• 50 questions

NOCTI Masonry Practice Test

Unofficial practice for NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick: safety, mortar, layout, bonds, arches, chimneys, flashing, trade math and repointing.

Above what height must a masonry wall be braced against overturning until its permanent supports are in place?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 52 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with NOCTI. Bank checked October 16, 2026.

Next step Weak on safety rules? OSHA 10 questionsAnother NOCTI test: Carpentry

All 50 questions

Safety 5

  • A masonry wall will stand 12 feet high when it is finished. How far out from the wall must the limited access zone reach? OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.706, paragraph (a)(2). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Safety; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • Above what height must a masonry wall be braced against overturning until its permanent supports are in place? OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.706, paragraph (b). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Safety
  • Brick is being cut on a stationary masonry saw. Which dust control does OSHA's silica table list for that saw? OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.1153, Table 1. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Safety
  • How many tiers high may a bricklayers' square scaffold be built? OSHA, 29 CFR 1926.452, paragraph (e)(4). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Safety
  • The paddles of a mortar mixer jam, and a mason locks out its power to clear them. Who takes that lock off afterward? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.147, paragraph (e)(3). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Safety
Show all 50 questions (45 more)

Craft Knowledge 4

  • How do most professional bricklayers learn the trade? Wikipedia, Bricklayer. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Craft Knowledge
  • In masonry terms, what is a wythe? Wikipedia, Wythe. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Craft Knowledge
  • What is the frog of a brick? Wikipedia, Brickwork. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Craft Knowledge
  • What were the earliest bricks made of? Wikipedia, Brick, Middle East and South Asia. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Craft Knowledge

Hand and Power Tools 3

  • A brick bolster is tapped along the cut line, then struck hard in the center. What kind of blade does it have? Wikipedia, Chisel, Stone. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Hand and Power Tools
  • Which hand-held power tool takes cut-off discs and is used predominantly on metal and masonry? Wikipedia, Angle grinder, Uses. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Hand and Power Tools
  • Which trowel is point-nosed and made for spreading mortar on brick or block? Wikipedia, Masonry trowel. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Hand and Power Tools

Materials 3

  • A concrete block is nominally 16 inches long. What is its actual length? Wikipedia, Concrete block, Sizes and structure. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Materials; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • Of mortar Types M, S, N and O, which is the strongest? Wikipedia, Mortar (masonry), Ordinary Portland cement mortar. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Materials
  • Which type of Portland cement has relatively high early strength? Wikipedia, Portland cement, ASTM C150. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Materials

Blueprints and Specifications 2

  • The mortar type and brick grade for a job are written out, not drawn. In which contract document does a mason look for them? Wikipedia, Specification (technical standard). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Blueprints and Specifications
  • On a foundation plan, the edge of a footing hidden below the wall is drawn with short dashes. What do short-dashed lines show? Wikipedia, Engineering drawing, Line styles and types. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Blueprints and Specifications

Project Layout 6

  • A mason marks 12 feet along one wall line and 16 feet along the other. How long is the diagonal between the marks when the corner is square? Wikipedia, Pythagorean triple. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout; the arithmetic was worked twice
  • Every course of a wall shows one stretcher between headers, each header centered over a stretcher below. Which bond is this? Wikipedia, Brickwork, Flemish bond. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout
  • In which bond is every brick a stretcher, with each course offset half a stretcher from the course below? Wikipedia, Brickwork, Running bond, or stretcher bond. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout
  • What does a mason mark on a story pole? Wikipedia, Storey pole. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout
  • What is another name for a control joint? Wikipedia, Expansion joint, Comparison to control joints. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout
  • Which form of anchor bolt is the simplest and the strongest? Wikipedia, Anchor bolt, Cast-in-place. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Project Layout

Brick 11

  • A brick lies on its long narrow side with its broad face showing. What is it called? Wikipedia, Brickwork, Orientation. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • A brick stands on end with its long narrow side showing in the face of the wall. What is this position called? Wikipedia, Brickwork, Orientation. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • A jack arch spans an opening where a lintel could. How does it carry the load differently? Wikipedia, Flat arch. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • What do wall ties do in a cavity wall? Wikipedia, Tie (cavity wall). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • What does a header do in a brick wall that is two wythes thick? Wikipedia, Masonry, Bonds and patterns. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • What is a queen closer? Wikipedia, Brickwork, Cut. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • Which laying pattern for pavers gives the most interlock, and so suits a driveway? Wikipedia, Pavers (flooring), Block paving. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • Which mortar joint is tooled with a curved steel jointer and is very effective at resisting rain? Wikipedia, Mortar joint, Types of joints. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • Which unit is placed last, at the top of a masonry arch, and locks the others in position? Wikipedia, Keystone (architecture). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • While building a corner lead, a mason holds a spirit level upright against the brickwork. What does the bubble show? Wikipedia, Spirit level. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick
  • Why is a struck joint a poor choice for an exterior wall? Wikipedia, Mortar joint, Types of joints. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Brick

Fireplaces and Chimneys 5

  • What does the damper in a chimney flue do when the fireplace is not in use? Wikipedia, Damper (flow). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Fireplaces and Chimneys
  • What is a chimney cricket for? Wikipedia, Cricket (roofing). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Fireplaces and Chimneys
  • What is one job of a flue liner in a chimney? Wikipedia, Chimney, Residential flue liners. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Fireplaces and Chimneys
  • Which brick lines a firebox because it withstands extremely high temperatures? Wikipedia, Fire brick. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Fireplaces and Chimneys
  • Why do the top courses of a corbelled brick chimney crown project outward? Wikipedia, Fireplace. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Fireplaces and Chimneys

Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation 3

  • In modern cavity wall construction, where does a continuous layer of insulation go? Wikipedia, Cavity wall, Components. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation
  • What is a reglet? Wikipedia, Flashing (weatherproofing). Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation
  • Where do the weep holes of a brick veneer wall go? Wikipedia, Weep hole. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation

Math and Measurements 4

  • A block wall is 40 feet long. How many nominal 16-inch blocks does one course take? Written to the NOCTI Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Math and Measurements; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question, worked twice
  • A brick wall is 24 feet long and 9 feet high. At 7 bricks per square foot, how many bricks does it take, before waste? Written to the NOCTI Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Math and Measurements; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question, worked twice
  • A plan gives a wall height of 104 inches. What is that in feet and inches? Written to the NOCTI Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Math and Measurements; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question, worked twice
  • Three courses of modular brick with their joints rise 8 inches. How many courses reach a height of 4 feet? Wikipedia, Brick, Optimal dimensions, characteristics, and strength. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Math and Measurements; the arithmetic was worked twice

Masonry Structure Maintenance 2

  • Before a joint is repointed, how deep should the old mortar be cut out? National Park Service, Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings, Joint Preparation. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Masonry Structure Maintenance
  • Which group of methods for cleaning dirt from old masonry is generally the gentlest? National Park Service, Preservation Brief 1: Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings, Water Cleaning. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Masonry Structure Maintenance

Professionalism 2

  • A foreman explains the day's layout, and a mason puts the key points in his own words to confirm them. Which skill is the mason using? Wikipedia, Active listening. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Professionalism
  • A mason pricing a job for a homeowner is also paid a commission by the brick supplier he recommends. What is this situation called? Wikipedia, Conflict of interest. Written to NOCTI Construction Masonry-Brick (4125), Professionalism

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the competency list of the Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Construction Masonry-Brick (code 4125, version 01, copyright 2011) that NOCTI publishes at https://www.nocti.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/JRConsMasBrick4125.pdf , read 2026-10-16: a written assessment of 172 questions in 3 hours over twelve areas (Safety 10%; Craft Knowledge 8%; Hand and Power Tools 5%; Materials 6%; Blueprints and Specifications 5%; Project Layout 12%; Brick 22%; Fireplaces and Chimneys 9%; Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation 6%; Math and Measurements 9%; Masonry Structure Maintenance 4%; Professionalism 4%), plus a performance assessment of three jobs. This bank holds 50 in those proportions. Every rule and definition was read on 2026-10-16 on the public page named under its question: OSHA construction standards in 29 CFR 1926 on osha.gov (masonry construction, 1926.706, among them), the lockout standard at 29 CFR 1910.147, National Park Service Preservation Briefs 1 and 2, and Wikipedia. Every length and count in a sum is made up for the drill, and each computed answer is arithmetic that was worked twice. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This free NOCTI masonry practice test has 50 questions of our own, sorted by the twelve areas of the Job Ready blueprint that NOCTI titles Construction Masonry-Brick, code 4125. It is unofficial and not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by NOCTI.

Read the full guide

Twelve areas, and Brick leads

Brick is 22% of the written assessment and Project Layout 12%. Safety is 10%, Fireplaces and Chimneys and Math and Measurements 9% each, Craft Knowledge 8%, Materials and Flashing, Weeps, and Insulation 6% each, Hand and Power Tools and Blueprints and Specifications 5% each, Masonry Structure Maintenance and Professionalism 4% each.

52 minutes for 50

That is the pace of the written assessment. No pass mark is printed in the blueprint, so a timed round ends in a score with no verdict.

Laid in the shop

The three performance jobs are not practiced here: a job layout, a brick wall or pier in running bond, and jointing the finished work.

  • The limited access zone beside a wall under construction is the wall's height plus 4 feet, on the side with no scaffold.
  • Three courses of modular brick with 3/8-inch joints rise 8 inches, so 18 courses make 4 feet.
  • Any multiple of 3-4-5 squares a corner: 6-8-10 or 9-12-15.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the NOCTI Masonry test?

The Job Ready blueprint for Construction Masonry-Brick, code 4125, lists 172 written questions in 3 hours, given in one, two or three sessions. The three performance jobs take another 3 hours and 10 minutes.

What is on the NOCTI Masonry test?

Scaffold, ladder and lockout safety; craft history and terms; tools; mortars, cements and unit sizes; plans and specifications; layout, bonds and control joints; brick positions, pavers, ties, lintels and arches; fireplaces and chimneys; flashing and weeps; trade math; repointing and cleaning; professionalism.

Is this also practice for the NOCTI Teacher test in masonry?

Partly. The Teacher assessment, Mason/Masonry, code 5933, has its own outline: nine areas and 194 questions in 3 hours, with Blocklaying Techniques at 19%. Safety, tools, brick bonds, chimneys and arches are on both; block leads, piers and parging are not practiced here.

Where is the NOCTI Masonry blueprint?

On nocti.org/credentials/blueprints, listed as Construction Masonry-Brick: a free PDF with the competencies, the share of each area, ten sample questions and a sample job. None of the samples is used or reworded on this page.

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