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NICET Construction Materials Testing - Soils - Level IV Exam — Information & Free Practice

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About NICET Construction Materials Testing - Soils - Level IV Exam

NICET Construction Materials Testing - Soils - Level IV Exam · US

Key exam facts

Provider
NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) owns and administers the examination program; Pearson VUE delivers the computer-based test at proctored testing centers.
Format
Computer-based knowledge examination at a proctored test center; multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, with some picture-selection responses. Listed bound references are permitted subject to NICET restrictions; specified AASHTO titles are supplied on-screen.
Exam questions
Total questions: 90.
Time limit
315 minutes of examination time, plus a separate 10-minute introductory tutorial. Unscheduled breaks do not stop the examination clock; the Level IV row is not marked for a scheduled 30-minute break.
Passing score
A scaled score of 500 or higher passes on NICET's 0-700 scale; scores below 200 are reported as 200.
Exam fee
US$435 for the Standard Model/CBT Level IV application, effective August 1, 2026; no state or local taxes are added and fees are subject to change. Rescheduling within 24 hours after the scheduled date or into a new testing window incurs an additional half of the original testing fee.

Topics covered

The authority publishes percentage ranges for each content area. The practice percentages below use the midpoint of each range, normalized to 100%; they are not exact percentages published by the authority. Practice question counts may differ slightly because of rounding.

  • Personal and Worksite Safety — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Lead internal safety meetings.

  • Plans and Specifications — Official range: 10–20% (Practice allocation: 15%)

    • Develop project budgets and estimates.

  • Sampling of Soils — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Create a complex soil sampling program.

  • Soils Sample Preparation — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Oversee sample preparation activities performed by Level I, II, or III technicians.

  • Field Testing of Soils — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Perform shear test.
    • Perform complex (high load) pile load tests.

  • Laboratory Testing of Soils — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Calculate mix proportions for soils stabilization projects.
    • Interpret soils test results.
    • Prepare geotechnical reports.

  • Field Observation of Soils Construction Operations — Official range: 1–9% (Practice allocation: 5%)

    • Resolve soils field problems.

  • Evaluation of Soils Test Results — Official range: 10–20% (Practice allocation: 15%)

    • Perform preliminary interpretation of test data.
    • Troubleshoot and identify suspect soils test data.

  • Quality System — Official range: 15–25% (Practice allocation: 20%)

    • Create soils testing laboratory quality system.
    • Approve and schedule outside vendors for equipment calibration.
    • Manage soils laboratory accreditation.
    • Create record keeping system for equipment calibration and maintenance activities.

  • Reporting and Supervision — Official range: 5–15% (Practice allocation: 10%)

    • Resolve communication and related work conflicts.
    • Finalize soils test reports.
    • Develop preliminary recommendations for Engineer in Charge.
    • Manage company resources (e.g., employees, schedules, budget, equipment).

  • Training — Official range: 5–15% (Practice allocation: 10%)

    • Train Level I, II, and III technicians for field and laboratory testing.
    • Verify and document technician proficiency and training activities.

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam format?

Computer-based knowledge examination at a proctored test center; multiple-choice and multiple-select questions, with some picture-selection responses. Listed bound references are permitted subject to NICET restrictions; specified AASHTO titles are supplied on-screen.

How many questions are on the exam?

Total questions: 90.

How long is the exam?

315 minutes of examination time, plus a separate 10-minute introductory tutorial. Unscheduled breaks do not stop the examination clock; the Level IV row is not marked for a scheduled 30-minute break.

What is the passing score?

A scaled score of 500 or higher passes on NICET's 0-700 scale; scores below 200 are reported as 200.

How much does the exam cost?

US$435 for the Standard Model/CBT Level IV application, effective August 1, 2026; no state or local taxes are added and fees are subject to change. Rescheduling within 24 hours after the scheduled date or into a new testing window incurs an additional half of the original testing fee.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.