Plate Load Test is a field test for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of soil and the likely settlement under a given load. The Plate Load Test basically consists of loading a steel plate placed at the foundation level and recording the settlements corresponding to each load increment. The test load is gradually increased till the plate starts to sink at a rapid rate. The total value of load on the plate in such a stage divided by the area of the steel plate gives the value of the ultimate bearing capacity of soil. The ultimate bearing capacity of soil is divided by suitable factor of safety (which varies from 2 to 3) to arrive at the value of safe bearing capacity of soil.