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CSLB Class A — General Engineering (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB Class A — General Engineering (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 53 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 8 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- The real CSLB Class A — General Engineering (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
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- 300 free CSLB Class A — General Engineering (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: September 2026.
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Planning and Estimating
15% of the exam- Order of precedence (Caltrans)
- Special provisions, then project plans, then standard specifications, revised standard plans and standard plans.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 5-1.02
- Written over scaled
- Written numbers and notes on a drawing govern over graphics; a detail governs over a general drawing.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 5-1.02
- Stationing
- One station is 100 feet; 12+50 is 1,250 feet from the start of the alignment.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, abbreviations
- Delineate
- Mark the proposed excavation in white before calling.· Gov. Code 4216, 4216.2
- Notice
- At least two working days and not more than 14 calendar days before digging; the call day does not count.· Gov. Code 4216.2(b)
- Ticket life
- A ticket is valid for 28 days and must be renewed by the end of the 28th day.· Gov. Code 4216.2(e)
- Conversions
- 27 cubic feet = 1 cubic yard; 43,560 square feet = 1 acre; 1 cubic foot is about 7.48 gallons.· NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C
- Bid items
- Unit-price items are paid on measured quantities; lump-sum items carry the quantity risk.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, definitions
- Critical path
- Only delays on the critical path, or beyond an activity's float, move completion.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, definitions
Structural Principles
6% of the exam- Concrete weight
- Caltrans customarily uses 150 pcf for normal concrete when computing falsework dead load.· Caltrans Falsework Manual, Ch. 3
- Minimum design load
- Formwork and shoring are designed for at least 100 psf of combined dead and live load.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1717
- Horizontal load
- Falsework bracing resists at least 2% of the supported weight horizontally.· Caltrans Falsework Manual, Ch. 3
- Load path
- A series of connected elements that deliver loads to the foundation.· FEMA P-749
- Liquefaction
- Occurs only in saturated, loose, granular soils; buried structures can float.· FEMA P-749
- Soft story
- A story much weaker and less stiff than those above is a seismic irregularity.· FEMA P-749
Earthwork and Surveying
15% of the exam- Benchmarks
- Stable, permanent and, where possible, outside the construction area.· Caltrans Surveys Manual, Ch. 8
- Slope stakes
- Reference points are offset from the catch point, generally 10 to 20 feet.· Caltrans Surveys Manual, Ch. 12
- Lift thickness
- Caltrans limits ordinary embankment lifts to 8 inches loose.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 19-6.03C
- Relative compaction
- 95% in the structural zone under roadways; 90% in other embankment areas.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 19-5
- Plasticity index
- Liquid limit minus plastic limit.· FHWA NHI-06-088
- SPT N-value
- Blows for the second and third 6-inch increments of a 140-pound hammer falling 30 inches.· FHWA NHI-06-088
- Expansive clay
- Swells and shrinks with seasonal moisture, mostly in the upper 3 to 10 feet.· FHWA NHI-06-088
Subsurface, Surface, and Elevated Piping Work
21% of the exam- Maximum slopes
- Type A 3/4:1, Type B 1:1, Type C 1-1/2:1 for excavations under 20 feet.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1541.1 App. B
- Egress
- Ladders or ramps in trenches 4 feet or deeper, within 25 feet of lateral travel.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1541
- Spoil
- At least 2 feet back from the edge.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1541
- Tolerance zone
- 24 inches each side of the marks; expose facilities by hand or approved vacuum before machines dig there.· Gov. Code 4216, 4216.4
- Water main separation
- 10 feet horizontally and 1 foot above parallel sewers; 4 feet from storm drains.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 22, 64572
- Pressure test
- Caltrans Method A: 125 psi for 1 hour with no more than 5 psi drop.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 20-2.01A(4)(b)
- Stormwater
- Construction disturbing one acre or more needs Construction General Permit coverage.· State Water Board, Order 2022-0057-DWQ
- Tunnel Safety Orders
- Apply to boring and pipe jacking 30 inches or larger and shafts over 20 feet.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 8403
Foundation and Concrete Construction
11% of the exam- Engineer required
- Falsework over 14 feet high, with spans over 16 feet, or with traffic through it needs engineer-signed drawings.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1717
- Stripping
- Forms stay until the concrete can support its weight and superimposed loads.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1717
- Free fall
- No more than 8 feet without pipes, tubes or double belting.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 51-1.03D
- Water cure
- Keep concrete continuously wet for at least 7 days.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 90-1.03B
- No retempering
- Do not add water to partially hardened concrete.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 51-1.03D
- Driven piles
- Impact hammer, at least 1/8 inch per blow at nominal resistance; no vibratory hammers.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 49-2.01C
- CIDH
- Tremie tubes at least 10 inches in diameter, kept in the concrete.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 49-3
Buildings, Structures, and Related Work
9% of the exam- Lockout/tagout
- Stop, de-energize, block and tag equipment whose unexpected start or stored energy could injure someone.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 3314
- Grounding
- At least a No. 8 copper grounding conductor in conduit, bonded to metal components (Caltrans).· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 87
- Asbestos notice
- The NESHAP demolition notice is due 10 working days ahead even if no asbestos is found.· 40 CFR 61.145
- Free-standing walls
- No wall section over one story or 12 feet left without lateral bracing.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1735
- Recycling
- CALGreen requires at least 65% of nonhazardous C&D debris to be recycled or salvaged.· CalRecycle C&D guide
Roadwork and Paving
5% of the exam- Layers
- Base over 0.50 foot is placed in at least two approximately equal layers; no compacted layer over 0.50 foot.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 26-1.03D
- Tolerance
- Finished base within 0.05 foot of grade.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 26-1.03E
- Lime treatment
- Apply above 35 degrees F, keep moisture above optimum, mellow 36 hours, compact to 95%.· Caltrans Standard Specifications 2025, 24-2.03
Safety
18% of the exam- Toolbox meetings
- At least every 10 working days.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1509
- Fall protection
- Required for falls over 7-1/2 feet.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1670
- Overhead lines
- 6 feet general clearance and 10 feet for booms and storage from 600 V-50 kV lines.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 2946
- Tapers
- L = W x S^2 / 60 at 40 mph or less; L = W x S at 45 mph or more.· CA MUTCD 2026, Table 6B-4
- Flaggers
- STOP/SLOW paddle preferred; stations give drivers room to stop.· CA MUTCD 2026, Ch. 6D
- Heat
- Shade above 80 degrees F; high-heat procedures at 95 degrees F.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 3395
- Lead
- PEL 10 and action level 2 micrograms per cubic meter since January 1, 2025.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1532.1
- Confined spaces
- Flammable gas over 10% of the LFL is a hazardous atmosphere.· Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, 1951
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