CCIL Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CCIL exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 CCIL Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CCIL Topics to Study (69)
✍️ Sample CCIL Questions & Answers
1. Which accelerated chemical test per ASTM C1260 evaluates mortar bar expansion to assess potential alkali-silica reactivity (ASR)?
ASTM C1260 measures mortar bar expansion after immersion in 1N NaOH solution at 80°C for 16 days, providing accelerated assessment of ASR potential.
2. The Los Angeles abrasion and impact test (ASTM C131/C535) uses steel spheres as a charge. For coarse aggregate larger than 37.5 mm, which charge size and test method designation applies?
ASTM C535 covers the Los Angeles abrasion test for large-size coarse aggregate (larger than 19 mm up to 75 mm) and uses 12 steel spheres as the abrasive charge.
3. In Superpave mix design, which sieve size is used to distinguish between surface and base course nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) classifications?
The 12.5 mm sieve is a common NMAS boundary; mixes with NMAS ≤ 12.5 mm are typically used for surface courses.
4. A sample arrives at the laboratory with a broken seal. According to best practices, the laboratory should:
Broken seals compromise sample integrity; proper documentation and client notification are required before any analytical decision.
5. How long must a concrete cylinder remain undisturbed in its mold after casting before it can be transported to the lab?
Per ASTM C31, cylinders must remain undisturbed for 8 to 48 hours depending on the set time of the concrete before being transported.
6. In Superpave, what is the purpose of selecting trial binder contents bracketing the estimated optimum?
By testing three or more binder contents, the designer plots air voids, VMA, and VFA versus binder content and interpolates the optimum at 4% air voids, then checks all other criteria.