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Grade practice questions

27 questions from the heavy equipment operator practice test.

Grade practice test

10 questions, graded as you go, with the reason for every answer. No sign-up.

What this covers

Sample questions

A stake beside a hub reads C 2.5. What must be done at that point?

  1. Remove material to 2.5 feet below the hub
  2. Add fill material up to 2.5 feet above the hub
  3. Cut a slope of 2.5 to 1 from the hub
  4. Move 2.5 feet over before cutting
Show the answer

A. Remove material to 2.5 feet below the hub

C means cut, and the figure is the vertical distance from the reference point (the hub) down to the planned grade. Reading the C as a fill would leave the grade 5 feet too high.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1, Grades

A centerline stake is marked 12+50. How far is it from station 0+00?

  1. 1,250 feet
  2. 125 feet
  3. 12.5 feet
  4. 12,050 feet
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A. 1,250 feet

A full station is 100 feet, so 12+50 is 12 stations plus 50 feet: 12 x 100 + 50 = 1,250 feet. Reading the plus as a decimal point gives 12.5, which is wrong.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1, Grades

Why are offset stakes used instead of stakes set exactly at the point to be graded?

  1. They show the property line beside the work
  2. They mark where underground utilities cross under the work area
  3. They sit outside the work so equipment does not destroy them
  4. They show the compacted lift thickness to be placed
Show the answer

C. They sit outside the work so equipment does not destroy them

A stake at the work point would be knocked out by the first pass, so the reference is set a stated distance to the side and the cut or fill is carried over from it. Offset stakes do not mark utilities or boundaries.

Reference: NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1, Grades

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