NICET Soils level 1 Exam Questions and Correct Answers Already Passed
Define C117 - Answers The determination of the amount of material finer than a 75-um (No.200) sieve
What is the significance of C136? - Answers -To determine the grading of materials,
-compliance of particle size distribution,
-provide data for control of production of various aggregate
-developing relationships concerning porosity and packing
What procedure should always be used unless otherwise specified in c117? - Answers Procedure A
What is an appropriate wetting agent to use for sieving through a No.200 sieve? - Answers Water or any
dispersing agent that will promote separation of the fine materials
What should the temperature of the oven be when drying samples?(C117) - Answers 110 °C (+-5)
If used, how much wetting agent should be used in procedure B? C117 - Answers Enough to produce a
small amount of suds when the sample was agitated
Report the amount retained by wash by....?(C117) - Answers <10%-report to the .1%
>10%-report to the nearest whole number
How long do you sieve material? C136 - Answers so that not more than 1% of material retained on any
sieve will pass during 1 minute of hand sieving
How accurate shall balances be fo fine aggregate? C136 - Answers readable to the nearest .1 Gram
or .1%
How accurate shall balances be for course aggregate or mixtures? C136 - Answers readable to the
nearest .5 gram or nearest .1%
What is the significance of C117? - Answers Accurate determination of material finer than 75-um in
mineral aggregate by washing
What practice is used for sampling aggregate? - Answers D75
The investigation of potential sample material should be performed by....? D75 - Answers A responsible,
trained and experienced person
What should a stockpile be visually inspected of? D75 - Answers Discernable Variations
Where shall a sample be obtained where practicable?D75 - Answers From the finished product
After a sample is obtained what shall not be done unless required for testing purposes? D75 - Answers
Further crushing or manual reduction
, What shall be done if there are any discernable Variations in a stockpile? D75 - Answers Corrective
action shall be taken to establish homogeneity in the material
If it is necessary to indicate the degree of variation in a stockpile, what shall be done? D75 - Answers
Separate samples shall be drawn from separate areas of the pile
What increases when sampling from the beginning or the final few tons of a conveyor belt? D75 -
Answers The potential of obtaining segregated material
When should method A be used in a standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 25% or less material is
retained on a No. 4 sieve
When should method B be used for standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 25% or less material is
retained on a 3/8" sieve
When should method C be used for standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 30% or less material is
retained on a 3/4" sieve
When should a correction factor be established on a standard proctor? D698 - Answers When the test
specimen contains more than 5% of oversize fractions
for purposes of comparing measured or calculated values, what shall the value be rounded to? D698 -
Answers The nearest decimal or significant digit
The procedures in D698 are considered...? - Answers industry standard
Define Standard Effort....D698 - Answers 12,400 ft-Ibf/ft3 compactive effort applied by equipment in
D698
Define Standard Optimum Water Content....D698 - Answers The molding water content at which soil can
be compacted to the maximum dry unit weight using standard compactive effort
Define oversized fractions...D698 - Answers The portion of a sample that does not pass through the
required sieve in D698
Laboratory compaction tests provide...D698 - Answers determination of the percent compaction and
molding water needed to achieve engineering requirements
Soil placed as engineering fill is compacted to obtain what? D698 - Answers Sheer strength,
compressibility or permeability
Success in executing the compaction controls of earth works is highly dependant on what? D698 -
Answers The quality and experience of the contractor and inspector
What are the specs for a 4" mold for standard proctor? D698 - Answers -4" (+-).016" average inside
diameter
Define C117 - Answers The determination of the amount of material finer than a 75-um (No.200) sieve
What is the significance of C136? - Answers -To determine the grading of materials,
-compliance of particle size distribution,
-provide data for control of production of various aggregate
-developing relationships concerning porosity and packing
What procedure should always be used unless otherwise specified in c117? - Answers Procedure A
What is an appropriate wetting agent to use for sieving through a No.200 sieve? - Answers Water or any
dispersing agent that will promote separation of the fine materials
What should the temperature of the oven be when drying samples?(C117) - Answers 110 °C (+-5)
If used, how much wetting agent should be used in procedure B? C117 - Answers Enough to produce a
small amount of suds when the sample was agitated
Report the amount retained by wash by....?(C117) - Answers <10%-report to the .1%
>10%-report to the nearest whole number
How long do you sieve material? C136 - Answers so that not more than 1% of material retained on any
sieve will pass during 1 minute of hand sieving
How accurate shall balances be fo fine aggregate? C136 - Answers readable to the nearest .1 Gram
or .1%
How accurate shall balances be for course aggregate or mixtures? C136 - Answers readable to the
nearest .5 gram or nearest .1%
What is the significance of C117? - Answers Accurate determination of material finer than 75-um in
mineral aggregate by washing
What practice is used for sampling aggregate? - Answers D75
The investigation of potential sample material should be performed by....? D75 - Answers A responsible,
trained and experienced person
What should a stockpile be visually inspected of? D75 - Answers Discernable Variations
Where shall a sample be obtained where practicable?D75 - Answers From the finished product
After a sample is obtained what shall not be done unless required for testing purposes? D75 - Answers
Further crushing or manual reduction
, What shall be done if there are any discernable Variations in a stockpile? D75 - Answers Corrective
action shall be taken to establish homogeneity in the material
If it is necessary to indicate the degree of variation in a stockpile, what shall be done? D75 - Answers
Separate samples shall be drawn from separate areas of the pile
What increases when sampling from the beginning or the final few tons of a conveyor belt? D75 -
Answers The potential of obtaining segregated material
When should method A be used in a standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 25% or less material is
retained on a No. 4 sieve
When should method B be used for standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 25% or less material is
retained on a 3/8" sieve
When should method C be used for standard proctor? D698 - Answers When 30% or less material is
retained on a 3/4" sieve
When should a correction factor be established on a standard proctor? D698 - Answers When the test
specimen contains more than 5% of oversize fractions
for purposes of comparing measured or calculated values, what shall the value be rounded to? D698 -
Answers The nearest decimal or significant digit
The procedures in D698 are considered...? - Answers industry standard
Define Standard Effort....D698 - Answers 12,400 ft-Ibf/ft3 compactive effort applied by equipment in
D698
Define Standard Optimum Water Content....D698 - Answers The molding water content at which soil can
be compacted to the maximum dry unit weight using standard compactive effort
Define oversized fractions...D698 - Answers The portion of a sample that does not pass through the
required sieve in D698
Laboratory compaction tests provide...D698 - Answers determination of the percent compaction and
molding water needed to achieve engineering requirements
Soil placed as engineering fill is compacted to obtain what? D698 - Answers Sheer strength,
compressibility or permeability
Success in executing the compaction controls of earth works is highly dependant on what? D698 -
Answers The quality and experience of the contractor and inspector
What are the specs for a 4" mold for standard proctor? D698 - Answers -4" (+-).016" average inside
diameter
