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Engineering Technician

NICET Construction Materials Testing Soils Level I Exam Practice Test

Soils construction materials testing connects field observations and laboratory measurements to the behavior of earth materials used in construction. Practice topics include soil mass and volume, moisture-sensitive handling, volume change with wetting and drying, and measurements used to describe soil layers. Questions also present decisions about specimens, instruments, and test procedures.

Exam overview

Exam providerNational Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies
Exam codeNot listed
CategoryEngineering Technician

About the NICET Construction Materials Testing Soils Level I Exam

Soil technicians need to preserve sample condition, select suitable equipment, follow test steps, and record observations clearly enough for later review. The available practice questions touch on moisture determination, balance selection, instrument checks, and responding when a result seems inconsistent with other observations. They also use concepts such as mass per unit volume, soil volume change, elevation records for comparing layers across a site, and the role of normal load in a direct shear test. Working through these scenarios can help you distinguish a measurement from its interpretation, identify when a specimen or reading may be unreliable, and choose a careful next action without changing or obscuring test evidence.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

A technician measures a soil specimen’s mass in grams and its volume in cubic centimeters. Which unit expresses the specimen’s mass per unit volume?

  1. Ag/cm³
  2. Bcm³/g
  3. Cg·cm³
  4. Dcm/g²
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Density is mass divided by volume, so grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) is the appropriate unit for these measurements.

Question 2

A technician performs a one-point liquid limit check using a specified procedure and obtains a result that appears inconsistent with other observations. What is the most appropriate next step?

  1. AReview the procedure and measurements, then repeat the test if required by the applicable method
  2. BChange the reported result to match the expected soil classification
  3. CDiscard all other test data from the sample
  4. DReport the value without checking the procedure
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Unexpected results should prompt a procedural and measurement review. Repeating the test when the method or project requirements call for it is preferable to altering or accepting a questionable result without verification.

Question 3

A technician records a field measurement but later notices that the instrument’s display was difficult to read because of glare. What is the best practice for the record?

  1. AReplace the reading with a value estimated from nearby locations
  2. BKeep the original entry traceable and document any verified correction according to recordkeeping procedures
  3. CErase the reading completely and leave the space blank
  4. DChange the value to match the expected result
Show answerCorrect answer: B

Quality records should preserve the original entry and provide a traceable account of any correction. A value should not be altered simply to match an expectation.

Question 4

A technician observes that a soil sample changes noticeably in volume as it is wetted and then dried. Which general soil behavior is this observation most associated with?

  1. AShrink-swell behavior
  2. BHydraulic conductivity
  3. CParticle angularity
  4. DRelative density of clean gravel
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Some soils, particularly certain clay-rich soils, undergo volume change as their moisture content changes. This is commonly described as shrink-swell behavior.

Question 5

A technician needs to determine whether a soil layer is approximately horizontal or varies in elevation across a site. Which field record is most useful for comparing the layer’s elevation at different locations?

  1. AA set of surveyed elevations tied to a common datum
  2. BA list of soil colors observed at each location
  3. CThe number of blows recorded during a penetration test
  4. DThe mass of material retained on each sieve
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Surveyed elevations referenced to a common datum allow layer elevations at separate locations to be compared. The other records describe different soil properties or test results.

Question 6

A technician is preparing to use a field instrument that requires a battery-powered display. The display does not turn on during the initial check. What should the technician do?

  1. AProceed using the last recorded result from the instrument
  2. BUse the instrument only for readings expected to be approximate
  3. CCheck the approved power supply and instrument condition, and do not use it until it functions properly
  4. DTap the display repeatedly while taking measurements
Show answerCorrect answer: C

An instrument that does not function during its check cannot provide dependable measurements. The technician should check its approved power supply and condition, and keep it out of service until it operates properly.

Question 7

A soil specimen is placed in an oven for a moisture determination. Which practice best helps avoid changing the specimen’s measured water content before it is weighed?

  1. ALeave the specimen uncovered on the bench until weighing
  2. BStore the specimen in a sealed container before weighing
  3. CAdd water to replace any moisture lost during handling
  4. DMix the specimen with dry soil to make it easier to handle
Show answerCorrect answer: B

A sealed container limits moisture exchange with the surrounding air between sampling and weighing. Adding water or mixing with other soil changes the specimen, while leaving it uncovered can allow moisture gain or loss.

How to use this practice test

Access is free. The practice bank contains 50 questions; a session presents up to 20 random questions and shows results afterward. Use a session to check your understanding of soil measurements, specimen handling, equipment readiness, and the field and laboratory decisions represented in the questions. Review missed items by identifying the measurement or procedure involved.

Preparation tips

  • Practice converting between specimen mass and volume units, and distinguish mass per unit volume from the separate water-content measurement.
  • For moisture-sensitive work, think through how loose lids, exposure before weighing, and oven handling can alter a specimen’s measured condition.
  • Compare a questionable test result with the procedure and other observations; identify what should be checked before accepting or repeating the measurement.
  • Review how field records can show elevation differences between locations, and how normal load affects the conditions in a direct shear test.
  • Before using a battery-powered instrument, check that its display is functioning and that measurements can be read and recorded reliably.
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