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Free CRI Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CRI practice test to study every exam domain.

These 10 free CRI questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Certified Radiographic Interpreter blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.

Domain 1: Part A - General Knowledge Examination

Question 1

Which industrial gamma-ray source has a half-life of approximately 74 days?

  1. Cobalt-60
  2. Cesium-137
  3. Iridium-192
  4. Selenium-75
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Iridium-192

Domain 3: Part B - Practical Film Interpretation Examination

Question 2

Per ASME Section V, Article 2, what is the minimum single-film density required in the area of interest for a radiograph made with a GAMMA-ray source?

  1. 1.5
  2. 1.8
  3. 2.0
  4. 2.5
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - 2.0

Question 3

An interpreter wants a technique that will REDUCE the geometric unsharpness of a radiograph. Which change accomplishes this?

  1. Increasing the source (focal-spot) size
  2. Increasing the object-to-film distance
  3. Decreasing the source-to-object distance
  4. Increasing the source-to-object distance
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Increasing the source-to-object distance

Question 4

A weld in material 1 in [25 mm] thick is radiographed. Per ASME Section V, Article 2, the geometric unsharpness must not exceed which value for this thickness?

  1. 0.020 in [0.51 mm]
  2. 0.030 in [0.76 mm]
  3. 0.040 in [1.02 mm]
  4. 0.070 in [1.78 mm]
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - 0.020 in [0.51 mm]

More CRI practice questions

Question 5

While interpreting a radiograph of a steel structural weld to AWS D1.1, the interpreter identifies a crack. What is the correct disposition?

  1. Acceptable if the crack length is below 1/16 in [2 mm]
  2. Acceptable once the surface is ground flush and re-shot
  3. Rejectable - any crack is unacceptable regardless of size or location
  4. Evaluate the crack against the elongated-discontinuity acceptance graph
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Rejectable - any crack is unacceptable regardless of size or location

Question 6

On a GTAW weld radiograph, the interpreter sees a small indication with a sharp outline that is LIGHTER (less dense) than the surrounding weld metal. This is most likely:

  1. A cluster of fine gas porosity
  2. A tungsten inclusion
  3. An elongated slag inclusion
  4. A region of incomplete fusion
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A tungsten inclusion

Question 7

A lead letter "B" is placed on the back of the cassette as a backscatter check. The radiograph is unacceptable for backscatter when:

  1. No image of the "B" appears anywhere on the film
  2. A light image of the "B" appears on a darker background
  3. A dark image of the "B" appears on a lighter background
  4. The "B" appears alongside the location markers
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - A light image of the "B" appears on a darker background

Question 8

While judging a pipeline girth weld to API 1104, the interpreter sees a root indication caused by joint misalignment (high-low). Which abbreviation designates this discontinuity?

  1. IF
  2. IC
  3. IPD
  4. ICP
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - IPD

Question 9

Which welding process carries the specific risk of depositing tungsten inclusions into the weld metal?

  1. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
  2. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
  3. Submerged arc welding (SAW)
  4. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)

Question 10

Before dispositioning any weld as accept or reject, what must the radiographic interpreter confirm FIRST?

  1. That the welder holds a current qualification record
  2. That the weld already passed visual inspection
  3. That the radiograph meets density and IQI sensitivity requirements
  4. That the governing code permits radiographic examination of the joint
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - That the radiograph meets density and IQI sensitivity requirements

The rest of the CRI blueprint

The CRI exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:

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