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NICET Construction Materials Testing – Soils Level
I certification exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage — NICET Soils Level I
The NICET Construction Materials Testing – Soils Level I certification exam is designed for entry-level
technicians who perform field and laboratory testing of soils and aggregates. The exam is based on
ASTM standards and covers the following domains:
Domain Approximate Weight
Aggregate Testing (C117, C136, D75) 20-25%
Soil Sampling & Classification (D2488) 15-20%
Laboratory Compaction (D698, D1557) 15-20%
In-Place Density Testing (D1556, D6938, D2166) 15-20%
Moisture Content (D2216) 10-15%
Atterberg Limits (D4318) 10-15%
Safety, Documentation, Quality Control 5-10%
Primary ASTM Standards Covered
ASTM Standard Title
ASTM C117 Materials Finer than No. 200 Sieve by Washing
ASTM C136 Sieve Analysis of Aggregates
ASTM D75 Sampling Aggregates
ASTM D698 Laboratory Compaction Characteristics (Standard Effort - 12,400 ft-lbf/ft³)
ASTM D1140 Determining the Amount of Material Finer than No. 200 Sieve in Soils by Washing
ASTM D1556 In-Place Density by Sand Cone Method
ASTM D1557 Laboratory Compaction Characteristics (Modified Effort - 56,000 ft-lbf/ft³)
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ASTM Standard Title
ASTM D2166 Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil
ASTM D2216 Laboratory Determination of Water Content by Mass
ASTM D2488 Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D4318 Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D6938 In-Place Density by Nuclear Methods
1. A technician is preparing to determine the amount of material finer than a No. 200 sieve in a mineral
aggregate sample. Which ASTM standard should be used?
A) ASTM C136
B) ASTM D698
C) ASTM C117
D) ASTM D1557
E) ASTM D2488
Answer: C
*Rationale: ASTM C117 specifically covers the determination of the amount of material finer than a No.
200 (75-μm) sieve in mineral aggregates by washing.*
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2. According to ASTM C117, what is the correct oven temperature for drying aggregate samples?
A) 105°C ± 2°C
B) 110°C ± 5°C
C) 115°C ± 3°C
D) 100°C ± 1°C
E) 120°C ± 10°C
Answer: B
Rationale: ASTM C117 specifies oven drying temperature of 110°C ± 5°C for aggregate samples.
3. A technician performing ASTM C117 notices that the test procedure requires a wetting agent. Which
of the following is appropriate?
A) Sodium chloride solution
B) Any dispersing agent that promotes separation of fine materials
C) Isopropyl alcohol
D) Acetone
E) Hydrochloric acid
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Answer: B
Rationale: Water or any dispersing agent that promotes separation of fine materials is acceptable for use
as a wetting agent in C117.
4. In ASTM C117, which procedure should be used unless otherwise specified?
A) Procedure B
B) Procedure C
C) Procedure A
D) Procedure D
E) The technician's discretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Procedure A is the standard washing procedure in ASTM C117; Procedure B is used only under
special conditions.
5. An aggregate sample tested by ASTM C117 has a wash loss of 8.2%. How should this result be
reported?
A) 8%
NICET Construction Materials Testing – Soils Level
I certification exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage — NICET Soils Level I
The NICET Construction Materials Testing – Soils Level I certification exam is designed for entry-level
technicians who perform field and laboratory testing of soils and aggregates. The exam is based on
ASTM standards and covers the following domains:
Domain Approximate Weight
Aggregate Testing (C117, C136, D75) 20-25%
Soil Sampling & Classification (D2488) 15-20%
Laboratory Compaction (D698, D1557) 15-20%
In-Place Density Testing (D1556, D6938, D2166) 15-20%
Moisture Content (D2216) 10-15%
Atterberg Limits (D4318) 10-15%
Safety, Documentation, Quality Control 5-10%
Primary ASTM Standards Covered
ASTM Standard Title
ASTM C117 Materials Finer than No. 200 Sieve by Washing
ASTM C136 Sieve Analysis of Aggregates
ASTM D75 Sampling Aggregates
ASTM D698 Laboratory Compaction Characteristics (Standard Effort - 12,400 ft-lbf/ft³)
ASTM D1140 Determining the Amount of Material Finer than No. 200 Sieve in Soils by Washing
ASTM D1556 In-Place Density by Sand Cone Method
ASTM D1557 Laboratory Compaction Characteristics (Modified Effort - 56,000 ft-lbf/ft³)
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ASTM Standard Title
ASTM D2166 Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil
ASTM D2216 Laboratory Determination of Water Content by Mass
ASTM D2488 Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D4318 Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D6938 In-Place Density by Nuclear Methods
1. A technician is preparing to determine the amount of material finer than a No. 200 sieve in a mineral
aggregate sample. Which ASTM standard should be used?
A) ASTM C136
B) ASTM D698
C) ASTM C117
D) ASTM D1557
E) ASTM D2488
Answer: C
*Rationale: ASTM C117 specifically covers the determination of the amount of material finer than a No.
200 (75-μm) sieve in mineral aggregates by washing.*
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2. According to ASTM C117, what is the correct oven temperature for drying aggregate samples?
A) 105°C ± 2°C
B) 110°C ± 5°C
C) 115°C ± 3°C
D) 100°C ± 1°C
E) 120°C ± 10°C
Answer: B
Rationale: ASTM C117 specifies oven drying temperature of 110°C ± 5°C for aggregate samples.
3. A technician performing ASTM C117 notices that the test procedure requires a wetting agent. Which
of the following is appropriate?
A) Sodium chloride solution
B) Any dispersing agent that promotes separation of fine materials
C) Isopropyl alcohol
D) Acetone
E) Hydrochloric acid
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Answer: B
Rationale: Water or any dispersing agent that promotes separation of fine materials is acceptable for use
as a wetting agent in C117.
4. In ASTM C117, which procedure should be used unless otherwise specified?
A) Procedure B
B) Procedure C
C) Procedure A
D) Procedure D
E) The technician's discretion
Answer: C
Rationale: Procedure A is the standard washing procedure in ASTM C117; Procedure B is used only under
special conditions.
5. An aggregate sample tested by ASTM C117 has a wash loss of 8.2%. How should this result be
reported?
A) 8%
