Page 1 of 207
Need to Pass the Virginia Concrete
Contractor Exam in 2026? – Practice
Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Instant PDF Download
Question 1
A specified concrete mix has a water-cementitious materials
ratio (w/cm) of 0.45. For one bag of Portland cement (94 lbs),
the maximum water allowed from all sources is most nearly:
A) 3.5 gallons
B) 4.2 gallons
C) 5.0 gallons
D) 6.0 gallons
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✔ Correct Answer: C) 5.0 gallons
Rationale: 94 lbs cement × 0.45 = 42.3 lbs water. Water
weighs 8.34 lbs/gal → 42.3 ÷ 8.34 ≈ 5.07 gallons. ACI 318
limits w/cm for durability and strength.
Question 2
Which supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is most
effective at mitigating alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in Virginia
aggregates?
A) Fly ash Class C
B) Silica fume
C) Fly ash Class F
D) Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS)
✔ Correct Answer: C) Fly ash Class F
Rationale: Class F fly ash (low calcium) is highly effective
against ASR. VDOT and Virginia concrete specs often require
Class F for reactive aggregates common in Northern VA.
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Question 3
You receive a concrete delivery with a slump of 7 inches, but
the spec calls for 4 inches ±1 inch. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Add dry cement to the truck
B) Reject the load if it cannot be adjusted
C) Add water to lower the slump
D) Use it for non-structural flatwork only
✔ Correct Answer: B) Reject the load if it cannot be
adjusted
Rationale: ASTM C94 allows adding water + cement (or
retempering) ONLY if within 30 minutes and if final w/cm does
not exceed max. Adding cement alone does not fix high slump.
Question 4
For a Virginia driveway exposed to deicing salts, what
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minimum concrete compressive strength (f'c) is required by ACI
318-19 for freezing-and-thawing resistance?
A) 2,500 psi
B) 3,000 psi
C) 4,000 psi
D) 5,000 psi
✔ Correct Answer: C) 4,000 psi
Rationale: For freezing/thawing + deicers, ACI 318 Table
19.3.2.1 requires f'c ≥ 4,000 psi and air entrainment (5-8%).
Question 5
Air content of fresh concrete is tested using the pressure
method (ASTM C231). For severe freeze-thaw exposure with
¾ in. nominal maximum aggregate size, the required total air
content is:
A) 3.0% – 4.5%
B) 4.5% – 6.0%
Need to Pass the Virginia Concrete
Contractor Exam in 2026? – Practice
Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Instant PDF Download
Question 1
A specified concrete mix has a water-cementitious materials
ratio (w/cm) of 0.45. For one bag of Portland cement (94 lbs),
the maximum water allowed from all sources is most nearly:
A) 3.5 gallons
B) 4.2 gallons
C) 5.0 gallons
D) 6.0 gallons
,Page 2 of 207
✔ Correct Answer: C) 5.0 gallons
Rationale: 94 lbs cement × 0.45 = 42.3 lbs water. Water
weighs 8.34 lbs/gal → 42.3 ÷ 8.34 ≈ 5.07 gallons. ACI 318
limits w/cm for durability and strength.
Question 2
Which supplementary cementitious material (SCM) is most
effective at mitigating alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in Virginia
aggregates?
A) Fly ash Class C
B) Silica fume
C) Fly ash Class F
D) Ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS)
✔ Correct Answer: C) Fly ash Class F
Rationale: Class F fly ash (low calcium) is highly effective
against ASR. VDOT and Virginia concrete specs often require
Class F for reactive aggregates common in Northern VA.
,Page 3 of 207
Question 3
You receive a concrete delivery with a slump of 7 inches, but
the spec calls for 4 inches ±1 inch. What is the most
appropriate action?
A) Add dry cement to the truck
B) Reject the load if it cannot be adjusted
C) Add water to lower the slump
D) Use it for non-structural flatwork only
✔ Correct Answer: B) Reject the load if it cannot be
adjusted
Rationale: ASTM C94 allows adding water + cement (or
retempering) ONLY if within 30 minutes and if final w/cm does
not exceed max. Adding cement alone does not fix high slump.
Question 4
For a Virginia driveway exposed to deicing salts, what
, Page 4 of 207
minimum concrete compressive strength (f'c) is required by ACI
318-19 for freezing-and-thawing resistance?
A) 2,500 psi
B) 3,000 psi
C) 4,000 psi
D) 5,000 psi
✔ Correct Answer: C) 4,000 psi
Rationale: For freezing/thawing + deicers, ACI 318 Table
19.3.2.1 requires f'c ≥ 4,000 psi and air entrainment (5-8%).
Question 5
Air content of fresh concrete is tested using the pressure
method (ASTM C231). For severe freeze-thaw exposure with
¾ in. nominal maximum aggregate size, the required total air
content is:
A) 3.0% – 4.5%
B) 4.5% – 6.0%
