Free Certified Construction Quality Manager Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Certified Construction Quality Manager practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1Which feature identifies design-build project delivery under FAR 36.102?

   1. A. Design and construction are contracted separately in sequence.
   2. B. Design and construction are combined under one contractor's contract.
   3. C. Design is contracted separately while construction is performed by the owner.
   4. D. Construction management is contracted without responsibility for design or construction.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: FAR 36.102 states, "Design-build means combining design and construction in a single contract with one contractor." The combined contractual responsibility distinguishes design-build from separate contracts or management-only arrangements.

   Reference: FAR Subpart 36.1 — General — 36.102, Definitions

2. 2An owner states a building's capacity requirement but also expects uninterrupted access for existing tenants. The initial quality strategy addresses capacity alone. Which revision addresses the strategy's requirement gap?

   1. A. Replace the capacity requirement with the contractor's preferred construction method.
   2. B. Treat the unstated access expectation as irrelevant until the owner issues a change.
   3. C. Integrate both the stated capacity requirement and the implied tenant-access requirement.
   4. D. Record tenant access only as a closing survey question after construction is complete.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The Body of Knowledge calls for a strategy "integrating stakeholder requirements (stated and implied)". The strategy therefore needs to address the owner's implied access expectation as well as the explicit capacity requirement. Substituting a construction preference or postponing access planning leaves that gap unresolved.

   Reference: Certified Construction Quality Manager Body of Knowledge — p. 3, Strategic quality planning — Project quality strategy development

3. 3An owner wants a ventilation system that provides adequate airflow. Which design-input revision makes this expectation objectively verifiable?

   1. A. Require airflow that the installation team considers satisfactory.
   2. B. Specify the required airflow value and the operating conditions for its verification.
   3. C. Describe the desired airflow as high quality without a numerical criterion.
   4. D. Identify a preferred supplier without specifying airflow performance.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NASA describes transforming stakeholder expectations into "unique, quantitative, and measurable technical requirements". A defined airflow target under stated conditions gives designers and testers an objective input. Preferences and subjective descriptions leave the required performance indeterminate.

   Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook — Systems Engineering Competency Model, SE 1.2, Technical Requirements Definition

4. 4Under the first-article approval terminology of FAR 9.301, which event constitutes approval?

   1. A. The supplier completes its internal first-article inspection checklist.
   2. B. The test laboratory sends its results to the supplier's production manager.
   3. C. The contracting officer issues written notification accepting the first-article test results.
   4. D. The supplier ships the first production lot after completing the first article.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: FAR 9.301 defines approval as "the contracting officer’s written notification to the contractor accepting the test results of the first article." Testing, report transmission, and shipment are distinct events and do not themselves constitute the defined approval.

   Reference: FAR 9.301 — Definition — 9.301, Approval

5. 5A construction contract incorporates FAR 52.236-7. Who is responsible for obtaining the licenses and permits necessary for performing the work under that clause?

   1. A. The Government, with every related cost reimbursed by the contractor.
   2. B. The contractor, without additional expense to the Government.
   3. C. The Government inspector, as part of each routine quality inspection.
   4. D. The contractor only after the Government has accepted the completed work.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: FAR 52.236-7 states, "The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Government, be responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses and permits". The incorporated clause assigns this responsibility to the contractor; it does not transfer it to inspection personnel or defer it to final acceptance.

   Reference: FAR 52.236-7 — Permits and Responsibilities — Permits and Responsibilities (Nov 1991), opening sentence

6. 6A project plans to demobilize its quality team while safety-critical test records still await review. What should the closeout manager evaluate before releasing those resources?

   1. A. Whether field testing is complete, without checking who will review its records.
   2. B. Whether the remaining review duties retain assigned, capable quality resources.
   3. C. Whether files have been transmitted, without checking that reviews can be finished.
   4. D. Whether physical work is complete, without checking remaining quality obligations.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: VI.A.1 says, "Evaluate the potential impact arising from the demobilization of quality resources." Safety-critical record reviews remain outstanding, so retained responsibility and capability matter. Test completion, file transmission, and physical installation alone do not establish that the remaining review obligations can be fulfilled after demobilization.

   Reference: Certified Construction Quality Manager Body of Knowledge — p. 9, Documentation management — Impact assessment and compliance

7. 7A facility customer requires dependable service during specified operating hours. Which basis should guide the quality objectives for operations and maintenance?

   1. A. The provider's standard maintenance checklist without checking customer service needs.
   2. B. The equipment warranty period as the sole definition of satisfactory facility service.
   3. C. The customer's expected service performance during the facility's operating hours.
   4. D. The maintenance budget allocation as the sole definition of satisfactory facility service.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: VII.A directs managers to "Prepare quality objectives required for operations and maintenance (O&M) based on customer expectations." The expected service during operating hours supplies that basis. A provider checklist, warranty duration, or budget alone does not define the customer's required operational quality outcome.

   Reference: Certified Construction Quality Manager Body of Knowledge — p. 10, VII.A, Sustaining quality requirements

8. 8An ASQ certification holder is assigned to evaluate a supplier in which the holder has a financial interest that could impair objectivity. Which action meets the Code of Ethics?

   1. A. Keep the interest private if the final evaluation appears favorable to the employer.
   2. B. Disclose the interest only after the supplier selection has been finalized.
   3. C. Fully disclose and avoid the conflict affecting independent evaluation.
   4. D. Treat the interest as irrelevant if the supplier's proposed price is competitive.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The Code requires representatives to "Fully disclose and avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest that could reasonably impair objectivity or independence". The financial interest must therefore be addressed, rather than hidden, disclosed too late, or excused by price.

   Reference: ASQ Code of Ethics — Safeguard Proprietary Information and Avoid Conflicts of Interest, conflict-of-interest obligation

9. 9A contractor's costs exceed its estimate on a firm-fixed-price construction contract. There is no change or other contractual basis for a price adjustment. Who bears the resulting cost overrun?

   1. A. The owner, through reimbursement of the actual cost difference.
   2. B. Both parties, through an automatic equal sharing of the difference.
   3. C. The contractor, through a reduction in profit or a resulting loss.
   4. D. The owner, through an automatic increase in the fixed contract price.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: FAR 16.202-1 explains, "This contract type places upon the contractor maximum risk and full responsibility for all costs and resulting profit or loss." With no adjustment entitlement, an overrun reduces the contractor’s profit or creates a loss; it does not automatically shift to the owner.

   Reference: FAR 16.202-1 — Description — 16.202-1, first two sentences

10. 10For an eligible existing building, what is the minimum ENERGY STAR score needed to meet the score criterion for EPA ENERGY STAR certification?

    1. A. 50 on EPA's 1–100 scale.
    2. B. 60 on EPA's 1–100 scale.
    3. C. 70 on EPA's 1–100 scale.
    4. D. 75 on EPA's 1–100 scale.

    Answer: D

    Explanation: EPA states that a building must "earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale". Thus 75 is the minimum score for this criterion. Meeting that criterion does not by itself replace the program’s other eligibility and verification requirements.

    Reference: ENERGY STAR Certification for Buildings — ENERGY STAR Certification for Buildings, score eligibility paragraph