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100+ Free MS Heavy Construction Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Heavy Construction Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

100 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

4 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 Heavy Construction PSI trade exam: 100 questions, 70% pass, 4 hours, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Heavy Construction Practice Questions

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

1On a buried ductile-iron water main in corrosive soil, DIPRA's generally recommended external corrosion-control method is:
A.Polyethylene encasement installed in accordance with ANSI/AWWA C105/A21.5
B.A full-length reinforced-concrete encasement of every pipe length
C.Leaving the asphaltic shop coating as the only protection, with no additional wrap
D.Wrapping only the bells with electrical tape after the trench is backfilled
Explanation: DIPRA recommends polyethylene encasement (ANSI/AWWA C105/A21.5) as the standard external corrosion-control method for ductile-iron pipe in aggressive soils. The film isolates the pipe from the surrounding soil. It is not a structural encasement and is not a substitute for proper bedding, jointing, or thrust restraint.
2A water-main trench is 280 feet long, 3.5 feet wide, and 6 feet deep with vertical sides. The excavated volume is closest to:
A.373 cubic yards
B.218 cubic yards
C.653 cubic yards
D.5,880 cubic yards
Explanation: Volume in cubic yards equals length times width times depth, divided by 27. 280 × 3.5 × 6 = 5,880 cubic feet. 5,880 ÷ 27 = 217.8, which rounds to 218 cubic yards. Convert cubic feet to cubic yards before reporting pay or haul quantities.
3Unbalanced hydrostatic thrust at a ductile-iron bend, tee, or dead end is typically resisted by:
A.Increasing only the pipe pressure class
B.Polyethylene encasement around the fitting
C.Thrust blocking, restrained joints, or a designed combination of both
D.An air-release valve on the fitting
Explanation: Pressure thrust at direction changes and dead ends must be transferred into the soil or adjacent restrained pipe. DIPRA thrust-restraint design uses concrete thrust blocks, restrained joints, or both. Pressure class and corrosion wrap do not replace that restraint.
4Under DIPRA laying conditions, a Type 4 installation generally means the pipe is:
A.Laid directly on the undisturbed trench bottom with no bedding stone
B.Fully encased in reinforced concrete for its entire length
C.Supported only at the bells on timber blocks
D.Bedded in sand, gravel, or crushed stone to a depth of one-eighth the pipe diameter (4-inch minimum), with backfill compacted to the top of the pipe
Explanation: DIPRA Type 4 is a granular bedding condition: stone or sand to at least one-eighth of the diameter, with a 4-inch minimum, and compacted backfill to the top of the pipe (about 80 percent standard Proctor). The bedding must support the barrel, not just the bells. Type 5 is a still more complete granular embedment.
5After a reinforced-concrete pipe or box culvert with lifting holes is set to line and grade, the lifting holes should be:
A.Plugged and sealed according to the manufacturer before backfill
B.Left open so groundwater can drain from the barrel
C.Used as grout ports for the entire remaining run
D.Covered only with a piece of polyethylene film
Explanation: ACPA installation practice requires lift holes to be plugged and waterproofed after the section is placed. Open holes leak, allow infiltration, and can compromise the structure. Follow the manufacturer's plug and seal details before backfilling.
6A new 12-inch ductile-iron water main has a 100 psi working pressure. Under ANSI/AWWA C600, the hydrostatic test pressure at the lowest point of the test section should be not less than:
A.100 psi, equal to the working pressure
B.110 psi, a 10 percent overpressure
C.150 psi, 1.5 times the working pressure
D.350 psi, the lowest common ductile-iron pressure class
Explanation: AWWA C600 requires a hydrostatic test of not less than 1.5 times working pressure at the lowest point of testing and not less than 1.25 times working pressure at the highest point of the test section. For 100 psi working pressure that is 150 psi at the low point. DIPRA warns against testing to 1.5 times the pipe pressure class, which would be far above needed thrust-restraint design.
7When bedding concrete or ductile-iron pipe, the haunch zone is critical because:
A.Haunch material is only a cosmetic fill and may be left loose
B.Loose or uncompacted haunch material leaves the pipe poorly supported and can cause settlement or cracking
C.Haunching must be lean concrete on every water and sewer job
D.Haunching may be omitted whenever a rubber gasket is used
Explanation: The haunches are the areas under the pipe from the bedding up toward the springline. If that material is dumped and left loose, the pipe is supported only at the invert and can deflect, settle, or crack. Compact specified haunch material in lifts so the barrel has uniform side support before placing the remaining cover.
8A sewer trench is 360 feet long, 30 inches wide, and 8 feet deep with vertical sides. The excavated volume is closest to:
A.96 cubic yards
B.800 cubic yards
C.7,200 cubic yards
D.267 cubic yards
Explanation: Convert 30 inches to 2.5 feet, then compute 360 × 2.5 × 8 = 7,200 cubic feet. 7,200 ÷ 27 = 266.7, which is about 267 cubic yards. Forgetting the inch-to-foot conversion or skipping the divide-by-27 step produces the common wrong answers.
9Bell holes are excavated in the trench bottom so that:
A.The pipe barrel, not only the bell, bears uniformly on the bedding
B.Workers have a standing sump for groundwater
C.The bell can be saw-cut off after the joint is made
D.The next pipe can be rolled in on its bell
Explanation: A projecting bell sitting on the bedding lifts the barrel off the foundation and creates point support. Bell holes let the joint assemble while the barrel rests continuously on prepared bedding. They are not drainage sumps or demolition pockets.
10Immediately before homing a gasketed concrete or ductile-iron pipe joint, the crew should:
A.Pack the joint with oakum and hot pour only
B.Weld a backup ring across the joint gap
C.Clean the bell and spigot and apply the specified joint lubricant where required
D.Leave mud on the gasket so it will stick
Explanation: Gasketed joints seal only if the surfaces are clean and the gasket is correctly seated. Specified lubricant (when required) lets the spigot enter without rolling or pinching the gasket. Dirt, mud, or improvised packing causes leaks and damaged gaskets.

About the MS Heavy Construction Exam

Mississippi Heavy Construction Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The official open-book exam has 100 questions, a 70% passing standard, and 4 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

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

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

MS Heavy Construction Exam Content Outline

16%

Water and Sewer

Water and sewer pipeline construction

8%

Gas

Gas pipeline construction

12%

Paving

Paving and plant-mix work

12%

Excavation, Compaction and Grading

Earthwork, compaction, and grading

7%

Safety

Heavy construction safety

12%

Steel

Structural steel in heavy construction

4%

Piles

Piles and deep foundations

17%

Concrete

Concrete for heavy construction

3%

Traffic Control

Work-zone traffic control

6%

Welding

Field welding

3%

MS One-Call

MS 811 one-call

How to Pass the MS Heavy Construction Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 4 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 Heavy 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 Heavy Construction exam?

The official PSI examination has 100 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 4 hours.

How much does the MS Heavy 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.