ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician - Grade I Practice Exam 2025 - Free Concrete Field Testing Practice Questions and Study Guide

The strike-off bar is specifically designed for leveling off and finishing the surface of freshly placed concrete after it has been consolidated. This tool ensures that the concrete is even with the forms and helps to create a flat, smooth surface. It is typically a long, straight board that is dragged across the top of the concrete, allowing excess material to be removed and providing a level finish.

Using a hand trowel, while it can also smooth out a concrete surface, is generally intended for smaller areas or for final finishing touches rather than for the initial striking off process. A broom is primarily used for texturing the surface or for cleaning and is not suitable for leveling concrete. A bucket does not serve any direct purpose in the process of striking off concrete surfaces. Therefore, the strike-off bar is the most appropriate and effective tool for achieving the correct finish on a concrete slab after it has been consolidated.