Heat Transfer Practice Questions

Basic Heat Transfer is 12% of the NATE Ready-to-Work exam, and heat is the subject of the temperature domain on the Support Technician and Core exams. Learn how HVAC systems move heat.

Take the timed NATE Ready-to-Work mock exam

50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Ready-to-Work outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.

Or try the free heat transfer drill
  • 22 original heat transfer questions, every option explained
  • Tested on: NATE Core, NATE Ready-to-Work, NATE HVAC Support Technician
Free sample · Question 1 of 3Heat transfer

How can a heat pump heat a house when it is 35°F outdoors?

Choose the best answer

What our heat transfer questions cover

  • Which way heat flows, and heat versus temperature
  • Conduction, convection (natural and forced) and radiation
  • Sensible and latent heat; boiling and condensing in coils
  • The Btu, the ton of refrigeration and where 12,000 Btu/h comes from
  • Latent heat of fusion and vaporization of water; specific heat of water and air
  • The sensible heat formula, insulation and radiant barriers
Line drawing of three heat transfer scenes: a torch heating one end of a copper pipe, a baseboard radiator with rising warm air, and the sun shining on a roof

This list is our own summary, written for practice. NATE publishes the full topic lists in its Knowledge Areas of Technician Expertise (KATEs).

Drill heat transfer, then sit the full NATE Ready-to-Work exam

Take the timed NATE Ready-to-Work mock exam

50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Ready-to-Work outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.

Or try the free heat transfer drill

Ideas the questions test most

  1. Heat flows from warmer to cooler; a compressor does the work to move it the other way.
  2. Sensible heat changes temperature; latent heat changes state.
  3. 1 Btu raises 1 pound of water 1°F; 1 ton = 12,000 Btu/h.
  4. Water: 144 Btu/lb to melt or freeze, about 970 Btu/lb to boil or condense.
  5. Sensible heat in standard air: Btu/h = 1.08 × CFM × ΔT.

Start the free heat transfer drill · NATE Core practice test · NATE Ready-to-Work practice test · NATE HVAC Support Technician practice test

Common questions

What heat transfer topics are on the NATE Ready-to-Work exam?

The Ready-to-Work KATE lists sensible and latent heat and the types of heat transfer under Basic Heat Transfer, 12% of the exam.

Where does heat transfer appear on the NATE Core exam?

In Taking Temperature and Humidity Measurements (14%), which lists latent heat, sensible heat, conduction, convection, radiation and the Btu.

Take the timed NATE Ready-to-Work mock exam

50 questions on the 90-minute clock, weighted like NATE’s Ready-to-Work outline, with a score for every area and an explanation for every option.

Or try the free heat transfer drill

More HVAC topics

Exam format and outline checked November 2026 on natex.org: NATE: Ready-to-Work and HVAC Support Technician certificates · NATE Ready-to-Work KATE (PDF) · NATE HVAC Support Technician KATE (PDF) · NATE Core Exam KATE (PDF) · NATE: Frequently asked questions. NATE has not announced a change to this outline.

NATE is a mark of North American Technician Excellence, Inc. Game Assessment Prep is an independent practice site, not affiliated with or endorsed by NATE. Every question is original; none is taken from NATE exams, NATE study guides or another prep provider.