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100+ Free MS Structural Steel Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

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

Sample MS Structural Steel Practice Questions

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

1In structural concrete work, post-tensioning is the method of prestressing in which the tendons are tensioned:
A.After the concrete has hardened to the specified stressing strength
B.Before any concrete is placed around the strand
C.Only while the concrete is still plastic
D.By welding the strand to the reinforcing cage before the pour
Explanation: PTI Level 1 Field Fundamentals defines post-tensioning as prestressing applied after the concrete has hardened. The strand is installed in the forms, concrete is placed, and the tendon is jacked only after the concrete reaches the stressing strength shown on the approved drawings. Pretensioning, by contrast, stresses the strand before concrete is cast.
2An unbonded monostrand tendon is protected along its length primarily by:
A.A grouted metal duct that bonds the strand to the concrete
B.A factory-applied corrosion-inhibiting coating and extruded plastic sheathing
C.A field-applied epoxy coating after stressing
D.Concrete cover alone, with bare strand laid on chairs
Explanation: Unbonded monostrand is ASTM A416 seven-wire strand that is greased (or otherwise coated) and sheathed in plastic at the plant so the strand can move inside the sheath during stressing. The coating and sheathing are the corrosion barrier along the length. Bonded systems use ducts that are grouted after stressing.
3The guaranteed ultimate tensile strength (GUTS) of a standard 0.5-inch Grade 270 seven-wire prestressing strand is:
A.27.0 kips
B.33.0 kips
C.41.3 kips
D.58.6 kips
Explanation: Grade 270 strand has a specified tensile strength of 270 ksi. Nominal area of 0.5-inch strand is 0.153 square inches, so GUTS is 270 × 0.153 = 41.3 kips. The 33.0-kip figure is 80 percent of GUTS (the usual maximum jacking force), and 58.6 kips is GUTS for 0.6-inch strand.
4Unless the approved drawings state otherwise, the maximum jacking force used to stress a 0.5-inch Grade 270 monostrand is:
A.33.0 kips (80 percent of GUTS)
B.20.7 kips (50 percent of GUTS)
C.41.3 kips (100 percent of GUTS)
D.58.6 kips (the 0.6-inch GUTS value)
Explanation: ACI 318 and PTI field practice limit the jacking force to 80 percent of the specified tensile strength of the prestressing steel. For 0.5-inch Grade 270 strand that is 0.80 × 41.3 = 33.0 kips. Jacking to GUTS would break or yield the strand; using the 0.6-inch value on 0.5-inch strand is unsafe.
5During monostrand stressing, the safest place for personnel relative to the hydraulic jack is:
A.Directly behind the ram so the gauge can be read from the strand axis
B.On the dead-end anchorage, sitting on the pocket former
C.Between the live-end and dead-end anchors, straddling the tendon
D.To the side of the jack, never in line with the tendon or ram
Explanation: PTI field safety requires that no one stand behind or in line with a stressing jack. If a wedge, coupler, or strand fails, the ram and debris eject along the tendon axis. Workers stay to the side, keep the area clear, and use calibrated equipment.
6A pocket former is installed at a stressing (live) end primarily to:
A.Increase the strand's GUTS by providing extra cover
B.Create a recess so the jack can seat on the anchor after the pour
C.Bond the strand to the concrete at the live end
D.Replace the wedges after stressing
Explanation: The pocket former is a temporary plastic insert that leaves a recess in the hardened concrete around the stressing anchor. After the pour, the former is removed so the ram can bear on the anchor and the wedges can be seated. The pocket is later grouted or sealed to protect the anchorage.
7An encapsulated unbonded tendon system is specified mainly to:
A.Allow the strand to be welded to the rebar cage
B.Reduce the required jacking force below 50 percent of GUTS
C.Provide a watertight corrosion barrier at anchors, sheathing, and intermediate points
D.Eliminate the need to record elongations
Explanation: PTI encapsulated systems use watertight connections among sheathing, sleeves, intermediate anchors, and sealed end caps so moisture and chlorides cannot reach the strand. Encapsulation is required or recommended for aggressive environments and for many ACI 318 building applications. It does not change jacking force or eliminate stressing records.
8If the plastic sheathing on an unbonded tendon is torn during placing, the installer should:
A.Repair the sheathing with approved tape or a sleeve before concrete is placed
B.Leave the tear; grease on the strand is sufficient protection
C.Cut the tendon out and replace it only after the slab is stressed
D.Fill the tear with concrete so the strand becomes bonded
Explanation: PTI field practice requires damaged sheathing to be repaired before the pour so the corrosion barrier and unbonded behavior are restored. Approved repair tape or a split sleeve, installed per the manufacturer's instructions, is the standard fix. Unrepaired tears let moisture in and can locally bond the strand.
9A 50-foot 0.5-inch Grade 270 monostrand is jacked to 33.0 kips. Using A = 0.153 in² and E = 28,500 ksi, the theoretical elongation Δ = PL/AE is nearest to:
A.2.3 inches
B.4.5 inches
C.6.8 inches
D.9.1 inches
Explanation: Convert length to inches: L = 50 × 12 = 600 in. Then Δ = (33.0 × 600) / (0.153 × 28,500) = 19,800 / 4,360.5 = 4.54 inches, nearest 4.5 inches. This is the PTI elongation principle used to check field measurements against the approved drawing.
10Monostrand tendons may be stressed only after:
A.The forms have been oiled, regardless of concrete age
B.The first finishing pass is complete on the slab surface
C.The pocket formers have been installed, even if the concrete is still plastic
D.The concrete has reached the stressing strength shown on the approved drawings
Explanation: PTI Field Fundamentals and the approved installation drawings set a minimum concrete strength at stressing so the anchors do not crush or split the concrete. Typical values are a stated psi (often around 3,000 psi) or a percentage of f'c, but the controlling number is whatever the engineer put on the drawings. Stressing too early is a structural and safety failure.

About the MS Structural Steel Exam

Mississippi Structural Steel 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 Structural Steel Exam Content Outline

17%

Post-tensioning

Unbonded post-tensioning

17%

Reinforcing Steel

Rebar placement

10%

Safety - OSHA Subpart R

Steel-erection safety

12%

Safety - General

General construction safety

12%

Steel Decks

Steel deck installation

33%

Steel Joists and Girders

Joist and girder erection

How to Pass the MS Structural Steel 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 Structural Steel 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 Structural Steel 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 Structural Steel 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.