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100+ Free MS Solar Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: MS Solar Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

80 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI MS Contractor Bulletin 4/23/2026

200 minutes

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 Solar PSI trade exam: 80 questions, 70% pass, 200 minutes, fee $120. Open-book MSBOC classification (bulletin 4/23/2026).

Sample MS Solar Practice Questions

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

1For a typical residential solar swimming-pool heating system, which collector type is preferred and why?
A.Unglazed polymer collectors, because pool water is only a few degrees above ambient and unglazed collectors are efficient at low temperature rise
B.Evacuated-tube collectors, because pool water must routinely be heated above 160°F
C.Concentrating tracking collectors, because pool heating requires high-temperature steam
D.Photovoltaic modules, because they convert sunlight directly into heated pool water
Explanation: Solar pool heating is a low-temperature application. Unglazed polymer or rubber collectors operate efficiently when the collector fluid is near outdoor air temperature, which is how pool systems run. They cost less than glazed or evacuated-tube collectors and avoid the extra heat loss and stagnation risk of high-temperature hardware that is not needed for swimming-pool water.
2In a solar pool-heating loop that uses the existing filter pump, where should the solar collectors be piped relative to the filter?
A.On a dedicated raw-water suction line that bypasses the filter
B.Downstream of the filter so only filtered water enters the collectors
C.Between the skimmer and the pump strainer
D.On the pool-return line after the chlorinator, so sanitizer flows through the collectors first
Explanation: Collectors must receive filtered water. Debris, sand, and hair will plug small collector passages and headers. Standard FSEC practice is pump to filter to solar-valve/collectors to pool return. A chlorinator, if used, is placed after the collectors so concentrated sanitizer does not sit in the array.
3What is the preferred compass orientation for solar pool-heating collectors in Mississippi?
A.True north, to avoid summer overheating
B.True south, to maximize daily solar exposure
C.Due east only, to capture morning sun exclusively
D.Magnetic west only, because afternoon sun cannot be used for pool heating
Explanation: In the northern hemisphere, a true-south facing array receives the most daily irradiation. FSEC allows a fairly wide azimuth window, but south is the design target. West-facing arrays can still heat a pool in the afternoon if collector area is increased to make up for the lost morning sun.
4A rectangular pool measures 16 ft by 32 ft. Using the FSEC season-extension guideline of collector area equal to 50 percent of pool surface area, how much collector area is required?
A.128 square feet
B.256 square feet
C.384 square feet
D.512 square feet
Explanation: Pool surface area is 16 × 32 = 512 square feet. Fifty percent of 512 is 256 square feet of collector. That 50-percent ratio is the common FSEC starting point for extending the swimming season in a sunny climate. Year-round or cooler-climate heating uses a larger fraction, often 75 to 100 percent.
5An unglazed solar pool array has 400 square feet of collector. Using the FSEC/industry design flow of 0.10 gallons per minute per square foot, what collector-loop flow is required?
A.4.0 gpm
B.10 gpm
C.40 gpm
D.400 gpm
Explanation: Pool-collector flow is about 1 gpm per 10 square feet, or 0.10 gpm per square foot. 400 × 0.10 = 40 gpm. That relatively high flow keeps the temperature rise through the unglazed array small (typically a few degrees) so collector efficiency stays high.
6Which single measure most reduces the heating load of an outdoor swimming pool before solar collectors are sized?
A.Adding extra return fittings on the deep-end floor
B.Using a pool cover to cut evaporative heat loss
C.Painting the pool interior white to reflect sunlight out of the water
D.Running the filter pump 24 hours per day year-round
Explanation: Most outdoor-pool heat loss is evaporation from the water surface. A cover slashes evaporative and nighttime radiation losses and is the first conservation step in the FSEC manual. Smaller collectors and shorter pump run times then suffice. Interior color and extra fittings do not replace a cover.
7How does a differential temperature controller operate a solar pool-heating system?
A.It starts collector flow when the collector sensor is warmer than the pool sensor by the on-setpoint, and it stops flow when that difference falls to the off-setpoint
B.It runs the pump whenever the pool water is below 104°F, regardless of collector temperature
C.It opens the solar valve only at solar noon based on a time clock
D.It heats the pool whenever wind speed exceeds 10 mph
Explanation: A differential control compares a sensor on the collector (or collector outlet) with a sensor in the pool or filter-pump line. When the collector is warmer by the on-differential, the control powers a valve or booster pump so filtered water goes through the array. When the difference drops to the smaller off-differential, flow is bypassed so the pool is not cooled.
8Why is a check valve required in a solar pool-heating loop?
A.To increase filter backwash pressure
B.To prevent nighttime reverse thermosiphon that would cool the pool through the roof collectors
C.To add chlorine residual in the collectors
D.To raise the pool water to steam temperature
Explanation: After sunset the roof collectors become colder than the pool. Without a check valve, warm pool water can thermosiphon up to the roof, dump heat, and return colder. A check valve, or a positive-seating automatic valve, stops that reverse flow. It is a standard FSEC piping detail.
9What is the function of the automatic three-way diverting valve used on most residential solar pool systems?
A.It mixes city water into the pool to control TDS
B.It sends filtered water either through the collectors or straight back to the pool, based on the controller
C.It isolates the pump from the skimmer during vacuuming only
D.It is the pool’s main drain hydrostatic relief valve
Explanation: The motorized three-way valve sits after the filter. When the differential control calls for heat, the valve routes water up to the collectors and back to the pool. When solar is not useful, it bypasses the array so the filter circuit still returns water to the pool. Manual isolation valves are additional service valves, not the automatic diverting valve.
10Why is reverse-return (first-in, last-out) piping used on a bank of parallel solar pool collectors?
A.It lets one collector run at twice the design flow while others are starved
B.It equalizes path length so each collector receives approximately the same flow
C.It is required so collectors can be piped in series at pool-heating temperatures
D.It eliminates the need for a filter
Explanation: In reverse-return piping the first collector fed by the supply header is the last to discharge into the return header. Path lengths are nearly equal, so flow balances without a balancing valve on every panel. Direct-return headers send most of the water through the nearest collectors and starve the far end.

About the MS Solar Exam

Mississippi Solar 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 200 minutes 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

200 minutes

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

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

MS Solar Exam Content Outline

19%

Swimming Pools

Solar pool heating systems

31%

Domestic Hot Water

Solar domestic hot-water systems

50%

Photovoltaics

Photovoltaic system design and installation

How to Pass the MS Solar Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 80 questions
  • Time limit: 200 minutes
  • 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 Solar 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 Solar exam?

The official PSI examination has 80 scored questions (plus possible unscored experimental items). Passing is 70% within 200 minutes.

How much does the MS Solar 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.