CORE Practice Test

The CORE program is required for B.C. residents age 10 or older. It is run by the BC Wildlife Federation, and certified examiners give the exams in person. This page sums up the exam format, fees and passing scores from the official BCWF page. It also links free practice sets and worked sample questions to review before you book an examination.

CORE Exam at a Glance

What changed for CORE in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to B.C. residents age 10 or older (previously Required for B.C. residents age 10 or older seeking hunting credentials).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee changed to $30 per examination, paid to the examiner (previously $30 per examination, payable to the examiner).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Passing score (Written examination) changed to At least 68 points overall (previously At least 68 points overall (of 90)).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to In-person exams with certified examiners; optional online course (47 lessons) (previously In-person exams with a certified examiner; optional online course (47 lessons) or manual self-study).^[1]

What the CORE is and how it works

According to BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF), which runs the CORE program for the Province of British Columbia, “The written examination consists of 90 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual”^[1]

CORE stands for Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education. The BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF) runs the program for the Province of British Columbia. Successful completion is required for B.C. residents age 10 or older.

Exams are taken in person with a BCWF certified CORE examiner. Examiners offer in-person courses and CORE exam challenges throughout the province. There is also an optional online course made up of 47 remote lessons, meant to prepare you for the in-person exams. It does not replace them.

The written examination has 90 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual. You need at least 68 points overall to pass it. The practical firearms handling examination needs a minimum score of 23 out of 30 to pass.

On fees, $30 is payable to the examiner each time an examination is taken. After you complete the tests successfully, a $30 administration fee must be provided to the BCWF.

We have not verified retake rules, time limits, examiner locations or scheduling, so this page does not state them. Check those details with your examiner and on the BCWF CORE page before you book. Our practice sets are written by us with AI tools. They are not real exam questions, and some topics may not match the CORE Manual, so treat the manual as the main source for what is tested.

Worked examples: how to reason through CORE questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'edge habitat'?

1. The deepest section of a lake where cold-water species reside
2. The boundary zone where two different habitat types meet
3. A coastal wetland at the edge of the ocean
4. The outermost boundary of a state wildlife management area

Answer: B. The boundary zone where two different habitat types meet

Explanation:

The correct answer is the boundary zone where two different habitat types meet. Edge habitat is the transition between ecosystems, such as forest and meadow, and it often supports more species because animals and plants from both sides can use it.

The deepest section of a lake describes a lake zone, not a meeting point between habitats. A coastal wetland at the edge of the ocean is a specific wetland type, and the word edge there is only geography. The outermost boundary of a wildlife management area is an administrative line on a map, not an ecological feature.

The rule to remember: when a term is about where two things meet, look for the option describing a transition, not a place defined by depth, location or ownership.

Example 2

Question: Which emerging technology is being used in watershed education programs to create 3D printed physical models of stream channel topography from survey data?

1. Cryogenic storage
2. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) from LiDAR or survey point cloud data
3. Sublimation dye transfer
4. Injection molding from legacy templates

Answer: B. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) from LiDAR or survey point cloud data

Explanation:

The correct answer is additive manufacturing, meaning 3D printing, from LiDAR or survey point cloud data. Survey or LiDAR data can be converted into a file a 3D printer reads, and the printed model gives students a physical, touchable version of a stream channel's shape.

Cryogenic storage is about keeping materials at very low temperatures and produces no terrain model. Sublimation dye transfer moves ink onto a surface such as fabric, so it makes flat images, not channel shapes. Injection molding from legacy templates repeats existing molds and cannot turn new survey data into a new model.

The rule to remember: match the technology to the task. Turning measured data into a physical shape points to 3D printing.

Example 3

Question: How can individuals practice recreational ethics?

1. By exploring off-trail areas.
2. By respecting wildlife and minimizing impact.
3. By prioritizing personal convenience.
4. By relying on others to maintain natural spaces.

Answer: B. By respecting wildlife and minimizing impact.

Explanation:

The correct answer is respecting wildlife and minimizing impact. Practicing recreational ethics means treating the natural environment and its inhabitants with respect. In practice that means watching animals from a distance, staying on designated trails, packing out trash and leaving no trace.

Exploring off-trail areas can damage vegetation and disturb habitat, so it works against ethical use. Prioritizing personal convenience puts your comfort ahead of the place and the people who share it. Relying on others to maintain natural spaces shifts your responsibility onto someone else, when every visitor is expected to look after the places they use.

The rule to remember: in ethics questions, choose the option that reduces harm and keeps the outdoors in the condition you found it.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the CORE Manual, because the written examination is based on it. Consider the optional online course if you want the lessons guided. Then use our practice sets to find the gaps in what you remember.

Begin with the topics closest to the outdoors: Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Stewardship, Recreational Ethics and Regulations and Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed, not only the ones you guessed. Write down the rule behind each miss in your own words, then look that topic up in the manual.

Some of our sets cover teaching and program topics that the manual may not stress. Use them as extra reading practice, and rely on the manual to decide what matters most. When you feel steady, try the full practice test in a quiet setting and keep a short list of weak areas to revisit.

The practical firearms handling examination cannot be practised with multiple-choice questions. Ask your examiner what to expect and how to prepare for it.

Sources & last verified

1. BC Wildlife Federation (BCWF), which runs the CORE program for the Province of British Columbia — number of questions, passing score, exam fee, delivery (official source). “The written examination consists of 90 multiple-choice questions based on the CORE Manual” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.