How to Pass the Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam
You don't have to guess how to prepare for the Arkansas Masonry - Residential exam. This guide lays it out: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics on the test, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and a study plan you can follow. PSI gives the exam.
Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam Basics
Here's what the official bulletin says about the exam:
| Questions | 30 questions |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing score | 21 correct answers out of 30 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
On exam day
- Candidates must bring their own references, may not bring additional loose or attached papers with them, and a downloaded reference must be bound to be brought into the testing center.
- References may be highlighted, underlined, annotated and indexed before the exam but not written in during it, and only permanent tabs are allowed.
- An online calculator is provided and candidates may not bring their own calculator.
- The only aid provided is an online calculator, and candidates may not bring a personal calculator or any additional loose or attached papers with their references.
References you may bring
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 (OSHA), with latest available amendments
- Code of Federal Regulations - 29 CFR Part 1926 Selections by PSI, with latest available amendments
- International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (2015)
- Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone, Clois E. Kicklighter (8th Edition)
Source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board - Masonry Residential, 2/6/2020. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What's on the Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam
The official content outline splits the exam into 8 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Estimating and Plan Reading | 2 | 7% |
| Unit Masonry | 10 | 33% |
| Mortar and Grout | 7 | 23% |
| Accessories | 4 | 13% |
| Stone | 1 | 3% |
| Tools | 2 | 7% |
| Restoration and Cleaning | 2 | 7% |
| OSHA Safety | 2 | 7% |
Your Arkansas Masonry - Residential Study Plan
Your books are your best friend on this exam. It's open book, so the references on the bulletin's list are what you'll use on test day. Get your own copies in the editions the bulletin names.
Get to know them early. Spend time with each book's table of contents and index until you can find any major subject quickly. On an open-book exam, finding answers fast is the skill that counts.
Make the books yours. Highlight the sections you keep coming back to. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Put your energy where the points are. Unit Masonry and Mortar and Grout make up 57% of the exam, so start there.
Practice with the clock running. Our timed practice exams help you build the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question. Every attempt is another rep.
Keep going until you pass practice exams consistently. One good score is a great start. A few passing scores in a row is how you know you're ready.
Books You'll Need for the Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam
The bulletin lists the OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926 regulations (or PSI's selections), the 2015 International Residential Code and Modern Masonry - Brick, Block, Stone as references allowed in the examination center.
Where to get them:
Test Day Tips
Start with a quick pass through the whole exam. Answer every question you're sure about and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you return to bookmarked questions, so nothing is lost by moving on.
Then come back to your bookmarks and work through them one at a time. Keep an eye on the clock: you have 75 minutes for 30 questions, which is about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question. Before you finish, make sure every question has an answer. A blank can't earn a point.
Study Tips
On an open-book exam, the winners aren't the smartest people in the room — they're the fastest at finding answers. Buy the required book, practice with it open, and tab and highlight each section the first time a question sends you there. Learn the index and table of contents until you can land on any topic in seconds. That speed is what separates a pass from a fail.
Know your way around each book's index and table of contents. Open-book exams reward speed: you need to find specific items quickly.
On an open-book exam, work through every question once: answer the ones you know and skip the ones you don't. Then go back to the ones you flagged. You can bookmark questions for later review, just like on our exams — and don't sink too much time into any single question. The clock is still running.
Give yourself at least three to six weeks. Use your exam's candidate bulletin as your roadmap for what's tested, and spend your time on finding-it-fast skills over rote memorization. In practice, aim for three clean passes at 80% or higher — setting your practice bar above the real cut score gives you a comfortable margin on test day.
Practicing against a ticking clock is the best way to beat exam-clock anxiety. Use these timed tests to build your pacing, so you learn to move steadily and never burn too long on a single question. By test day, the format feels routine.
Try These Arkansas Masonry - Residential Practice Questions
Give these a try. They come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Estimating and Plan Reading
Question: You filed a written permit application for a two-family dwelling, but the project was placed on hold and no permit has been issued. After how many days from the date of filing is the application deemed to have been abandoned, unless it has been pursued in good faith?
- A. 90 days
- B. 180 days
- C. 120 days
- D. 30 days
Correct Answer: B
Per 2015 IRC Section R105.3.2, an application for a permit is deemed abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued; the building official may grant written extensions not exceeding 180 days each.
Reference: IRC 2015 Section R105.3.2
Sample 2 — Tools
Question: What are the dimensions of the body of a steel square used by masons?
- A. 1 1/2 inches wide and 24 inches long
- B. 2 inches wide and 24 inches long
- C. 2 inches wide and 16 inches long
- D. 1 1/2 inches wide and 16 inches long
Correct Answer: B
The body of a steel square is 2 inches wide and 24 inches long. The tongue is 1 1/2 inches wide and 16 inches long. The two arms form a 90-degree right angle.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 3, Section 3.1.7 Steel Squares
Sample 3 — Restoration and Cleaning
Question: What is the typical on-center spacing for weep holes in a brick masonry wall?
- A. 32 inches
- B. 24 inches
- C. 8 inches
- D. 16 inches
Correct Answer: D
The normal practice is to install weep holes every 16 inches on center. Weep holes allow moisture to flow from inside the wall cavity to the exterior and should be placed at the base of the cavity and at all other flashing levels.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 12 — Laying Brick, Section 12.3.7
Sample 4 — OSHA Safety
Question: At what height above the working surface does OSHA require fall protection for construction workers performing masonry operations?
- A. 4 feet
- B. 8 feet
- C. 10 feet
- D. 6 feet
Correct Answer: D
OSHA requires that construction workers be protected when working at levels 6 feet and above for most types of construction activities. Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction industry, accounting for approximately 40% of construction fatalities.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 4 — Safety, Section 4.2.6
Why Practice Online?
Reading questions in a PDF is a start, but it doesn't prepare you for the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you build speed along with knowledge. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results show your score by topic so you know where to focus next.
Ready to Start?
Take the free Arkansas Masonry - Residential practice exam and see where you stand today. Then focus on the topics that need the most work. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.