100+ Free ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Practice Questions

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Question 1

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When using a Schmidt rebound hammer (ASTM C805), how should multiple readings be taken at each test location?

A single reading is sufficient

Take 100 readings in random directions

Take two readings and average them only if they differ by more than 50%

Take a set of readings (commonly 10) at each location, discard outliers per the standard, and report the average

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Key Facts: ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Exam

MC Knowledge Questions

ICRI CSRT Program

3 hours

Max Exam Time

ICRI CSRT Program

90%

Passing Score

ICRI CSRT Program

4 ASTM tests

Performance Exam

ICRI CSRT Program

5 years

Certification Validity

ICRI

$599

Exam Fee

ICRI

The ICRI Concrete Surface Repair Technician Grade 1 is the Tier 2 certification path in the ICRI CSRT program — Tier 1 is the education-only Education Course, while Tier 2 (this credential) adds the proctored knowledge exam and the four-ASTM performance exam. The 72-question multiple-choice knowledge exam runs up to 3 hours with a 90% passing score, and the $599 program fee covers Education Course modules plus the knowledge and performance exam attempts. Candidates submit the performance exam either live at an ICRI on-site location or via video recording covering ASTM C42 cores, C803 penetration resistance, C805 rebound hammer, C597 pulse velocity, and the C1583 pull-off bond test. Certification is valid for 5 years and requires recertification thereafter.

Sample ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your ICRI CSRT Grade 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which three conditions must all be present for alkali-silica reaction (ASR) to cause expansion and cracking in concrete?

A.Reactive silica aggregate, sufficient alkalis, and sufficient moisture

B.Chlorides, oxygen, and reinforcement

C.Sulfates, calcium hydroxide, and freezing temperatures

D.Carbon dioxide, low cover, and high humidity

Explanation: ASR requires three concurrent ingredients: (1) reactive silica from certain aggregates, (2) sufficient alkalis (mainly Na2O and K2O from portland cement), and (3) sufficient moisture. The alkaline pore solution dissolves reactive silica, forming a hygroscopic gel that absorbs water, swells, and exerts pressure that cracks both aggregate and surrounding paste. Eliminating any one of the three ingredients arrests the reaction.

2What is the approximate critical saturation level above which concrete becomes vulnerable to freeze-thaw damage?

A.About 50% of pore space filled with water

B.About 70% of pore space filled with water

C.About 91% of pore space filled with water

D.About 99% of pore space filled with water

Explanation: Concrete is generally considered critically saturated when approximately 91% of its pore space is filled with water. Below this threshold, freezing water has somewhere to expand without producing damaging internal pressure. Above it, the 9% volume expansion of freezing water cannot be accommodated, generating hydraulic and ice-lens pressures that progressively damage the paste and aggregate interface.

3Which of the following is the primary mechanism by which carbonation leads to reinforcement corrosion?

A.Carbonic acid dissolves the cement paste, exposing steel directly

B.CO2 reacts with calcium hydroxide, lowering pore pH and depassivating the steel

C.Carbonation generates expansive products that crack the cover concrete

D.Carbonation introduces chloride ions that attack the steel

Explanation: Atmospheric CO2 diffuses into concrete, reacts with calcium hydroxide and other hydration products, and converts them to calcium carbonate. This consumes alkalinity and drops pore-solution pH from roughly 12.5-13 to below about 9. The high pH normally maintains a passive oxide film on the rebar; once pH drops at the bar depth, the film breaks down and active corrosion begins in the presence of moisture and oxygen.

4Which expansive reaction product is generated by classical external sulfate attack on portland cement paste?

A.Ettringite and gypsum

B.Calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H)

C.Calcium aluminoferrite

D.Magnesium oxychloride

Explanation: External sulfate attack occurs when sulfate ions diffuse into hardened cement paste and react with calcium hydroxide (forming gypsum) and with calcium aluminate hydrates (forming ettringite). Both products occupy substantially more volume than their reactants, producing expansion, cracking, softening, and ultimately loss of strength and cohesion in the paste.

5What is the typical volume ratio of corrosion products (rust) to the original steel they replaced?

A.Equal to the original steel volume

B.About half the original volume

C.Between 2 and 6 times the original volume

D.More than 20 times the original volume

Explanation: Common iron oxide and hydroxide corrosion products occupy roughly 2 to 6 times the volume of the parent steel, depending on oxidation state and hydration. This volume expansion generates tensile stress in the surrounding cover concrete, leading first to delamination, then to cracking, then to spalling. ICRI inspectors use sounding (chain drag or hammer) to detect delamination caused by this internal pressure before visible spalls appear.

6Which non-destructive method is most commonly used to detect subsurface delamination in concrete slabs and decks?

A.Sounding by chain drag or hammer

B.Schmidt rebound hammer per ASTM C805

C.Ultrasonic pulse velocity per ASTM C597

D.Compressive strength testing on cores

Explanation: Sounding — using a chain drag on horizontal surfaces or a hammer on vertical surfaces — produces a characteristic hollow or drum-like sound over delaminated areas because the detached layer vibrates independently. ASTM D4580 codifies the chain-drag method. Sounding is fast, low-cost, and the workhorse pre-repair survey tool for parking structures, bridge decks, and balconies.

7Which of the following is the most common environmental source of chlorides that initiate corrosion of reinforcement in highway and parking-structure concrete?

A.Atmospheric CO2

B.Deicing salts and marine spray

C.Sulfate-rich groundwater

D.Acid rain

Explanation: Chloride-induced corrosion is overwhelmingly caused by deicing salts on roadways and parking decks, and by airborne salt spray and submersion in marine environments. Once chloride at the bar depth exceeds the corrosion threshold (commonly cited around 0.20% by mass of cement for free chloride, varying by code), the passive layer breaks down at localized spots and pitting corrosion initiates.

8Which crack pattern is most characteristic of advanced alkali-silica reaction in unrestrained concrete?

A.Parallel cracks aligned with the principal stress

B.Map cracking or pattern cracking on the surface

C.Single wide cracks along the line of reinforcement

D.Diagonal shear cracks near supports

Explanation: ASR produces an internal swelling that is not strongly oriented, so the surface response in unrestrained members is a randomly oriented map or pattern of fine cracks. In restrained or reinforced members the cracks may align with the restraint direction. Inspectors look for map cracking with gel exudation and dark moisture rims around aggregate particles as visual ASR indicators.

9Why is air entrainment specified for concrete exposed to repeated freezing and thawing?

A.Air voids reduce permeability and prevent water ingress

B.Air voids provide pressure-relief reservoirs for freezing pore water

C.Air voids increase compressive strength at low temperatures

D.Air voids release heat that prevents pore water from freezing

Explanation: Entrained air provides a system of small, closely spaced bubbles (typically 4-8% by volume with a spacing factor below about 0.20 mm) that act as pressure-relief reservoirs. When pore water freezes and expands by roughly 9%, water and ice can migrate into adjacent empty air voids instead of generating destructive hydraulic and ice-lens pressure in the paste, dramatically improving freeze-thaw durability.

10Delayed ettringite formation (DEF) is most likely to occur in concrete that experienced which condition during placement?

A.Very low water-cement ratio

B.Air-entrained mix with high cement content

C.Early-age internal temperatures above about 70°C (158°F)

D.Subzero ambient temperatures during curing

Explanation: DEF is associated with early-age internal concrete temperatures above approximately 70°C (158°F), which prevents normal early ettringite formation and instead stores sulfates in the C-S-H. When the concrete later cools and gains access to moisture in service, ettringite reforms in the hardened paste, causing expansion and cracking. It is most common in mass placements and steam-cured precast.

About the ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Exam

ICRI Tier 2 certification for concrete surface repair technicians. Combines five online Education Course modules, a 72-question online knowledge exam (90% to pass, 3 hours max), and a performance exam where candidates demonstrate four required ASTM tests via video submission or at ICRI on-site locations. Validates competency in ACI 562 inspection, ICRI 310.1R/310.2R/320.2R guidelines, CSP 1-10 surface profiles, and post-placement bond and strength testing.

Questions

72 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours max

Passing Score

90%

Exam Fee

$599 (International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI))

ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Exam Content Outline

18%

Concrete Deterioration

Corrosion of reinforcement (chloride/carbonation-induced), alkali-silica reaction, freeze-thaw, sulfate attack, carbonation, spalling, delamination

16%

ACI 562 Repair Code

Code requirements for assessment, repair, and rehabilitation of existing concrete structures; design basis code; in-situ material strength

16%

ICRI Surface Preparation

ICRI 310.1R/310.2R/310.3R, CSP 1-10 profile identification, shotblasting, scarifying, hydrodemolition, acid etching

16%

Repair Materials

ICRI 320.2R selection criteria; cementitious, polymer-modified, epoxy, polyester, rapid-set; shrinkage compensation

14%

Pre-Placement Inspection

Substrate moisture (ASTM F2170/F1869), temperature, contamination, profile verification, reinforcement preparation

12%

Post-Placement Inspection (ASTM)

ASTM C42 cores, C803 penetration resistance, C805 rebound hammer, C597 pulse velocity, C1583 pull-off bond

ICRI Guidelines

310.1R surface preparation, 310.2R bonding agents, 320.2R material selection

How to Pass the ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 90%
Exam length: 72 questions
Time limit: 3 hours max
Exam fee: $599

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ICRI CSRT Grade 1 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorize CSP 1-10 — know which preparation method produces each profile (CSP 3 light shotblast, CSP 5 medium shotblast, CSP 9-10 hydrodemolition) and which CSP is required for each repair type

2Master the four concrete deterioration mechanisms: corrosion (chloride or carbonation-induced), alkali-silica reaction (reactive silica + alkalis + moisture), freeze-thaw (critical saturation ~91%), and sulfate attack

3Practice each ASTM test cold — C42 cores, C803 penetration, C805 rebound, C597 pulse velocity, and C1583 pull-off bond — because the performance exam grades the video procedure

4Know ICRI 310.2R bonding agent rules: bonding agents are optional, cement-water slurry is most common, and the slurry must not dry before repair placement

5Review ACI 562 framework: assessment, design basis code (original ACI 318 vs current), licensed design professional responsibility, and quality assurance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICRI CSRT Grade 1 exam passing score?

Candidates must score 90% or higher on the 72-question multiple-choice knowledge exam to pass. The exam is delivered online with a 3-hour maximum time limit. In addition to the knowledge exam, candidates must demonstrate four ASTM tests through a performance exam, submitted as a video recording or completed live at an ICRI on-site location.

What is the difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 ICRI CSRT?

Tier 1 is the ICRI CSRT Education Course — five online training modules with graded module exams that award a course-completion credential but no certification. Tier 2 (this credential) adds the proctored 72-question knowledge exam (90% to pass, 3 hours max) and the performance exam covering four ASTM tests, leading to the Concrete Surface Repair Technician Grade 1 certification.

How much does the ICRI CSRT Grade 1 exam cost?

The ICRI Certification Course fee is $599, which covers the five Education Course online modules, the knowledge exam, and the performance exam evaluation. Optional ICRI guideline PDFs (310.2R-2013 and 320.2R-2018) are available separately from the ICRI store as supplementary study materials.

How long is ICRI CSRT Grade 1 certification valid?

The CSRT Grade 1 certification is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. Recertification is required to maintain the credential and is administered through ICRI per the most current CSRT program rules.

Which four ASTM tests are required for the CSRT performance exam?

The ICRI CSRT performance exam requires demonstration of four ASTM standards: ASTM C31 (making and curing concrete test specimens in the field), ASTM C143 (slump of hydraulic-cement concrete), ASTM C1583 (pull-off bond/tensile strength of concrete repair and overlay materials), and ASTM C1611 (slump flow of self-consolidating concrete). Candidates may submit a video recording of each test or perform them live at an ICRI on-site location.