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100+ Free MS Residential Construction Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Residential Construction Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

80 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

3 hours

Time Allowed

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

$120

PSI Exam Fee

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

Open book

Exam Format

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

MS Residential Construction PSI trade exam: 80 questions, 70% pass, 3 hours, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Residential Construction Practice Questions

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

1Under the 2021 IRC, what is the minimum surface grade fall required away from a dwelling foundation on an unobstructed lot?
A.6 inches within the first 10 feet
B.2 inches within the first 10 feet
C.12 inches within the first 5 feet
D.4 inches within the first 8 feet
Explanation: IRC R401.3 requires lots to be graded so surface water drains away from foundation walls, with the grade falling a minimum of 6 inches within the first 10 feet. That 5 percent slope keeps stormwater from saturating the backfill and entering the crawl space or basement. Where lot lines or other barriers prevent a 10-foot run, the code allows approved drains or swales instead.
2A Jackson crew is setting exterior continuous footings for a two-story house on undisturbed soil. What is the 2021 IRC minimum depth from the bottom of those exterior footings to the undisturbed ground surface, before any deeper frost or engineered requirement is applied?
A.6 inches
B.12 inches
C.18 inches
D.24 inches
Explanation: IRC R403.1.4 requires exterior footings to be placed not less than 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. That 12-inch floor applies even in a warm climate such as Mississippi, where the local frost line is often shallow. If the tabulated frost depth or an engineered design is deeper, the greater depth controls.
3A continuous spread footing is 108 feet long, 18 inches wide, and 8 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required, with no waste allowance?
A.2.7 cubic yards
B.3.3 cubic yards
C.4.0 cubic yards
D.5.4 cubic yards
Explanation: Convert width and thickness to feet, then divide cubic feet by 27. Volume = 108 ft × (18/12) ft × (8/12) ft = 108 × 1.5 × 0.667 = 108 cubic feet. 108 ÷ 27 = 4.0 cubic yards. Ordering would add waste, but the neat quantity is exactly 4.0 cubic yards.
4What are the 2021 IRC absolute minimum width and thickness for a residential concrete footing, regardless of the lighter values a rule of thumb might suggest?
A.8 inches wide and 4 inches thick
B.10 inches wide and 8 inches thick
C.16 inches wide and 8 inches thick
D.12 inches wide and 6 inches thick
Explanation: IRC R403.1.1 sizes footings from Tables R403.1(1) through R403.1(3), but the width shall be not less than 12 inches and the thickness not less than 6 inches. Those floors exist even on strong soil with a narrow light-frame wall. Heavier veneer, more stories, or weaker soil increase the required width from the tables.
5A formed 8-inch concrete foundation wall will bear on a spread footing. Under IRC R403.1.1, what is the minimum each-side projection of that footing beyond the wall, and what limits the maximum projection?
A.Minimum 1 inch; maximum equal to the wall thickness
B.Minimum 2 inches; maximum equal to the footing thickness
C.Minimum 4 inches; maximum equal to twice the wall thickness
D.Minimum 3 inches; no maximum projection
Explanation: R403.1.1 requires the footing projection P to be not less than 2 inches and not more than the thickness of the footing. The 2-inch minimum keeps the wall from sitting on the broken edge of the pour. Capping the projection at the footing thickness keeps the cantilever from cracking the unreinforced concrete.
6According to IRC R403.1.6, what is the standard minimum foundation anchor-bolt size, maximum spacing, and minimum embedment into concrete for wood sill plates?
A.1/2-inch-diameter bolts at 6 feet on center, embedded 7 inches
B.3/8-inch-diameter bolts at 8 feet on center, embedded 4 inches
C.5/8-inch-diameter bolts at 4 feet on center, embedded 12 inches
D.1/2-inch-diameter bolts at 10 feet on center, embedded 5 inches
Explanation: R403.1.6 requires wood sill and sole plates to be anchored with steel bolts at least 1/2 inch in diameter, spaced a maximum of 6 feet on center, and extending at least 7 inches into concrete or grouted masonry cells. A nut and washer must be tightened on each bolt. Approved straps that provide equivalent capacity may replace bolts.
7A 16-foot mudsill section is being set on a stem wall. Besides meeting the 6-foot maximum spacing, what additional R403.1.6 placement rules apply to that plate section?
A.One bolt anywhere in the plate is enough if a strap is used at midspan
B.Bolts may be omitted within 24 inches of a corner if the plate is nailed to the adjacent wall
C.At least two bolts per plate section, with one not more than 12 inches and not closer than seven bolt diameters from each end
D.Bolts must be placed in the outer third of the plate width and within 2 inches of each end
Explanation: R403.1.6 requires a minimum of two bolts per plate section. One bolt must be located not more than 12 inches from each end and not closer than seven bolt diameters to the end, so a 1/2-inch bolt stays at least 3-1/2 inches from the cut. That end-distance rule keeps the plate from splitting and keeps the last stud bay tied down.
8When is a foundation drainage system required around a concrete or masonry foundation under IRC R405.1?
A.Around every exterior footing, including slab-on-grade garage walls
B.Around concrete or masonry foundations that retain earth and enclose habitable or usable space located below grade
C.Only when the finished basement will contain a bathroom
D.Only in Climate Zones 6 through 8
Explanation: R405.1 requires drains around concrete or masonry foundations that retain earth and enclose habitable or usable spaces located below grade. Drainage tile, gravel drains, perforated pipe, or another approved system must discharge to a sump or gravity outlet. Well-drained soils classified as Group 1 in Table R405.1 can use an exception.
9A Hattiesburg basement wall retains earth and encloses finished space. The geotechnical report shows a high water table. Which 2021 IRC moisture-protection method is required on that wall?
A.A coat of fibered asphalt dampproofing from grade down 12 inches only
B.No coating if 6-mil polyethylene is placed under the basement slab
C.A spray-applied vapor retarder on the interior studs only
D.Waterproofing from the top of the footing to the finished grade
Explanation: R406.1 requires dampproofing on below-grade walls that retain earth and enclose interior space. R406.2 upgrades that to waterproofing where a high water table or other severe soil-water conditions exist. Waterproofing must extend from the top of the footing to the finished grade and be a membrane or coating listed for hydrostatic conditions.
10Presumptive load-bearing values in IRC Table R401.4.1 assign 1,500 pounds per square foot to clay and 3,000 pounds per square foot to sandy gravel. For the same house load, how should the continuous footing width change if the soil is clay rather than sandy gravel?
A.The clay footing must be about twice as wide because bearing pressure is half as large
B.The clay footing may be half as wide because clay is more cohesive
C.Footing width is independent of soil type once the 12-inch minimum is met
D.Clay requires a thicker footing but the same width as sandy gravel
Explanation: Required footing area equals the service load divided by allowable soil pressure. Halving the allowable pressure from 3,000 psf to 1,500 psf doubles the required area, so a continuous footing must be about twice as wide for the same load. Table R403.1 already builds that relationship into the tabulated widths. A geotechnical report may replace the presumptive values.

About the MS Residential Construction Exam

Mississippi Residential Builder Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The official open-book exam has 80 questions, a 70% passing standard, and 3 hours allowed. PSI examination fee is $120 per portion (bulletin updated 4/23/2026). This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid for the official content outline; it is not an official PSI form, does not replace the required Law and Business Management exam, and is not a substitute for MSBOC application review or the official open-book examination.

Questions

80 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

$120 (PSI Services LLC (for Mississippi State Board of Contractors))

MS Residential Construction Exam Content Outline

16%

Site work, Footings and Foundations

Site work, footings, and foundations

10%

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement

Residential concrete

5%

Masonry

Residential masonry

19%

Carpentry

Residential framing and carpentry

8%

Associated Trades and Drywall

Associated trades and drywall

9%

Roofing

Residential roofing

23%

Estimating, Plan Reading and General Code Requirements

IRC, plans, and estimating

6%

OSHA Safety

Residential construction safety

5%

Licensing

Residential licensing rules

How to Pass the MS Residential Construction Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 80 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: $120

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

MS Residential Construction Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study only the approved references listed for this classification in the current PSI Mississippi Contractor bulletin (updated 4/23/2026)
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
4Confirm MSBOC classification scope and eligibility at msboc.us before scheduling with PSI
5All applicants must also pass Law and Business Management unless it is waived

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the MS Residential Construction exam?

The official PSI examination has 80 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 3 hours.

How much does the MS Residential Construction exam cost?

PSI lists $120 per examination portion (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 4/23/2026). MSBOC application fees are separate: $400 commercial or $50 residential. Additional classifications are $100 each.

Is the Mississippi contractor exam open book?

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

Do I still need the Law and Business Management exam?

Yes. MSBOC requires the Mississippi Law and Business Management exam (50 questions, 70%, 2 hours) of all applicants. Reciprocity may waive a trade exam in some cases but does not waive Law and Business.