EXAC PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● principles of sustainable design. Answer: reduce resource consumption reuse resources
recycle resources protect nature eliminate toxins life-cycle cost focus on quality
● reduce a building's consumption: passive. Answer: work with the climate in designing,
siting, and orienting a building to employ passive cooling and heating techniques
● reduce a building's consumption: active. Answer: increase the ability of a building to
capture or generate its own energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal, low
impact hydro, biomass, biogas)
● soil classes. Answer: course fine
● course grained soils. Answer: permeable, drain better, less susceptible to frost action
(gravel and sand)
● fine grained soils. Answer: silt and clay
● subsurface investigation. Answer: 10' test pit to understand the structure of soil, shear
resistance, compressive strength, water content, permeability, expected extent / rate of
consolidation under loading
● shear strength of soil. Answer: measures the ability to resist displacement when an
external force is applied, due largely to the combined effects of cohesion and internal friction
● cohesive soil. Answer: retains strength when unconfined (clay)
● granular soil. Answer: requires confining force for shear resistance and has a shallow
angle of repose (gravel, sand, sometimes silt)
● water table. Answer: level beneath which the soil is saturated with groundwater
● ridge. Answer: contour lines point toward lower elevations
● valley. Answer: contour lines point toward higher elevations
● slopes > 25%. Answer: subject to erosion, difficult to build on
, ● slopes > 10%. Answer: challenging to use for outdoor activities, built on without difficulty
● slopes 5-10%. Answer: suitable for informal outdoor activities, easy to build on
● slopes < 5%. Answer: usable for outdoor activities, easy to build on
● azimuth. Answer: angle of horizontal deviation, measured clockwise, of a bearing from a
standard south direction
● recommended forms and orientations: cool. Answer: minimize surface area (less
exposure to low temps) maximize solar radiation absorption reduce heat loss provide wind
protection
● recommended forms and orientations: temperate. Answer: elongate building along
east-west axis maximize southern exposure minimize east-west exposures balance solar heat
gain with shade protection encourage air movement in hot weather protect against wind in
cold weather
● recommended forms and orientations: hot-arid. Answer: building forms should enclose
courtyards reduce solar and conductive heat gain promote cooling by evaporation provide
solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
● recommended forms and orientations: hot-humid. Answer: elongate building along
east-west axis minimize east-west exposure reduce solar heat gain promote cooling by
evaporation and wind provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
● passive solar heating. Answer: uses solar energy to heat interior spaces without relying
on mechanical devices; rely on natural heat transfer processes of conduction, convection, and
radiation for the collection, storage, distribution, and control of solar energy
● 2 essential elements to passive solar systems. Answer: south facing glass thermal
mass for heat collection, storage, distribution oriented to receive maximum solar exposure
● thermal mass materials. Answer: brick stone tile rammed earth concrete adobe
● 3 ways to accomplish passive solar heating. Answer: direct gain indirect gain isolated
gain
● direct gain. Answer: collects heat directly within an interior space
● indirect gain. Answer: control heat gain at the exterior skin of a building; absorbed solar
energy moves through walls by conduction and into space by radiation and convection
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● principles of sustainable design. Answer: reduce resource consumption reuse resources
recycle resources protect nature eliminate toxins life-cycle cost focus on quality
● reduce a building's consumption: passive. Answer: work with the climate in designing,
siting, and orienting a building to employ passive cooling and heating techniques
● reduce a building's consumption: active. Answer: increase the ability of a building to
capture or generate its own energy from renewable sources (solar, wind, geothermal, low
impact hydro, biomass, biogas)
● soil classes. Answer: course fine
● course grained soils. Answer: permeable, drain better, less susceptible to frost action
(gravel and sand)
● fine grained soils. Answer: silt and clay
● subsurface investigation. Answer: 10' test pit to understand the structure of soil, shear
resistance, compressive strength, water content, permeability, expected extent / rate of
consolidation under loading
● shear strength of soil. Answer: measures the ability to resist displacement when an
external force is applied, due largely to the combined effects of cohesion and internal friction
● cohesive soil. Answer: retains strength when unconfined (clay)
● granular soil. Answer: requires confining force for shear resistance and has a shallow
angle of repose (gravel, sand, sometimes silt)
● water table. Answer: level beneath which the soil is saturated with groundwater
● ridge. Answer: contour lines point toward lower elevations
● valley. Answer: contour lines point toward higher elevations
● slopes > 25%. Answer: subject to erosion, difficult to build on
, ● slopes > 10%. Answer: challenging to use for outdoor activities, built on without difficulty
● slopes 5-10%. Answer: suitable for informal outdoor activities, easy to build on
● slopes < 5%. Answer: usable for outdoor activities, easy to build on
● azimuth. Answer: angle of horizontal deviation, measured clockwise, of a bearing from a
standard south direction
● recommended forms and orientations: cool. Answer: minimize surface area (less
exposure to low temps) maximize solar radiation absorption reduce heat loss provide wind
protection
● recommended forms and orientations: temperate. Answer: elongate building along
east-west axis maximize southern exposure minimize east-west exposures balance solar heat
gain with shade protection encourage air movement in hot weather protect against wind in
cold weather
● recommended forms and orientations: hot-arid. Answer: building forms should enclose
courtyards reduce solar and conductive heat gain promote cooling by evaporation provide
solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
● recommended forms and orientations: hot-humid. Answer: elongate building along
east-west axis minimize east-west exposure reduce solar heat gain promote cooling by
evaporation and wind provide solar shading for windows / outdoor spaces
● passive solar heating. Answer: uses solar energy to heat interior spaces without relying
on mechanical devices; rely on natural heat transfer processes of conduction, convection, and
radiation for the collection, storage, distribution, and control of solar energy
● 2 essential elements to passive solar systems. Answer: south facing glass thermal
mass for heat collection, storage, distribution oriented to receive maximum solar exposure
● thermal mass materials. Answer: brick stone tile rammed earth concrete adobe
● 3 ways to accomplish passive solar heating. Answer: direct gain indirect gain isolated
gain
● direct gain. Answer: collects heat directly within an interior space
● indirect gain. Answer: control heat gain at the exterior skin of a building; absorbed solar
energy moves through walls by conduction and into space by radiation and convection
