NICET Construction Materials Testing –
Soils, Level II Practice Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of a Proctor compaction test?
A. To determine soil permeability
B. To measure soil particle size
C. To determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture
content of soil
D. To evaluate soil plasticity
The Proctor test establishes the relationship between moisture content
and dry density, helping identify the optimum moisture content for
compaction.
2. Which of the following soil types typically has the highest
permeability?
A. Clay
B. Silt
C. Sand
D. Peat
Sands have large particle sizes and low cohesion, allowing water to flow
freely through them.
,3. In the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), which symbol
represents well-graded sand?
A. SP
B. SW
C. SW
D. CL
SW indicates well-graded sand, meaning it has a good distribution of
particle sizes.
4. The Atterberg limits are used to determine:
A. Soil permeability
B. Soil plasticity
C. Soil compaction
D. Soil density
Atterberg limits, including liquid and plastic limits, quantify the soil’s
plasticity characteristics.
5. What is the main difference between a Standard Proctor Test and a
Modified Proctor Test?
A. Soil type used
B. Energy applied during compaction
C. Testing temperature
D. Moisture content range
The Modified Proctor test uses higher compaction energy to simulate
heavier field compaction.
,6. What is the primary purpose of a sieve analysis?
A. To measure soil moisture
B. To determine soil density
C. To determine the particle size distribution of soil
D. To determine plasticity
Sieve analysis separates soil particles by size to classify soil and
understand gradation.
7. What is considered the most accurate method for measuring in-situ
soil density?
A. Sand cone method
B. Rubber balloon method
C. Nuclear density gauge
D. Water displacement method
Nuclear density gauges provide rapid, accurate in-place density
measurements.
8. When performing a field compaction test, the maximum dry density
should be compared to:
A. The in-situ moisture content
B. The liquid limit
C. The maximum dry density obtained from the Proctor test
D. The plastic limit
Field compaction is evaluated against laboratory-determined maximum
dry density to ensure proper compaction.
9. Which type of sample is required for laboratory classification tests?
, A. Bulk sample
B. Disturbed sample
C. Undisturbed sample
D. Split-spoon sample
Undisturbed samples preserve soil structure and are necessary for
accurate classification and engineering tests.
10. Which of the following is a common method to determine soil
permeability in the laboratory?
A. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
B. Cone Penetrometer Test
C. Constant head or falling head permeameter
D. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test
Permeameter tests measure the flow of water through soil to calculate
hydraulic conductivity.
11. The liquid limit of a soil is defined as the moisture content at
which:
A. Soil can no longer be compacted
B. Soil crumbles under pressure
C. Soil changes from plastic to liquid behavior
D. Soil reaches maximum dry density
The liquid limit indicates the water content where soil transitions from
plastic to a flowable state.
12. What is the standard height of drop and number of blows per
layer in the Standard Proctor Test?
Soils, Level II Practice Exam Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of a Proctor compaction test?
A. To determine soil permeability
B. To measure soil particle size
C. To determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture
content of soil
D. To evaluate soil plasticity
The Proctor test establishes the relationship between moisture content
and dry density, helping identify the optimum moisture content for
compaction.
2. Which of the following soil types typically has the highest
permeability?
A. Clay
B. Silt
C. Sand
D. Peat
Sands have large particle sizes and low cohesion, allowing water to flow
freely through them.
,3. In the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), which symbol
represents well-graded sand?
A. SP
B. SW
C. SW
D. CL
SW indicates well-graded sand, meaning it has a good distribution of
particle sizes.
4. The Atterberg limits are used to determine:
A. Soil permeability
B. Soil plasticity
C. Soil compaction
D. Soil density
Atterberg limits, including liquid and plastic limits, quantify the soil’s
plasticity characteristics.
5. What is the main difference between a Standard Proctor Test and a
Modified Proctor Test?
A. Soil type used
B. Energy applied during compaction
C. Testing temperature
D. Moisture content range
The Modified Proctor test uses higher compaction energy to simulate
heavier field compaction.
,6. What is the primary purpose of a sieve analysis?
A. To measure soil moisture
B. To determine soil density
C. To determine the particle size distribution of soil
D. To determine plasticity
Sieve analysis separates soil particles by size to classify soil and
understand gradation.
7. What is considered the most accurate method for measuring in-situ
soil density?
A. Sand cone method
B. Rubber balloon method
C. Nuclear density gauge
D. Water displacement method
Nuclear density gauges provide rapid, accurate in-place density
measurements.
8. When performing a field compaction test, the maximum dry density
should be compared to:
A. The in-situ moisture content
B. The liquid limit
C. The maximum dry density obtained from the Proctor test
D. The plastic limit
Field compaction is evaluated against laboratory-determined maximum
dry density to ensure proper compaction.
9. Which type of sample is required for laboratory classification tests?
, A. Bulk sample
B. Disturbed sample
C. Undisturbed sample
D. Split-spoon sample
Undisturbed samples preserve soil structure and are necessary for
accurate classification and engineering tests.
10. Which of the following is a common method to determine soil
permeability in the laboratory?
A. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
B. Cone Penetrometer Test
C. Constant head or falling head permeameter
D. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test
Permeameter tests measure the flow of water through soil to calculate
hydraulic conductivity.
11. The liquid limit of a soil is defined as the moisture content at
which:
A. Soil can no longer be compacted
B. Soil crumbles under pressure
C. Soil changes from plastic to liquid behavior
D. Soil reaches maximum dry density
The liquid limit indicates the water content where soil transitions from
plastic to a flowable state.
12. What is the standard height of drop and number of blows per
layer in the Standard Proctor Test?
