ICC Soils Certification Test Questions &
Answers
1.well-graded, clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes
Answer GW
2.Poorly graded clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes
Answer GP
3.silty gravels; poorly graded gravel-sand mixes
Answer GM
4.Clayey gravels; poorly graded gravel-and-clay mixes
Answer GC
5.well graded clean sands; gravel-sand mixes
Answer SW
6.poorly graded clean sand; sand-gravel mixes
Answer SP
7.Silty sands; poorly graded sand-silt mixes
Answer SM
,8.Sand-silt clay mix with plastic fines
Answer SM-SC
9.Clayey sands; poorly graded sand-clay mixes
Answer SC
10.Inorganic silts and clayey silts
Answer ML
11.Mixture of inorganic silt and clay
Answer ML-CL
12.Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity
Answer CL
13.Organic silts and silt clay, low plasticity
Answer OL
14.inorganic clayey silts, elastic silts
Answer MH
15.Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Answer CH
16.organic clays and silt clays
, Answer OH
17.Types of slope stability
Answer Drainage slope reduction
or flattening
structural solutions
chemical stabilization
18.what would stabilize a slope that has been effected by seepage water?
how does this improve slope stability?
Answer Sub- drainage, decreases the saturation of the slope
19.when a slope begins at vertical cut what is done to stabilize the slope?-
Answer removing the upper portions or head of the slope or landslide is
the frequently employed technic for reducing the driving forces that
cause the failure to occur
20.what are red lights on a site?
Answer low bearing capacity settlement
existing uncontrolled fill
slope stability
dangerous seismic conditions
frost heave
construct-abilty- piers or
, piles proposed significate
cut or fill groundwater
problems
21.foundation red lights
Answer design not in accordance with geotechnical recommen- dations
foundation location differs from site investigation location
foundation plans not adequate or complete
low bearing capacity not recognized in footing design
compressible or expansive soil on site not anticipated
in design water seepage not anticipated in design
seismic conditions not documented properly in design or
calculations provisions dealing with frost heave not included
retaining structures or basement walls without adequate drainage
underfloor crawl space not vented or drained
22.when should concrete be placed? and what raises red flags in the design?
Answer within 90 minutes of adding water at the concrete plant
excessive water should not be added at the site, no more the 5 gallons
per truck
Answers
1.well-graded, clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes
Answer GW
2.Poorly graded clean gravels; gravel-sand mixes
Answer GP
3.silty gravels; poorly graded gravel-sand mixes
Answer GM
4.Clayey gravels; poorly graded gravel-and-clay mixes
Answer GC
5.well graded clean sands; gravel-sand mixes
Answer SW
6.poorly graded clean sand; sand-gravel mixes
Answer SP
7.Silty sands; poorly graded sand-silt mixes
Answer SM
,8.Sand-silt clay mix with plastic fines
Answer SM-SC
9.Clayey sands; poorly graded sand-clay mixes
Answer SC
10.Inorganic silts and clayey silts
Answer ML
11.Mixture of inorganic silt and clay
Answer ML-CL
12.Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity
Answer CL
13.Organic silts and silt clay, low plasticity
Answer OL
14.inorganic clayey silts, elastic silts
Answer MH
15.Inorganic clays of high plasticity
Answer CH
16.organic clays and silt clays
, Answer OH
17.Types of slope stability
Answer Drainage slope reduction
or flattening
structural solutions
chemical stabilization
18.what would stabilize a slope that has been effected by seepage water?
how does this improve slope stability?
Answer Sub- drainage, decreases the saturation of the slope
19.when a slope begins at vertical cut what is done to stabilize the slope?-
Answer removing the upper portions or head of the slope or landslide is
the frequently employed technic for reducing the driving forces that
cause the failure to occur
20.what are red lights on a site?
Answer low bearing capacity settlement
existing uncontrolled fill
slope stability
dangerous seismic conditions
frost heave
construct-abilty- piers or
, piles proposed significate
cut or fill groundwater
problems
21.foundation red lights
Answer design not in accordance with geotechnical recommen- dations
foundation location differs from site investigation location
foundation plans not adequate or complete
low bearing capacity not recognized in footing design
compressible or expansive soil on site not anticipated
in design water seepage not anticipated in design
seismic conditions not documented properly in design or
calculations provisions dealing with frost heave not included
retaining structures or basement walls without adequate drainage
underfloor crawl space not vented or drained
22.when should concrete be placed? and what raises red flags in the design?
Answer within 90 minutes of adding water at the concrete plant
excessive water should not be added at the site, no more the 5 gallons
per truck
