ITI Draughtsman Civil Viva Questions and Answers
In the draughtsman civil practical, you draw a plan, elevation or section, and the examiner then asks you to explain it: which scale you used, what each line means, and how the building is put together. These are the questions asked most often, with short answers you can say in the viva.
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Your drawing first: correct scale, line types, dimensions, title block and lettering. Then your understanding of building materials, construction details, surveying and AutoCAD.
Draughtsman civil viva questions with answers
Drawing basics
Which scale did you use for your building plan, and why?
Usually 1:100 for a building plan, so the whole floor fits on the sheet and dimensions can still be read. Details such as a staircase or a window are drawn at a larger scale like 1:20.
How to say it: Name the scale on your own sheet first.
What is the difference between a plan, an elevation and a section?
A plan is a horizontal cut seen from above, usually at window-sill height. An elevation is the outside view of one face of the building. A section is a vertical cut that shows the inside construction, such as foundation, floor, slab and roof.
What do thick, thin and dashed lines mean on a drawing?
Thick lines show cut walls and outlines, thin lines show dimensions and hatching, dashed lines show hidden edges, and chain lines (long dash, short dash) show centre lines.
What is the size of an A3 sheet?
297 mm × 420 mm. A4 is 210 × 297 mm, and each size up doubles the area.
Why is a north arrow shown on a site plan?
It shows the orientation of the building, which decides sunlight, ventilation and the position of rooms.
Materials and construction
What is the size of a standard modular brick?
190 × 90 × 90 mm. With a 10 mm mortar joint it becomes 200 × 100 × 100 mm.
What is the difference between English bond and Flemish bond?
English bond has alternate courses of headers and stretchers. Flemish bond has headers and stretchers alternating within the same course. English bond is stronger; Flemish bond looks better on a facing wall.
What is a DPC?
A damp proof course: a waterproof layer laid at plinth level so ground moisture does not rise into the walls.
What is the difference between a lintel and a sill?
A lintel is the beam over a door or window opening that carries the wall above it. A sill is the horizontal member at the bottom of a window opening.
What does RCC mean, and why is steel used in it?
Reinforced cement concrete. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension, so steel bars are placed where the member is in tension.
What is the purpose of clear cover in an RCC member?
The concrete between the steel and the outer surface protects the bars from rust and fire, and helps the steel and concrete bond. The required cover depends on the member and exposure, as given in the code.
Surveying and levelling
What is a benchmark?
A fixed point of known level, used as the reference for finding the levels of other points.
What is a reduced level?
The level of a point worked out from the benchmark, after applying the staff readings taken with the level instrument.
Which instrument is used for levelling?
A dumpy level or an auto level with a levelling staff.
AutoCAD
Name some AutoCAD commands you used.
LINE, OFFSET, TRIM, EXTEND, COPY, MIRROR, HATCH, DIMLINEAR and LAYER. OFFSET is the fastest way to draw wall thickness.
Why are layers used in AutoCAD?
To keep walls, doors, dimensions and text separate, so each can be shown, hidden or printed with its own line weight and colour.
What does the HATCH command do?
It fills a closed area with a pattern, for example to show cut brickwork or concrete in a section.
Your opening answer to practise
Copy the lines that are true for you, replace every [bracket] and delete the rest. Every number should be one you can repeat in a practical test.
Opening answer for the Draughtsman Civil viva
- My name is [name], roll number [number], trainee of ITI Draughtsman Civil, [ITI name], session [year].
- Today I drew [the plan, elevation and section of a two-room building] at a scale of [1:100].
- I used [thick lines for cut walls, thin lines for dimensions and dashed lines for hidden edges].
- The title block shows [the scale, sheet number, my name and the date].
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Common questions
What questions are asked in the ITI draughtsman civil viva?
Scale, line types, plan, elevation and section, sheet sizes, bricks and bonds, DPC, lintel and sill, RCC and cover, benchmark and reduced level, and AutoCAD commands, plus questions on the drawing you made.
Which question is asked most often?
Which scale you used and the difference between a plan, an elevation and a section.
Do they ask AutoCAD in the viva?
Often basic commands and why layers are used. Be ready to name the commands you used for your drawing.
Can I get these viva questions as a PDF?
Open the page, choose Print in your browser menu, then Save as PDF. The page prints without menus.
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