NEC Article 220 Practice Questions: Load Calculations

Dwelling load calculations, demand factors, and the tables behind them — Article 220 is the backbone of the Calculations portion, where most Texas candidates fail.

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69 Article 220 questions in the bankWritten in the PSI computer-based exam formatEvery answer cites the NEC section

What Article 220 Covers on the Exam

Article 220 drives the Calculations portion of the exam: general lighting loads by occupancy (220.12), small-appliance and laundry loads, demand factors for lighting, dryers, and ranges (220.42, 220.54, 220.55), and the standard and optional dwelling calculation methods. Texas scores Calculations as a separate portion — and it is the portion with the lowest pass rate — so fluency here decides whether you pass.

Tested subtopics from Article 220

General lighting loads by occupancy type — Table 220.12 (3 VA/ft² for dwellings)
Small-appliance and laundry branch-circuit loads — 220.52
Lighting demand factors — Table 220.42
Dryer and range demand factors — Tables 220.54 and 220.55
Standard vs optional dwelling service calculations — Part III vs Part IV (220.82)

Heads up: the 2026 NEC changes this article

In the 2026 NEC, load calculations move from Article 220 to Article 120 as part of the code reorganization — the methods are essentially the same, but the article and table numbers change (Table 220.12 becomes Table 120.12, and so on). Texas exams switch to the 2026 NEC on September 1, 2026.

Drill a different article

69 questions in our bank cite Article 220. Practice the other high-yield articles too:

Art. 110 — General Requirements Art. 210 — Branch Circuits Art. 230 — Services Art. 240 — Overcurrent Protection Art. 250 — Grounding and Bonding Art. 300 — Wiring Methods Art. 310 — Conductors & Ampacity Art. 314 — Boxes & Box Fill Art. 430 — Motors Art. 450 — Transformers Art. 680 — Swimming Pools & Spas

How to Study Article 220

Learn the standard dwelling calculation as a fixed recipe you can execute in under 5 minutes: square footage × 3 VA, add two small-appliance circuits and laundry at 1,500 VA each, apply Table 220.42 demand (first 3,000 VA at 100%, remainder to 120,000 at 35%), then add fixed appliances, dryer, range (Table 220.55), and largest motor at 125%. Then learn the optional method (220.82) and practice deciding which one a question is asking for.

Then put it under exam conditions: the free diagnostic scores you across every category and shows whether load calculations is actually a weak area — or whether your study time belongs somewhere else.

Sample Questions (From Our Real Question Bank)

Here are 4 real questions from our question bank. The free diagnostic quiz has 10 more.

NEC NEC 220.41Calculations - Dwelling Load

1. Using the standard method per NEC 220.41, what is the general lighting load in VA for a dwelling unit with 2,000 square feet of living space?

A4,000 VA
B5,000 VA
C6,000 VA
D8,000 VA

Show explanation

NEC 220.41 specifies a general lighting load of 3 VA per square foot for dwelling units. 2,000 sq ft × 3 VA/sq ft = 6,000 VA.

NEC NEC 220.52(A)Calculations - Dwelling Load

2. Per NEC 220.52(A), each small-appliance branch circuit specified in 210.11(C)(1) shall be calculated at how many VA when determining feeder/service load?

A1,200 VA
B1,500 VA
C1,800 VA
D2,000 VA

Show explanation

NEC 220.52(A) requires each small-appliance circuit to be calculated at 1,500 VA for load calculations.

NEC NEC Table 220.45Calculations - Dwelling Load

3. A dwelling has a general lighting load of 6,000 VA, two small-appliance circuits at 1,500 VA each, and one laundry circuit at 1,500 VA. Per NEC Table 220.45, the first 3,000 VA is calculated at 100% and the remainder at 35%. What is the demand load?

A5,625 VA
B6,675 VA
C7,875 VA
D10,500 VA

Show explanation

Total connected = 6,000 + 3,000 + 1,500 = 10,500 VA. Per Table 220.45: first 3,000 VA at 100% = 3,000 VA; remainder (7,500 VA) at 35% = 2,625 VA. Demand = 5,625 VA.

NEC NEC 220.82(B)Calculations - Dwelling Load

4. Using the optional calculation method per NEC 220.82, what is the base load (in VA) that is applied at 100% before calculating the remainder at 40%?

AFirst 8 kVA
BFirst 10 kVA
CFirst 12 kVA
DFirst 15 kVA

Show explanation

NEC 220.82(B) applies the first 10 kVA of general loads at 100%, with the remainder at 40%.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What load calculations are on the Texas journeyman exam?

The Calculations portion tests dwelling service calculations (standard and optional methods), general lighting loads, demand factors for ranges, dryers, and lighting, plus conductor sizing, voltage drop, and motor calculations from other articles. Texas scores this portion separately, and you must pass both portions.

What is the difference between the standard and optional dwelling calculation?

The standard method (Article 220, Part III) applies demand factors per load type step by step. The optional method (220.82) is faster for dwellings with 100 A or larger services: 100% of the first 10 kVA of total load plus 40% of the remainder, with heating and cooling handled separately. Exam questions usually name which method to use — read for that first.

Does Article 220 change in the 2026 NEC?

Yes — the 2026 NEC moves load calculations from Article 220 to Article 120 as part of its structural reorganization. The calculation methods remain essentially the same, but tab and memorize the new numbers if you are testing on or after September 1, 2026, when Texas switches to the 2026 edition.