS

R ETA created CARO, CIRO and CRST Practice Tests to help candidates earn these credentials, but not every candidate makes effective use of these resources. Every candidate pays for access to one practice test in each registration fee for these exams. Many candidates also pay for additional practice tests at $59 each. Some candidates also fail each full exam

without taking a practice test. The table shows performance data for a candidate who passed three of four CARO Practice Tests but failed six attempts on the full CARO exam. A total score of at least 70% is required to pass each test. Practice tests use questions like those that appear on the full exam with about half as many per topic and a 90-minute time limit. Each full exam

has a time limit of three hours. Content area and total scores over 70% in the table below appear in boldface type . Scores below 70% appear in red . This candidate’s last three CARO Practice Tests scores were 82%, 92% and 72%, but that tells only part of the story. He used less than half the 90 minutes for three of these exams. His scores also were lower in six of

CARO Content Area and Total Scores for Sample Candidate

Four CARO Practice Tests in 2024-25

Six CARO Exams in 2024-25

7/25 CARO Scores

2 at 100%

5 under 70%

77%

Fundamentals

2 at 100%

5 under 70%

75%

Refrigeration Cycle

1 at 100%

5 at 71%

71%

Properties of Refrigerants and Tables

2 at 100%

6 under 70%

33%

Types of Refrigerant Compressors

Operation & Maintenance of Compressors

2 at 100%

4 under 70%

71%

2 at 100%

3 under 70%

80%

Lubrication

3 over 75%

6 under 70%

33%

Evaporators and Cooling Units

Condensers and High-Pressure Receivers

4 < 70%

6 under 70%

66%

4 < 70%

5 under 70%

60%

Purging

4 over 70%

6 under 70%

50%

Safety Standards and Procedures

Total Score

3 over 70%

46% to 62%

62%

Average Percent of Allowed Time Used

42%

85%

76%

34 RETA.com