Residential Contractor – National Portion Exam
Try 10 realistic residential construction and code questions before you buy the full practice exam.
Answer each question, then click “Check my score” at the bottom of the page. You’ll see your total score plus the correct answers for every item.How this free practice exam works
This 10-question mini-exam is designed to mirror the style and cognitive level of the Residential Contractor – National Portion Exam, with a focus on residential building codes, structural design, safety, and basic estimating.- Choose one answer for each multiple-choice question.
- Click “Check my score” to see how you did.
- Instant feedback shows which questions are correct or incorrect and reveals the right answers.
This practice content is for exam preparation only and is not endorsed or approved by any state licensing board, building department, exam provider, or code publisher. Always refer to the most current residential building code and your jurisdiction’s amendments.
Residential Contractor – National Portion Exam (10 Questions)
On this test, one question describes continuous concrete footings for a one- and two-family dwelling in a frost-prone climate. According to commonly adopted code principles, where should the bottom of the footing be located?
For typical sleeping rooms in a wood-framed dwelling, which design live load is most often required by residential building codes in pounds per square foot (psf)?
A sill plate is being anchored to a cast-in-place concrete foundation wall. The primary purpose of the anchor bolts shown in this detail is to:
On this test you may see roof and floor sheathing labels such as “24/16” on structural panels. What does this span rating generally indicate?
A straight interior stair run will be framed in a new dwelling. Which combination best matches typical residential code limits for maximum riser height and minimum tread depth?
A raised deck platform is 8 feet above grade and accessible from a dwelling. Where required, the minimum height for guards along the open sides of this walking surface is typically:
A 4-inch-thick concrete slab-on-grade is being placed for a residential garage. Which practice best helps reduce surface cracking from rapid moisture loss immediately after placement?
The drawings for a new house show floor joists as 2 × 8 at 16 inches on center, but the written specifications require 2 × 10 at 16 inches on center. Under typical construction contract interpretation rules, which document usually takes precedence?
In a bar chart or critical path schedule for a residential project, why is the critical path especially important to the contractor?
A floor system requires sixteen 2 × 10 × 12-foot joists. Approximately how many board feet of lumber does this represent? (Board feet = thickness in inches × width in inches × length in feet ÷ 12.)