ACI PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ The technician should use a stiff layer of _____ to cap fresh concrete
cylinders.. Answer: Neat cement paste
▶ Hardened concrete cylinders should be capped with _____, _____ or
_____.. Answer: High-strength gypsum paste, neat cement paste, or sulfur
mortar
▶ Plaster of paris and mixtures of plaster of paris and portland cement are
examples of suitable high strength plasters. True or False?. Answer: False
▶ Sulfur mortars and high-strength gypsum cement cubes must
demonstrate a minimum compressive strength of _____ or ___ __,
whichever is greater.. Answer: 35MPa (5000 psi), the cylinder strength
▶ The cement paste should be applied to the freshly molded cylinder from
_____ to _____ hours after molding. This is to allow for _____ of the
concrete specimen.. Answer: 2,4, settling
▶ The strength of the paste depends on:
a) the water-cement ratio
b) time
c) the equipment used
d) type of cement. Answer: a, b and d
▶ A slight twisting action will help eliminate _____ and air _____ when the
capping plate is placed onto the mound of the paste.. Answer: Excess
paste, voids
▶ Neat cement paste caps should not be used on dry specimens because
the caps may _____ and _____ when dry.. Answer: Shrink, crack
▶ The technician should remove all _____ or _____ materials from the
ends of hardened concrete cylinders before capping. Answer: Oily, waxy
, ▶ _____ the pot and recharge with fresh material at intervals to insure that
the oldest material in the pot has not been used more than _____ times..
Answer: Empty, 5
▶ When capping concrete cylinders with a compressive strength of 35 MPa
(5000 psi) or greater, it is permitted to reuse compound recovered from the
capping operation of old caps. True or False?. Answer: False
▶ To avoid _____, the sulfur mortar should be dry when it is added to the
pot. It should be kept away from _____ when heating.. Answer: Foaming,
water
▶ The melting pot for the sulfur mortar must be located under a _____ with
an _____ for _____.. Answer: Hood, exhaust fan, ventillation
▶ Hydrogen sulfide gas, which may be produced during capping, may be
_____, _____, _____, _____ and _____.. Answer: Lethal, nausea,
stomach distress, dizziness, headache, irritation of the eyes.
▶ When qualification tests of unbonded pads are required, they are
performed by the _____ or _____.. Answer: Supplier, user
▶ This standard (ASTM 1231) established a maximum number of pad
reuses that may not be exceeded under any circumstances. True or false?.
Answer: False
▶ Unbonded caps are not to be used for acceptance testing of concrete
with compressive strength below _____ or above _____.. Answer: 1500
psi (10 MPa), 12,000 psi (80 MPa)
▶ Polyurethane or butyl pads with a Shore A durometer hardness of 50
that will be used on concrete with a compressive strength of 1500 to 6000
psi (10 to 40 MPa) need not be qualified prior to use. True of False?.
Answer: False
▶ To keep track of pad usage, the user is required to maintain records that
include_____.. Answer: Date placed in service, pad durometer, number of
uses
DETAILED SOLUTIONS 2026
▶ The technician should use a stiff layer of _____ to cap fresh concrete
cylinders.. Answer: Neat cement paste
▶ Hardened concrete cylinders should be capped with _____, _____ or
_____.. Answer: High-strength gypsum paste, neat cement paste, or sulfur
mortar
▶ Plaster of paris and mixtures of plaster of paris and portland cement are
examples of suitable high strength plasters. True or False?. Answer: False
▶ Sulfur mortars and high-strength gypsum cement cubes must
demonstrate a minimum compressive strength of _____ or ___ __,
whichever is greater.. Answer: 35MPa (5000 psi), the cylinder strength
▶ The cement paste should be applied to the freshly molded cylinder from
_____ to _____ hours after molding. This is to allow for _____ of the
concrete specimen.. Answer: 2,4, settling
▶ The strength of the paste depends on:
a) the water-cement ratio
b) time
c) the equipment used
d) type of cement. Answer: a, b and d
▶ A slight twisting action will help eliminate _____ and air _____ when the
capping plate is placed onto the mound of the paste.. Answer: Excess
paste, voids
▶ Neat cement paste caps should not be used on dry specimens because
the caps may _____ and _____ when dry.. Answer: Shrink, crack
▶ The technician should remove all _____ or _____ materials from the
ends of hardened concrete cylinders before capping. Answer: Oily, waxy
, ▶ _____ the pot and recharge with fresh material at intervals to insure that
the oldest material in the pot has not been used more than _____ times..
Answer: Empty, 5
▶ When capping concrete cylinders with a compressive strength of 35 MPa
(5000 psi) or greater, it is permitted to reuse compound recovered from the
capping operation of old caps. True or False?. Answer: False
▶ To avoid _____, the sulfur mortar should be dry when it is added to the
pot. It should be kept away from _____ when heating.. Answer: Foaming,
water
▶ The melting pot for the sulfur mortar must be located under a _____ with
an _____ for _____.. Answer: Hood, exhaust fan, ventillation
▶ Hydrogen sulfide gas, which may be produced during capping, may be
_____, _____, _____, _____ and _____.. Answer: Lethal, nausea,
stomach distress, dizziness, headache, irritation of the eyes.
▶ When qualification tests of unbonded pads are required, they are
performed by the _____ or _____.. Answer: Supplier, user
▶ This standard (ASTM 1231) established a maximum number of pad
reuses that may not be exceeded under any circumstances. True or false?.
Answer: False
▶ Unbonded caps are not to be used for acceptance testing of concrete
with compressive strength below _____ or above _____.. Answer: 1500
psi (10 MPa), 12,000 psi (80 MPa)
▶ Polyurethane or butyl pads with a Shore A durometer hardness of 50
that will be used on concrete with a compressive strength of 1500 to 6000
psi (10 to 40 MPa) need not be qualified prior to use. True of False?.
Answer: False
▶ To keep track of pad usage, the user is required to maintain records that
include_____.. Answer: Date placed in service, pad durometer, number of
uses
