Louisiana Residential Construction 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.
- 80 questions (same as real exam)
- 180 minute time limit
- 8 topic areas covered
- 835 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Louisiana Residential Construction Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 80This practice exam follows the official content outline for the Louisiana Residential Construction exam: Site work, Footings and Foundations, Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement, Masonry, Carpentry, Associated Trades and Drywall, Roofing, Estimating, Plan Reading and General Code Requirements, OSHA Safety.
You can practice two ways. The free practice exam gives you 10 questions per attempt, and you can retake it whenever you like. The full practice exam gives you 80 questions on a 3 hours clock, with a new draw from our question bank each attempt.
Site work, Footings and Foundations 13 items
Our study plan for this topic: Soil classification and bearing capacity; Site layout and building location (batter boards, reference lines, benchmarks); Excavation methods, depth calculation, and volume estimation; Footing types, dimensions, and minimum size requirements (IRC tables); Footing reinforcement and frost protection/depth requirements; Foundation wall types: poured concrete, concrete masonry unit (CMU), and wood; Foundation drainage, dampproofing, and waterproofing; Soil compaction methods, testing, and backfilling requirements.
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement 9 items
Our study plan for this topic: Concrete mixture components and proportioning (cement types, aggregates, water-cement ratio, supplementary cementitious materials); Admixtures (air-entraining, accelerating, retarding, water-reducing, and their effects on concrete properties); Field testing of fresh concrete (slump, air content, compressive strength cylinders, unit weight/yield per ASTM standards); Steel reinforcement types, grades, sizes, and identification markings (rebar, welded wire reinforcement, fiber reinforcement); Reinforcement placement, cover requirements, and structural function (tension, compression, shear/stirrups); Formwork design, materials, components, and safety requirements (shoring, reshoring, form ties, stripping); Concrete placement methods, consolidation, and finishing of flatwork and slabs-on-ground; Joints in concrete construction (contraction/control joints, isolation joints, construction joints) and joint spacing requirements.
Masonry 5 items
Our study plan for this topic: Masonry tools and equipment identification and use; Clay brick types, classifications, and grades (ASTM standards); Concrete masonry units (CMU) types, grades, and properties; Mortar types, materials, mixing, and properties (Types M, S, N, O, K); Stone types, classification, and stonemasonry techniques; Masonry wall systems (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, reinforced); Anchors, ties, and joint reinforcement in masonry construction; Foundation systems, footings, and foundation wall construction.
Carpentry 15 items
Our study plan for this topic: Wood properties, lumber grading, and moisture content; Engineered wood products: plywood, OSB, LVL, glulam, and I-joists; Structural framing systems: platform, balloon, post-and-beam, and in-line framing; Floor framing: joists, girders, sill plates, bridging, and subfloor construction; Wall framing and sheathing: studs, plates, headers, rough openings, and wall bracing (IRC requirements); Roof framing: rafter types, ridge boards, roof styles, ceiling joists, and rafter span tables; Roof truss handling, installation, temporary and permanent restraint/bracing (BCSI guidelines); Finish carpentry: stairways, molding and trim, doors, windows, and cabinet installation.
Associated Trades and Drywall 6 items
Our study plan for this topic: Drywall types, sizes, and applications (standard, fire-code Type X and Type C, moisture-resistant, specialty); Drywall fasteners, spacing, and framing requirements (nails, screws, adhesive, framing member spacing per IRC Table R702.3.5); Cutting, installing, and fastening drywall panels (vertical and horizontal application, ceiling-first sequence, steel framing); Joint compound types, taping, and finishing techniques (setting vs. drying compounds, feathering, corner bead, trim accessories); Drywall repair and common defects (nail pops, blistered tape, cracked joints, bulge around fasteners); Interior plaster systems and veneer plaster (gypsum and cement plaster, lath types, coat requirements per IRC R702.2); Vapor retarders in wall assemblies (classes, perm values, climate zone requirements per IRC R702.7); Exterior and interior wall paneling (sheet paneling, board paneling, installation methods, estimating materials).
Roofing 7 items
Our study plan for this topic: Roof slope measurement and area calculation methods; Roof sheathing and decking requirements by material type; Underlayment types, application methods, and minimum slope requirements; Asphalt shingle types, installation patterns, and fastening requirements; Flashing installation at valleys, chimneys, eaves, and roof penetrations; Wood shingles and shakes installation, exposure, and nailing requirements; Tile roofing installation, fastening, and underlayment systems; Roofing repair, leak detection, and re-roofing procedures.
Estimating, Plan Reading and General Code Requirements 18 items
Our study plan for this topic: Building permits and inspections process; IRC scope, intent, and applicability for one- and two-family dwellings; Reading and interpreting architectural plan types (site, foundation, floor, framing, elevation); Architectural drawing elements: lines, symbols, dimensions, and abbreviations; Scale and measurement in construction drawings; Cost estimating methods: quantity takeoff, cost per square foot, direct and indirect costs; Bidding process: overhead, markup, contingency, and profit calculation; Zoning, deed restrictions, setbacks, and building code compliance.
OSHA Safety 7 items
Our study plan for this topic: Fall protection requirements for residential construction (6-foot rule, guardrail/safety net/PFAS systems); Scaffold safety requirements, capacity, and platform construction standards; Ladder safety, types, duty ratings, and proper use; Personal protective equipment (PPE) selection, provision, and employer responsibilities; Fire protection and prevention on construction sites; Excavation and trenching safety, cave-in protection, and soil classification; Electrical safety, GFCI requirements, and assured equipment grounding programs; Hazardous substances, toxic materials, and permissible exposure limits (asbestos, silica, airborne contaminants).
Sample 1 — Estimating, Plan Reading and General Code Requirements
Question: A permit application for proposed work is deemed abandoned if not pursued in good faith or a permit has not been issued within how many days after filing?
- A. 180 days
- B. 90 days
- C. 365 days
- D. 120 days
Correct Answer: A
Per IRC Section R105.3.2, an application for a permit shall be deemed to have been abandoned 180 days after the date of filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued.
Reference: IRC 2018 Section R105.3.2
Sample 2 — Carpentry
Question: You are a residential builder installing hip jack rafters on a new home. As you work, you notice the hip rafter beginning to bow to one side. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
- A. The collar ties were installed before the hip rafters
- B. The bird's mouth cuts on the jack rafters are too deep
- C. The hip jacks were nailed on one side of the hip rafter before the other side
- D. The ridge board was cut too long
Correct Answer: C
Hip jacks should be nailed in pairs, one opposite the other. Nailing all the jacks on one side of the hip first would push the hip out of alignment and cause it to bow. A string should be pulled taut along the top edge of the hip rafter to check alignment as jacks are installed.
Reference: Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 539
Sample 3 — Site work, Footings and Foundations
Question: When accounting for job efficiency in excavation estimating, what is the maximum number of productive work minutes per hour you can typically expect on most jobs?
- A. 50 minutes
- B. 55 minutes
- C. 45 minutes
- D. 60 minutes
Correct Answer: A
According to Pipe and Excavation Contracting, 50 minutes of productive work per hour is probably the best you can expect on most jobs, yielding a job efficiency factor of 0.83 (50 ÷ 60).
Reference: Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 68
Your first attempt tells you where you're starting from. After every attempt, the results page shows your score for each outline topic, so you can see what to study next. Compare your score with the real exam's passing score, 56 correct answers out of 80 scored questions, and keep going until you pass consistently.
- Answer the questions you know first, and bookmark the rest. Our practice exams let you bookmark and come back.
- Return to your bookmarks on the second pass.
- Keep a steady pace. The real exam works out to about 2 minutes 15 seconds per question.
- After each attempt, look up each missed question's reference and read the section.
| Questions | 80 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 56 correct answers out of 80 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
Source: Residential Construction Examination. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.