PAL written exam — is the non-restricted test actually harder than people say?
I just finished my Canadian Firearms Safety Course and I'm scheduled to write the PAL exam in two weeks. I've heard mixed things about difficulty — some people say it's straightforward if you paid attention in the course, and others say the storage and transportation questions can be tricky if you try to apply logic rather than memorizing the exact regulations. I want to know which camp is right before I sit.
The CFSC written component is 50 questions and you need an 80% to pass, so 40 correct. I'm most nervous about the safe storage questions because there are specific requirements for ammunition storage relative to firearm storage that have multiple conditions depending on whether you have a locked container versus a trigger lock. Getting those scenarios wrong feels easy to do if you haven't drilled them specifically.
I've been going through the RCMP materials and doing timed practice sessions at about 45 minutes each, which matches how long the actual test runs. My practice scores are sitting around 88 to 92% but I know exam conditions can throw you off. Did anyone find the prohibited devices or safe storage sections were disproportionately weighted on the actual exam compared to what you expected?
Passed with an 89% and found the storage questions were about what I expected from the course material. The scenarios where you have to determine if a specific combination of storage method and ammunition handling is compliant are where people lose points — they're not hard if you've drilled them but easy to slip on if you're reasoning from general principles.
The transportation section is underrated. People focus on storage and get caught off guard by questions about what constitutes a public place for unloading requirements and the specific lock requirements during vehicle transport. Review those sections at least twice before test day.
The practical component was honestly more nerve-wracking than the written for me. During the written I finished in about 30 minutes and had time to review everything twice. If you're hitting 88%+ in practice, the written isn't your weak point — focus energy on the handling portion instead.
At 88 to 92% on practice tests you're in good shape. The actual exam isn't harder than the CFSC materials — it's drawn from the same source. I'd spend your last week just reviewing the prohibited device definitions and the storage requirement matrix one more time and you'll be fine going in.