2026 Edition

Carpentry Practice Test

Take this free carpentry practice test to see how prepared you are for a carpentry licensing certification test.

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1 Joist hangers are used for which of the following?

a. Supporting joists against beams

b. Keeping joists straight during delivery

c. Inspection

d. There is no such thing as a joist hanger.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The main purpose of a joist hanger is to hold a joist 90 degrees to any type of beam as per the building code. All hangers are to be nailed with specific hanger nails in all available holes.

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2 The smallest mark on an imperial ruler is:

a. Millimeter

b. 1/16 inch

c. 1/4 inch

d. 1/2 inch

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

An imperial ruler is divided into 16ths per inch and bolder lines for balance of fractions up to an inch.

3 What type of hammer is commonly selected for trim work?

a. Framing hatchet

b. 28-ounce long handle waffle head

c. 20-ounce long handle straight claw

d. 16-ounce wood handle curved claw

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A 16 ounce curved claw hammer is a basic all-purpose hammer used in carpentry. The others listed are for specific applications.

4 What are plywood clips used for?

a. Straightening floor sheathing

b. Keeping plywood straight in stacks

c. Supporting roof sheathing edges between the trusses

d. There is no such thing as a plywood clip.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Clips are used when sheathing roofs framed with trusses due to being 24 inch on center. The clip holds the plywood from being too weak between spans.

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5 A contractor is to excavate a basement containing 58,500 cu. ft. She removes 3,950 cu. ft., then 9,325 cu. ft., then 6,581 cu. ft., and finally 4,873 cu. ft. How many cubic feet remain in the basement?

a. 31,071 cu. ft.

b. 33,771 cu. ft.

c. 33,861 cu. ft.

d. 34,131 cu. ft.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The answer is calculated by subtracting each of the cu.ft. dimensions from the total.

58,500
3,950
9,325
6,581
- 4,873
33,771

6 What is PL-400?

a. Drill bit size

b. Type of construction adhesive

c. Number of teeth on a hacksaw

d. Plywood specification

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

PL400 is a construction adhesive used in securing plywood to joist and other wood to wood surfaces.

7 Which is not a rule for laying out stairs?

a. The product obtained by multiplying one rise height by the tread width should be between 70 and 75 inches.

b. The sum of two risers is always the same.

c. The sum of one riser and one tread should be between 17 and 18 inches.

d. The number of treads and risers is always the same.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Stairs are calculated by rise and run for a specific opening. The tread and rise would never be equal.

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8 Calculate 1/4 inch plus 1/4 inch.

a. Too small to calculate

b. 1/8 inch

c. 1/2 inch

d. 3/4 inch

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The answer is calculated by adding two ¼" units or multiplying by 2 to equal 1/2 inch.

9 A wood auger bit marked 10 will drill with what diameter?

a. 1 inch

b. 1/3 inch

c. 5/8 inch

d. 10/32 inch

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

It is calculated by 1/16 scale so #10 would be 10/16 inch or 5/8 inch.

10 The path a saw blade cuts in a piece of wood is called:

a. Waste

b. Kerf

c. Clearance

d. Set

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

This is the narrow channel left behind by the saw and the measure of its width. Factors are blade, blade teeth and wobble of cut.

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11 When squaring up a large rectangular object, which method would be the least acceptable to use?

a. 6,8,10 method

b. Calculate a diagonal measurement

c. Measure diagonally both ways

d. Framing square

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Large rectangular objects are squared by either using the 345 method or by taking diagonal measurements. The framing square is too small for large areas.

12 When nailing 2x6 inch joists, what nail should be used?

a. 12 d

b. 18 d

c. 20 d

d. All of the above can be used.

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

12 D common nails are standard fasteners for any 2 by 4,6,8,10,12 application.

13 There are 808 four-penny nails in a pound. How many are there in 22 3/4 pounds?

a. 17,776

b. 18,180

c. 18,382

d. 18,584

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Simply multiply 808 x 22.75 to calculate the answer.

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14 How many pieces of lumber 1 inches wide will be needed to cover a 42-inch wide space?

a. 24

b. 26

c. 32

d. 42

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

If the lumber is 1” wide then it would take 42 pieces to cover the space. But remember this is nominal size 1” not actual size of ¾.

15 How many 2x4 blocks 22 1/2 inches long can be cut from a 2x4 that is 8 feet long?

a. 2

b. 4

c. 6

d. 8

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Divide 22.75 into 96” and your answer will be 4 with 7” left.

16 Subtract 3 15/32 inches from 9 1/16 inches.

a. 5 19/32 inches

b. 5 15/16 inches

c. 6 inches

d. 6 19/32 inches

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Simple subtraction - you need to change 1/16 to 2/32 and then change 9 2/32 to 8 34/32 – 3 15/32 = 5 19/32.

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17 What is one-half of 23 feet and 11 9/16 inches?

a. 10 feet and 11 15/16 inches

b. 11 feet and 9 25/32 inches

c. 11 feet and 10 inches

d. 11 feet and 11 25/32 inches

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

You will need to divide 23'11 9/16 by 2. Remember you need to change fraction to decimal and decimal to fraction.

18 Which number is greatest?

a. .246

b. .08

c. .3

d. .07

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

The largest number closest to the decimal would be the greatest value.

19 Add (15 feet and 6 3/4 inches) + (5 feet and 11 5/8 inches) + (11 feet and 5 7/16 inches) + (6 feet and 9 3/16 inches)

a. 39 feet and 9 inches

b. 40 feet

c. 40 feet and 9 inches

d. 42 feet and 6 inches

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Add all four dimensions together changing fractions to 16ths to calculate answer.

15' 6 12/16" + 5' 11 10/16" + 11' 5 7/16" + 6' 9 3/16" = 37' 31 32/16" = 37' 33" = 39' 9"

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20 A lot measures 112 feet and 5 inches x 88 feet and 3 inches x 97 feet and 6 inches x 114 feet and 2 inches. What is the distance around the lot?

a. 412 feet and 4 inches

b. 412 feet and 10 inches

c. 414 feet

d. 420 feet

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Add all four measurements. Total all inches and change to feet before calculating.

114' 2"
112' 5"
88' 3"
+ 97' 6
411' 16" = 412' 4"

21 What is the perimeter of a square with sides 9 feet and 6 inches long?

a. 36 feet and 2 inches

b. 38 feet

c. 38 feet and 6 inches

d. 40 feet

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Multiply 9'6” x 4

4 x 9' = 36'

4 x 6" = 24" = 2'

36' + 2' = 38'

22 Which is greater in inches: 9/16, 5/8, 3/16, 3/4, 47/64 or 1/2?

a. 9/16 inch

b. 3/4 inch

c. 5/8 inch

d. 47/64 inch

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

If you change all dimensions to 16^th you will find that 3/4” or 12/16” is greater than the others.

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23 The area of a right triangle having legs 10 feet long is 50 square feet.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

A right triangle is half of a square so 10 x 10 would be 100 sq ft divided by 2 equals 50 sq. ft.

24 When using a circular saw, the best way to prevent kickback is to keep the blade sharp.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Kickback happens when the saw binds between the two pieces not allowing it to pass completely through. You should always have one of the pieces free to fall downward on the opposite side you are cutting. Saw horses would be a good solution.

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25 Subcontractors are required for work at a building site, and two have bid on the job. Subcontractor A will do the job in 16 hours at $133.00/hour and subcontractor B will do the job in 14 hours at $153.00/hour. Subcontractor A has the lower bid.

True

False

Incorrect. Please choose another answer.

Multiply 16 x $133.00 and 14 x $157.00 to find the price difference.

A 16 x 133 = 2,128

B 14 x 157 = 2,198