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100+ Free AL Asphalt Paving Practice Questions

Prepare for the Alabama Hot and Cold Asphalt Plant Mix Paving Contractor Examination exam with instant access — no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: AL Asphalt Paving Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI AL GC Bulletin

30 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI AL GC Bulletin

90 minutes

Time Allowed

PSI AL GC Bulletin

$96

PSI Exam Fee

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Open book

Exam Format

PSI AL GC Bulletin

Alabama AL Asphalt Paving trade exam via PSI: 30 questions, 70% pass, 90 minutes, fee $96. Open-book specialty classification under the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (bulletin 1/23/26).

Sample AL Asphalt Paving Practice Questions

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

1What is the primary purpose of a tack coat in hot-mix asphalt paving?
A.To waterproof the granular base course
B.To create a bond between pavement layers and prevent slippage
C.To seal the finished surface against UV aging
D.To cool the mix before roller compaction
Explanation: A tack coat (bond coat) is a light application of asphalt emulsion or binder between pavement layers so the layers act as a single structural unit and resist shear slippage under traffic. Without adequate tack, delamination and shoving are common failure modes.
2A prime coat is typically applied to which surface?
A.The finished HMA wearing course
B.An untreated or granular base before bituminous paving
C.Steel bridge deck plate only
D.Cured concrete sidewalk only
Explanation: Prime coat is sprayed on unbound subgrade or aggregate base to penetrate fines, bind the surface, reduce dust, waterproof the base during construction, and improve bond with the first bituminous layer.
3Using 110 lb per square yard per inch of compacted thickness, how many tons of dense-graded HMA are needed for a 24 ft wide by 500 ft long lane at 2 in compacted thickness? (Ignore waste.)
A.66 tons
B.110 tons
C.147 tons
D.220 tons
Explanation: Area = 24 × 500 = 12,000 ft² = 1,333.33 SY. Weight = 1,333.33 × 2 × 110 = 293,333 lb. Tons = 293,333 ÷ 2,000 ≈ 146.7, about 147 tons.
4Which statement best describes cold-mix asphalt compared with conventional hot-mix asphalt (HMA)?
A.Cold mix is mixed and placed at ambient or moderately elevated temperatures using emulsified or cutback binder
B.Cold mix always requires plant temperatures above 350°F
C.Cold mix cannot contain any aggregate larger than sand
D.Cold mix is only used for airport runways
Explanation: Cold-mix asphalt uses emulsified asphalt, cutback asphalt, or foamed binder so aggregate can be coated and placed without full HMA plant temperatures. It is common for patching, low-volume roads, and stockpiled maintenance mix.
5A chip seal (bituminous surface treatment) consists primarily of:
A.A thin lift of dense-graded HMA only
B.An application of asphalt binder followed by cover aggregate rolled into the binder
C.Portland cement slurry with no aggregate
D.Geotextile fabric alone with no binder
Explanation: A chip seal applies liquid asphalt (emulsion or hot binder) and immediately spreads and rolls cover stone so aggregate embeds into the binder film. It seals the surface, improves skid resistance, and renews oxidized pavements.
6If HMA has a compacted density of 145 lb/ft³, how many tons are required for 10,000 ft² at a compacted thickness of 1.5 inches?
A.45.3 tons
B.90.6 tons
C.120.8 tons
D.181.3 tons
Explanation: Thickness = 1.5/12 = 0.125 ft. Volume = 10,000 × 0.125 = 1,250 ft³. Weight = 1,250 × 145 = 181,250 lb. Tons = 181,250 ÷ 2,000 = 90.6 tons.
7Why is timely compaction critical for hot-mix asphalt after placement?
A.Asphalt binder stiffens as the mix cools, reducing ability to achieve target density
B.The mix becomes permanently soft only after full cooling
C.Rollers can only operate when the mix is below 100°F
D.Compaction is only for appearance and does not affect density
Explanation: As HMA cools, binder viscosity rises and resistance to densification increases. Breakdown and intermediate rolling must occur while the mat is still in the workable temperature window.
8Typical delivery/placement temperatures for conventional dense-graded HMA (not warm-mix) are most often in which approximate range, depending on binder grade and specifications?
A.100°F to 150°F
B.175°F to 225°F
C.275°F to 325°F
D.400°F to 450°F
Explanation: Conventional HMA is produced and delivered hot so binder coats aggregate and the mat remains compactable. Many mixes are delivered in roughly the mid-200s to low-300s °F (commonly summarized near 275–325°F), depending on PG grade and project specs.
9In a typical HMA roller train, what is the main purpose of the breakdown (initial) roller?
A.To apply the final surface texture only after the mat is cold
B.To achieve most of the densification while the mat is hottest
C.To spray water as a release agent on the finished surface only
D.To mill existing pavement before overlay
Explanation: Breakdown rolling immediately behind the paver uses steel-wheel or vibratory rollers to obtain the majority of densification while the mix is hottest and most workable.
10What does a Superpave performance-graded (PG) binder designation such as PG 64-22 primarily communicate?
A.The maximum aggregate size in millimeters and sand equivalent
B.High- and low-temperature pavement design temperatures the binder is graded to withstand
C.The exact plant production temperature in Celsius only
D.The number of compaction gyrations required in the field
Explanation: PG XX-YY binders are climate-graded: the first number relates to the average seven-day maximum pavement design temperature (°C), and the second relates to the minimum pavement design temperature (°C).

About the AL Asphalt Paving Exam

The Alabama Hot and Cold Asphalt Plant Mix Paving Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. The official open-book exam has 30 questions, a 70% (21 of 30 correct) passing standard, and 90 minutes allowed. PSI examination fee is $96 per attempt (bulletin updated 1/23/26). This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid for the trade knowledge on the official content outline; it is not an official PSI form, does not replace the required Business & Law exam for primes, and is not a substitute for board-approved experience or the official open-book examination.

Questions

30 scored questions

Time Limit

90 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$96 (PSI Services LLC (for Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors))

AL Asphalt Paving Exam Content Outline

53%

Bituminous Surface Treatments and Pavements

Hot-mix and cold-mix asphalt paving

17%

Portland Cement Surface Treatments and Pavements

Related PCC surface work

17%

Heavy Equipment / Safety

Paving equipment and safety

13%

Traffic Control Devices

Work-zone traffic control

How to Pass the AL Asphalt Paving Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 30 questions
  • Time limit: 90 minutes
  • Exam fee: $96

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

AL Asphalt Paving Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study only the approved references listed for your classification in the current PSI Alabama General Contractors bulletin
2Practice open-book navigation with permanent tabs and indexes before test day
3Drill OSHA 29 CFR 1926 topics that appear across nearly every trade outline
4Work quantity takeoff and plan-reading problems under timed conditions
5Confirm Board eligibility and classification scope on genconbd.alabama.gov before scheduling with PSI

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the AL Asphalt Paving exam?

The official PSI trade examination has 30 scored questions (plus possible experimental items). Passing is 70% (21 of 30 correct) within 90 minutes.

How much does the AL Asphalt Paving exam cost?

PSI lists $96 per examination registration for this Alabama general contractor classification exam (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 1/23/26). License application fees to the Board are separate.

Is the Alabama specialty contractor exam open book?

Yes. PSI administers these classification exams as open book. Only the bulletin-listed approved references are allowed; temporary tabs like Post-it notes are prohibited.

Do I still need the Business and Law exam?

Prime contractor applicants must also pass the Alabama Business & Law examination (50 questions, 70%, 120 minutes). Reciprocity may waive a trade exam in some cases but does not waive Business & Law.