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FE · 10% of the exam

Geotechnical Engineering practice questions

10 free Geotechnical Engineering questions for the FE Civil Exam (FE) exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question FE quiz

What this domain covers

One of the three largest domains: soil properties and classification, stresses in soil, strength and settlement, and the design of foundations, retaining structures and slopes.

Exam weight
10%
On a real exam
≈ 11 questions
In our bank
60 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Phase relationships and soil classification
  • Effective stress and consolidation settlement
  • Shear strength and lab and field tests
  • Bearing capacity and foundation types
  • Lateral earth pressure and slope stability

How to study it

Practise phase-relationship problems until moving between void ratio, water content, saturation and unit weight is automatic; many longer geotechnical problems start there.

Sample Geotechnical Engineering questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    A soil has w = 30%, PL = 20 and PI = 20. Its liquidity index is:

    • A1.5
    • B0.5
    • C2.0
    • D0.67
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 0.5

    • AIncorrect. Subtract the plastic limit.
    • BCorrect. LI = (w − PL)/PI = 10/20.
    • CIncorrect. Recheck the formula.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the formula.

  2. Question 2

    A flow net has 4 flow channels and 8 equipotential drops. With k = 1 × 10⁻⁵ m/s and a head loss of 10 m, seepage per meter of width is:

    • A2 × 10⁻⁴ m³/s
    • B5 × 10⁻⁵ m³/s
    • C5 × 10⁻⁶ m³/s
    • D4 × 10⁻⁴ m³/s
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 5 × 10⁻⁵ m³/s

    • AIncorrect. Use \(N_f/N_d\), not \(N_d/N_f\).
    • BCorrect. \(q = kH N_f/N_d = 10^{-5}(10)(4/8)\).
    • CIncorrect. Recheck the head term.
    • DIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.

  3. Question 3

    Liquefaction during earthquakes is most likely in:

    • ALoose, saturated, clean sands
    • BDense, dry gravels
    • CStiff, overconsolidated clays
    • DUnweathered bedrock
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Loose, saturated, clean sands

    • ACorrect. Shaking raises pore pressure.
    • BIncorrect. They resist liquefaction.
    • CIncorrect. They rarely liquefy.
    • DIncorrect. Rock doesn't liquefy.

  4. Question 4

    A soil has w = 20%, Gs = 2.70 and e = 0.60. Its degree of saturation is:

    • A100%
    • B54%
    • C33%
    • D90%
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 90%

    • AIncorrect. Recheck the calculation.
    • BIncorrect. Divide by the void ratio.
    • CIncorrect. Recheck the formula.
    • DCorrect. \(S = wG_s/e = 0.20(2.70)/0.60\).

  5. Question 5

    A soil has a moist unit weight of 19 kN/m³ and a water content of 15%. Its dry unit weight is about:

    • A16.2 kN/m³
    • B21.9 kN/m³
    • C19.0 kN/m³
    • D16.5 kN/m³
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) 16.5 kN/m³

    Water content is the ratio of water weight to dry solids weight, so γd = γ/(1 + w) = 19/1.15 ≈ 16.5 kN/m³.

    • AIncorrect. This takes 15% off the moist unit weight (19 × 0.85). Water content is measured against the dry weight, so you divide by 1 + w.
    • BIncorrect. This multiplies by 1.15. Dry unit weight must be lower than moist unit weight.
    • CIncorrect. This treats the moist unit weight as the dry unit weight and ignores the weight of the water.
    • DCorrect. γd = γ/(1 + w) = 19/1.15 ≈ 16.5 kN/m³.

  6. Question 6

    For the same soil and wall height, at-rest earth pressure is generally:

    • ABetween active and passive pressure
    • BLess than active pressure
    • CGreater than passive pressure
    • DEqual to passive pressure
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Between active and passive pressure

    • ACorrect. It applies when the wall doesn't move.
    • BIncorrect. Active is the minimum.
    • CIncorrect. Passive is the maximum.
    • DIncorrect. They differ.

  7. Question 7

    Secondary compression of clay occurs:

    • ABefore any load is applied
    • BAfter excess pore pressure dissipates
    • COnly in clean sands
    • DOnly during earthquakes
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) After excess pore pressure dissipates

    • AIncorrect. It follows loading.
    • BCorrect. It's a creep-like process.
    • CIncorrect. It's mainly in clays and organic soils.
    • DIncorrect. It's a long-term process.

  8. Question 8

    A clay has a liquid limit of 45 and a plastic limit of 20. Its plasticity index is:

    • A65
    • B25
    • C2.25
    • D20
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 25

    • AIncorrect. Subtract, don't add.
    • BCorrect. PI = LL − PL.
    • CIncorrect. Subtract, don't divide.
    • DIncorrect. That's the plastic limit.

  9. Question 9

    For a cohesionless soil with φ = 36°, the Rankine active earth pressure coefficient is about:

    • A3.85
    • B0.26
    • C0.41
    • D0.51
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) 0.26

    Rankine active pressure for a cohesionless soil: Ka = tan²(45° − φ/2) = tan²27° ≈ 0.26. It is smaller than both K0 (≈0.41) and Kp (≈3.85).

    • AIncorrect. This is the Rankine passive coefficient, Kp = tan²(45° + φ/2) = tan²63° ≈ 3.85.
    • BCorrect. Ka = tan²(45° − φ/2) = tan²27° = (1 − sin36°)/(1 + sin36°) ≈ 0.26.
    • CIncorrect. This is the Jaky at-rest coefficient, K0 = 1 − sin36° ≈ 0.41, not the active coefficient.
    • DIncorrect. This is tan27° ≈ 0.51. The tangent was not squared.

  10. Question 10

    If the water table rises from deep below to the ground surface, the effective stress at a given depth generally:

    • ADecreases
    • BIncreases
    • CStays exactly the same
    • DBecomes negative everywhere
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Decreases

    • ACorrect. Higher pore pressure carries more of the load.
    • BIncorrect. Pore pressure reduces effective stress.
    • CIncorrect. Pore pressure changes it.
    • DIncorrect. It decreases but usually stays positive.

Geotechnical Engineering: FAQs

How much of the FE exam is Geotechnical Engineering?

Geotechnical Engineering is 10% of the FE exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 110-question form works out to roughly 11 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Geotechnical Engineering domain cover?

One of the three largest domains: soil properties and classification, stresses in soil, strength and settlement, and the design of foundations, retaining structures and slopes.

How should I study Geotechnical Engineering for FE?

Practise phase-relationship problems until moving between void ratio, water content, saturation and unit weight is automatic; many longer geotechnical problems start there.

Where can I practise more Geotechnical Engineering questions?

This page has 10 free Geotechnical Engineering questions with answers. The ExamWize FE question bank has 60 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other FE topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the FE cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Geotechnical Engineering exam-ready

The full FE bank has 60 Geotechnical Engineering questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full FE practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with NCEES; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.