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100+ Free MS Highway Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Highway Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

60 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 Highway PSI trade exam: 60 questions, 70% pass, 2 hours, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Highway Practice Questions

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

1Using a common dense-graded hot-mix asphalt (HMA) unit weight of 145 lb/ft³, about how many tons are in one compacted cubic yard?
A.1.0 ton
B.1.5 tons
C.2.0 tons
D.2.5 tons
Explanation: One cubic yard is 27 ft³. At 145 lb/ft³ the yard weighs 145 × 27 = 3,915 lb, which is 3,915 ÷ 2,000 ≈ 1.96 tons, rounded to about 2.0 tons per compacted cubic yard. Highway estimators use this figure for quick HMA quantity checks before applying waste and yield factors.
2How many square yards of pavement surface are in one 12-foot-wide lane that is 1 mile long?
A.1,760 SY
B.5,280 SY
C.7,040 SY
D.63,360 SY
Explanation: One mile is 5,280 feet, so the lane area is 12 × 5,280 = 63,360 ft². Divide by 9 to convert to square yards: 63,360 ÷ 9 = 7,040 SY. That 12-foot lane-mile area is the starting number for HMA tonnage and concrete-pavement cubic-yard takeoffs.
3A 12-foot lane, 1 mile long, will receive 2 inches of compacted HMA. Using 110 lb per square yard per inch of thickness, how many tons are required (neat line, no waste)?
A.387 tons
B.774 tons
C.1,548 tons
D.3,520 tons
Explanation: Area = 12 × 5,280 ÷ 9 = 7,040 SY. Tonnage = 7,040 SY × 2 in × 110 lb/SY/in ÷ 2,000 lb/ton = 774.4 tons, about 774 tons. The 110 lb/SY/in rule is the field shortcut that matches roughly 145–147 lb/ft³ dense HMA.
4What is the primary purpose of a tack coat before placing a new HMA lift on an existing asphalt or concrete surface?
A.To waterproof the embankment subgrade
B.To bond the new lift to the existing surface so the layers act together
C.To replace rolling and density control on the new mat
D.To cool the existing pavement before the paver arrives
Explanation: Tack coat, usually a diluted asphalt emulsion, is applied to a clean existing surface so the new lift adheres and the pavement acts as a single structure. Without bond, the overlay can shove, slip, or delaminate under traffic. The Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook treats tack as surface preparation, not as a substitute for compaction.
5On an MDOT-type highway job, when is a prime coat used instead of a tack coat?
A.On a clean, existing asphalt or concrete pavement immediately before an overlay
B.On an untreated aggregate base or granular surface to bind fines and promote bond of the first asphalt course
C.On the finished HMA surface as a substitute for a fog seal after traffic is on the road
D.Only on airport runways, never on public highways
Explanation: Prime coat is an asphalt application on an unbound aggregate base or similar granular surface. It binds loose fines, reduces dust, and helps the first HMA course stick. Tack coat is used between paved surfaces. Mixing up prime and tack is a common open-book miss because both are asphalt applications, but they go on different surfaces.
6For dense-graded HMA, what is the usual minimum compacted lift thickness relative to the mix's nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS)?
A.Equal to the NMAS
B.At least twice the NMAS
C.At least three times the NMAS
D.At least ten times the NMAS
Explanation: Industry guidance, including the Asphalt Institute and the Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook approach, is a minimum compacted lift of about three times the NMAS so particles can reorient during rolling. A 12.5 mm (1/2 inch) NMAS mix therefore wants at least about 1-1/2 inches compacted. Thinner lifts trap stone-on-stone interference, leave high air voids, and are hard to densify.
7For most dense-graded HMA mixes, when should breakdown and intermediate rolling generally be finished relative to mat temperature?
A.After the mat has cooled below 100°F so the rollers will not leave marks
B.While the mat is still hot and workable, typically before it cools to about 175°F
C.Only after a 24-hour cure, the same as Portland cement concrete
D.Only when the plant mixing temperature exceeds 400°F
Explanation: HMA densifies while the binder is still fluid enough for aggregate to move. A widely used rule is to reach the specified density before the mat cools to about 175°F to 176°F. Extra passes after the mix has stiffened do little good and can fracture aggregate. Thin lifts, wind, and a cold base shrink that window to a few minutes.
8In a conventional HMA rolling train, what is the usual sequence of roller functions?
A.Finish roller, then breakdown roller, then pneumatic intermediate roller
B.Breakdown roller immediately behind the paver, then intermediate roller, then finish roller
C.Only a pneumatic roller, because steel wheels are not used on HMA
D.Vibratory rolling only after the mat has cooled below 150°F
Explanation: Breakdown rolling starts at the paver while the mix is hottest and does most of the densification. An intermediate roller, often pneumatic, kneads the mat and continues density. A finish roller, usually a static steel-wheel, removes marks and seats the surface. The Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Handbook organizes compaction around that three-stage train.
9When paving the hot lane against a previously placed cold HMA lane, how should the longitudinal joint generally be constructed and compacted?
A.Leave a 6-inch open gap so rainwater can drain through the joint
B.Overlap the cold edge slightly, match the joint, and compact from the hot side so the joint is pinched and densified
C.Always roll only from the cold lane so the new mix is not displaced
D.Omit tack at the joint face so the two lanes can move independently
Explanation: A confined, well-matched longitudinal joint is one of the weakest lines in an asphalt pavement if it is left low or lean. Best practice is a slight overlap onto the cold lane, a clean vertical or milled face, tack on the joint face, and rolling that pinches the hot mix against the cold edge. That raises joint density and reduces raveling.
10How should a transverse (header) joint in HMA generally be prepared before the next paving pull?
A.Leave the feathered overnight edge in place and pave over it without cutting
B.Cut back to a full-depth, near-vertical face, tack the face, and match grade before rolling across the joint
C.Flood the joint with water so the new mix will cool faster
D.Place a paper bond-breaker so the new mat never touches the old mat
Explanation: The overnight or end-of-run edge is usually thin and poorly compacted. Cutting it back to a full-depth vertical face, tacking that face, and matching the paver to the old grade produces a tight joint. The first roller passes are often made transversely to seat the joint, then the rolling pattern returns to the longitudinal train.

About the MS Highway Exam

Mississippi Highway Contractor Examination is a classification trade examination administered by PSI for the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. The official open-book exam has 60 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

60 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

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

MS Highway Exam Content Outline

32%

Paving-Asphalt

Asphalt paving and rehabilitation

5%

Piles

Piles and foundations

18%

Excavation and Grading

Highway excavation and grading

12%

Concrete Paving

Concrete pavement

8%

Safety

Highway construction safety

5%

MS One-Call

MS 811 one-call

3%

Traffic Control

Work-zone traffic control

8%

Concrete

Structural concrete

8%

Metals

Structural metals and bridges

How to Pass the MS Highway Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 60 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 Highway 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 Highway exam?

The official PSI examination has 60 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 2 hours.

How much does the MS Highway 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.