The power engineering exam format, verified

Every SOPEEC power engineering exam — 5th Class and both 4th Class papers — follows the same format. Some study sites still publish the wrong numbers. Here are the facts, straight from the SOPEEC standard.

Format by paper

4th Class requires passing both 4A and 4B independently — a pass on one paper does not carry over to the other.

The facts other sites get wrong

If you’ve seen conflicting numbers while studying, you’re not imagining it. A few common errors floating around online:

• “3.5 hours” — the SOPEEC time limit is 3 hours per paper, not 3.5.
• “150 questions” — SOPEEC papers are 100 questions. (Some older or non-SOPEEC formats used 150; the current standard does not.)
• “50% to pass” — the pass mark is 65% on each paper.

One format, twelve jurisdictions

Twelve of Canada’s thirteen jurisdictions use the SOPEEC standard, so the format above applies whether you write in Alberta (ABSA), British Columbia (Technical Safety BC), Saskatchewan (TSASK), Ontario (TSSA), or elsewhere. Since March 2023, British Columbia writes the same 100-question / 3-hour / 65% SOPEEC papers as Alberta. Quebec is the exception — it runs its own MMF system. See your province page for local details.