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Exam Review

Key Facts: NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing Exam

60 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

70%

Passing Score

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

2 hours

Time Allowed

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

USD 95

PSI Exam Fee (one portion)

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

Closed Book

Book Policy

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

Nevada A-12 Excavating, Grading, Trenching and Surfacing Contractor Examination is the official NSCB/PSI closed book exam: 60 questions, 70% (42 of 60 points), 2 hours, USD 95 (bulletin 291, updated 3/25/2026). Official delivery: English.

Sample NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A Nevada site requires removal of 800 bank cubic yards (BCY) of clay. If the clay has a swell factor of 25 percent, how many loose cubic yards (LCY) must be hauled?

A.1,200 loose cubic yards

B.1,000 loose cubic yards

C.800 loose cubic yards

D.640 loose cubic yards

Explanation: Loose volume equals bank volume multiplied by (1 + swell). 800 BCY × 1.25 = 1,000 LCY. Swell accounts for the extra void space created when undisturbed bank soil is excavated and loaded. Truck and cycle estimates must use loose measure, not bank measure.

2A structural pad needs 1,800 compacted cubic yards (CCY) of fill. The borrow soil shrinks 10 percent from bank to compacted measure. How many bank cubic yards (BCY) must be excavated?

A.1,620 bank cubic yards

B.1,980 bank cubic yards

C.2,000 bank cubic yards

D.1,800 bank cubic yards

Explanation: Bank volume needed is compacted volume divided by (1 − shrinkage). 1,800 ÷ 0.90 = 2,000 BCY. Compacted fill is denser than the undisturbed borrow, so more bank yardage must be dug than the finished pad volume. Adding 10 percent instead of dividing by 0.90 understates the borrow needed.

3An embankment requires 2,400 compacted cubic yards (CCY). Borrow shrinks 12 percent from bank to compacted measure and swells 20 percent from bank to loose measure. How many loose cubic yards must be hauled?

A.2,880 loose cubic yards

B.2,727 loose cubic yards

C.3,225 loose cubic yards

D.3,273 loose cubic yards

Explanation: First convert compacted volume to bank: BCY = 2,400 ÷ (1 − 0.12) = 2,400 ÷ 0.88 = 2,727.27 BCY. Then convert bank to loose: LCY = 2,727.27 × 1.20 = 3,273 LCY. Both shrinkage and swell must be applied, and they act on different volume states. Applying swell to compacted volume skips the denser compacted-to-bank step.

4On a grading plan, what does a cut indicate compared with a fill?

A.Cut is existing ground above finish grade that must be excavated; fill is existing ground below finish grade that must be built up

B.Cut is imported borrow only; fill is exported spoil only

C.Cut is always rock; fill is always topsoil

D.Cut and fill are identical terms for any earthmoving

Explanation: A cut is material that must be removed because existing ground is higher than the design finish grade. A fill is material that must be placed because existing ground is lower than finish grade. Balancing cut and fill on site reduces haul and borrow cost. The terms describe the relationship between existing and design surfaces, not the soil type.

5Using the average-end-area method, two cross sections 100 feet apart have end areas of 45 square feet and 63 square feet. What is the volume between the sections in cubic yards?

A.54 cubic yards

B.200 cubic yards

C.108 cubic yards

D.240 cubic yards

Explanation: Average-end-area volume is ((A1 + A2) ÷ 2) × length ÷ 27. ((45 + 63) ÷ 2) × 100 ÷ 27 = 54 × 100 ÷ 27 = 200 cubic yards. Dividing by 27 converts cubic feet to cubic yards. This method is the standard takeoff for cut and fill between successive stations.

6A finished driveway rises 6 feet over a horizontal distance of 200 feet. What is the percent grade?

A.2 percent

B.3 percent

C.6 percent

D.12 percent

Explanation: Percent grade equals (rise ÷ run) × 100. 6 ÷ 200 × 100 = 3 percent. Grade is the longitudinal slope along the alignment. Do not confuse it with cross slope, which is measured perpendicular to the centerline.

7In earthwork estimating, what do bank, loose, and compacted cubic yards measure?

A.Bank is truck volume, loose is stockpile volume, and compacted is rock only

B.All three terms mean the same volume and are interchangeable

C.Bank is after compaction, loose is in-place, and compacted is excavated

D.Bank is undisturbed in-place soil, loose is excavated/hauled soil, and compacted is soil after placement and compaction

Explanation: Bank cubic yards (BCY) measure soil in its natural, undisturbed state. Loose cubic yards (LCY) measure the same soil after excavation, when voids have increased the volume. Compacted cubic yards (CCY) measure the soil after it has been placed and densified in the fill. Using the wrong state of measure is a common estimating error.

8A 24-foot-wide paved lane is specified with a 2 percent cross slope. What is the elevation difference from crown (or high edge) to the low edge?

A.0.24 feet

B.0.48 feet

C.2.00 feet

D.4.80 feet

Explanation: Elevation change equals width times cross-slope decimal. 24 ft × 0.02 = 0.48 ft (about 5-3/4 inches). Cross slope drains water to the gutter or shoulder. Mixing percent with feet without converting to a decimal is a common layout error.

9A utility trench is 200 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 8 feet deep with vertical sides. What is the excavated volume in cubic yards?

A.178 cubic yards

B.237 cubic yards

C.256 cubic yards

D.640 cubic yards

Explanation: Volume = length × width × depth ÷ 27. 200 × 4 × 8 = 6,400 cubic feet. 6,400 ÷ 27 = 237 cubic yards. Vertical-wall trench takeoffs use the neat rectangle; sloped trenches add the wedge volume on each side. Leaving the result in cubic feet (6,400) is not a yardage answer.

10What is the difference between subgrade and finish grade on an excavating and surfacing project?

A.The two terms always mean the same elevation

B.Finish grade is only used for landscaping and never for paving

C.Subgrade is the prepared soil surface that will support pavement or base; finish grade is the final design surface elevation

D.Subgrade is the top of asphalt; finish grade is the bottom of the excavation

Explanation: Subgrade is the compacted native or fill surface on which aggregate base or pavement is placed. Finish grade is the completed design elevation of the pavement, sidewalk, or earth surface. Pavement and base thickness sit above subgrade, so the two elevations differ by the section thickness. Confusing them leads to over- or under-excavation.

About the NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing Exam

The Nevada A-12 Excavating, Grading, Trenching and Surfacing Contractor Examination is the official Nevada State Contractors Board trade or management examination administered by PSI Services LLC. The official exam has 60 scored questions. Passing is 70% (42 of 60 points) in 2 hours. The examination is closed book. PSI lists USD 95 for one examination portion and USD 140 if taken with CMS; otherwise USD 95 per trade exam (Candidate Information Bulletin updated 3/25/2026). NSCB requires a separate CMS examination for most new applicants, plus a USD 300 application fee and a USD 600 biennial license fee. This English-language MCQ bank is a study aid, not an official PSI form. It does not replace required trade experience, board approval, fingerprints, bonding, or the official examination.

Exam sponsor: PSI Services LLC (for the Nevada State Contractors Board). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Closed Book computer-based multiple-choice. See the current PSI Nevada contractor bulletin for allowed and closed-book references.

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70% (42 of 60 points)

Exam / Certification Fees

USD 95

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

PSI Services LLC (for the Nevada State Contractors Board): official exam information

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

30%

Earthwork Construction

Excavation, grading, and trenching (18 items)

20%

Tools and Equipment

Earthmoving tools and equipment (12 items)

33%

Paving and Surfacing Procedures

Surfacing and paving (20 items)

12%

Safety

OSHA excavation and paving safety (7 items)

5%

Nevada One-Call

Nevada One-Call / 811 (3 items)

Preparing for the NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% (42 of 60 points)
Assessment: Closed Book computer-based multiple-choice. See the current PSI Nevada contractor bulletin for allowed and closed-book references.
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam / certification fees: USD 95 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing: Suggested Study Strategy

1Distribute study time to the official bulletin 291 content outline (updated 3/25/2026)

2Use only the PSI-listed references; temporary tabs such as Post-it notes are prohibited

3Confirm NSCB experience documentation before scheduling with PSI

4This bank is an English-language MCQ study aid, not an official PSI form

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the Nevada A-12 Excavating, Grading, Trenching and Surfacing Contractor Examination?

The official PSI examination has 60 scored questions. Passing is 70% (42 of 60 points) within 2 hours (Candidate Information Bulletin 291, updated 3/25/2026).

How much does the NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing exam cost?

PSI lists USD 95 for one examination portion. Two portions cost USD 140 only if the second portion is CMS. NSCB charges a separate USD 300 application fee and USD 600 biennial license fee.

Is the NV A-12 Excavating and Surfacing exam open book?

No. PSI lists this examination as closed book. Study the bulletin reference list before the appointment; those books are not allowed in the center.

Do I still need the CMS examination?

CMS is the required Nevada business-and-law examination. Most new applicants must pass CMS and a trade examination for the requested classification. In most cases you will not retake an exam if you have actively served as a qualified employee in the same classification within the last four years.