ASPHALT PAVING LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE AND PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027 | Verified Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Instant Download PDF

ASPHALT PAVING LEVEL 1 AND LEVEL 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE AND PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027


Questions 1–250


1. Before starting any paving operation, the first priority is:
A) Calibrating the screed
B) Establishing a traffic control plan
C) Warming up the asphalt plant
D) Checking the weather forecast
Answer B: Establishing a traffic control plan
Rationale: Traffic control ensures worker and public safety; OSHA and MUTCD require a site-specific plan
before equipment operation.




2. A full lot of Superpave asphalt is defined as what size?
A) 1,000 tons
B) 1,000 to 2,000 tons
C) 2,000 to 4,000 tons
D) 1 day's production
Answer C: 2,000 to 4,000 tons
Rationale: A full lot of Superpave asphalt is defined as 2,000 to 4,000 tons of production.




3. The initial production lot size for asphalt is:
A) 1,000 tons
B) 2,000 tons
C) 3,000 tons
D) 4,000 tons
Answer B: 2,000 tons
Rationale: The initial production lot size is 2,000 tons.




4. What is the typical target air void content in a Superpave mix design?

,A) 2%
B) 3%
C) 4%
D) 5%
Answer C: 4%
Rationale: Air voids in a Superpave mix design are typically targeted at 4%.




5. A standard lot is composed of 5 sublots and 4 cores per lot.
A) True
B) False
Answer B: False
Rationale: A standard lot is not composed of 5 sublots and 4 cores per lot.




6. Who cuts the density cores used for verification testing?
A) The Department
B) The Contractor
C) A third-party lab
D) The Engineer
Answer B: The Contractor
Rationale: The contractor cuts the density cores used for verification testing.




7. Which of the following is NOT typically used as an asphalt binder in FDOT mix designs?
A) PG 52-28
B) PG 58-22
C) PG 62-22
D) PG 76-22 (PMA)
Answer C: PG 62-22
Rationale: PG 62-22 is not typically used as an asphalt binder in FDOT mix designs. Common binders include
PG 52-28, PG 58-22, PG 76-22 (PMA), and PG 82-22 (PMA).




8. What is the minimum recommended temperature for compacting asphalt mat in cold weather
(below 50°F)?

,A) 200°F
B) 250°F
C) 280°F
D) 320°F
Answer C: 280°F
Rationale: 280°F is the typical minimum compaction temperature to achieve density before the mix cools
too much.




9. What is the maximum allowable time between truck discharge and initial compaction in hot
weather (above 85°F)?
A) 15 minutes
B) 30 minutes
C) 45 minutes
D) 60 minutes
Answer B: 30 minutes
Rationale: In hot weather (above 85°F), the maximum allowable time between truck discharge and initial
compaction is 30 minutes.




10. For bridge approach slabs, the 15-foot manual straightedge should be set so ____ is on the bridge
deck.
A) 1 inch
B) Exactly 1/2 of the straightedge
C) The entire straightedge
D) None of the above
Answer A: 1 inch
Rationale: For bridge approach slabs, the 15-foot manual straightedge should be set so 1 inch is on the
bridge deck.




11. For the first transverse joint on a project, place the ____ on the new pavement while overlapping
the transverse joint by one inch.
A) 4-foot level
B) 15-foot manual straightedge
C) Rolling straightedge

, D) All the above
j j j




Answer B: 15-foot manual straightedge j j j j




Rationale: The 15-foot manual straightedge is placed on the new pavement while overlapping the transverse
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




j joint by one inch. j j j




12. When calibrating to check the low side of the rolling straightedge:
j j j j j j j j j j j




A) Place shims under the outer wheels
j j j j j j




B) Place the rolling straightedge on a surface that looks flat
j j j j j j j j j j




C) Place a 3/16 inch shim under each outside wheel; the gauge should read zero on both sides of the gauge
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D) Place shims under the center wheel
j j j j j j




Answer C: Place a 3/16 inch shim under each outside wheel; the gauge should read zero on both sides of
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




j the gauge j




Rationale: For low-side calibration, place a 3/16 inch shim under each outside wheel; the gauge should read
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




j zero on both sides. j j j




13. When calibrating to check the high side of the rolling straightedge:
j j j j j j j j j j j




A) Place shims under the outer wheels
j j j j j j




B) Place a 3/16 inch shim under the center wheel; the gauge should read zero on both sides of the gauge
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




C) Place the rolling straightedge on a surface that looks flat
j j j j j j j j j j




D) Place shims under the outer wheels and center wheel
j j j j j j j j j




Answer B: Place a 3/16 inch shim under the center wheel; the gauge should read zero on both sides of the
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




j gauge
Rationale: For high-side calibration, place a 3/16 inch shim under the center wheel; the gauge should read zero
j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j j




j on both sides.
j j




14. Density cores for acceptance testing are NOT required for:
j j j j j j j j j




A) Mix less than 1 inch thick
j j j j j j




B) Shoulders less than 5 feet wide
j j j j j j




C) Acceleration and deceleration lanes less than 1000 feet in length
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D) All of the above
j j j j




Answer D: All of the above j j j j j




Rationale: Density cores for acceptance testing are not required for mixes less than 1 inch thick, shoulders less
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j than 5 feet wide, or ramps less than 1000 feet.
j j j j j j j j j