North Carolina Practice
Locksmith Exam Study Guide –
Practice Questions with
Verified Answers. GRADED A+.
Latest 2026/2027 Update.
n. 1. the number(s) which represent(s) the dimensions of the key
2. the actual cut(s) or combination of a
key - Answer✔✔-Bitting
n. a designation, unrelated to the bitting, assigned to a particular key
combination for future reference when additional keys or cylinders may be
needed - Answer✔✔-Blind Code
n. a hand held key bitting punch, often incorporating a trigger-like handle -
Answer✔✔-Clipper
n. 1. a designation assigned to a particular key combination for reference when
additional keys or cylinders may be needed. See also, "blind code", "direct
code", and "key symbol",
,2. a standard for Life Safety, structural integrity, fire safety, etc., either
incorporated into the statutes of a given jurisdiction, or a model standard -
Answer✔✔-Code
n. a key cut to a specific code rather than duplicated from a pattern key. it may
or may not conform to the lock manufacturer's specifications - Answer✔✔-
Code Key
n. a code key which conforms to the lock manufacturer's specifications -
Answer✔✔-Code Original Key
n. the group of numbers which represent the bitting of a key and/or the
tumblers of a lock or cylinder - Answer✔✔-Combination
n. the bottom of a key cut - Answer✔✔-Cut Root
n. the shape of the bottom of a key cut. It may have a flat or radius of a specific
dimension, or be a perfect
"V - Answer✔✔-Cut Root Shape
n. a set of keys used to make a code original key on a key duplicating machine
to a lock manufacturer's given set of key bitting specifications. Each key is cut
with the correct spacing to one depth only in all bitting positions, with one key
for each depth. - Answer✔✔-Depth Key Set
n. a series of blind codes and bittings which are directly related to those of
another bitting list - Answer✔✔-Derived Series
,n. a designation assigned to a particular key which includes the actual
combination of the key - Answer✔✔-Direct Code
n. the dimension obtained by adding the root depth of a key cut to the length
of its corresponding bottom pin which establishes a perfect shear line. This will
not necessarily be the same as the actual plug diameter. - Answer✔✔-Effective
Plug Diameter
n. the maximum allowable difference between adjacent cut depths -
Answer✔✔-Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification
abb. maximum adjacent cut specification - Answer✔✔-"MACS"
n. the dimension from the bottom of a cut on a key to the bottom of the blade
- Answer✔✔-Root Depth
n. a location in a cylinder at which specific tumbler surfaces must be aligned,
removing obstruction(s) which prevented the plug from moving - Answer✔✔-
Shear Line
n. the dimensions from the stop to the center of the first cut and/or to the
centers of successive cuts - Answer✔✔-Spacing
n. the part of a key from which all cuts are indexed and which determines how
far the key enters the keyway - Answer✔✔-Stop (of a key)
n. that portion of the cylinder shell which normally houses the pin chambers,
especially those of a key-inknob
, cylinder or certain rim cylinders - Answer✔✔-Bible
n. 1. a tool used to cut the keyway into the cylinder plug 2. v. to cut the keyway
into a cylinder plug with a
broach - Answer✔✔-Broach
n. 1. a lock or cylinder component which transfers the rotational motion of a
key or cylinder plug to the
bolt works of a lock 2. the bolt of a cam lock - Answer✔✔-CAM
n. any cavity in a cylinder plug and/or shell which houses the tumblers -
Answer✔✔-Chamber
n. a keyway which has been enlarged to accept more than one key section,
often key sections of more
than one manufacturer - Answer✔✔-Composite Keyway
n. 1. a flat tumbler which must be drawn into the cylinder plug by the proper
key so that none of its
extremities extends into the shell 2. a flat, usually rectangular tumbler with a
gate which must be aligned
with a sidebar by the proper key - Answer✔✔-Disc Tumbler
n. a set of top pins of different lengths. Usage is based on the height of the rest
of the pin stack, in order
to achieve a uniform pin stack height. See also "compensate drivers" -
Answer✔✔-Graduated Drivers
Locksmith Exam Study Guide –
Practice Questions with
Verified Answers. GRADED A+.
Latest 2026/2027 Update.
n. 1. the number(s) which represent(s) the dimensions of the key
2. the actual cut(s) or combination of a
key - Answer✔✔-Bitting
n. a designation, unrelated to the bitting, assigned to a particular key
combination for future reference when additional keys or cylinders may be
needed - Answer✔✔-Blind Code
n. a hand held key bitting punch, often incorporating a trigger-like handle -
Answer✔✔-Clipper
n. 1. a designation assigned to a particular key combination for reference when
additional keys or cylinders may be needed. See also, "blind code", "direct
code", and "key symbol",
,2. a standard for Life Safety, structural integrity, fire safety, etc., either
incorporated into the statutes of a given jurisdiction, or a model standard -
Answer✔✔-Code
n. a key cut to a specific code rather than duplicated from a pattern key. it may
or may not conform to the lock manufacturer's specifications - Answer✔✔-
Code Key
n. a code key which conforms to the lock manufacturer's specifications -
Answer✔✔-Code Original Key
n. the group of numbers which represent the bitting of a key and/or the
tumblers of a lock or cylinder - Answer✔✔-Combination
n. the bottom of a key cut - Answer✔✔-Cut Root
n. the shape of the bottom of a key cut. It may have a flat or radius of a specific
dimension, or be a perfect
"V - Answer✔✔-Cut Root Shape
n. a set of keys used to make a code original key on a key duplicating machine
to a lock manufacturer's given set of key bitting specifications. Each key is cut
with the correct spacing to one depth only in all bitting positions, with one key
for each depth. - Answer✔✔-Depth Key Set
n. a series of blind codes and bittings which are directly related to those of
another bitting list - Answer✔✔-Derived Series
,n. a designation assigned to a particular key which includes the actual
combination of the key - Answer✔✔-Direct Code
n. the dimension obtained by adding the root depth of a key cut to the length
of its corresponding bottom pin which establishes a perfect shear line. This will
not necessarily be the same as the actual plug diameter. - Answer✔✔-Effective
Plug Diameter
n. the maximum allowable difference between adjacent cut depths -
Answer✔✔-Maximum Adjacent Cut Specification
abb. maximum adjacent cut specification - Answer✔✔-"MACS"
n. the dimension from the bottom of a cut on a key to the bottom of the blade
- Answer✔✔-Root Depth
n. a location in a cylinder at which specific tumbler surfaces must be aligned,
removing obstruction(s) which prevented the plug from moving - Answer✔✔-
Shear Line
n. the dimensions from the stop to the center of the first cut and/or to the
centers of successive cuts - Answer✔✔-Spacing
n. the part of a key from which all cuts are indexed and which determines how
far the key enters the keyway - Answer✔✔-Stop (of a key)
n. that portion of the cylinder shell which normally houses the pin chambers,
especially those of a key-inknob
, cylinder or certain rim cylinders - Answer✔✔-Bible
n. 1. a tool used to cut the keyway into the cylinder plug 2. v. to cut the keyway
into a cylinder plug with a
broach - Answer✔✔-Broach
n. 1. a lock or cylinder component which transfers the rotational motion of a
key or cylinder plug to the
bolt works of a lock 2. the bolt of a cam lock - Answer✔✔-CAM
n. any cavity in a cylinder plug and/or shell which houses the tumblers -
Answer✔✔-Chamber
n. a keyway which has been enlarged to accept more than one key section,
often key sections of more
than one manufacturer - Answer✔✔-Composite Keyway
n. 1. a flat tumbler which must be drawn into the cylinder plug by the proper
key so that none of its
extremities extends into the shell 2. a flat, usually rectangular tumbler with a
gate which must be aligned
with a sidebar by the proper key - Answer✔✔-Disc Tumbler
n. a set of top pins of different lengths. Usage is based on the height of the rest
of the pin stack, in order
to achieve a uniform pin stack height. See also "compensate drivers" -
Answer✔✔-Graduated Drivers
