TSA Written Exam Study Guide 2026/2027
100 high-yield multiple-choice practice questions • Engineering • Technology • Construction • Electronics •
Physics • Drafting
Important source note: TSA does not publish a public bank of current exam questions. The questions in this PDF are
original/adapted practice questions built around topics and question patterns that appear in publicly posted TSA study guides. They
are not leaked or guaranteed 2026/2027 official exam questions. One publicly posted 100-question study set contains recurring
items on freeze frames, speakers, cosine, binary, engines, construction, drafting, electronics, physics, and related technology
topics. TSA's official site describes Technology Bowl as an objective test covering TSA and technology-content standards.
■cite-style source references are listed in the accompanying study note below.
Format requested: Answer choices use A/B/C/D. The answer and rationale appear immediately after each question. Questions
are blue; answers are green; rationales are orange.
Reference basis: National TSA competition information and publicly indexed study-guide materials were checked while preparing
this guide. Official TSA competition information identifies Technology Bowl as an objective test on TSA and technology concepts;
publicly posted study-guide sets contain many of the recurring technical topics used here. For the official event rules, consult TSA's
current Competitive Events Guide before the 2026/2027 conference.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 1
, 1. A device that converts electrical energy into sound energy is a:
A. transformer
B. speaker
C. resistor
D. capacitor
Answer: B
Rationale: A speaker converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that produce sound.
2. In a right triangle, the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse is the:
A. sine
B. tangent
C. cosine
D. secant
Answer: C
Rationale: Cosine is adjacent ÷ hypotenuse.
3. The number system using only 0 and 1 is the:
A. decimal system
B. binary system
C. hexadecimal system
D. octal system
Answer: B
Rationale: Binary uses two symbols: 0 and 1.
4. The part of an internal-combustion engine in which the piston moves is the:
A. cylinder
B. radiator
C. differential
D. alternator
Answer: A
Rationale: The piston reciprocates inside the cylinder.
5. The actual dressed size of a nominal 2 × 4 is approximately:
A. 2 × 4 in.
B. 1-3/4 × 3-3/4 in.
C. 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in.
D. 1-5/8 × 3-1/2 in.
Answer: D
Rationale: A standard surfaced 2 × 4 is commonly about 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 today, while the cited TSA study-guide item gives 1-5/8 ×
3-1/2. This question uses the commonly reported study-guide answer.
6. The first step when manually constructing an isometric circle is to draw the:
A. centerline only
B. isometric square
C. cutting-plane line
D. border line
Answer: B
Rationale: The isometric square establishes the boundaries for the iso-circle.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 2
, 7. Construction involving highways, dams, tunnels, and bridges is generally classified as:
A. residential
B. civil
C. finish
D. cabinet
Answer: B
Rationale: Civil construction includes major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, and tunnels.
8. A primer coat on wood siding primarily helps:
A. increase electrical conductivity
B. seal the wood surface
C. sharpen edges
D. reduce structural load
Answer: B
Rationale: Primer seals and prepares the surface for finish coats.
9. A drafting line with arrowheads at both ends that indicates where an imaginary cut is made is a:
A. centerline
B. dimension line
C. cutting-plane line
D. extension line
Answer: C
Rationale: Cutting-plane lines identify the location and direction of a section cut.
10. Moving goods in standardized large containers between different transportation modes is called:
A. containerization
B. calibration
C. lamination
D. fabrication
Answer: A
Rationale: Containerization permits efficient transfer among ships, trains, and trucks.
11. Rain made unusually acidic by atmospheric pollutants is commonly called:
A. hard rain
B. acid rain
C. base rain
D. mineral rain
Answer: B
Rationale: Acid rain has increased acidity, often associated with sulfur and nitrogen compounds.
12. The structural member spanning the top of a window or door opening is the:
A. sill
B. header
C. joist
D. rafter
Answer: B
Rationale: A header carries loads above an opening.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 3
100 high-yield multiple-choice practice questions • Engineering • Technology • Construction • Electronics •
Physics • Drafting
Important source note: TSA does not publish a public bank of current exam questions. The questions in this PDF are
original/adapted practice questions built around topics and question patterns that appear in publicly posted TSA study guides. They
are not leaked or guaranteed 2026/2027 official exam questions. One publicly posted 100-question study set contains recurring
items on freeze frames, speakers, cosine, binary, engines, construction, drafting, electronics, physics, and related technology
topics. TSA's official site describes Technology Bowl as an objective test covering TSA and technology-content standards.
■cite-style source references are listed in the accompanying study note below.
Format requested: Answer choices use A/B/C/D. The answer and rationale appear immediately after each question. Questions
are blue; answers are green; rationales are orange.
Reference basis: National TSA competition information and publicly indexed study-guide materials were checked while preparing
this guide. Official TSA competition information identifies Technology Bowl as an objective test on TSA and technology concepts;
publicly posted study-guide sets contain many of the recurring technical topics used here. For the official event rules, consult TSA's
current Competitive Events Guide before the 2026/2027 conference.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 1
, 1. A device that converts electrical energy into sound energy is a:
A. transformer
B. speaker
C. resistor
D. capacitor
Answer: B
Rationale: A speaker converts electrical signals into mechanical vibrations that produce sound.
2. In a right triangle, the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse is the:
A. sine
B. tangent
C. cosine
D. secant
Answer: C
Rationale: Cosine is adjacent ÷ hypotenuse.
3. The number system using only 0 and 1 is the:
A. decimal system
B. binary system
C. hexadecimal system
D. octal system
Answer: B
Rationale: Binary uses two symbols: 0 and 1.
4. The part of an internal-combustion engine in which the piston moves is the:
A. cylinder
B. radiator
C. differential
D. alternator
Answer: A
Rationale: The piston reciprocates inside the cylinder.
5. The actual dressed size of a nominal 2 × 4 is approximately:
A. 2 × 4 in.
B. 1-3/4 × 3-3/4 in.
C. 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 in.
D. 1-5/8 × 3-1/2 in.
Answer: D
Rationale: A standard surfaced 2 × 4 is commonly about 1-1/2 × 3-1/2 today, while the cited TSA study-guide item gives 1-5/8 ×
3-1/2. This question uses the commonly reported study-guide answer.
6. The first step when manually constructing an isometric circle is to draw the:
A. centerline only
B. isometric square
C. cutting-plane line
D. border line
Answer: B
Rationale: The isometric square establishes the boundaries for the iso-circle.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 2
, 7. Construction involving highways, dams, tunnels, and bridges is generally classified as:
A. residential
B. civil
C. finish
D. cabinet
Answer: B
Rationale: Civil construction includes major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, dams, and tunnels.
8. A primer coat on wood siding primarily helps:
A. increase electrical conductivity
B. seal the wood surface
C. sharpen edges
D. reduce structural load
Answer: B
Rationale: Primer seals and prepares the surface for finish coats.
9. A drafting line with arrowheads at both ends that indicates where an imaginary cut is made is a:
A. centerline
B. dimension line
C. cutting-plane line
D. extension line
Answer: C
Rationale: Cutting-plane lines identify the location and direction of a section cut.
10. Moving goods in standardized large containers between different transportation modes is called:
A. containerization
B. calibration
C. lamination
D. fabrication
Answer: A
Rationale: Containerization permits efficient transfer among ships, trains, and trucks.
11. Rain made unusually acidic by atmospheric pollutants is commonly called:
A. hard rain
B. acid rain
C. base rain
D. mineral rain
Answer: B
Rationale: Acid rain has increased acidity, often associated with sulfur and nitrogen compounds.
12. The structural member spanning the top of a window or door opening is the:
A. sill
B. header
C. joist
D. rafter
Answer: B
Rationale: A header carries loads above an opening.
TSA Written Exam Study Guide • Practice/Adapted Questions • Not an official TSA exam Page 3
