Arkansas Residential Builder Exam Practice Exam
Free Practice Exam
Test your knowledge with 10 questions from our pool of 20 free questions.
- 10 questions per attempt
- 30 minute time limit
- Unlimited attempts
- A new mix each time
- Instant results
Full Practice Exam
Complete exam simulation matching the real PSI test format.
- 30 questions (same as real exam)
- 75 minute time limit
- 7 topic areas covered
- 140 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Texts preferred · 9am–9pm Central
Arkansas Residential Builder Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 30This practice exam is built around the official content outline for the Arkansas Residential Builder exam: General Carpentry, Concrete and Reinforcement, Estimating and Plan Reading, Masonry, Roofing, Site Work, Footings and Foundations, OSHA Safety.
There are two ways to practice. The free practice exam gives you 10 questions per attempt, and you can take it as many times as you like. The full practice exam gives you 30 questions on a 75 minutes clock, with a new draw from our question bank each time.
General Carpentry 3 items
Concrete and Reinforcement 5 items
Estimating and Plan Reading 2 items
Masonry 6 items
Roofing 6 items
Site Work, Footings and Foundations 5 items
OSHA Safety 3 items
Sample 1 — Masonry
Question: When constructing a brick veneer wall on a residential home, what is the minimum air space that should be maintained between the brick veneer and the wood or metal frame backing?
- A. 3 inches
- B. 1/2 inch
- C. 2 inches
- D. 1 inch
Correct Answer: D
According to Modern Masonry (Page 333), brick veneer with wood or metal frame backing is usually built with a minimum of 1 inch of air space. This air space works with flashing and weep holes to resist moisture penetration, as brick veneer wall assemblies are drainage-type walls.
Reference: Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Page 333
Sample 2 — Roofing
Question: You are framing a hip roof and need to determine the shortening allowance for a hip rafter that will be framed against the ridge board with a single side cut. What is the correct shortening allowance?
- A. One-half the actual thickness of the ridge board
- B. The full 45° thickness of the ridge board
- C. One-half the 45° thickness of the ridge board
- D. One-half the 45° thickness of a common rafter
Correct Answer: C
According to Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 18 (page 509), if the hip rafter is framed against the ridge board using a single side cut, the shortening allowance is one-half the 45° thickness of the ridge board. If instead the hip rafter is framed against the common rafters using a double side cut, the shortening allowance would be one-half the 45° thickness of a common rafter.
Reference: Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 18, Page 509
Sample 3 — Concrete and Reinforcement
Question: You are a framing contractor reviewing a roof plan for a residence. The ceiling joists are not located at the bottom of the attic space but instead are installed at a height equal to one-third the height of the roof ridge above the rafter support walls. According to the rafter span adjustment factor table, what factor must you apply to the tabulated rafter spans?
- A. 1.00
- B. 0.90
- C. 0.83
- D. 0.67
Correct Answer: D
Per IRC Table R802.4.1(9), when the ratio of Hc/Hr (height of ceiling joists or rafter ties to height of roof ridge, both measured vertically above the top of the rafter support walls) equals 1/3, the rafter span adjustment factor is 0.67. This significantly reduces the allowable rafter span because the higher tie location increases the outward thrust on the bearing walls.
Reference: IRC Table R802.4.1(9)
Your first score is just a starting point. After every attempt, the results page shows how you did on each outline topic, so you can see what to work on next. Compare your score with the real exam's passing score, 21 correct answers out of 30 scored questions, and keep at it until you pass consistently.
- Start with the questions you know. Go through the whole exam once and bookmark anything you're unsure about. Our practice exams let you bookmark and come back.
- Circle back to your bookmarks on the second pass.
- Keep an eye on your pace. The real exam works out to about 2 minutes 30 seconds per question.
- Turn every miss into a lesson. After each attempt, look up each missed question's reference in your book and read the section.
| Questions | 30 questions |
| Time limit | 75 minutes |
| Passing score | 21 correct answers out of 30 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
Source: Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board - Residential Builder, 10/17/2220. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.