Procedure of plate load test: 1. Excavate a pit of depth equal to 5 times to that of breath of proposed footing. 2. Keep the suitable bearing plate of specified size (30, 45, 60, 75cm square in plan) on soil. Arrange the loading column on it as shown in figure below. 3. Now apply the load on test plate above soil using sand bags or reaction truss loading at a rate of (1/5)th to (1/10)th of total estimated load. 4. Note down the settlements after 1,5,10,20,40,60 minutes at corresponding applied loads. 5. Loading should be continued till 25mm total settlement or soil failure, whichever is achieved earlier. 6. Finally plot a graph of load vs. settlement as shown in figure below to find out load before failure as bearing capacity of soil.