IICRC CCT Carpet Cleaning Technician
Exam ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Carpet
Cleaning Technician | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Fiber Identification & Carpet Construction (15 Questions)
Q1: A technician performs a burn test on a carpet fiber sample. The fiber melts into a hard, round bead
with a sweet chemical odor and no ash residue. This identifies the fiber as:
A. Wool
B. Nylon
C. Polyester
D. Polypropylene [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Polypropylene (olefin) fibers melt into a hard, round bead with a chemical odor and leave no
ash, distinguishing them from nylon (harsh chemical smell, hard bead), polyester (sweet smell, hard
bead), and wool (burns to ash, smells like burning hair).
Q2: A residential carpet has fibers that are twisted together and cut at the surface, creating a plush,
velvety appearance. This construction type is:
A. Level loop pile
B. Cut pile (plush) [CORRECT]
C. Berber
D. Frieze
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cut pile construction involves cutting the yarn loops at the top, creating upright tufts that
produce a soft, plush surface; the twist level determines whether it appears as plush (low twist) or frieze
(high twist).
Q3: Which fiber type has the highest resilience and ability to recover from crushing and matting?
,A. Polyester
B. Polypropylene
C. Nylon [CORRECT]
D. Acrylic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nylon possesses superior resilience and elasticity compared to other synthetic fibers,
allowing it to recover from compression and maintain appearance under heavy traffic conditions.
Q4: A technician examines carpet under magnification and observes a three-sided, wedge-shaped cross-
section with a smooth, glass-like surface. This identifies:
A. Nylon (trilobal)
B. Polyester
C. Polypropylene
D. Triexta [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Triexta fiber (PTT) has a distinctive three-sided, wedge-shaped cross-section with a smooth
surface, differing from nylon's round or trilobal shape and polyester's round cross-section.
Q5: The face weight of a carpet refers to:
A. Total weight of carpet including backing
B. Weight of fiber per square yard of carpet surface [CORRECT]
C. Weight of primary backing only
D. Total installed weight including pad
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Face weight measures the amount of fiber (in ounces) per square yard on the carpet surface,
indicating the quantity of yarn used but not the density or overall carpet quality alone.
Q6: A carpet with alternating cut and uncut loops creating a patterned texture is called:
A. Saxony
B. Cut-loop pile [CORRECT]
C. Level loop
D. Texture cut pile
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cut-loop construction combines cut and looped yarns in patterns or textures, creating visual
interest and hiding footprints better than uniform cut pile surfaces.
Q7: Wool fiber identification is confirmed by which burn test characteristics?
A. Melting into a hard bead with chemical odor
B. Self-extinguishing flame, brittle black ash, and odor of burning hair [CORRECT]
C. Continued burning with plastic drip and sweet smell
D. Sputtering flame with no residue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Natural protein fibers like wool burn slowly with a self-extinguishing flame, produce a
distinctive burning hair or feather odor, and leave a brittle, crushable black ash.
Q8: Which carpet construction factor most directly impacts the carpet's ability to hide soil and
footprints?
A. Face weight alone
B. Twist level and pile height [CORRECT]
C. Primary backing material
D. Latex adhesive type
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Higher twist levels (typically 4-6 twists per inch) and appropriate pile height create textured
surfaces that scatter light and mask soil and tracking patterns better than low-twist or level surfaces.
Q9: A technician encounters a carpet labeled "SmartStrand." This indicates the fiber is:
A. Solution-dyed nylon
B. Triexta (PTT) [CORRECT]
C. Recycled polyester
D. Polypropylene blend
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SmartStrand is the branded name for triexta (polytrimethylene terephthalate or PTT) fiber,
manufactured by Mohawk and known for its permanent stain resistance built into the polymer.
Q10: The density of a carpet is calculated by:
Exam ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Carpet
Cleaning Technician | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Fiber Identification & Carpet Construction (15 Questions)
Q1: A technician performs a burn test on a carpet fiber sample. The fiber melts into a hard, round bead
with a sweet chemical odor and no ash residue. This identifies the fiber as:
A. Wool
B. Nylon
C. Polyester
D. Polypropylene [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Polypropylene (olefin) fibers melt into a hard, round bead with a chemical odor and leave no
ash, distinguishing them from nylon (harsh chemical smell, hard bead), polyester (sweet smell, hard
bead), and wool (burns to ash, smells like burning hair).
Q2: A residential carpet has fibers that are twisted together and cut at the surface, creating a plush,
velvety appearance. This construction type is:
A. Level loop pile
B. Cut pile (plush) [CORRECT]
C. Berber
D. Frieze
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cut pile construction involves cutting the yarn loops at the top, creating upright tufts that
produce a soft, plush surface; the twist level determines whether it appears as plush (low twist) or frieze
(high twist).
Q3: Which fiber type has the highest resilience and ability to recover from crushing and matting?
,A. Polyester
B. Polypropylene
C. Nylon [CORRECT]
D. Acrylic
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nylon possesses superior resilience and elasticity compared to other synthetic fibers,
allowing it to recover from compression and maintain appearance under heavy traffic conditions.
Q4: A technician examines carpet under magnification and observes a three-sided, wedge-shaped cross-
section with a smooth, glass-like surface. This identifies:
A. Nylon (trilobal)
B. Polyester
C. Polypropylene
D. Triexta [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Triexta fiber (PTT) has a distinctive three-sided, wedge-shaped cross-section with a smooth
surface, differing from nylon's round or trilobal shape and polyester's round cross-section.
Q5: The face weight of a carpet refers to:
A. Total weight of carpet including backing
B. Weight of fiber per square yard of carpet surface [CORRECT]
C. Weight of primary backing only
D. Total installed weight including pad
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Face weight measures the amount of fiber (in ounces) per square yard on the carpet surface,
indicating the quantity of yarn used but not the density or overall carpet quality alone.
Q6: A carpet with alternating cut and uncut loops creating a patterned texture is called:
A. Saxony
B. Cut-loop pile [CORRECT]
C. Level loop
D. Texture cut pile
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cut-loop construction combines cut and looped yarns in patterns or textures, creating visual
interest and hiding footprints better than uniform cut pile surfaces.
Q7: Wool fiber identification is confirmed by which burn test characteristics?
A. Melting into a hard bead with chemical odor
B. Self-extinguishing flame, brittle black ash, and odor of burning hair [CORRECT]
C. Continued burning with plastic drip and sweet smell
D. Sputtering flame with no residue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Natural protein fibers like wool burn slowly with a self-extinguishing flame, produce a
distinctive burning hair or feather odor, and leave a brittle, crushable black ash.
Q8: Which carpet construction factor most directly impacts the carpet's ability to hide soil and
footprints?
A. Face weight alone
B. Twist level and pile height [CORRECT]
C. Primary backing material
D. Latex adhesive type
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Higher twist levels (typically 4-6 twists per inch) and appropriate pile height create textured
surfaces that scatter light and mask soil and tracking patterns better than low-twist or level surfaces.
Q9: A technician encounters a carpet labeled "SmartStrand." This indicates the fiber is:
A. Solution-dyed nylon
B. Triexta (PTT) [CORRECT]
C. Recycled polyester
D. Polypropylene blend
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SmartStrand is the branded name for triexta (polytrimethylene terephthalate or PTT) fiber,
manufactured by Mohawk and known for its permanent stain resistance built into the polymer.
Q10: The density of a carpet is calculated by:
