100+ Free GA Residential Basic Practice Questions

Prepare for the Residential - Basic Contractor Exam (Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Key Facts: GA Residential Basic Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI Bulletin

Exam Questions

PSI Bulletin

200 min

Exam Time

PSI Bulletin

$72

PSI Exam Fee

PSI Bulletin

Open Book

Reference Policy

PSI Bulletin

Georgia's 80-question, 200-minute open-book Residential - Basic Contractor Exam tests trade knowledge across sitework, concrete, masonry, carpentry, roofing, general code, associated trades, and OSHA safety. Code questions are based on the 2018 IRC and 2015 IECC plus Georgia amendments. The same exam serves both Individual and Qualifying Agent registration. Candidates must also pass the Georgia Business & Law Exam.

Sample GA Residential Basic Practice Questions

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

1Stumps and roots below an area to be occupied by a building MUST be removed from the soil to a MINIMUM depth of

A.6 inches

B.12 inches

C.18 inches

D.24 inches

Explanation: The IRC requires that stumps and roots below an area to be occupied by a building be removed to a minimum depth of 12 inches. This ensures organic material does not decompose beneath the foundation, which would cause settlement and structural distress.

2Per the 2018 IRC, exterior footings MUST extend a minimum of how many inches below the undisturbed ground surface?

A.6 inches

B.12 inches

C.18 inches

D.24 inches

Explanation: IRC Section R403.1.4 requires exterior footings to extend at least 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. Footings must also extend to the frost line or be frost-protected unless an exception applies.

3Under the 2018 IRC, what is the MINIMUM width and thickness for a concrete spread footing supporting a residential bearing wall?

A.10 inches wide, 6 inches thick

B.12 inches wide, 6 inches thick

C.12 inches wide, 8 inches thick

D.16 inches wide, 8 inches thick

Explanation: IRC Table R403.1(1) establishes an absolute minimum footing size of 12 inches wide and 6 inches thick for concrete spread footings, regardless of the tabulated values. Wider footings may be required based on soil bearing capacity, building width, and number of stories.

4A continuous strip footing is 18 inches wide, 8 inches thick, and 50 feet long. Approximately how many cubic yards of concrete are required?

A.0.9

B.1.9

C.3.7

D.5.6

Explanation: Convert dimensions to feet: 18 in = 1.5 ft, 8 in = 0.667 ft. Volume = 1.5 x 0.667 x 50 = 50.0 cubic feet. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards: 50.0 / 27 = 1.85, approximately 1.9 cubic yards.

5Per the 2018 IRC, the ground surface immediately adjacent to the foundation MUST be sloped away from the building a minimum of how much within the first 10 feet?

A.3 inches

B.6 inches

C.9 inches

D.12 inches

Explanation: IRC Section R401.3 requires that the ground surface be sloped a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet measured horizontally from the foundation wall. This corresponds to a 5 percent slope and directs surface water away from the foundation.

6What is the minimum footing depth required by the Georgia State Amendments to the 2018 IRC for areas of the state with no defined frost line?

A.6 inches

B.12 inches

C.24 inches

D.36 inches

Explanation: Georgia has no statewide defined frost depth, and the Georgia amendments to the 2018 IRC Section R403.1.4 establish a minimum foundation depth of 12 inches. Local jurisdictions may require deeper footings if local conditions warrant, but 12 inches is the statewide minimum.

7According to the presumptive soil bearing values in the 2018 IRC, what is the load-bearing value for clay, sandy clay, silty clay, or clayey silt?

A.1,000 psf

B.1,500 psf

C.2,000 psf

D.3,000 psf

Explanation: IRC Table R401.4.1 assigns a presumptive load-bearing value of 1,500 psf for clay, sandy clay, silty clay, and clayey silt soils. This is the lowest common category and may require wider footings than better-draining soils.

8Using IRC Table R403.1(1), what is the minimum footing width for a conventional light-frame two-story dwelling with 4-inch brick veneer on soil with a 1,500 psf load-bearing value?

A.12 inches

B.15 inches

C.19 inches

D.23 inches

Explanation: Per IRC Table R403.1(1), a two-story conventional light-frame dwelling with brick veneer on 1,500 psf soil requires a minimum footing width of 19 inches. The table accounts for the additional weight of the brick veneer and the lower bearing capacity of the soil.

9A house perimeter footing is 12 inches wide, 6 inches thick, and runs 80 linear feet around the building. Approximately how many cubic yards of concrete are needed for this footing?

A.1.5

B.2.0

C.3.0

D.6.0

Explanation: Convert dimensions to feet: 12 in = 1.0 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft. Volume = 1.0 x 0.5 x 80 = 40 cubic feet. Divide by 27: 40 / 27 = 1.48, approximately 1.5 cubic yards.

10Per the 2018 IRC, a foundation drainage system is required for which type of foundation condition?

A.All foundations without exception

B.Foundations where the basement or crawl space floor is below the level of the surrounding ground water table

C.Slab-on-grade foundations only

D.Foundations in seismic design categories C and higher

Explanation: IRC Section R405.1 requires a foundation drain around the perimeter of foundations that enclose habitable space below the surrounding ground water table level. The drain must discharge by gravity or mechanical means to an approved location.

About the GA Residential Basic Exam

The Georgia Residential - Basic Contractor Exam is the trade examination required for licensure as a Residential - Basic Contractor (Individual or Qualifying Agent). It is an 80-question, 200-minute, open-book, four-option multiple-choice exam administered by PSI. The same exam and fee apply to both the Individual and the Qualifying Agent registration. The licence covers detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three stories, plus their accessory buildings, with no project size limit. Content covers sitework and foundations, concrete and reinforcement, masonry, carpentry, roofing, general code and construction knowledge, associated trades, and OSHA safety.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

200 minutes

Passing Score

70% (56 correct)

Exam Fee

$72 (PSI Services LLC for the Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors)

GA Residential Basic Exam Content Outline

10%

Sitework, Footings and Foundation

Site layout, excavation, footing and foundation construction for residential buildings

10%

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement

Concrete placement, reinforcement, formwork, and quality concrete construction

Masonry

Brick, block, and stone masonry construction and veneer requirements

20%

Carpentry

Floor, wall, and roof framing; wood trusses (BCSI); stairs; finish carpentry

10%

Roofing

Roof framing, sheathing, coverings, flashing, and ventilation

23%

General Code and Construction Knowledge

IRC 2018, IECC 2015, and Georgia State Amendments application and plan reading

13%

Associated Trades

Pipe and excavation, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC coordination on residential projects

OSHA Safety

29 CFR 1926 jobsite safety, fall protection, PPE, and hazard communication

How to Pass the GA Residential Basic Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% (56 correct)
Exam length: 80 questions
Time limit: 200 minutes
Exam fee: $72

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

GA Residential Basic Study Tips from Top Performers

1Tab the 2018 IRC by chapter (foundations, framing, roof, egress, stairs) so you can find code provisions quickly under the 200-minute clock.

2Practice concrete yardage and carpentry board-footage calculations with your approved calculator.

3Learn BCSI truss handling, bracing, and erection rules — they are a distinct carpentry sub-topic.

4Memorize key OSHA 29 CFR 1926 figures: fall protection thresholds, ladder angles, and excavation sloping/shoring basics.

5Remember the edition pins: IRC 2018 and IECC 2015 only, plus Georgia State Amendments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Georgia Residential - Basic Contractor Exam?

The exam has 80 questions, and you must score at least 70% (56 correct) to pass. You have 200 minutes, and the PSI exam fee is $72.

Is the Residential - Basic exam open book?

Yes. It is open book. Approved references such as the 2018 IRC, OSHA 29 CFR 1926, the Feirer carpentry text, and the BCSI truss guide may be highlighted, underlined, and permanently tabbed, but not written in. A silent, nonprinting, non-programmable calculator is allowed.

Which code editions does the exam use?

Code questions are based only on the listed editions: the 2018 International Residential Code, the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926, and the Georgia State Amendments. Do not study the IRC 2021/2024 or IECC 2018/2021 for this exam.

What is the licence scope for a Residential - Basic Contractor?

It covers detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses not over three stories in height, plus their accessory buildings and structures, with no project size limit.

Do Individual and Qualifying Agent candidates take different exams?

No. The same $72 Residential - Basic Contractor Exam applies to both the Individual and the Qualifying Agent registration — one exam identity.