ICC SOILS PACKAGED FINAL TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
● During a sieve analysis procedure, you ___ turn or manipulate fragments in the sample
through the sieve by hand.. Answer: cannot
● When performing a hydrometer test, water shall be maintained at or near ___.. Answer:
68°F
● The soak time for the sample in solution during a Particle-Size Analysis shall be at least
___.. Answer: 16 hours
● Hydrometer readings shall be taken from the ___.. Answer: Top of the meniscus
● Two methods are used to prepare a test for liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plasticity
index (PI):. Answer: wet, dry
● For the LL, PL and PI, the method of preparation shall be specified by the requesting
authority and if no method is specified, us the ___ method.. Answer: Wet
● Two methods are used for determining ___: Method A (multipoint) or Method B (one-point)..
Answer: Liquid Limit (LL)
● The method of preparation for the LL shall be specified by the requesting authority and if no
method is specified, there is a dispute, or greater precision is required, use Method ____..
Answer: A
● The LL, PL, and PI are performed on the portion of the soil that passes the ____ sieve..
Answer: No. 40
● The water content, in percent, of the soil at the arbitrarily defined boundary between liquid
and plastic states is known as the ___.. Answer: Liquid Limit (LL)
● The water content, in percent, of a soil at the boundary between the plastic and semi-solid
states is known as the ___.. Answer: Plastic Limit (PL)
● The ___ is calculated as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit. The
equation is as follows: ___ = __ - ___.. Answer: Plasticity index; PI = LL - PL
, ● Originally there were six "limits of consistency" of fine-grained soils. Now LL, PL, and in
some references, the shrinkage limit is known as the ____.. Answer: Atterberg limits
● The Plastic Limit "hand method" requires placing a mass of soil on a glass plate, then - with
your fingers - roll it into a ___ in diameter.. Answer: 1/8 inch
● When sampling from a roadway, obtain at least ___ equal increments selected randomly
from the unit being sampled.. Answer: 3
● If sampling from a stockpile of fine aggregate, always remove the ___ and sample the
material beneath.. Answer: Outer layer
● The Standard Effort lab max applies to soils that have 30% or less by weight retained on
the ___.. Answer: 3/4-inch sieve
● When performing a proctor test for Procedures/Methods A & B, both require 5 layers with
____ per layer.. Answer: 25 blows
● Procedure/Method C of the proctor test (ASTM D698 or D1557) requires 5 layers with ___
per layer.. Answer: 56 blows
● The Standard Effort (ASTM D698) uses a ____ lbf rammer dropped from a height of ___
inches producing a compactive effort of ___ ft-lbf/ft3.. Answer: 5.5; 12; 12,400
● For ASTM D698, Procedure A uses a ___ sieve, Procedure B uses a ___ sieve, and
Procedure C uses a ___ sieve.. Answer: No. 4; 3/8-inch; 3/4-inch
● For ASTM D698 or D1557, the required sample mass for Procedures/Methods A and B is
approximately ___ and for Procedure/Method C is approximately ___ of dry soil.. Answer: 35
lbs; 65 lbs
● The field sample for ASTM D69 or D1557 both should have a moist mass of ___ for
Procedure/Method A & B, and ___ for Procedure/Method C.. Answer: 50 lbs; 100 lbs
● The portion of the total sample used in performing the compaction proctor test is referred to
as the ___.. Answer: test fraction (finer fraction).
● The Modified Effort (ASTM D1557) uses a ___ lbf rammer dropped from a ____ inches,
producing a compactive effort of ___ ft-lbf/ft3.. Answer: 10; 18; 56,000
● For ASTM D1557, Method A uses a ___ sieve, Method B uses a ___ sieve, and Method C
uses a ___ sieve.. Answer: No 4; 3/8-inch; 3/4-inch
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
● During a sieve analysis procedure, you ___ turn or manipulate fragments in the sample
through the sieve by hand.. Answer: cannot
● When performing a hydrometer test, water shall be maintained at or near ___.. Answer:
68°F
● The soak time for the sample in solution during a Particle-Size Analysis shall be at least
___.. Answer: 16 hours
● Hydrometer readings shall be taken from the ___.. Answer: Top of the meniscus
● Two methods are used to prepare a test for liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), and plasticity
index (PI):. Answer: wet, dry
● For the LL, PL and PI, the method of preparation shall be specified by the requesting
authority and if no method is specified, us the ___ method.. Answer: Wet
● Two methods are used for determining ___: Method A (multipoint) or Method B (one-point)..
Answer: Liquid Limit (LL)
● The method of preparation for the LL shall be specified by the requesting authority and if no
method is specified, there is a dispute, or greater precision is required, use Method ____..
Answer: A
● The LL, PL, and PI are performed on the portion of the soil that passes the ____ sieve..
Answer: No. 40
● The water content, in percent, of the soil at the arbitrarily defined boundary between liquid
and plastic states is known as the ___.. Answer: Liquid Limit (LL)
● The water content, in percent, of a soil at the boundary between the plastic and semi-solid
states is known as the ___.. Answer: Plastic Limit (PL)
● The ___ is calculated as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit. The
equation is as follows: ___ = __ - ___.. Answer: Plasticity index; PI = LL - PL
, ● Originally there were six "limits of consistency" of fine-grained soils. Now LL, PL, and in
some references, the shrinkage limit is known as the ____.. Answer: Atterberg limits
● The Plastic Limit "hand method" requires placing a mass of soil on a glass plate, then - with
your fingers - roll it into a ___ in diameter.. Answer: 1/8 inch
● When sampling from a roadway, obtain at least ___ equal increments selected randomly
from the unit being sampled.. Answer: 3
● If sampling from a stockpile of fine aggregate, always remove the ___ and sample the
material beneath.. Answer: Outer layer
● The Standard Effort lab max applies to soils that have 30% or less by weight retained on
the ___.. Answer: 3/4-inch sieve
● When performing a proctor test for Procedures/Methods A & B, both require 5 layers with
____ per layer.. Answer: 25 blows
● Procedure/Method C of the proctor test (ASTM D698 or D1557) requires 5 layers with ___
per layer.. Answer: 56 blows
● The Standard Effort (ASTM D698) uses a ____ lbf rammer dropped from a height of ___
inches producing a compactive effort of ___ ft-lbf/ft3.. Answer: 5.5; 12; 12,400
● For ASTM D698, Procedure A uses a ___ sieve, Procedure B uses a ___ sieve, and
Procedure C uses a ___ sieve.. Answer: No. 4; 3/8-inch; 3/4-inch
● For ASTM D698 or D1557, the required sample mass for Procedures/Methods A and B is
approximately ___ and for Procedure/Method C is approximately ___ of dry soil.. Answer: 35
lbs; 65 lbs
● The field sample for ASTM D69 or D1557 both should have a moist mass of ___ for
Procedure/Method A & B, and ___ for Procedure/Method C.. Answer: 50 lbs; 100 lbs
● The portion of the total sample used in performing the compaction proctor test is referred to
as the ___.. Answer: test fraction (finer fraction).
● The Modified Effort (ASTM D1557) uses a ___ lbf rammer dropped from a ____ inches,
producing a compactive effort of ___ ft-lbf/ft3.. Answer: 10; 18; 56,000
● For ASTM D1557, Method A uses a ___ sieve, Method B uses a ___ sieve, and Method C
uses a ___ sieve.. Answer: No 4; 3/8-inch; 3/4-inch
