South Carolina - Bridges 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.
- 50 questions (same as real exam)
- 180 minute time limit
- 9 topic areas covered
- 298 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
Texts preferred · 9am–9pm Central
South Carolina - Bridges Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 50This practice exam is laid out like the official content outline for the South Carolina - Bridges exam: Concrete, Concrete - Reinforcing Steel, Concrete Formwork, Structural Steel, Pile Driving/Sitework, Paving, Safety - Code of Federal Regulations, Estimating, Business – Math.
Two ways to practice: the free practice exam gives you 10 questions per attempt, as often as you want. The full practice exam gives you 50 questions on a 3 hours clock, with a new draw from our question bank every time.
Concrete 12 items
Our study plan for this topic: Concrete mixture proportioning and water-cementitious materials ratio (w/cm); Portland cement types and supplementary cementitious materials (fly ash, silica fume, slag); Fresh concrete field testing (slump, air content, compressive strength cylinders, unit weight/yield); Concrete placement methods, consolidation, and vibration requirements; Formwork and falsework design, construction, inspection, and removal; Reinforcing steel types, placement, splicing, cover, and corrosion protection; Joints in concrete structures and slabs (contraction, isolation, construction joints); Curing methods, hot and cold weather concreting, and common field problems.
Concrete - Reinforcing Steel 5 items
Our study plan for this topic: Types and grades of reinforcing steel (deformed bars, WWR, fibers, grade identification markings); Concrete cover requirements and placement tolerances; Bar fabrication: cutting, bending, hooks, and minimum bend diameters; Splicing methods: lap splices, mechanical couplers, and welded splices; Bar supports and spacers: classes, types, and SCDOT zone requirements; Storage, handling, and surface condition requirements for reinforcing steel; Reinforcement placement in slabs-on-ground: WWR positioning, dowels, and tie bars; SCDOT material standards and quality assurance testing for reinforcing steel.
Concrete Formwork 4 items
Our study plan for this topic: Formwork design loads and lateral pressure calculations (ACI 347R formulas); Types of formwork systems (job-built, gang, flying table, slipforms, jump forms, stay-in-place); Formwork materials and hardware (plywood grades, lumber, form ties, anchors, form liners, release agents); Shoring and reshoring requirements and procedures; Formwork safety requirements and failure prevention (OSHA 1926 Subpart Q); Form removal criteria and timing (concrete strength requirements); Formwork tolerances and dimensional accuracy (ACI 117); SCDOT falsework and form submittal, inspection, and approval requirements.
Structural Steel 8 items
Our study plan for this topic: Structural steel material grades and specifications (AASHTO M 270/ASTM A 709); Charpy V-Notch toughness testing requirements by member type; High-strength bolt assembly installation and rotational-capacity testing; Shop fabrication requirements including assembly methods, camber, and flame cutting; Structural welding requirements and inspection (ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5); Field erection procedures including falsework, bearing placement, and erection plans; Paint systems for structural steel (NS1, NS2, NS3, ES1) by paint zone; Surface preparation and dry film thickness requirements for paint application.
Pile Driving/Sitework 8 items
Our study plan for this topic: Driven pile types, materials, and material specifications (prestressed concrete, steel H-pile, steel pipe, timber); Pile driving equipment requirements (hammers, cushions, leads, templates, followers, water jets); Pile Installation Plan submittal requirements and approval process; Pile bearing determination methods (wave equation analysis, Dynamic Pile Analyzer, dynamic formula); Drilled shaft and drilled pile foundation construction methods (dry, wet, casing, slurry); Structure excavation classification and cofferdam design and construction; Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) of drilled shaft foundations; SC 811 excavator responsibilities (locate request procedures, tolerance zone, damage reporting, penalties).
Paving 3 items
Our study plan for this topic: HMA materials: binder performance grades, aggregates, RAP, and additives (anti-strip, hydrated lime); HMA mix design, job mix formula, and composition tolerances; HMA plant operations, equipment calibration, and production requirements; HMA spreading, compaction, joint construction, and finished surface tolerances; Asphalt surface treatments: single, double, and triple treatment materials and application sequences; Open-graded friction course (OGFC) materials, mix design, and placement requirements; Portland cement concrete pavement materials, mix design, batching, and placement; PCC pavement joint construction, sealing, curing, and finishing requirements.
Safety - Code of Federal Regulations 5 items
Our study plan for this topic: Employer accident prevention responsibilities and competent person requirements; Fall protection systems — guardrail, safety net, and personal fall arrest; Excavation and trenching safety — cave-in protection, sloping, shoring, and shields; SC 811 underground utility locate request procedures and excavator responsibilities; Personal protective equipment selection, provision, and payment requirements; Fire protection and prevention on construction sites; Confined spaces in construction — permit-required entry procedures; Cranes and derricks — operator qualifications, inspections, and power line clearances.
Estimating 3 items
Our study plan for this topic: Measurement methods and units for quantities (linear, area, volume, weight); Lump sum payment scope and inclusions; Force account work compensation (labor, materials, equipment markups); Partial payment procedures and material-on-hand payment schedules; Bid proposal requirements and interpretation of estimated quantities; Proposal guaranty (bid bond) requirements; Irregular bid conditions and bidder disqualification; Compensation for quantity underruns and overruns.
Business – Math 2 items
Our study plan for this topic: Measurement units and conversion (linear, area, volume, weight); Tare weight and net weight calculations for hauled materials; Force account markup percentages (labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor); Partial payment percentage schedules for stockpiled and delivered materials; Volume computation methods (average end area) and neat-line deductions; Unit price payment calculations for overrun and underrun quantities; Lump sum payment scope and cost components; Equipment rental rate calculations (monthly rate divided by 176).
Sample 1 — Concrete
Question: You are setting soffit forms for a cast-in-place beam and the contract documents do not state a value for compensating for formwork deflection and settlement. What is the common rule-of-thumb camber used for form deflection movements?
- A. 1/4 in. per 10 ft of span
- B. 1/4 in. per 25 ft of span
- C. 1 in. per 10 ft of span
- D. 1/2 in. per 10 ft of span
Correct Answer: A
The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction states that a common rule of thumb is to camber 1/4 in. per 10 ft (6 mm per 3 m) of span to account for formwork deflection movements. Camber to compensate for deflection of the finished structure is specified by the architect-engineer, and the contractor must monitor form elevations and adjust by jacking and wedging before concrete is placed.
Reference: Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Chapter 5 — Tolerances, Page 77
Sample 2 — Structural Steel
Question: You are erecting a multi-story steel structure in which each floor-to-floor height is 14 feet. Counting upward from the uppermost permanently secured floor, what is the greatest number of floors that may have unfinished bolting or welding (no design exception applies)?
- A. 2 floors
- B. 4 floors
- C. 3 floors
- D. 8 floors
Correct Answer: C
Per 29 CFR 1926, §1926.754(b)(2), there shall never be more than four floors OR 48 feet of unfinished bolting or welding above the foundation or uppermost permanently secured floor, whichever is LESS. At 14-foot stories, four floors would be 56 feet, so the 48-foot limit governs and only 3 floors (42 feet) are permitted.
Reference: OSHA 29 CFR 1926, §1926.754(b)(2)
Sample 3 — Pile Driving/Sitework
Question: As the contractor driving steel H-piling on a bridge project, you must have the hammer cushion inspected in the presence of the RCE when pile driving begins and again at a set interval, and the cushion must be replaced once it has lost a specified portion of its original thickness. Which combination meets the specification?
- A. Each 200 hours of driving; more than 20% reduction
- B. Each 100 hours of driving; more than 25% reduction
- C. Each 100 hours of driving; more than 50% reduction
- D. Each 50 hours of driving; more than 25% reduction
Correct Answer: B
SCDOT Subsection 711.3.3 requires the hammer cushion to be inspected in the presence of the RCE when beginning pile driving and after each 100 hours of pile driving. When the reduction in thickness of the hammer cushion exceeds 25% of the original thickness, the cushion must be replaced before driving continues. (The 50% compression limit belongs to the plywood pile cushion under 711.3.4, not the hammer cushion.)
Reference: SCDOT Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, Section 711.3.3, Page 670
Your first attempt is an inspection, not a final grade. The results page breaks your score down by outline topic, so you can see which areas need work. Compare it with the real exam's passing score, 35 correct answers out of 50 scored questions, and keep practicing until you pass consistently.
- Answer what you know first and bookmark the rest. Our practice exams let you bookmark and come back.
- Work your bookmarks on the second pass.
- Keep your pace. The real exam works out to about 3 minutes 36 seconds per question.
- After each attempt, look up each missed question's reference in your book and read the section.
| Questions | 50 questions |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Passing score | 35 correct answers out of 50 scored questions |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $64 |
- Your score is given immediately after the examination on screen and on a printed official report, with a diagnostic report of strengths and weaknesses if you do not pass.
- Except for Burglar and Fire Alarm, an examination may be taken only 2 times in a 12-month period and thereafter only once in six months, and a candidate who passes an exam may not take it again.
Source: Commercial Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin, Updated 8/27/2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.