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Ready to Master the Boiler Exam? Take the Quiz!

Challenge Yourself with Boiler License Exam Questions!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Suraj ShekhawatUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of boiler exam practice quiz sheet pencil and gears on golden yellow background

Use this boiler exam practice quiz to rehearse exam-style questions, review thermodynamics, safety, and troubleshooting, and spot gaps before the test. You'll get quick feedback after each question and can switch to the operator practice quiz or try a focused test for extra reps. Take a few minutes and see where you stand.

In a firetube boiler, the hot gases pass through tubes while water surrounds them.
True
False
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An ASME Section I power boiler is designed to operate at pressures exceeding 15 psig steam.
False
True
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A low-water cutoff is optional on high-pressure steam boilers if a feedwater regulator is installed.
True
False
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The purpose of a deaerator is to remove dissolved oxygen and other gases from feedwater.
False
True
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Watertube boilers store a larger volume of water than firetube boilers of the same steaming capacity.
True
False
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Which code governs repair and alteration of pressure-retaining items after they are placed in service in the United States?
API 510
NBIC (National Board Inspection Code)
NFPA 85
ASME Section VIII
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Induced draft fans create negative pressure in the furnace to help move flue gases through the boiler and out the stack.
False
True
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A gauge glass that is completely clear (no visible water) always proves the boiler is empty.
True
False
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Which reading indicates too little excess air and possible incomplete combustion on an O2 analyzer at the boiler stack?
Stable O2 with low NOx
Moderate O2 with low CO2
High O2 with low CO
Very low O2 with rising CO
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What is the primary purpose of the boiler water expansion tank?
Absorb thermal expansion in hydronic heating systems
Cool down hot condensate before sewer discharge
Collect blowdown for neutralization
Store make-up water for the deaerator
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Which failure mechanism is most associated with intergranular cracking at highly stressed areas (e.g., riveted seams or weld heat-affected zones) due to concentrated caustic under deposits?
Caustic embrittlement
Erosion-corrosion from two-phase flow
Graphitic corrosion
Hydrogen grooving
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Superheaters are used to raise steam temperature above saturation, reducing moisture content for turbine service.
False
True
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Which instrument is best for measuring very low furnace draft pressure at the boiler front?
Bourdon tube high-pressure gauge
Differential thermocouple
Pitot tube flow meter
Inclined manometer
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When performing a boiler light-off, the main fuel valve may be opened before proving pilot flame to reduce purge time.
False
True
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Which efficiency term, calculated by the heat loss method on a higher heating value basis using flue-gas measurements, reflects burner/combustion performance by accounting primarily for stack losses (not overall boiler heat transfer)?
Pump wire-to-water efficiency
Combustion efficiency by heat loss method (HHV)
Turbine isentropic efficiency
Mechanical efficiency of the ID fan
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During a boiler accumulation test, the objective is to verify that safety valves can discharge full steam generation without pressure rising more than code limits above MAWP.
True
False
undefined
Which condition would most likely cause oxygen pitting in a boiler?
High phosphate residual with proper blowdown
Slightly high conductivity in condensate
Elevated silica in the makeup water
Insufficient deaeration and low sulfite residual
undefined
An economizer must be protected against flue gas dewpoint corrosion when firing sulfur-bearing fuels by maintaining exit gas temperatures above the acid dewpoint.
False
True
undefined
Which parameter is directly used in calculating boiler blowdown rate to control cycles of concentration?
Feed pump amperage
Steam header pressure
Stack O2 percentage
Boiler water conductivity compared to makeup conductivity
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For a safety valve, the term blowdown refers to the pressure drop required before the valve will reseat tightly after popping.
False
True
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0

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Boiler System Fundamentals -

    Grasp core boiler principles and components commonly tested on the boiler exam, including types, heat transfer methods, and operational parameters.

  2. Identify Question Formats -

    Recognize the structure of boiler exam questions and answers, from multiple-choice to calculation-based items, to improve test-taking strategies.

  3. Apply Safety and Regulatory Standards -

    Learn to reference P-99 practice test regulations and boiler license exam codes to ensure compliance and safe operation.

  4. Analyze Common Troubleshooting Scenarios -

    Evaluate real-world boiler issues through targeted practice test questions and answers to enhance diagnostic skills.

  5. Evaluate Personal Performance -

    Use instant feedback from practice quizzes to assess strengths and gaps, guiding focused study efforts for the boiler license exam.

  6. Monitor Progress Over Time -

    Track quiz results and improvement trends to build confidence and readiness for the actual boiler exam.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Boiler Classification and Types -

    Understand the differences between fire-tube and water-tube boilers according to ASME PTC-4 and P-99 practice test guidelines, focusing on construction and pressure ratings. Fire-tube boilers pass hot gases through tubes inside a water-filled shell, whereas water-tube designs circulate water in tubes heated externally - a core concept on your boiler license exam.

  2. Heat Transfer and Efficiency Formula -

    Memorize the basic heat transfer equation Q = m·Cp·ΔT (mass × specific heat × temperature change) for calculating boiler output, as outlined in university engineering texts like MIT OpenCourseWare. Use the mnemonic "CLEF" (Combustion, Losses, Efficiency, Feedwater) to recall key factors affecting thermal efficiency when tackling boiler exam questions and answers.

  3. Safety Controls and Trip Devices -

    Familiarize yourself with safety controls such as low-water cutoffs, pressure relief valves, and flame safeguard systems per NFPA 85 and ASME standards, since they are frequent P-99 practice test topics. Knowing the proper operation sequence and setpoints boosts confidence when answering boiler test questions about emergency shutdown procedures.

  4. Steam Properties & Thermodynamics -

    Use steam tables to determine enthalpy (h), entropy (s), and dryness fraction (x), where h = hf + x·hfg, a formula you'll see on many boiler exam practice questions. Regular drills with sample calculations help you quickly extract values from saturated steam tables, a skill highlighted in engineering journals and your boiler license exam prep.

  5. Water Treatment & Corrosion Prevention -

    Review boiler water chemistry parameters like pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and oxygen levels, referencing Babcock & Wilcox resources, to prevent scale and corrosion. Apply the mnemonic "COPS" (Cycles of concentration, Oxygen scavengers, pH control, Silica limits) when studying p-99 practice test items on chemical treatment programs.

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