United States
Hong KongHow to eliminate wrong answers
Establish which activity the question describes before looking at the options. Most distractors are correct figures from a different activity - the general fall protection height in a steel erection question, for instance.
With 34 wrong answers available you do not need to be certain of everything. You need to be efficient about what you are unsure of.
Establish the activity first
Before reading options, work out what is happening. Scaffold or steel erection. Trench or general excavation. Public work or private.
Most distractors are correct figures from a neighboring activity, and identifying the activity removes them immediately.
| If the question is about | The distractor is usually |
|---|---|
| Steel erection at 15 feet | The general 6-foot trigger |
| Type C soil slope | The Type A or B slope |
| A payment bond on public work | A mechanics lien |
| Margin on price | The markup on cost |
Watch the units
Cubic feet against cubic yards. Inches against feet. Tons per square foot against pounds per square inch.
An option with the right number in the wrong unit is a deliberate trap, and it catches people working quickly.
Construction standards contain plenty of genuine absolutes - protruding rebar must be guarded, an attendant never enters a permit space. Do not eliminate an option just because it says always or never.
On calculations, work first
Compute your answer before looking at the options. The plausible wrong figures are there precisely to be worked backwards from.
Mark and move
Answer something, mark it, move on. On a 330-minute paper the temptation is to think a hard question is affordable. It is affordable once, not eleven times.
Common questions
How do I eliminate wrong answers on the NASCLA exam?
Establish which activity the question describes first. Most distractors are correct figures from a different activity.
What should I watch in the options?
Units. Cubic feet against cubic yards, inches against feet, and the right number in the wrong unit.
Are absolute options usually wrong?
Less reliably than on other exams. Construction standards contain genuine absolutes.
Should I read options before calculating?
No. Compute first, because the plausible wrong figures exist to be worked backwards from.
What if I am stuck?
Answer something, mark it and move on. A hard question is affordable once, not eleven times.