As the basic method to obtain rock and soil’s physical-mechanical parameters

the soil test plays an important role in engineering design

construction and quality inspection. According to the experiences of doing experimental work over the years

the author offered their thoughts on a number of related issues. ①Taking the soil sample of a power plant in Tangshan for example

the mechanical properties of a special sand with certain clay in it

which is widely distributed in Hebei and Inner Mongolia are discussed. ②Combining with the test requirements in technical standards

some viewpoints on "the pressure of consolidation" and "continuous loading with strain control " in consolidation test

are put forward. ③For the characteristics of unsaturated soil with less water content in the northern region

the reasons why the soil shear strength test is difficult and the results are not exact

are analyzed. Finally

some advices in favor of practical applications in projects are proposed