Conquering Your License Exam

How to Pass Your Contractor License Exam – The Real Deal

Hey there, future licensed contractor! Let’s talk about what really matters when it comes to passing your contractor license exam. Spoiler alert: it’s not about memorizing a bunch of answers!

Here’s the thing about contractor license exams – they’re designed to test how well you can find information, not how much you can memorize. And honestly, that makes total sense. In the real world, you’ll be looking up codes and regulations all the time. That’s why at ContractorPracticeExam.com (CPE), we focus on teaching you how to navigate those reference materials like a pro.

Let’s Get Real About Exam Prep

Listen, some of these exams (looking at you, Florida!) require you to work with over 10 different reference books. Intimidating? Maybe at first. But here’s the secret: you don’t need to memorize all that content. You just need to know where to find the answers quickly.

Why Practice Tests Are Your Best Friend

At CPE, we’ve designed our practice tests to mirror the real contractor license exam exactly – same number of questions, same time limits, same format. Why? Because practice doesn’t just make perfect; it makes you fast. And speed is crucial when you’re flipping through those reference books during the exam.

Smart Study Guide for Contractors: The No-Nonsense Approach

Start Early
- Give yourself 3-6 weeks minimum
- Focus on navigation skills, not memorization
- Use the Candidate Information Bulletin (CIB) as your roadmap
Practice Like You Mean It
- Take our free contractor practice exams regularly
- Practice with our timed real world practice exams
- Aim for three consecutive passes with 80% or higher
- Time yourself – speed matters!

Here’s a Reality Check

Your license won’t show your exam score. Whether you ace it with a 95 or squeeze by with a 71, the end result is the same – you’re licensed! As we like to say, C’s get degrees (or in this case, licenses). Sure, scoring high feels great, but what really matters is passing and getting that license in your hands.

Exam Preparation Tips That Actually Work

Use our practice tests to learn the books, not the answers
Focus on finding information quickly
Tab your references strategically
Practice with real exam time constraints
Don’t stress about getting perfect scores

Remember This

The key to passing your contractor license exam isn’t being the smartest person in the room – it’s being the most prepared. Know your way around those reference books, practice finding answers quickly, and you’ll be golden.

Time to Get Started

Ready to tackle that contractor license exam? Check out our free practice tests. The sooner you start practicing, the more comfortable you’ll be on exam day. And hey, lots of our practice tests are free – because we believe in helping you succeed without breaking the bank.

Want to know the real secret to passing? It’s all about mastering the open-book format. Our study guide for contractors focuses on exactly that – teaching you how to find answers efficiently. Because at the end of the day, that’s what matters in the real world too.

Remember: You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to be prepared. Let’s get you that license!

Need more tips or ready to start practicing? We’ve got your back with real-world exam preparation tips and practice tests that actually make a difference.

See how much knowledge you have with our Walker’s Builders Estimator’s Reference Test

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Walker's, Building Estimator's Reference Book, 29th Edition Free Test

Calling all Florida roofing aces! Want to see how well you can estimate like a pro? This FREE practice test is designed to put your skills using Walker's Building Estimator's Reference Book (29th Edition) to the test!

Here's the challenge:

25 Question Blitz: Answer 25 questions specifically crafted from the reference book in just 75 minutes. Time to show off your estimating knowledge!
Always Fresh: No two tests are ever the same! Each time you take it, you'll get a new set of questions to keep things interesting.
Free for All: This practice test is completely FREE! No need to break the bank to sharpen your skills. 🆓
Practice Makes Perfect: Didn't score as high as you'd like? No problem! Take the test as many times as you need until you feel confident tackling any estimating challenge, especially those on the Florida Roofing License exam!

So grab your favorite calculator, put on your thinking cap, and get ready to conquer those estimates! Good luck!

Please enter your following information to get started:

1 / 25

If a contractor regularly operates within an area that requires a permit bond, the cost of this bond should be expensed _____________.

A) As a job expense

B) To the general ledger

C) As office overhead

D) As permit fees

2 / 25

Money set aside to replace future equipment should be put into a separate fund know as a(an) __________ fund.

A) Future

B) Escrow fund

C) Equipment depreciation fund

D) Sinking fund

3 / 25

Most building departments require that plumbing drawings be submitted in __________________.

A) An isometric riser diagram

B) An orthographic projection

C) An oblique projection

D) A parabolic diagram

4 / 25

When excavating sandy clay/moist loam using a hydraulic tractor (crawler) backhoe with a 1-1/4 cubic yard bucket, an average of cubic yards can be excavated per 8-hour day. Select the closest answer.

A) 600

B) 720

C) 900

D) 1,080

5 / 25

An activity with zero float is called a _______.

A) Burst activity

B) Critical activity

C) Merge activity

D) None of the above

6 / 25

Based on the above house plan, the total roof area is ____________________ sqft. Select the closest answer.

A) 3,670

B) 3,850

C) 4,297

D) 4,579

7 / 25

The ___________method of drilling can only be used for preliminary investigations for foundations.

A) Hand auger

B) Core boring

C) Manifold

D) Split Spoon Sampling

8 / 25

Once a loan is approved and accepted, ____________ is (are) NOT considered a closing cost (s).

A) Points

B) Interest

C) Origination fees

D) Discounts

9 / 25

The typical dead weight of a ¾ inch piece of structural plywood is __________ lbs.

A) 12.8

B) 28

C) 38.4

D) 71

10 / 25

At a density of approximately 25 pounds per cubic foot, 1" of vermiculite concrete at has an insulating value equal to approximately _____ inches of ordinary concrete.

A) 6

B) 10

C) 12

D) 16

11 / 25

_______ is the material or masonry units forming a cap or finish on top of a wall and protects it from penetration of water from above.

A) Heading course

B) Soffit

C) Bond course

D) Coping

12 / 25

A contractor is operating a 225 HP backhoe. The machine is operated for 7.5 hours per shift. If the contractor is working 6 days a week and wants to size a fuel tank to give himself a one week supply of diesel fuel, the tank would need to hold __________gallons. Select the closest answer.

A) 342

B) 370

C) 405

D) 520

13 / 25

A contractor is building a house with a hip roof. The slope of the roof is 5/12. The plan dimensions of the house are 40'x60'. Assuming a 10% waster factor, the contractor should order ___ sheets of plywood.

A) 90

B) 80

C) 100

D) 70

14 / 25

Another reference name for a Bar Chart is a _________________.

A) Pert Chart

B) Gantt Chart

C) Precedence Diagram

D) CPM Chart

15 / 25

A ______________ bond is a bond assuring that the contractor will complete a project in accordance with plans and specs identified in the contract documents.

A) Performance

B) Bid

C) Maintenance

D) Surety

16 / 25

The late start of an activity is the ____________________________ .

A) Latest it can finish without effecting the end of the date of the project

B) Latest it can start without effecting the end date of the project

C) Earliest date the activity can finish

D) Date that impacts the schedule finish date the most

17 / 25

A contractor is estimating the amount of roofing material to buy for a project. According to Walker's, a waste factor of _______________ % would be used to estimate the quantity of asphalt shingles for a structure with hip roofs, including dormers and valleys.

A) 10

B) 15

C) 20

D) 25

18 / 25

The principal objective of construction scheduling is to manage all of the following resources used in the construction process except for ______________.

A) Labor

B) Materials

C) Subcontractors

D) Cash flow

19 / 25

A _________arch has horizontal or nearly horizontal upper and lower surfaces.

A) Trimmer

B) Jack

C) Back

D) Minor

20 / 25

The terms CPM and PERT pertain to __________________.

A) The specifications

B) Scheduling

C) The inventory

D) Contract performance management

21 / 25

An AIA form __________ is used to furnish information needed to bid on public work.

A) A-305

B) A-101

C) A-201

D) A-701

22 / 25

Architects and Engineers specify that fill material is to be placed in layers from ___________ inches and to compact each layer with some sort of roller or tamping equipment.

A) 4 - 6

B) 4 12

C) 6 12

D) 8 12

23 / 25

When hauling excavated materials in trucks, the truck capacity should be at least _____ times the dipper or bucket capacity of the excavator.

A) Two

B) Three

C) Four

D) Five

24 / 25

A blueprint shows a rectangular building lot that scales out a 15.0" by 22.5". The scale given for the site plan is 1" = 12'. The area of the building lot is ______________ square feet. Select the closest answer.

A) 4,860

B) 33,750

C) 48,600

D) 53,460

25 / 25

A contractor has to excavate a drainage swale that is 200' long, 16' wide and has a depth of 2' with the ends vertical. If the soil to be removed is mud, the total volume of material to be removed from the job site would be _____________ cyd. Select the closest answer

A) 237

B) 142

C) 285

D) 119