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100+ Free MS Excavation Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Excavation Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

40 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

2 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 Excavation PSI trade exam: 40 questions, 70% pass, 2 hours, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Excavation Practice Questions

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

1Before beginning a planned excavation in Mississippi, whom must the excavator notify so operators can mark underground facilities?
A.The county planning office only
B.Mississippi 811, Inc. (MS811)
C.The Mississippi Department of Transportation locate desk
D.The local fire department non-emergency line
Explanation: Mississippi Code Chapter 13 requires the excavator to give advance notice to Mississippi 811, Inc., so a locate request ticket can be processed and operators notified to mark their underground facilities. MS811 is the statewide one-call center. It does not itself mark lines; member operators or their locators do the field marks.
2How can an excavator in Mississippi submit a locate request to the one-call center?
A.Only by certified mail to the Public Service Commission
B.Only in person at a county courthouse
C.By dialing 811 or 1-800-227-6477, or through the MS811 web portal
D.By calling 911 and asking dispatch to notify utilities
Explanation: MS811 accepts locate requests 24/7 by phone at 811 or the toll-free number 1-800-227-6477, and online through the MS811 web portal. The service is free to the excavator. Dial 811 only when you are physically in Mississippi so the call routes to the Mississippi center.
3Except for emergency, impending-emergency, and submerged excavation, how far in advance must a Mississippi excavator notify MS811 of a planned excavation?
A.Not less than 3 and not more than 10 working days
B.Not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours
C.Not less than 14 and not more than 30 calendar days
D.Any time on the same calendar day work begins
Explanation: Section 77-13-5 requires not less than three and not more than ten working days of advance written, electronic, or telephonic notice to Mississippi 811, Inc. A working day is a 24-hour period starting when the ticket is processed, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Notice given too early or too late is not valid under the statute.
4After you submit a locate request, what is MS811's role?
A.MS811 field crews mark every underground utility on the site
B.MS811 issues a digging permit that replaces operator marks
C.MS811 transmits the ticket to member operators, who mark or clear their facilities
D.MS811 surveys the excavation area with ground-penetrating radar
Explanation: MS811 is a notification center, not a locating contractor. It assigns a ticket number, identifies members whose service areas overlap the work, and transmits the request. Each operator or its contract locator marks facilities or reports through PRIS that there is no conflict.
5What does MS811 charge an excavator to submit a locate request?
A.A per-ticket fee based on excavation length
B.Nothing; the locate request service is free to the excavator
C.A deposit that is refunded after marks are placed
D.The same fee as the PSI contractor examination
Explanation: Submitting a locate request through MS811 is free to the excavator. Member utility operators fund the notification center. Cost is not a reason to skip the ticket.
6Under Mississippi excavation law, who must submit the MS811 locate request?
A.The property owner, even if a contractor will do all the digging
B.The person or company that will actually perform the excavation
C.The design engineer of record only
D.Any nearby resident who saw the equipment arrive
Explanation: Chapter 13 requires the excavator—the person who engages directly in excavation—to meet the notice requirements. MS811 guidance states that the actual person or company performing the excavation must submit the ticket so that party is covered and informed of the marks. A design information request is not a substitute for an excavation ticket.
7Before notifying MS811, how must an excavator generally identify the proposed work area?
A.Pre-mark the approximate boundary with white paint, flags, stakes, or electronic pre-marking
B.Paint the work area red so it matches electric-line marks
C.Set pink survey hubs only after the ticket expires
D.Outline the area with yellow paint reserved for gas lines
Explanation: Section 77-13-5 requires the excavator to pre-mark the approximate boundary of the proposed excavation with white paint, flags, stakes, or electronic pre-marking before giving notice. White is the APWA color for proposed excavation. Pre-marking is not required when the work is on property the excavator owns and the area can be clearly described on the ticket.
8Under the APWA Uniform Color Code used for Mississippi locate marks, what do red marks indicate?
A.Potable water lines
B.Sewers and drain lines
C.Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
D.Proposed excavation limits
Explanation: The APWA Uniform Color Code assigns red to electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables. Mississippi operators must mark to that color standard. Treat red marks as a high-energy hazard and use noninvasive methods inside the tolerance zone.
9Yellow APWA marks on a Mississippi excavation site identify which facilities?
A.Communication, alarm, or signal lines
B.Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous materials
C.Reclaimed water and irrigation slurry lines
D.Temporary survey control
Explanation: Yellow marks gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other gaseous materials. A strike can release flammable product. If excavation damages a line and hazardous, flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid escapes, call 911 first, then notify MS811 and the operator.
10Orange locate marks indicate which type of underground facility?
A.Communication, alarm, or signal lines, cables, or conduit
B.Electric power and street-lighting cables
C.Potable water mains
D.Sanitary and storm sewers
Explanation: Orange is the APWA color for communication, alarm, or signal lines, cables, or conduit, including fiber. Those facilities are often shallow and easily cut. Fiber and copper still require the same tolerance-zone care as other marked lines.

About the MS Excavation Exam

Mississippi Excavation and Grading Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The official open-book exam has 40 questions, a 70% passing standard, and 2 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

40 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

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

MS Excavation Exam Content Outline

38%

General Regulations and One Call

MS 811 and excavation regulations

50%

Excavating and Grading

Clearing, grading, excavating, and drainage

13%

Safety - Code of Federal Regulations

OSHA excavation safety

How to Pass the MS Excavation Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 40 questions
  • Time limit: 2 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 Excavation 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 Excavation exam?

The official PSI examination has 40 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 2 hours.

How much does the MS Excavation 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.