NDT practice test by method (UT, MT, PT)

What each General exam tests

Under ASNT's NDT Level II route, each method has a General exam of 50 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, plus a Specific exam for an industry sector. The topics below are the ones the General outline for each method lists. ASNT publishes no percentage weights, so practice all of them.

Free practice for each method

Each method has the same three pieces: a free 10-question check that scores you by topic, an 18-question quiz you can drill one topic at a time, and a guide that turns your misses into a study plan. Every answer is explained, and every question is original practice written for Angle Beam, not an ASNT question.

The checks cover the General exam only. RT and VT are not covered yet, and neither are the Specific exams. Not sure which method to start with? Read which NDT method to certify in first and the methods comparison.

To practice UT on paper, print the free UT class quiz (PDF), with an answer key on page 2 and no email.

One sample question per method

Cover the answer, work the question, then read the explanation. These three are written for this page and are not from any exam.

UT sample: skip distance

Question. You scan a 20 mm thick plate weld with a 60 degree shear wave probe. What is the full skip distance on the surface, measured from the probe index to where the beam returns to the top surface after one bounce off the back wall?

• A. 34.6 mm
• B. 69.3 mm
• C. 40.0 mm
• D. 138.6 mm

Answer: B. The beam travels down to the back wall and up again, so the surface distance is twice the thickness times the tangent of the beam angle: 2 x 20 mm x tan 60 degrees = 40 x 1.732 = 69.3 mm. A is half skip, the distance to the back wall only. C uses tan 45 degrees, the wrong angle. D is two full skips. Confirm the convention against your procedure; the skip distance calculator lets you check your hand work.

MT sample: field direction

Question. A steel shaft is suspected of a crack that runs along its length, parallel to the axis. Which field gives the strongest indication?

• A. A longitudinal field from a coil around the shaft
• B. A circular field from passing current through the shaft end to end
• C. Either field, because particles gather on any crack
• D. A demagnetizing field

Answer: B. A flaw shows best when the field crosses it at close to a right angle. Current along the shaft makes a field that circles the axis, so it crosses a crack that runs along the length. A coil makes a field that runs along the shaft, parallel to the crack, which gives a weak or no indication. C is wrong because direction decides sensitivity. D is wrong because demagnetizing is what you do after testing, not a way to find flaws. The MT field direction guide goes deeper.

PT sample: removing excess penetrant

Question. A technician is removing excess solvent-removable penetrant and sprays solvent directly onto the part to speed things up. What is the main risk?

• A. The developer will not stick to the part
• B. The solvent may flush penetrant out of shallow flaws, so real indications are missed
• C. The part will fail the dwell requirement
• D. Nothing, spraying is the preferred method

Answer: B. Solvent flooding can dissolve and carry away penetrant that has entered a tight or shallow opening, so the flaw shows weakly or not at all. The usual approach is to wipe the surface with a clean cloth, then a lightly dampened one. A and C do not follow from over-removal. D is wrong for solvent-removable systems, and your procedure sets the approved steps. The PT process control guide covers this step.

How to read a practice score

• Look at the topic, not the total. Ten questions are a small sample. The total is a rough signal, and the weakest topic is the useful part.
• Sort each miss. Was it physics or principle, geometry or setup, calculation, or judgment about a reading? Each type needs a different fix.
• Do not repeat a set until you remember the answers. A repeat score can reflect memory, not skill. Explain each answer aloud without the choices in front of you.
• Retest the weak topic, not the whole set. The quizzes let you drill one topic at a time.

What a practice test cannot tell you

A practice score does not predict your exam result, and no practice set covers every item the exam can ask. It does not replace your employer's written practice, your training and experience hours, or the Specific exam for your sector. For requirements and fees, use the Level II requirements guide and the exam-day guide.

Why we only publish original questions

Candidates sign agreements with the exam body not to share exam questions, and a memorized list of answers teaches you nothing you can use on the job. Every question here is original, written to the published ASNT outline, with an explanation of why the right answer is right and why each wrong one is wrong. If you find an error, report it and it is fixed.

Pick a method and start

Start the free 10-question UT check and see your score by topic with your weakest one named. It takes a few minutes and needs no signup or card. Taking MT or PT instead? Start the free MT check or the PT check. The full course adds timed practice exams, a lesson for each published topic and a study plan built from your exam date.

FAQ

Are these real ASNT exam questions?

No. Every question is original practice written for Angle Beam to the published ASNT outline, and every answer is explained.

Is the NDT practice test free?

Yes. UT, MT and PT each have a free 10-question check that scores you by topic and needs no signup, plus an 18-question quiz you can drill one topic at a time.

Is there a free NDT practice test PDF?

Yes, for UT. Print our free UT Level 2 practice quiz (PDF): original questions with an answer key on page 2, and no email. Taking MT or PT? Start with the free 10-question check for your method in the table above, which scores you by topic.

Does a practice score predict my exam result?

No. Ten questions are a small sample, so use the score to find your weakest topic and retest that topic rather than the whole set.

Which exams do the practice tests cover?

The General exam for UT, MT and PT. RT, VT and the Specific exams are not covered yet.

Sources

Show the list

• ASNT NDT Level II examinations, the published outlines and exam format.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by ASNT.