CORE Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CORE exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CORE Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CORE Topics to Study (90)
✍️ Sample CORE Questions & Answers
1. A mountain biker riding a multi-use trail encounters equestrians. According to standard trail etiquette and regulations, who has the right of way?
Horses are unpredictable around fast-moving bicycles and can injure riders, so equestrians have right of way on multi-use trails as standard etiquette and many land-use rules.
2. Which fishing knot is most commonly recommended for beginners when attaching a hook to monofilament line?
The Palomar knot is strong, easy to tie, and retains high line strength, making it ideal for beginners attaching hooks or lures.
3. A CORE program developer wants to build student self-regulation and metacognition into the curriculum. Which instructional strategy best achieves this?
Structured reflection journals promote metacognition by asking students to think about their own thinking, progress, and goals.
4. When planning a CORE course schedule, instructors should prioritize which of the following?
A balanced schedule that mixes lecture with hands-on activities improves engagement and long-term retention of safety skills.
5. Which invasive species introduced via ballast water has severely disrupted Great Lakes fisheries by filtering phytoplankton that supports the food web?
Zebra mussels filter vast quantities of phytoplankton, collapsing the base of the food web and causing dramatic declines in native fish populations.
6. Which fire-starting method is most reliable in wet conditions?
Waterproof matches and lighters are the most reliable in wet conditions, which is why they are recommended as primary fire-starting tools in survival kits.