Arkansas AR-CC Concrete
Contractor Practice Exam |
Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep
Study Guide | Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of Portland cement in
concrete?
A. To provide coarse aggregate
B. To reduce water demand
C. To bind the aggregate together when hydrated
D. To prevent all cracking
Correct Answer: To bind the aggregate together when
hydrated
Rationale: Portland cement reacts chemically with water
through hydration and forms cementitious products that
bind the aggregate into a hardened mass.
2. Which ingredient generally makes up the largest volume
of normal concrete?
A. Cement
B. Water
C. Aggregate
D. Admixture
Correct Answer: Aggregate
Rationale: Aggregate typically constitutes the majority
of concrete volume and provides dimensional stability,
strength, and economy.
3. What is the water-cement ratio?
,A. The ratio of aggregate to cement
B. The ratio of water weight to cementitious-material
weight
C. The ratio of cement to sand
D. The ratio of water to aggregate
Correct Answer: The ratio of water weight to
cementitious-material weight
Rationale: The water-cementitious materials ratio is a
major factor affecting strength, permeability, durability,
and workability.
4. Increasing the amount of mixing water beyond the
approved mix design generally:
A. Increases compressive strength
B. Eliminates shrinkage
C. Can reduce strength and increase permeability
D. Eliminates the need for curing
Correct Answer: Can reduce strength and increase
permeability
Rationale: Excess water increases capillary voids after
evaporation, which can reduce strength and increase
permeability and durability problems.
5. What does concrete slump primarily measure?
A. Compressive strength
B. Air content
C. Consistency and workability
D. Cement content
Correct Answer: Consistency and workability
Rationale: The slump test provides an indication of the
consistency of fresh concrete, although it is not a direct
measurement of strength.
6. Which aggregate is normally called coarse aggregate?
,A. Cement powder
B. Mineral filler
C. Gravel or crushed stone retained on the applicable
sieve
D. Mixing water
Correct Answer: Gravel or crushed stone retained on the
applicable sieve
Rationale: Coarse aggregate consists of larger particles
such as crushed stone or gravel, while fine aggregate is
primarily sand-sized material.
7. What is the primary purpose of fine aggregate?
A. To replace all cement
B. To fill voids between coarse aggregate particles and
improve workability
C. To increase water content
D. To eliminate cement hydration
Correct Answer: To fill voids between coarse aggregate
particles and improve workability
Rationale: Fine aggregate helps fill spaces between
coarse particles and contributes to the workability and
overall gradation of the mix.
8. What is hydration?
A. Drying of concrete
B. Evaporation of mixing water
C. Chemical reaction between cementitious materials
and water
D. Mechanical vibration of concrete
Correct Answer: Chemical reaction between
cementitious materials and water
Rationale: Hydration is the chemical process that causes
cementitious materials to react with water and develop
hardened properties.
, 9. Which condition generally increases the rate of
evaporation from freshly placed concrete?
A. Cool, humid, calm weather
B. Hot, dry, windy weather
C. High relative humidity with no wind
D. Cool temperatures and fog
Correct Answer: Hot, dry, windy weather
Rationale: High temperature, low humidity, and wind
increase evaporation and can contribute to plastic
shrinkage cracking.
10. What is plastic shrinkage cracking?
A. Cracking caused only after concrete has fully hardened
B. Cracking caused by rapid loss of water from fresh
concrete before sufficient strength develops
C. Cracking caused by reinforcement corrosion only
D. Cracking caused by excessive curing
Correct Answer: Cracking caused by rapid loss of water
from fresh concrete before sufficient strength develops
Rationale: Rapid evaporation from the surface can
cause the concrete surface to shrink while the
underlying concrete restrains it.
11. What is the main purpose of reinforcing steel in a
typical reinforced concrete member?
A. To replace cement
B. To prevent all concrete cracking
C. To resist tensile stresses and control cracking
D. To reduce aggregate size
Correct Answer: To resist tensile stresses and control
cracking
Rationale: Concrete is strong in compression but
relatively weak in tension, so reinforcement is
commonly used to carry tensile forces.
Contractor Practice Exam |
Questions, Verified Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Complete
Contractor License Exam Prep
Study Guide | Updated 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of Portland cement in
concrete?
A. To provide coarse aggregate
B. To reduce water demand
C. To bind the aggregate together when hydrated
D. To prevent all cracking
Correct Answer: To bind the aggregate together when
hydrated
Rationale: Portland cement reacts chemically with water
through hydration and forms cementitious products that
bind the aggregate into a hardened mass.
2. Which ingredient generally makes up the largest volume
of normal concrete?
A. Cement
B. Water
C. Aggregate
D. Admixture
Correct Answer: Aggregate
Rationale: Aggregate typically constitutes the majority
of concrete volume and provides dimensional stability,
strength, and economy.
3. What is the water-cement ratio?
,A. The ratio of aggregate to cement
B. The ratio of water weight to cementitious-material
weight
C. The ratio of cement to sand
D. The ratio of water to aggregate
Correct Answer: The ratio of water weight to
cementitious-material weight
Rationale: The water-cementitious materials ratio is a
major factor affecting strength, permeability, durability,
and workability.
4. Increasing the amount of mixing water beyond the
approved mix design generally:
A. Increases compressive strength
B. Eliminates shrinkage
C. Can reduce strength and increase permeability
D. Eliminates the need for curing
Correct Answer: Can reduce strength and increase
permeability
Rationale: Excess water increases capillary voids after
evaporation, which can reduce strength and increase
permeability and durability problems.
5. What does concrete slump primarily measure?
A. Compressive strength
B. Air content
C. Consistency and workability
D. Cement content
Correct Answer: Consistency and workability
Rationale: The slump test provides an indication of the
consistency of fresh concrete, although it is not a direct
measurement of strength.
6. Which aggregate is normally called coarse aggregate?
,A. Cement powder
B. Mineral filler
C. Gravel or crushed stone retained on the applicable
sieve
D. Mixing water
Correct Answer: Gravel or crushed stone retained on the
applicable sieve
Rationale: Coarse aggregate consists of larger particles
such as crushed stone or gravel, while fine aggregate is
primarily sand-sized material.
7. What is the primary purpose of fine aggregate?
A. To replace all cement
B. To fill voids between coarse aggregate particles and
improve workability
C. To increase water content
D. To eliminate cement hydration
Correct Answer: To fill voids between coarse aggregate
particles and improve workability
Rationale: Fine aggregate helps fill spaces between
coarse particles and contributes to the workability and
overall gradation of the mix.
8. What is hydration?
A. Drying of concrete
B. Evaporation of mixing water
C. Chemical reaction between cementitious materials
and water
D. Mechanical vibration of concrete
Correct Answer: Chemical reaction between
cementitious materials and water
Rationale: Hydration is the chemical process that causes
cementitious materials to react with water and develop
hardened properties.
, 9. Which condition generally increases the rate of
evaporation from freshly placed concrete?
A. Cool, humid, calm weather
B. Hot, dry, windy weather
C. High relative humidity with no wind
D. Cool temperatures and fog
Correct Answer: Hot, dry, windy weather
Rationale: High temperature, low humidity, and wind
increase evaporation and can contribute to plastic
shrinkage cracking.
10. What is plastic shrinkage cracking?
A. Cracking caused only after concrete has fully hardened
B. Cracking caused by rapid loss of water from fresh
concrete before sufficient strength develops
C. Cracking caused by reinforcement corrosion only
D. Cracking caused by excessive curing
Correct Answer: Cracking caused by rapid loss of water
from fresh concrete before sufficient strength develops
Rationale: Rapid evaporation from the surface can
cause the concrete surface to shrink while the
underlying concrete restrains it.
11. What is the main purpose of reinforcing steel in a
typical reinforced concrete member?
A. To replace cement
B. To prevent all concrete cracking
C. To resist tensile stresses and control cracking
D. To reduce aggregate size
Correct Answer: To resist tensile stresses and control
cracking
Rationale: Concrete is strong in compression but
relatively weak in tension, so reinforcement is
commonly used to carry tensile forces.
