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NICET CMT10 Asphalt Laboratory Technician Level
III Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
NICET CMT10 Asphalt Laboratory Technician Level III Exam,
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Asphalt Level III Exam)
• Aggregate Sampling & Testing (AASHTO T 2, T 248): Sampling methods, reduction techniques
(quartering, mechanical splitter), sample size requirements
• Aggregate Properties: Specific gravity (AASHTO T 84, T 85, T 100), absorption, bulk density, unit
weight, voids
• Gradation (Sieve Analysis – AASHTO T 27/T 30): Dry sieving, washed sieving, fine aggregate
gradation, coarse aggregate gradation, percent passing calculations
• Asphalt Binder Sampling & Testing: Sampling asphalt binders (AASHTO T 40, T 72), flash point (T
48), ductility (T 51), rotational viscosity (T 316), DSR (M 320), BBR (T 313)
• Asphalt Binder PG Grading: Performance Grade (PG) system (PG 64-22), high-temp and
low-temp grade determination, RTFO aging (T 240), PAV aging (R 28)
• HMA Mix Design (Superpave / Marshall): Ndesign, Ninitial, Nmax, gyrations, asphalt binder
content, VMA, VFA, density requirements
• Asphalt Mixture Testing: Bulk specific gravity (T 166 – SSD), maximum theoretical specific
gravity (T 209 – Rice), percent air voids, percent compaction
• Gyratory Compactor (AASHTO T 312): Setting number of gyrations, specimen height
adjustment, compaction pressure, temperature control
• Ignition Oven (AASHTO T 308): Asphalt binder content determination, calibration factors,
correction factors
• Moisture Susceptibility (AASHTO T 283): Tensile strength ratio (TSR), freeze-thaw conditioning,
vacuum saturation
• Asphalt Content by Nuclear Gauge (AASHTO T 329): Calibration, safety, measurement protocol
• Statistical Process Control (Quality Control / Quality Assurance): Moving averages, standard
deviation, percent within limits (PWL), control charts
• Sampling Plans & Acceptance: Random sampling, stratified random sampling, sublot size, lot
definition
• Laboratory Safety: Solvent handling, fume hoods, PPE, high-temperature equipment, fire safety
• Calculations: Percent passing, percent retained, air voids, VMA (percent voids in mineral
aggregate), VFA (percent voids filled with asphalt), effective binder content, dust-to-binder ratio
(P0.075 / Pbe)
• Calibration & Equipment Verification: Thermometers, balances, ovens, ignition oven, gyratory
compactor
• Reporting & Documentation: Data sheets, test reports, certification, traceability
1. A technician is performing a bulk specific gravity (Gmb) test on a compacted asphalt specimen using
the SSD (saturated surface-dry) method per AASHTO T 166. The specimen weighs 4,200 g in air (dry),
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4,250 g in the SSD condition, and 2,500 g submerged. What is the bulk specific gravity?
A) 2.400 (Dry / (SSD – Submerged) = 4,200 / (4,250 – 2,500) = 4,,750 = 2.4)
B) 2.428
C) 2.500
D) 2.350
Answer: A
*Rationale: Bulk specific gravity (Gmb) = Dry mass / (SSD mass – Submerged mass). 4,200 / (4,250 –
2,500) = 4,,750 = 2.400.*
2. According to AASHTO T 209, the Rice test (maximum theoretical specific gravity – Gmm) is performed
on:
A) Loose, uncompacted asphalt mixture
B) Compacted asphalt cores
C) Extracted aggregate only
D) Asphalt binder only
Answer: A
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Rationale: The Rice test determines the maximum theoretical specific gravity (Gmm) of a loose,
uncompacted asphalt mixture, used to calculate air voids.
3. A Superpave gyratory compactor is set to produce a specimen at Ndesign = 100 gyrations. The
technician compacts a 150 mm diameter specimen. The specified height at Ndesign is 115 mm. After
compaction, the height is 120 mm. What action should the technician take?
A) Accept the specimen; height variation is within tolerance
B) Adjust the sample mass and recompact to achieve the target height
C) Increase the compaction pressure
D) Decrease the number of gyrations to 95
Answer: B
Rationale: Specimen height must be within a specified tolerance (typically ±5 mm) of the design height. If
not, the sample mass must be adjusted and the specimen recompacted.
4. An asphalt binder is graded PG 64-22. What does the “-22” indicate?
A) The low temperature grade is −22°C
B) The binder is not suitable below 22°C
C) The high temperature grade is −22°C
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D) The penetration grade is 22
Answer: A
Rationale: In PG grading, the first number is the high temperature grade (64°C), and the second number
is the low temperature grade (−22°C).
5. A technician performs an ignition oven test (AASHTO T 308) on an asphalt mixture. The initial sample
mass is 1,500 g. After ignition, the aggregate residue mass is 1,395 g. The correction factor for the
aggregate is 0.3%. What is the corrected asphalt binder content?
A) 6.5% ( (1500 – 1395) / 1500 = 7.0%; 7.0% – 0.3% = 6.7% )
B) 6.7%
C) 7.0%
D) 7.3%
Answer: B
*Rationale: Uncorrected binder content = (1500 – 1395) / 1500 = 7.0%. Corrected = 7.0% – 0.3% =
6.7%.*
6. Which AASHTO standard covers the method for preparing asphalt mixture specimens using the
Superpave gyratory compactor?
NICET CMT10 Asphalt Laboratory Technician Level
III Exam QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES JUST RELEASED
NICET CMT10 Asphalt Laboratory Technician Level III Exam,
Summarized Exam Topics Covered (Point Form – Accurate for Asphalt Level III Exam)
• Aggregate Sampling & Testing (AASHTO T 2, T 248): Sampling methods, reduction techniques
(quartering, mechanical splitter), sample size requirements
• Aggregate Properties: Specific gravity (AASHTO T 84, T 85, T 100), absorption, bulk density, unit
weight, voids
• Gradation (Sieve Analysis – AASHTO T 27/T 30): Dry sieving, washed sieving, fine aggregate
gradation, coarse aggregate gradation, percent passing calculations
• Asphalt Binder Sampling & Testing: Sampling asphalt binders (AASHTO T 40, T 72), flash point (T
48), ductility (T 51), rotational viscosity (T 316), DSR (M 320), BBR (T 313)
• Asphalt Binder PG Grading: Performance Grade (PG) system (PG 64-22), high-temp and
low-temp grade determination, RTFO aging (T 240), PAV aging (R 28)
• HMA Mix Design (Superpave / Marshall): Ndesign, Ninitial, Nmax, gyrations, asphalt binder
content, VMA, VFA, density requirements
• Asphalt Mixture Testing: Bulk specific gravity (T 166 – SSD), maximum theoretical specific
gravity (T 209 – Rice), percent air voids, percent compaction
• Gyratory Compactor (AASHTO T 312): Setting number of gyrations, specimen height
adjustment, compaction pressure, temperature control
• Ignition Oven (AASHTO T 308): Asphalt binder content determination, calibration factors,
correction factors
• Moisture Susceptibility (AASHTO T 283): Tensile strength ratio (TSR), freeze-thaw conditioning,
vacuum saturation
• Asphalt Content by Nuclear Gauge (AASHTO T 329): Calibration, safety, measurement protocol
• Statistical Process Control (Quality Control / Quality Assurance): Moving averages, standard
deviation, percent within limits (PWL), control charts
• Sampling Plans & Acceptance: Random sampling, stratified random sampling, sublot size, lot
definition
• Laboratory Safety: Solvent handling, fume hoods, PPE, high-temperature equipment, fire safety
• Calculations: Percent passing, percent retained, air voids, VMA (percent voids in mineral
aggregate), VFA (percent voids filled with asphalt), effective binder content, dust-to-binder ratio
(P0.075 / Pbe)
• Calibration & Equipment Verification: Thermometers, balances, ovens, ignition oven, gyratory
compactor
• Reporting & Documentation: Data sheets, test reports, certification, traceability
1. A technician is performing a bulk specific gravity (Gmb) test on a compacted asphalt specimen using
the SSD (saturated surface-dry) method per AASHTO T 166. The specimen weighs 4,200 g in air (dry),
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4,250 g in the SSD condition, and 2,500 g submerged. What is the bulk specific gravity?
A) 2.400 (Dry / (SSD – Submerged) = 4,200 / (4,250 – 2,500) = 4,,750 = 2.4)
B) 2.428
C) 2.500
D) 2.350
Answer: A
*Rationale: Bulk specific gravity (Gmb) = Dry mass / (SSD mass – Submerged mass). 4,200 / (4,250 –
2,500) = 4,,750 = 2.400.*
2. According to AASHTO T 209, the Rice test (maximum theoretical specific gravity – Gmm) is performed
on:
A) Loose, uncompacted asphalt mixture
B) Compacted asphalt cores
C) Extracted aggregate only
D) Asphalt binder only
Answer: A
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Rationale: The Rice test determines the maximum theoretical specific gravity (Gmm) of a loose,
uncompacted asphalt mixture, used to calculate air voids.
3. A Superpave gyratory compactor is set to produce a specimen at Ndesign = 100 gyrations. The
technician compacts a 150 mm diameter specimen. The specified height at Ndesign is 115 mm. After
compaction, the height is 120 mm. What action should the technician take?
A) Accept the specimen; height variation is within tolerance
B) Adjust the sample mass and recompact to achieve the target height
C) Increase the compaction pressure
D) Decrease the number of gyrations to 95
Answer: B
Rationale: Specimen height must be within a specified tolerance (typically ±5 mm) of the design height. If
not, the sample mass must be adjusted and the specimen recompacted.
4. An asphalt binder is graded PG 64-22. What does the “-22” indicate?
A) The low temperature grade is −22°C
B) The binder is not suitable below 22°C
C) The high temperature grade is −22°C
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D) The penetration grade is 22
Answer: A
Rationale: In PG grading, the first number is the high temperature grade (64°C), and the second number
is the low temperature grade (−22°C).
5. A technician performs an ignition oven test (AASHTO T 308) on an asphalt mixture. The initial sample
mass is 1,500 g. After ignition, the aggregate residue mass is 1,395 g. The correction factor for the
aggregate is 0.3%. What is the corrected asphalt binder content?
A) 6.5% ( (1500 – 1395) / 1500 = 7.0%; 7.0% – 0.3% = 6.7% )
B) 6.7%
C) 7.0%
D) 7.3%
Answer: B
*Rationale: Uncorrected binder content = (1500 – 1395) / 1500 = 7.0%. Corrected = 7.0% – 0.3% =
6.7%.*
6. Which AASHTO standard covers the method for preparing asphalt mixture specimens using the
Superpave gyratory compactor?
