CM 2112 Earthwork Study
Guide updated for the 2026/2027
syllabus
1. Earthwork Fundamentals (Questions 1–15)
1. What is the primary purpose of earthwork in construction?
o ANSWER ✓ To modify the ground surface to achieve desired elevations, slopes, and
stability for structures.
2. Define "cut" in earthwork terms.
o ANSWER ✓ Excavation of material from above a specified reference plane.
3. Define "fill" in earthwork terms.
o ANSWER ✓ Placement of earth material to raise the ground elevation.
4. What is "borrow material"?
o ANSWER ✓ Earth material obtained from outside the project site to supplement fill
requirements.
5. What does "waste material" refer to?
o ANSWER ✓ Excess excavated material not needed for fill and removed from the site.
6. What is the difference between "stripping" and "excavation"?
o ANSWER ✓ Stripping removes topsoil/vegetation; excavation removes earth below
topsoil for grading.
7. Why is topsoil typically stockpiled separately?
o ANSWER ✓ For reuse in final landscaping and to preserve organic content.
8. What is a "balanced earthwork" project?
o ANSWER ✓ Cut volume equals fill volume, minimizing borrow and waste.
9. Name three factors that affect soil swell and shrinkage.
o ANSWER ✓ Moisture content, soil type, compaction effort - ANSWER ✓
10. What is "swell" in earthmoving?
o ANSWER ✓ Increase in volume when soil is excavated from its natural state.
11. What is "shrinkage factor"?
, o ANSWER ✓ Ratio of compacted volume to bank volume (bank cubic yards to
compacted cubic yards).
12. Define "bank cubic yard (BCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material in its natural, undisturbed state.
13. Define "loose cubic yard (LCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material after excavation and before compaction.
14. Define "compacted cubic yard (CCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material after placement and compaction.
15. What is the typical swell range for common earth (loam)?
o ANSWER ✓ 20–25% - ANSWER ✓
2. Soil Classification & Properties (16–30)
16. What does the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) group soils into?
o ANSWER ✓ Coarse-grained, fine-grained, and highly organic soils - ANSWER ✓
17. What is the plasticity index (PI)?
o ANSWER ✓ Numerical difference between liquid limit and plastic limit.
18. Which soil type has the highest shrink-swell potential?
o ANSWER ✓ High-plasticity clay (CH) - ANSWER ✓
19. What is optimum moisture content (OMC)?
o ANSWER ✓ Moisture level at which maximum dry density is achieved for a given
compaction energy.
20. What happens if compaction occurs above OMC?
o ANSWER ✓ Soil may become too wet, leading to lower dry density and instability.
21. What is "proctor test"?
o ANSWER ✓ Laboratory test to determine maximum dry density and OMC.
22. Name the two common Proctor tests.
o ANSWER ✓ Standard Proctor and Modified Proctor - ANSWER ✓
23. What is the typical compaction requirement for structural fill under buildings?
o ANSWER ✓ 95% of maximum dry density (Standard Proctor) - ANSWER ✓
24. What is cohesion in soils?
o ANSWER ✓ Shear strength due to particle bonding (clays).
Guide updated for the 2026/2027
syllabus
1. Earthwork Fundamentals (Questions 1–15)
1. What is the primary purpose of earthwork in construction?
o ANSWER ✓ To modify the ground surface to achieve desired elevations, slopes, and
stability for structures.
2. Define "cut" in earthwork terms.
o ANSWER ✓ Excavation of material from above a specified reference plane.
3. Define "fill" in earthwork terms.
o ANSWER ✓ Placement of earth material to raise the ground elevation.
4. What is "borrow material"?
o ANSWER ✓ Earth material obtained from outside the project site to supplement fill
requirements.
5. What does "waste material" refer to?
o ANSWER ✓ Excess excavated material not needed for fill and removed from the site.
6. What is the difference between "stripping" and "excavation"?
o ANSWER ✓ Stripping removes topsoil/vegetation; excavation removes earth below
topsoil for grading.
7. Why is topsoil typically stockpiled separately?
o ANSWER ✓ For reuse in final landscaping and to preserve organic content.
8. What is a "balanced earthwork" project?
o ANSWER ✓ Cut volume equals fill volume, minimizing borrow and waste.
9. Name three factors that affect soil swell and shrinkage.
o ANSWER ✓ Moisture content, soil type, compaction effort - ANSWER ✓
10. What is "swell" in earthmoving?
o ANSWER ✓ Increase in volume when soil is excavated from its natural state.
11. What is "shrinkage factor"?
, o ANSWER ✓ Ratio of compacted volume to bank volume (bank cubic yards to
compacted cubic yards).
12. Define "bank cubic yard (BCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material in its natural, undisturbed state.
13. Define "loose cubic yard (LCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material after excavation and before compaction.
14. Define "compacted cubic yard (CCY)".
o ANSWER ✓ One cubic yard of material after placement and compaction.
15. What is the typical swell range for common earth (loam)?
o ANSWER ✓ 20–25% - ANSWER ✓
2. Soil Classification & Properties (16–30)
16. What does the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) group soils into?
o ANSWER ✓ Coarse-grained, fine-grained, and highly organic soils - ANSWER ✓
17. What is the plasticity index (PI)?
o ANSWER ✓ Numerical difference between liquid limit and plastic limit.
18. Which soil type has the highest shrink-swell potential?
o ANSWER ✓ High-plasticity clay (CH) - ANSWER ✓
19. What is optimum moisture content (OMC)?
o ANSWER ✓ Moisture level at which maximum dry density is achieved for a given
compaction energy.
20. What happens if compaction occurs above OMC?
o ANSWER ✓ Soil may become too wet, leading to lower dry density and instability.
21. What is "proctor test"?
o ANSWER ✓ Laboratory test to determine maximum dry density and OMC.
22. Name the two common Proctor tests.
o ANSWER ✓ Standard Proctor and Modified Proctor - ANSWER ✓
23. What is the typical compaction requirement for structural fill under buildings?
o ANSWER ✓ 95% of maximum dry density (Standard Proctor) - ANSWER ✓
24. What is cohesion in soils?
o ANSWER ✓ Shear strength due to particle bonding (clays).
