Construction Manager in Training (CMIT) Practice Test

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• Standard form contracts may be modified to address owner-specific requirements.
• The partnering workshop length is fixed.
• The CM does not have the responsibility to generate and track the project budget.
• Which statement about risk allocation is FALSE?
• Under cost reimbursement method, what is typically true about CM's compensation?
• What best describes CMAA's overall mission?
• Which statement is true?
• Which statement about the CM's ethical scope is most accurate?
• The designer's liability exposure is reduced when using CMAA A-4 contract documents compared to AIA B132-2009.
• When providing services specified in CMAA document A-1, the CM may have a fiscal liability for negligent preparation of cost estimates.
• The contractor shall rely upon the accuracy or factual data contained in the reports of exploration and tests of surface and sub-surface conditions at the site or contiguous to the site that were used by the designer in preparing the contract documents.
• Which of the following methods of compensation for CM services is inconsistent with the CM's agency relationship to its owner?
• The contractor's duty and responsibility for safety and protection of the work extends until a final inspection is conducted.
• The provisions and structure of a Dispute Review Board are incorporated in a contract document.
• Which statement describes a primary purpose of constructibility reviews?
• The designer, while working under CMAA document A-4, is entitled to rely upon the cost estimate data prepared by the CM.
• Indemnification protects one party (the indemnitee) from claims by third parties, with the indemnitor paying for the liabilities.
• The CMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice is intended as a guide to the range of services that constitute professional construction management, seeking to define CM services without unduly structuring the methodologies.
• Which statement is true?
• Which statement about mediation records is accurate?
• Which statement best describes the contractor's obligation to provide safe access to the site for other contractors?
• In general, DRB recommendations are not binding on the parties.
• One of the stipulations of the CMAA Code of Professional Ethics is that a CM should charge fees and expenses that are reasonable.
• Under a GMP CM contract, the Guaranteed Maximum Price places the cost risk primarily with the CM.
• In the design-bid-build project delivery method, what is the most important element of the process?
• Construction management began in the early to mid-1960s. Which of the following factors contributed to the initial use of this delivery system?
• If no other party can control the risk or bear the loss, who should assume the risk?
• A key element leading to successful project management is decision making based on adequate information.
• Which statement is false?
• A CM should seek the advice of legal counsel when preparing or modifying contracts.
• In what year was CMAA formed and incorporated?
• The General Conditions are intended to clearly define the rights and responsibilities of the owner and the contractor.
• Which system is used to evaluate the environmental performance of buildings?
• An outside facilitator is required to conduct the partnering workshop.
• What is the term sometimes used to describe the standard language of the full set of contract documents?
• Which statement best describes the scheduling results desired on a project?
• The CMAA agency and CM-at-Risk series documents assign liability to the CM if it fails to meet its contractual obligations.
• Requiring a Guaranteed Maximum Price for the ultimate cost of the project does not create any potential for conflict between the CM and the owner's interests during the 'front end,' pre-construction phase services.
• Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is characterized by which of the following?
• Under a GMP contract, the intent of an incentive clause is to challenge the contractor to construct the project for less than the established GMP.
• Which best describes the primary purpose of Earned Value management?
• The CMAA agency series contract documents anticipate cooperation for owner's benefit.
• A CM, acting as an agent of the owner, will bond a multi-prime job.
• When standard construction contract forms are proposed, should legal counsel review the contract for form, the scope of services, risks assumed, terms and conditions, compliance with applicable laws, and compatibility with related contracts?
• An agency CM with a fixed fee compensation arrangement shares in the savings generated by a lower than planned construction cost of the project.
• The ethics of the CM profession focus primarily on a CM's relationships with clients.
• When referring to the traditional project delivery method, which method is used?
• The contractor is solely responsible for safety on the job site.
• Under the Brooks Act, A/E services are selected primarily by price through competitive bidding.
• What term is used to describe a quality process for achieving, verifying, and documenting the performance of facilities and systems?
• A construction manager must purchase insurance coverage to protect against claims by its own employees.
• The CMAA contract documents were written primarily to protect the CM's interests.
• On GMP projects, if award value exceeds GMP's estimate, who generally pays the difference?
• The primary advantage of fixed price or lump sum contract is that bids should be taken on contract documents that are only 50% complete.
• In an agency CM arrangement, the compensation method defines the relationship between the owner and the CM.
• A limitation provision seeks to limit a party's liability to the party's client.
• Which statement is true?
• Under the CM-at-Risk delivery method, the owner typically deals with which hybrid?
• After a GMP is established, the owner does not have to be concerned with managing costs or schedules.
• Under CM-at-Risk contracts, the CM may perform portions of the work with its own resources.
• A unit price contract format is used by the private sector in order to achieve which of the following goals?
• Two basic forms of CM are agency and at-risk. Which statement does not apply to both CM forms?
• There is more than one type of legal relationship that may exist between an owner and the CM.
• Which statement is false?
• Which contract type establishes a maximum price for construction costs?
• All communications to the designer and owner from the contractor must be submitted through the CM.
• Which statement best describes DRB recommendations?
• In a cost reimbursement arrangement, which item is typically a reimbursable expense?
• In the CMAA CM-at-Risk series documents, the CM is the owner's principal agent until a GMP is accepted by the owner.
• A guaranteed maximum price can never change.
• The owner at any time and without cause may suspend the work for a period of 180 days by a notice in writing to the contractor.
• Does a mini-trial, whether required by contract or agreed to voluntarily, typically result in a binding decision?
• Under CMAA documents, the owner may suspend work without cause for up to 180 days.
• A CM's liability is determined solely by whether the CM performed according to the required standard of care.
• Contract documents are important in determining the safety responsibilities of the CM.
• A Dispute Review Board does not meet until there is a dispute.
• Which factor most commonly influences a CM's liability?
• Which CMAA document governs the designer's reliance on cost estimate data? A-4, A-1, A-2, or A-3.
• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating system has ________ rigorous levels of attainment.
• There are no accepted industry-wide standards or guidelines for determining what is considered to be reasonable and fair compensation for construction management services.
• A method of compensation that creates a potential for conflict of interest between the owner's interests and the CM's interests is indicative of an agency CM relationship.
• Experience shows that there is no increased staff or management time required to initiate the partnering process.
• Which option is not a primary means of risk allocation mentioned in the material?
• The partnering workshop structure, including length of the workshop, is flexible depending upon project needs, project size and budgetary considerations.
• CMAA's formation in 1982 signified its primary focus on growth and development of the CM profession.
• The CMAA contract documents require both the CM and designer to perform to a professional standard of care.
• Once a GMP for construction costs is established, the contractor takes on the risk of completing the project.
• Under what management concept is reporting of a direct relationship established between percent complete of an activity and the budget for that activity?
• In a design-bid-build project, which outcome is a major owner advantage after signing the contract?
• Prior to the workshop, it is helpful to have job site interviews with field representatives of the parties.
• The project record includes letters, shop drawing submittals, and CADD files.
• The CMAA Document A-3, General Conditions of the Construction Contract between Owner and Contractor is intended to be used where the owner has elected to use what type of CM contract?
• What is the primary role of a construction manager in a project delivery system?
• Which of the following statements reflects a key difference between public and private contracting?
• If the contractor damages the work property of another contractor working on site, the remedy described is to change the contractor's scope of work.
• The primary objective of a sustainable project design is to avoid design embellishments.
• Which of the following were common problems for the General Services Administration, the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and the Veterans Administration in the use of construction management?
• CM-at-Risk contracts typically give the CM authority over which aspect regarding subcontractors?
• A project schedule must always be in a CPM format.
• Which statement is false?
• Quality control begins at which project phase?
• Under a GMP CM contract, the CM bears cost overruns beyond the GMP.
• Which element can benefit the owner by economies of scale in their program?
• In an agency CM arrangement, the CM typically does not bear responsibility for means, methods, and sequencing.
• The mediation record, including settlement offers, can be used in later judicial proceedings.
• Placing the CM in an agency role always transfers the risk to the contractor.
• The traditional delivery system is characterized by executing the major phases of a project in:
• The cost reimbursement method of compensation is one of the most commonly used forms of CM compensation associated with agency CM.
• The scope of the professional CM's basic and invariable role and responsibility is to serve the needs of the owner.
• Which statement is true?
• Which statement about the order of precedence is false?
• Which statement is NOT true about the differences between agency CM and CM-at-Risk?
• Partnering is a commitment among contracting parties that changes the terms of a contract agreement.
• Should coordination with related contracts be considered when selecting standard contract forms?
• Which scheduling element is described as the scheduling result to be utilized?
• The CM has the authority on behalf of the owner to disapprove or reject work and to revoke, alter, enlarge or relax any requirements of the contract documents.
• The CM can require removal of a contractor or subcontractor employee with whom the CM deems objectionable.
• The mediator's role is to facilitate settlement but final agreement requires the parties' consent.
• The agency CM maintains a direct contractual relationship with the trade or prime contractors.
• Under a cost plus fixed fee arrangement, fixed fee is usually established at the time of contract award; however, it may vary with the actual cost expended as the scope of work changes.
• CMAA agency series contract documents require the CM and designer to cooperate for the benefit of the owner.
• The cost plus fixed fee method of CM compensation can be divided into two separate phases—pre-construction and construction.
• To the extent that a CM assumes the designer's responsibilities for cost estimates, the CM faces the same liability as similarly situated designers.
• The owner's selection of a project delivery system should be made before a decision by the owner to select a CM and designer.
• Actual usage of a construction contract form during the construction phase depends on which factors?
• Under a fixed fee approach to agency CM compensation, which statement is NOT true?
• Liquidated damages on a contract are included to compensate the owner for a delay in completing the work.
• The contractor is obligated to notify the CM of conflicts, errors and/or discrepancies in the contract documents.
• MasterFormat is best described as the system used to:
• Which statement about unit-priced items is true?
• Contracting for adequate fees is both a business and an ethical issue.
• During construction, the CM-at-Risk project delivery method places the CM in a position equivalent to:
• Design-build and at-risk construction management delivery systems allow the option to fast-track or phase a project.
• A key advantage of the traditional delivery approach is:
• Who has the right to access the work and perform corrective work if defective work is not corrected in a timely manner?
• The designer's cost data reliance is specifically addressed in CMAA document A-4.
• The CMAA A-4 document requires the designer to periodically visit the site to become familiar with progress and quality.
• Which of the following is not considered a direct project cost?
• In CMAA Agency series, the designer is entitled to object to provisions of the Construction Management Plan as prepared by the CM.
• Sustainable materials are composed of nonrenewable resources.
• The fee as a percentage of construction cost method of compensating an agency CM has a tendency to discourage effective time and cost control and is in conflict with the objectives and benefits of an agency construction management.
• On some GMP projects, the owner may reserve the right to approve all trade and purchase contracts. Normally the owner pays the difference between the estimated trade contract costs and the trade contract award value when the award value approved by the owner is greater than the estimated bid element included in the contractor's GMP.
• The value of a cost found by discounting future cash flows to the base time is called:
• Arbitration hearings are governed by the same rules of evidence as a court proceeding.
• All forms of alternative dispute resolution are voluntary procedures.
• There can be multiple legal relationships between owner and CM.
• Agency CM is a distinct set of services that can be applied to any project delivery method.
• Which statement is true?
• Which statement best describes a CM's contractual obligations?
• Which term refers to money withheld from progress payments by the owner to ensure completion?
• In a QBS approach, which factor is given the most weight during initial selection?
• What is the main advantage private sector firms have in managing their procurement process?
• The goals of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) include:
• CM services, like A/E services, can be accurately defined to provide a basis for a bid.
• Punchlists are typically prepared for items identified after substantial completion and before final acceptance.
• Under a fixed price or lump sum contract, bids may be based on partially completed documents (scope bid) or a complete set of drawings and specifications.
• What regulations define and differentiate public and private sector contracting?
• Once a construction contract is signed, what is the major advantage to the owner of the design-bid-build project delivery method?
• A project delivery approach that is gaining acceptance for allocating risks among project teams is referred to as the ________ method.
• Under a unit price-type contract, the total cost to the owner will vary with the actual units put in place. In addition, the owner assumes the risk of cost and the amount of work required.
• A contract is an arrangement for the distribution of construction project risk between the parties.
• Most publicly funded projects require which inclusion as part of their contract obligations?
• The CMAA agency series documents limit the services of the designer during the construction phase, thus the designer's fees may be lower than if the AIA documents are used.
• The General Services Administration was the first federal agency to use construction management.
• If a CM assumes broader design responsibilities, the CM faces liability according to the extent of those responsibilities.
• An amount of money stipulated in the contract that a contractor must pay due to delays in completing the project is called:
• If it becomes apparent that the contractor's schedule will not be met and it is due to the fault of the contractor, the contractor must agree to increase the number of employees to regain the lost schedule progress, and submit a recovery schedule.
• Which of the following is typically included in the project record?
• Which statement describes the role of constructibility reviews in project planning?
• A QBS selection process will generally be based on what primary criteria?
• Which contract type reimburses the contractor for actual costs plus a fee?
• Overlapping design and construction phases of a project is commonly known as:
• What is the primary purpose of the CMAA Standards of Practice?
• Which statement best describes the relationship between project management and program management?
• Which organization was formed to focus on the growth and development of the construction management profession?
• Which of the following statements about CM compensation is true?
• A cost plus fixed fee contract is what type of contract?
• There are two basic categories of construction phase contracts.
• What best describes CMAA's stance toward project delivery methods?
• A mediator cannot impose an agreement upon the parties.
• Which element must the parties to a contract have in order to make an accurate economic judgment of cost?
• In a contract that includes an AAA arbitration clause, is the panel's decision binding and enforceable in court?
• Risk may be allocated by:
• Which project delivery method provides the owner with significant control over the end-product design?
• What is the primary benefit to the owner of the design-build project delivery method?
• A legal relationship by which one party is empowered and obligated to act on behalf of another party is called:
• Recruiting and training are business matters and normally do not involve ethical concerns.
• The General Conditions provide a procedure for executing changes in the work scope in a fair and equitable manner.
• The most common basis of CM liability to a trade contractor with whom the CM has no contractual relationship is negligent performance of the CM's:
• The fact that an individual is certified or licensed in any other profession does not, per se, establish him/her as a qualified CM.
• Arrangements to select a form of alternative dispute resolution can be made by contractual agreement or at the time a dispute arises.
• Most definitions of construction management are similar. However, a contractual definition is not known until:
• If the contractor fails to proceed to correct defective work in a timely fashion, what action may the owner take?
• In BIM terminology, what does the 5D designation indicate?
• A 5D BIM model incorporates which project attribute?
• Under a CM-at-Risk contract, which statement is true?
• Subcontractors and their foremen are not necessary participants in a partnering workshop.
• Changes are processed through a defined procedure that aims to be fair and equitable.
• The basic contractual relationships between the CM and designer are essentially the same in the CMAA A-1 and AIA C132-2009 documents.
• The OSHA provisions are applicable to all commercial projects.
• The owner can transfer risk to the CM and maintain a full agency relationship with the CM.
• Which statement is false?
• Regarding the PMP, which statement is correct?
• Under a cost plus fixed fee arrangement for CM compensation, the reimbursable expenses usually include:
• Which statement is false?
• Which statement is true?
• Which of the following statements best describes a CM's potential liability when there is no limit on costs and no warranty on estimates?
• Which statement about an agency CM is true?
• What does BIM 4D add to 3D BIM modeling?
• Which delivery method involves a single entity providing design and construction services under one contract?
• Which statement best describes the difference between mediation and arbitration?
• Under unit-price-type contracts, the owner bears the risk of both cost and the amount of work required.
• Which of the following is included in the two-phase nature of cost plus fixed fee compensation?
• Which ADR method yields a binding decision enforceable by the court?
• Which statement is false?
• What is one of the primary owner benefits of program management?
• The carbon footprint is the overall square footage, over a specified period, of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event, or product.
• The first step in the risk allocation process is:
• When standard construction contract forms are proposed, which party should review for form, scope, risks, terms, compliance, and compatibility?
• Which statement about construction management is true?
• Which stage does CMAA's construction management approach target?
• Partnering is a commitment among contracting parties that changes the terms of a contract agreement.
• Is it in the best interests of the owner to allocate all risk to other parties?
• A Public-Private Partnership (P3) project is usually considered by a public entity for which of the following primary reasons?
• The owner at any time may order additions, deductions, or revisions in the work without invalidating the contract.
• A CM response/proposal to an owner's RFP can be considered an offer to enter into a contract.
• Which statement about safety and access is true?
• Which statement about risk transfer through contracts is true?
• With regard to CM compensation and the actual cost of CM services for a project, which factors among others should be considered?
• In an agency CM relationship, the CM is acting as an agent for the owner.
• CMAA has maintained a position of being project delivery method neutral. What does this mean?
• Which statement is false?
• Which factor is least likely to be considered when selecting a project delivery method?
• In a CM-at-Risk arrangement, once construction begins and the CM converts from the professional advisory role of a CM to the contractual role of a general contractor, the CM has no implied duties of loyalty and care to the owner.
• What is the form of estimating that is derived from statistical correlation of historic system costs with performance and/or physical attributes of the system?
• Which term describes payment for actual costs incurred by the contractor plus a fixed fee?
• A project management system that utilizes a periodic consistent measurement of work performed in terms of budget is known as a ____________ system?
• During the CM selection process, which statements are true?
• A CM under an agency relationship, with the owner managing multi-prime contractors, must consider its own risk first in managing those contractors.
• Who has direct contracts with trade or prime contractors in an agency CM arrangement?
• Which contract type pays actual costs plus a fixed fee?
• The use of a BIM model on a project can lead to faster construction due to which factor?
• Which best explains the variability in project delivery approaches?
• Under a Guaranteed Maximum Price arrangement, the contractor is usually selected and a GMP is established with the understanding by the parties that the actual cost of the work could be greater than the GMP.
• In an agency CM relationship, the CM has no vested financial interest in the project.
• In an agency CM relationship, the CM's role is to act as what?
• Which element can be realized through economies of scale in a program?
• Project management and program management are similar in that they both use which concept?
• Which statement best describes the cost plus fixed fee structure?
• The standard of care to which a CM is likely to be held is: That of how other professionals in the industry generally perform.
• Which statement describes the required action when a schedule is delayed due to the contractor's fault?
• The partnering process must be mandated by contract provisions.
• Which statement is true?
• A GMP arrangement sets a maximum price for construction costs.
• Under a GMP contract with a CM-at-Risk, which statement is NOT true?
• CMAA documents may be modified to accommodate owner project-specific requirements.
• Which statement about agency CM is most accurate?
• A CM must be aware of its contractual obligations regarding safety on the project site.
• In GMP CM contracts, it is important that the price term clearly defines what is included and excluded.
• In cases where a project is extended in duration for reasons beyond the control of the CM, it is imperative that the CM agreement address:
• Which statement about contract scope changes is correct?
• If delay is due to cause beyond control of both the owner and the contractor, the extension in contract time equal to the time lost on the critical path shall be the contractor's sole remedy for such delay.
• Certification as a CM means the construction management practitioner has 'state of the art' knowledge and capability to practice construction management.
• A general contractor working under a fixed price contract will always put its interests ahead of the owner.
• The scheduling system proposed by the contractor must be approved by the CM before the contractor prepares the construction schedule.
• Under CMAA contract document A-3, General Conditions for Agency CM, the contract documents order of precedence clause places the General Conditions as the highest order of precedence document.
• After a contractor declares substantial completion, the owner or CM should prepare which document?
• Earned value management integrates scope, schedule, and budget to assess project performance.
• CMAA goals include advocacy for CM in federal, state, and local regulatory arenas.
• To whom should communications from the contractor to the designer and owner be routed?
• The CM is responsible to ensure that the contracts used on the project are legally enforceable.
• If a designer uses CMAA A-4 contract document instead of the AIA B132-2009 document, the designer's exposure to professional liability during the construction phase is reduced.
• What is a principal differentiator between public and private sector contracting?
• Which is NOT the purpose of the General Conditions?
• In the absence of both a limit on construction costs and a warranty for the accuracy of the cost estimate, a project cost overrun will cause the CM to lose their fee.
• In the selection of a CM as an agent, the owner should include price as a primary consideration.
• Should the owner select the project delivery system before selecting a CM and designer?
• The owner has an obligation to exercise its right to stop work when it would be to the benefit of the contractor.
• In design-build delivery, there is a single contracting entity responsible for both design and construction.
• In the absence of a contract-specific standard, the CM's standard of care is generally determined by industry practice.
• Under CMAA document A-4, the owner may be obligated to compensate the designer as an additional service for site visits requested by the CM.
• CMAA defines construction management as a professional management practice applied to construction projects from project inception to completion for the purpose of controlling time, cost, scope, and quality.
• Must the partnering process be mandated by contract provisions?
• Public sector contracting is typically defined by formal procurement regulations that differ from private contracting.
• In CMAA CM-at-Risk contracts, acceptance of the GMP by the owner indicates a formal cost cap.
• Most owner-CM contracts commonly state that the CM's contractual obligations are solely for the benefit of the owner.
• What is the management technique for subdividing the project into its component elements?
• Which of the following represents the correct order of steps in risk allocation, starting with identifying risk sources?
• The parties, namely the owner, the designer, CM, contractor and others, can be described as stakeholders.
• What does BIM stand for in construction management?
• A CM's liability to third parties can arise when the CM assumes the designer's responsibilities for cost estimates.
• Which scheduling technique determines project duration by identifying the longest path of dependent activities?
• Failure to provide quality services is a business and ethical issue.
• In a GMP CM contract, once the GMP is established, the CM takes on the risk for completing the project.
• What are the two basic types of multiple-prime contracting methods?
• The method of compensation of the CM is one of the elements that defines the nature of the relationship between the owner and the CM.
• The process of evaluating the construction documents for clarity, completeness, and consistency is known as a ___________.
• Which statement describes how fast-track construction works?
• The subcontractors and their foremen are not necessary participants in a partnering workshop.