Free Certified Calibration Technician Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Certified Calibration Technician practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which SI base unit is used to express thermodynamic temperature?

   1. A. Ampere
   2. B. Kelvin
   3. C. Candela
   4. D. Mole

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The SI Brochure states, "The kelvin, symbol K, is the SI unit of thermodynamic temperature." The ampere measures electric current, the candela luminous intensity, and the mole amount of substance.

   Reference: The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition — Section 2.3.1, p. 129, The kelvin

2. 2Which operation is an example of directly comparing an artifact with a standard?

   1. A. Calculating liquid volume from mass and density
   2. B. Using a comparator to compare gauge-block dimensions
   3. C. Inferring force from a calibrated transducer output
   4. D. Calculating resistance from voltage and current

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NIST describes a direct comparison as "using a comparator for the dimensions of gauge blocks". The other operations obtain the target quantity through other measured quantities or an instrument response relationship.

   Reference: Metrological Traceability: Frequently Asked Questions and NIST Policy — FAQ 5.1.2, final paragraph

3. 3In SOP 7, a stopwatch is used only to maintain consistent timing of successive weighings. What calibration treatment is specified for that timing device?

   1. A. Calibration is required before every weighing series
   2. B. Calibration is required after every balance adjustment
   3. C. Calibration is not required for this stated use
   4. D. Calibration is required at every annual balance service

   Answer: C

   Explanation: SOP 7 specifies a timing device with "calibration not required; this is used to ensure consistent timing of the measurement". Requiring calibration on each series, adjustment, or annual service confuses this timing-consistency aid with a device whose calibrated time value enters the mass result.

   Reference: SOP 7: Weighing by Single Substitution — p. 3, Apparatus/Equipment Required, timing device

4. 4For guarded acceptance at an upper tolerance limit of 10.0 mm, a positive guard-band width of 0.2 mm is specified. What is the upper acceptance limit?

   1. A. 10.2 mm
   2. B. 9.8 mm
   3. C. 10.0 mm
   4. D. 9.6 mm

   Answer: B

   Explanation: JCGM 106 states, "w = TU − AU" for the upper-limit guard band and places guarded acceptance inside the tolerance interval. Thus AU = 10.0 − 0.2 = 9.8 mm. Adding the band, ignoring it, or subtracting it twice gives the other values.

   Reference: Evaluation of Measurement Data — The Role of Measurement Uncertainty in Conformity Assessment — Clauses 8.3.2.1–8.3.2.2, p. 21

5. 5Which statement describes a quality management system's organizational role?

   1. A. It assigns all quality decisions exclusively to final inspection
   2. B. It coordinates documented processes and responsibilities to meet quality objectives
   3. C. It replaces customer requirements with internal production targets
   4. D. It confines quality activities to correcting completed calibration reports

   Answer: B

   Explanation: ASQ defines a QMS as a system that "defines and documents an organization’s processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies, practices, and objectives". Its scope is organizational coordination, rather than final inspection alone, removal of customer needs, or report correction alone.

   Reference: What Is a Quality Management System (QMS)? — What Is a Quality Management System?, definition

6. 6What quantity is expressed in the SI base unit mole?

   1. A. Luminous intensity
   2. B. Electric current
   3. C. Amount of substance
   4. D. Thermodynamic temperature

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The definition begins, "The mole, symbol mol, is the SI unit of amount of substance." A mole describes specified elementary entities, rather than brightness, current, or temperature.

   Reference: The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition — Section 2.3.1, p. 130, The mole

7. 7A laboratory determines the volume of a liquid by weighing it and using its known density. Which volume-calibration method is being used?

   1. A. Gravimetric calibration
   2. B. Volume-transfer calibration
   3. C. Direct dimensional calibration
   4. D. Optical displacement calibration

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NIST states, "Volumetric measurements are obtained from mass measurements of known-density materials" and identifies the "gravimetric (weighing procedure)" method. Volume transfer compares volumes instead; direct geometry and optical displacement do not describe the stated weighing operation.

   Reference: NVLAP Calibration Laboratories, NIST Handbook 150-2 — Annex D3.1, p. 26

8. 8A single-substitution weighing procedure calls for an air-buoyancy correction. Which environmental measurements provide the air-density information identified in SOP 7?

   1. A. Barometric pressure, air temperature, and relative humidity
   2. B. Barometric pressure, air temperature, and reference-weight density
   3. C. Barometric pressure, relative humidity, and reference-weight density
   4. D. Air temperature, relative humidity, and unknown-weight density

   Answer: A

   Explanation: SOP 7 states, "The barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer are used to determine the air density at the time of the measurement." These measure pressure, air temperature, and relative humidity. Weight density enters buoyancy considerations but cannot replace a missing air-state input: humidity, air temperature, or pressure.

   Reference: SOP 7: Weighing by Single Substitution — p. 3, footnote 4

9. 9An item is accepted after measurement even though its true value does not conform to specification. Which outcome has occurred?

   1. A. Valid acceptance
   2. B. False rejection
   3. C. Valid rejection
   4. D. False acceptance

   Answer: D

   Explanation: JCGM 106 describes "False acceptance: the item is accepted" but does not conform with specification. Acceptance of a nonconforming item is the error associated with consumer risk. A valid acceptance requires conformance, while either rejection requires that the item be rejected.

   Reference: Evaluation of Measurement Data — The Role of Measurement Uncertainty in Conformity Assessment — Clause 9.3.2, p. 24, False acceptance

10. 10During QMS review and improvement, what should a laboratory use audit findings and collected data to evaluate?

    1. A. Whether a process met its document-count target, regardless of results
    2. B. Whether a process can be approved solely because it was audited
    3. C. Whether audit completion alone proves the process achieved its goals
    4. D. Each process's effectiveness and efficiency toward its objectives

    Answer: D

    Explanation: ASQ says review and improvement should "determine the effectiveness and efficiency of each process toward its objectives". Document counts, audit completion, or approval based only on having undergone an audit do not evaluate the process outcomes against those objectives.

    Reference: What Is a Quality Management System (QMS)? — Review and improve, first paragraph