KEY TO CERTIFICATION: REALISTIC NC LOCKSMITH PRACTICE EXAM – ALIGNED WITH 2026/2027 STANDARDS & A+ RIGOR

KEY TO CERTIFICATION: REALISTIC
NC LOCKSMITH PRACTICE EXAM –
ALIGNED WITH 2026/2027
STANDARDS & A+ RIGOR


n. a designation assigned to a particular key which includes the
actual combination of the key - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Direct Code


n. the dimension obtained by adding the root depth of a key cut
to the length of its corresponding bottom pin which establishes
a perfect shear line. This will not necessarily be the same as the
actual plug diameter. - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Effective Plug
Diameter


n. the maximum allowable difference between adjacent cut
depths - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Maximum Adjacent Cut
Specification


abb. maximum adjacent cut specification - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
"MACS"


n. the dimension from the bottom of a cut on a key to the
bottom of the blade - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Root Depth


n. a location in a cylinder at which specific tumbler surfaces
must be aligned, removing obstruction(s) which prevented the
plug from moving - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Shear Line

,n. the dimensions from the stop to the center of the first cut
and/or to the centers of successive cuts - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
Spacing


n. the part of a key from which all cuts are indexed and which
determines how far the key enters the keyway - THE CORRECT
ANSWER-Stop (of a key)



n. that portion of the cylinder shell which normally houses the
pin chambers, especially those of a key-inknob
cylinder or certain rim cylinders - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Bible


n. 1. a tool used to cut the keyway into the cylinder plug 2. v. to
cut the keyway into a cylinder plug with a
broach - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Broach


n. 1. a lock or cylinder component which transfers the rotational
motion of a key or cylinder plug to the
bolt works of a lock 2. the bolt of a cam lock - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
CAM


n. any cavity in a cylinder plug and/or shell which houses the
tumblers - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Chamber


n. a keyway which has been enlarged to accept more than one
key section, often key sections of more
than one manufacturer - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Composite Keyway

,n. 1. a flat tumbler which must be drawn into the cylinder plug
by the proper key so that none of its
extremities extends into the shell 2. a flat, usually rectangular
tumbler with a gate which must be aligned
with a sidebar by the proper key - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Disc
Tumbler


n. a set of top pins of different lengths. Usage is based on the
height of the rest of the pin stack, in order
to achieve a uniform pin stack height. See also "compensate
drivers" - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Graduated Drivers


n. a usually uniform increase or decrease in the successive
depths of a key cut which must be matched
by a corresponding change in the tumblers - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
Increment


n. a pin tumbler cylinder with a diameter of 2.0", whose pins,
springs, key, etc. may also be proportionally
increased in size. It is frequently used in prison locks - THE
CORRECT ANSWER-Mogul Cylinder



n. a threaded cylinder typically used in mortise locks of
American manufacture - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Mortise Cylinder


n. a pin tumbler, usually a top pin, which resembles a
mushroom. It is typically used to increase pick

, resistance - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Mushroom Pin


adj. 1. of or pertaining to a keyway with one or more wards on
each side projecting beyond the vertical
center line of the keyway to hinder picking 2. of or pertaining to
a key blank made to enter such a keyway - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
Paracentric


n. a mortise cylinder of 3/4" diameter - THE CORRECT ANSWER-
Peanut Cylinder


n. the corresponding hole drilled into the cylinder shell and/or
plug to accept the pin(s) and spring - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Pin
Chamber


n. all the tumblers in a given pin chamber, see also"pin stack
height" - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Pin Stack


n. the measurement of a pin stack, often expressed in units of
the lock manufacturer's increment or as an actual dimension -
THE CORRECT ANSWER-Pin Stack Height



n. the part of a cylinder which contains the keyway, with
tumbler chambers usually corresponding to those in the
cylinder shell - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Plug


n. a tool used to allow removal of the cylinder plug while
retaining the top pins, springs, and/or other
components within the shell - THE CORRECT ANSWER-Plug Follower