How the drill works
Each set serves all 30 questions in a shuffled order, with the four options shuffled too. Each question shows the sheet it is about, and every sheet has a text description with all of its values, so you can work it without seeing the drawing. On a phone the sheet runs the full width of the screen; tap a sheet or its zoom button to read it at twice the size, then drag to move around it. Check your answer and the explanation shows where on the sheet to look, the arithmetic worked twice, and the slip behind each wrong option.
Your score is one point per question, out of 30. At the end you see your misses by skill: quantity takeoff, slope, invert and elevation arithmetic, schedule lookup, coordination conflicts. Hit New shuffle for a fresh order. Use the set number if you report an error.
Worked examples
Example 1: the slope of pipe P2 from its inverts
Step 1: find the run on C-201. P2 runs from CB-2 south to MH-1. Step 2: read the structure table, CB-2 invert out 95.30 and MH-1 invert in 94.90. Step 3: subtract for the fall, 95.30 - 94.90 = 0.40 ft. Step 4: divide by the 80 LF in the pipe table, 0.40 ÷ 80 = 0.005, or 0.50%. That matches the table. Check it the other way: 80 x 0.50% = 0.40 ft, and 95.30 - 0.40 = 94.90.
Example 2: will the Level 2 ceilings fit?
Step 1: read the floor-to-floor string on A-301, 12'-8" from Level 2 to Level 3. Step 2: take off the structure, 2'-6" from top of slab to underside of joists, leaving 10'-2". Step 3: compare it with the 9'-0" ceilings the finish schedule gives Office 201 and File 202. They fit, with 1'-2" left for ducts and pipes. Check it by elevation: Level 3 at 126'-8" less 2'-6" is 124'-2", and the ceilings sit at 114'-0" + 9'-0" = 123'-0", 1'-2" lower. Do this for every room. When a ceiling does not fit, write down both numbers and ask with a request for information (RFI).
The three practice sheets
Every sheet is invented for study and labeled as a practice drawing. All three show the same 60 ft by 40 ft building, so you can check one sheet against another. The scale notes hold on a full-size print only, so use the written dimensions.
A-301: Building section and finish schedule
Text description of sheet A-301
Practice sheet A-301, building section, scale 1/8 in = 1 ft on a full-size print. The section is cut east to west through the 60'-0" wide building, looking north. Grid line 1 is the west wall, grid line 2 is 36'-0" east of it and grid line 3 is the east wall; the bottom dimension string reads 36'-0" and 24'-0", overall 60'-0". Level tags, top of slab or deck: level 1 100'-0", level 2 114'-0", level 3 126'-8", roof 139'-4"; top of parapet 142'-10". The floor-to-floor string on the west side reads 14'-0", 12'-8" and 12'-8", overall 39'-4", and the parapet is dimensioned 3'-0" above the roof deck. Rooms, west to east: level 1 retail 101 and lobby 102; level 2 office 201 and file 202; level 3 training 301 and storage 302. West rooms are 36'-0" wide and east rooms 24'-0". Finish schedule: room 101 retail, floor SC (sealed concrete), base RB-1 (rubber base, 4 in), walls PNT-1 (paint, field color), ceiling ACT-1 (2x2 acoustical ceiling tile) at 10'-0"; room 102 lobby, floor PT-1 (porcelain tile), base PT-1 (porcelain tile), walls PNT-1 (paint, field color), ceiling GWB (painted gypsum board) at 10'-0"; room 201 office, floor CPT-1 (carpet tile, 24 x 24), base RB-1 (rubber base, 4 in), walls PNT-1 (paint, field color), ceiling ACT-1 (2x2 acoustical ceiling tile) at 9'-0"; room 202 file, floor VCT-1 (vinyl composition tile, 12 x 12), base RB-1 (rubber base, 4 in), walls PNT-1 (paint, field color), ceiling ACT-1 (2x2 acoustical ceiling tile) at 9'-0"; room 301 training, floor CPT-1 (carpet tile, 24 x 24), base RB-1 (rubber base, 4 in), walls PNT-2 (paint, accent color), ceiling ACT-1 (2x2 acoustical ceiling tile) at 10'-6"; room 302 storage, floor SC (sealed concrete), base none, walls PNT-1 (paint, field color), ceiling exposed structure, no height. Notes: every room runs the full 40'-0" building depth, north to south. Floor and roof structure at levels 2 and 3 and the roof is 2'-6" deep, top of slab or deck to underside of joists. The roof deck is level; tapered insulation is 1 in thick at the roof drain on the center line, 30'-0" from each wall, and rises 1/4 in per foot to each wall. Ceiling heights are above finished floor.
C-201: Site utility plan with pipe and structure tables
Text description of sheet C-201
Practice sheet C-201, site utility plan, scale 1 in = 40 ft on a full-size print. Elevations are in feet; inverts are pipe flow lines. The building, the same 60'-0" by 40'-0" building as A-301, sits at the north of the lot. Storm: catch basin CB-1 east of the building drains west through P1 to CB-2, then south through P2 to storm manhole MH-1, then west through P3 to the existing storm main in the west street, connecting at invert 94.50. Sanitary: cleanout CO-1 at the east wall drains east through P4 to manhole SMH-1, then south through P5 to SMH-2, then south through P6 to the existing sanitary main in the south street, connecting at invert 93.90. Plan note: P1 crosses P5 40 ft downstream of CB-1 and 50 ft downstream of SMH-1. Trench width 3'-0". Pipe table: P1, CB-1 to CB-2, 12 in RCP, 120 LF, slope 0.50%; P2, CB-2 to MH-1, 15 in RCP, 80 LF, slope 0.50%; P3, MH-1 to EX. STORM, 15 in RCP, 60 LF, slope 1.00%; P4, CO-1 to SMH-1, 6 in PVC, 60 LF, slope 2.00%; P5, SMH-1 to SMH-2, 8 in PVC, 100 LF, slope 1.00%; P6, SMH-2 to EX. SAN, 8 in PVC, 60 LF, slope not given. Structure table: CB-1, catch basin, rim 98.50, invert in none, invert out 96.00; CB-2, catch basin, rim 98.40, invert in 95.40, invert out 95.30; MH-1, storm manhole, rim 98.80, invert in 94.90, invert out 94.80; CO-1, cleanout, rim not given, invert in none, invert out 97.20; SMH-1, san. manhole, rim 99.00, invert in 96.00, invert out 95.90; SMH-2, san. manhole, rim 98.60, invert in 94.90, invert out 94.80. RCP = reinforced concrete pipe, PVC = polyvinyl chloride pipe, LF = linear feet, EX. = existing.
E-101: Electrical and fire protection plan
Text description of sheet E-101
Practice sheet E-101, level 1 electrical and fire protection plan, scale 1/8 in = 1 ft on a full-size print, the same building as A-301. Dimensions are to wall centerlines: Retail 101 is the west 36'-0" and Lobby 102 the east 24'-0", both 40'-0" north to south. Lighting: in Retail 101, 9 type A troffers in 3 rows of 3, at 6, 18 and 30 ft east and 10, 20 and 30 ft south. In Lobby 102, 6 type B downlights: five at 42 and 54 ft east and 10, 20 and 30 ft south, with the one at 54 ft east drawn at 25 ft south instead of 30. Sprinklers: a fire riser in the northeast corner of Lobby 102 feeds a cross main along the north wall and a branch line south down each column of heads. Heads sit at 6, 18 and 30 ft east in Retail 101, tagged SP-1, and at 42 and 54 ft east in Lobby 102, tagged SP-2, each at 5, 15, 25 and 35 ft south: 12 SP-1 and 8 SP-2. Receptacles, duplex, each tagged with its LP-1 circuit: 4 on circuit 2 in Retail 101, 4 on circuit 4 in Retail 101, 3 on circuit 6 in Lobby 102 and 1 on circuit 7 in Lobby 102. Equipment: the exterior sign on the north wall on circuit 5, water heater EWH-1 in Lobby 102 on circuit 8, the fire alarm panel FACP on the east wall on circuit 9, and panel LP-1 on the east wall of Lobby 102. Panel LP-1 schedule, 120/208 V, every circuit 1-pole at 120 V: circuit 1, lighting, retail 101, 360 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 2, recept., retail 101, 720 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 3, lighting, lobby 102, 120 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 4, recept., retail 101, 720 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 5, exterior sign, 1,200 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 6, recept., lobby 102, 540 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 7, spare, no load, 20 A breaker; circuit 8, water heater ewh-1, 2,700 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 9, fire alarm panel facp, 360 VA, 20 A breaker; circuit 10, spare, no load, 20 A breaker. Fixture schedule: A, 2x4 led troffer, recessed, 40 W; B, 6 in led downlight, 20 W. Sprinkler head schedule: SP-1, pendent, quick response, chrome, 155 F; SP-2, concealed pendent, quick response, white cover, 155 F. Notes: receptacles 180 VA each. Ceilings 10'-0" above finished floor, ACT in Retail 101 and gypsum board in Lobby 102 (see A-301); level 1 top of slab 100'-0". Sprinkler branch lines run 1'-0" above the ceiling. VA = volt-amperes, FACP = fire alarm control panel, EWH = electric water heater.
Practice the arithmetic behind the trench and cubic-yard takeoffs with the cut and fill calculator and the concrete yardage calculator. For a floor plan, a wall section and a site plan, go back to the first plan-reading drill; for foundations, roof framing and ceilings, the second. The NASCLA exam outline shows how the twelve subject areas are weighted.
NASCLA plan-reading drill 3 FAQ
Are these sheets like the packet handed out at the test center?
We cannot say, and we do not claim they are. PSI's bulletin lists a physical diagram/blueprint packet to be handed out onsite at the testing center and says nothing about what is in it. We have not seen it. These three sheets are our own invented practice drawings, built to practice reading drawings in general.
Why do some sheets have mistakes on them?
On purpose. Seven questions ask you to find where a sheet disagrees with itself: a level tag that differs from its dimension, a ceiling scheduled higher than the structure allows, a pipe slope that differs from its inverts, two pipes that cross at the same elevation, a receptacle on a spare circuit, a load larger than its breaker, and a light drawn on a sprinkler head. Real drawing sets carry slips like these. The habit is to check, write down both numbers and ask, not to pick one.
How do I read the sheets on a phone?
Each sheet runs the full width of the screen and is drawn so its text is close to full size there. Tap a sheet or its zoom button to read it at twice the size, then drag to move around it. Every sheet also has a text description with all of its values. Do not measure the screen: the scale notes hold only on a full-size print, so questions that need a measurement give it to you.