PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

100+ Free NV B General Building Practice Questions

Prepare for the Nevada B General Building Contractor Examination exam with instant access — no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Nevada NSCB Contractor Examinations

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Nevada A General Engineering Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Nevada A-10 Commercial and Residential Pools Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Nevada A-10A Residential Pools Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Nevada A-10B Residential Spas Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Nevada A-10C Repair of Pools and Spas Contractor Examination

Practice Questions

Nevada A-10E Pool Alteration and Repair Contractor Examination

Practice Questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NV B General Building Exam

80 Q

Official Exam Questions

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

70%

Passing Score

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

3 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

Open Book

Book Policy

PSI Nevada Contractor CIB updated 3/25/2026

Nevada B General Building Contractor Examination is the official NSCB/PSI open book exam: 80 questions, 70% (56 of 80 points), 3 hours, USD 95 (bulletin 296, updated 3/25/2026). Official delivery: English.

Sample NV B General Building Practice Questions

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

1On a site grading plan, what does a contour line represent?
A.A line of equal elevation on the finished or existing ground surface
B.The legal property boundary
C.The centerline of a buried utility
D.The frost-depth line under footings
Explanation: Contour lines connect points of equal elevation. Closely spaced contours indicate a steep slope; widely spaced contours indicate a flatter grade. Building contractors use existing and proposed contours to plan cut, fill, and drainage away from the foundation.
2Per 2018 IBC 1804.4, the ground immediately adjacent to a foundation shall be sloped away from the building at not less than which slope for a minimum of 10 feet?
A.1 unit vertical in 48 units horizontal (about 2 percent)
B.1 unit vertical in 20 units horizontal (5 percent)
C.1 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (about 8 percent)
D.1 unit vertical in 8 units horizontal (12.5 percent)
Explanation: 2018 IBC 1804.4 requires a slope of not less than 1:20 (5 percent) for at least 10 feet measured perpendicular to the wall. That is 6 inches of fall in 10 feet and keeps stormwater from ponding against the foundation. Where 10 feet is not available, an approved drain or swale must still carry water away from the building.
3A rectangular pad 60 feet by 40 feet will be excavated an average of 3.0 feet. What is the excavation volume in cubic yards (bank measure, no swell)?
A.200 CY
B.240 CY
C.267 CY
D.7,200 CY
Explanation: Volume in cubic feet is 60 × 40 × 3.0 = 7,200 cf. Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards: 7,200 ÷ 27 = 266.7 CY, typically rounded to 267 CY. Always convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27.
4What is the primary purpose of a site benchmark on a building project?
A.To mark the public right-of-way line
B.To locate the construction entrance
C.To show where trees must be saved
D.To provide a fixed point of known elevation for all grade control
Explanation: A benchmark is a permanent or semi-permanent point of known elevation, usually tied to a vertical datum. Finish floor, footing bottoms, and site grades are all referenced from that point so elevations stay consistent across the job. Horizontal control uses separate monuments or baseline points.
5Per 2018 IBC 1809.4, exterior footings shall be placed not less than how far below the undisturbed ground surface?
A.12 inches
B.8 inches
C.6 inches
D.18 inches
Explanation: 2018 IBC 1809.4 requires exterior footings to extend at least 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. Section 1809.5 separately requires frost protection, so in cold Nevada climates the footing must also reach below the local frost line or use an approved frost-protected design. Disturbed fill is not a substitute for that undisturbed bearing stratum unless the fill is engineered and approved.
6A building pad is 80 feet by 50 feet. Finish grade is an average of 2.0 feet above existing grade. How many cubic yards of compacted fill are required if the estimator allows 15 percent extra material for compaction?
A.296 CY
B.341 CY
C.370 CY
D.8,000 CY
Explanation: Net fill is 80 × 50 × 2.0 = 8,000 cf, or 8,000 ÷ 27 = 296.3 CY in place. Adding 15 percent for compaction: 296.3 × 1.15 = 340.7 CY, rounded to 341 CY of borrow. The extra accounts for the volume lost when loose soil is compacted to the specified density.
7What is the primary purpose of a silt fence on a Nevada building site during construction?
A.To increase the bearing capacity of the pad
B.To replace the required foundation drain
C.To intercept sediment-laden runoff before it leaves the disturbed area
D.To mark the finish-floor elevation
Explanation: A silt fence is a temporary sediment-control barrier, typically filter fabric on posts, installed on the contour downhill of disturbed soil. It slows sheet flow so sediment drops out before leaving the site. It is not a structural or drainage substitute for compacted fill or foundation drains.
8Per 2018 IBC Table 1806.2, what is the presumptive vertical foundation pressure for clay, sandy clay, silty clay, and clayey silt?
A.1,000 pounds per square foot
B.2,000 pounds per square foot
C.3,000 pounds per square foot
D.1,500 pounds per square foot
Explanation: 2018 IBC Table 1806.2 lists 1,500 psf as the presumptive allowable vertical foundation pressure for clay, sandy clay, silty clay, and clayey silt (Class 5). Sand and silty sand are 2,000 psf, and sandy gravel is 3,000 psf. A geotechnical report may raise or lower these values; the table is used when the building official accepts presumptive values.
9How many cubic feet are in 1 cubic yard of concrete?
A.27 cubic feet
B.9 cubic feet
C.36 cubic feet
D.144 cubic feet
Explanation: A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Every concrete quantity in cubic feet must be divided by 27 to obtain cubic yards for ordering. Mixing this conversion with board-foot or square-yard math is a common estimating error.
10A slab-on-grade measures 40 feet by 30 feet and is 4 inches thick. How many cubic yards of concrete are required (no waste)?
A.12.0 CY
B.14.8 CY
C.18.5 CY
D.40.0 CY
Explanation: Thickness is 4/12 = 0.333 ft. Volume = 40 × 30 × 0.333 = 400 cf. 400 ÷ 27 = 14.81 CY, typically taken as 14.8 CY before waste. Always convert inches of thickness to feet before multiplying.

About the NV B General Building Exam

The Nevada B General Building Contractor Examination is the official Nevada State Contractors Board trade or management examination administered by PSI Services LLC. The official exam has 80 scored questions. Passing is 70% (56 of 80 points) in 3 hours. The examination is open book. Approved center references include International Building Code, 2018 (allowed in center). 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.

Assessment

Open Book computer-based multiple-choice. International Building Code, 2018 (allowed in center)

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70% (56 of 80 points)

Exam Fee

USD 95 (PSI Services LLC (for the Nevada State Contractors Board))

NV B General Building Exam Content Outline

8%

Sitework

Site preparation (6 items)

15%

Concrete

Concrete construction (12 items)

8%

Masonry

Masonry construction (6 items)

15%

Metals

Structural and miscellaneous metals (12 items)

9%

Carpentry

Framing and carpentry (7 items)

11%

Thermal and Moisture Protection

Waterproofing and insulation (9 items)

5%

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows (4 items)

5%

Drywall and Finishes

Drywall and finishes (4 items)

6%

Safety

OSHA construction safety (5 items)

15%

Plan Reading and Estimating

Plans and estimating (12 items)

4%

Nevada One-Call

Nevada One-Call / 811 (3 items)

How to Pass the NV B General Building Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70% (56 of 80 points)
  • Assessment: Open Book computer-based multiple-choice. International Building Code, 2018 (allowed in center)
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: USD 95

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

NV B General Building Study Tips from Top Performers

1Distribute study time to the official bulletin 296 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 B General Building Contractor Examination?

The official PSI examination has 80 scored questions. Passing is 70% (56 of 80 points) within 3 hours (Candidate Information Bulletin 296, updated 3/25/2026).

How much does the NV B General Building 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 B General Building exam open book?

Yes. PSI lists this examination as open book. International Building Code, 2018 (allowed in 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.