LEED EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 B
A LEED AP is tasked with registering a
Core and Shell project that has a large
retail space at the ground floor and
office spaces on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
floors. How should the LEED AP
proceed with the rating system
selection? A. Register using two rating
systems, LEED BD+C: Retail and LEED
BD+C: Core and Shell. B.Use the 40/60
rule, based on gross floor area for
each type of space. C. Choose one
rating system based on which helps
the project achieve the highest
certification level. D. Prepare a CIR to
ask which rating system is more
appropriate for his project.
2 C. Adaptations to existing rating systems provide a
Which one of the following LEED
streamlined approach for responding to the particular
terms is used for streamlining the
approach to particular needs, needs, constraints, and opportunities of different
constraints, and opportunities of project types.
different project types? A. Credit
interpretation rulings (CIRs) B.
Addenda C. Adaptations D.
Alternative compliance paths
(ACPs)
3 B. A total of two CIRs should be submitted since each
A project team needs clarification for credit and prerequisite should each have their individual
a unique project condition for a credit CIR applications.
and a prerequisite that are unrelated.
Which one of the following actions
should the team take? A. Submit one
CIR for both the credit and
prerequisite questions. B. Submit one
CIR for the credit and another CIR for
the prerequisite. C. Submit one CIR for
the prerequisite and do not pursue
the credit. D. Submit one CIR for the
credit and wait for design review
comments for the prerequisite.
,# Term Definition
4 List the eight LEED BD+C adaptations an
exam candidate must know. New Construction and Major Renovations Core and Shell
Development Schools Retail Data Centers Warehouses
and Distribution Centers
Hospitality Healthcare
5 110
There is a maximum of ___ possible
points for each adaptation of the LEED
BD+C rating system.
6 prerequisites and credits
Required LEED strategies are called
___________ , and optional LEED
strategies are called __________.
7
LEED Certified: 40-49 points LEED Silver: 50-59 points
List the LEED certification levels and the
LEED Gold: 60-79 points LEED Platinum:
points needed to achieve each. 80+ points
8 List the categories within the LEED
Integrative Process (IP) Location and
BD+C rating system.
Transportation (LT) Sustainable Sites (SS) Water
Efficiency (WE) Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Materials and Resources (MR) Indoor
Environmental Quality (EQ) Innovation (IN)
Regional Priority (RP)
9 LEED BD+C: Core and Shell projects can be precertified.
What certification feature is unique to
LEED BD+C: Core and Shell
Development?
10 List the LEED impact Categories.
Reverse contribution to global climate change. Enhance
individual human health and well-being. Protect and
restore water resources. Protect, enhance, and restore
biodiversity and ecosystem services. Promote
sustainable and regenerative material resource cycles.
Build a greener economy. Enhance social equity,
environmental justice, and community quality of life.
,11
The four general LEED certification Step-1 Register the project. Step-2 Prepare application.
steps are the following. Step-3 Submit application. Step-4 Receive certification.
# Term Definition
12 The 11 steps of the LEED work plan
include the following: Step 1 - Initiate discovery phase Step 2 - Select LEED
rating system. Step 3 - Check minimum program
requirements. Step 4 - Establish project goals. Step 5 -
Define LEED project scope. Step 6 - Develop LEED
scorecard. Step 7 Continue discovery phase. Step 8 -
Continue iterative process. Step 9 - Assign roles and
responsibilities. Step 10 - Develop consistent
documentation. Step 11 - Perform quality assurance
review and submit for certification.
13 Two years
For LEED BD+C projects, the
construction phase review needs to be
submitted no later than ______ after
the project is substantially completed.
14 40/60 rule
The ________ was established to help
project teams with multiple rating
system choices decide on a rating
system and is based on the
percentage of a project's gross floor
area that is appropriate for a
particular rating system.
15 List the three minimum program
requirements (MPRs) MPR 1 - Must be in a permanent location on existing
land MPR 2 - Must use reasonable LEED boundaries MPR
3 - Must comply with project size requirements.
16 Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)
Under the direct management of the
LEED Technical Committee,
___________ recommend technical
solutions to rating system development
and maintenance issues.
, 17 credit interpretation ruling (CIR)
The project _______ process is
designed to allow project teams to
obtain guidance on how LEED
requirements, including MPRs,
prerequisites, and credits, pertain to
their projects.
# Term Definition
18 LEED interpretations
________ are precedent-setting official
answers to formal technical inquiries
about implementing LEED on a project.
19 Addenda
__________ incorporate changes and
improvements to LEED rating systems
and reference guides to help clarify,
correct, interpret, or provide
alternative language.
20 The LEED _______ library is a rating pilot credit
system development tool designed to
test new and revised LEED credit
language, alternative compliance
paths (ACPs), and new or innovative
green building technologies and
concepts.
21 life cycle cost
A building's _________ is the total cost
of the building over its lifetime, or a
specified period of time, including
initial design and construction costs,
operational and maintenance/updrade
costs, and remaining (residual or
salvage) value at the end of ownership.
22 LEED project boundary
The _______ is the portion of the
project site submitted for LEED
certification.
UPDATED 2026
# Term Definition
1 B
A LEED AP is tasked with registering a
Core and Shell project that has a large
retail space at the ground floor and
office spaces on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
floors. How should the LEED AP
proceed with the rating system
selection? A. Register using two rating
systems, LEED BD+C: Retail and LEED
BD+C: Core and Shell. B.Use the 40/60
rule, based on gross floor area for
each type of space. C. Choose one
rating system based on which helps
the project achieve the highest
certification level. D. Prepare a CIR to
ask which rating system is more
appropriate for his project.
2 C. Adaptations to existing rating systems provide a
Which one of the following LEED
streamlined approach for responding to the particular
terms is used for streamlining the
approach to particular needs, needs, constraints, and opportunities of different
constraints, and opportunities of project types.
different project types? A. Credit
interpretation rulings (CIRs) B.
Addenda C. Adaptations D.
Alternative compliance paths
(ACPs)
3 B. A total of two CIRs should be submitted since each
A project team needs clarification for credit and prerequisite should each have their individual
a unique project condition for a credit CIR applications.
and a prerequisite that are unrelated.
Which one of the following actions
should the team take? A. Submit one
CIR for both the credit and
prerequisite questions. B. Submit one
CIR for the credit and another CIR for
the prerequisite. C. Submit one CIR for
the prerequisite and do not pursue
the credit. D. Submit one CIR for the
credit and wait for design review
comments for the prerequisite.
,# Term Definition
4 List the eight LEED BD+C adaptations an
exam candidate must know. New Construction and Major Renovations Core and Shell
Development Schools Retail Data Centers Warehouses
and Distribution Centers
Hospitality Healthcare
5 110
There is a maximum of ___ possible
points for each adaptation of the LEED
BD+C rating system.
6 prerequisites and credits
Required LEED strategies are called
___________ , and optional LEED
strategies are called __________.
7
LEED Certified: 40-49 points LEED Silver: 50-59 points
List the LEED certification levels and the
LEED Gold: 60-79 points LEED Platinum:
points needed to achieve each. 80+ points
8 List the categories within the LEED
Integrative Process (IP) Location and
BD+C rating system.
Transportation (LT) Sustainable Sites (SS) Water
Efficiency (WE) Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Materials and Resources (MR) Indoor
Environmental Quality (EQ) Innovation (IN)
Regional Priority (RP)
9 LEED BD+C: Core and Shell projects can be precertified.
What certification feature is unique to
LEED BD+C: Core and Shell
Development?
10 List the LEED impact Categories.
Reverse contribution to global climate change. Enhance
individual human health and well-being. Protect and
restore water resources. Protect, enhance, and restore
biodiversity and ecosystem services. Promote
sustainable and regenerative material resource cycles.
Build a greener economy. Enhance social equity,
environmental justice, and community quality of life.
,11
The four general LEED certification Step-1 Register the project. Step-2 Prepare application.
steps are the following. Step-3 Submit application. Step-4 Receive certification.
# Term Definition
12 The 11 steps of the LEED work plan
include the following: Step 1 - Initiate discovery phase Step 2 - Select LEED
rating system. Step 3 - Check minimum program
requirements. Step 4 - Establish project goals. Step 5 -
Define LEED project scope. Step 6 - Develop LEED
scorecard. Step 7 Continue discovery phase. Step 8 -
Continue iterative process. Step 9 - Assign roles and
responsibilities. Step 10 - Develop consistent
documentation. Step 11 - Perform quality assurance
review and submit for certification.
13 Two years
For LEED BD+C projects, the
construction phase review needs to be
submitted no later than ______ after
the project is substantially completed.
14 40/60 rule
The ________ was established to help
project teams with multiple rating
system choices decide on a rating
system and is based on the
percentage of a project's gross floor
area that is appropriate for a
particular rating system.
15 List the three minimum program
requirements (MPRs) MPR 1 - Must be in a permanent location on existing
land MPR 2 - Must use reasonable LEED boundaries MPR
3 - Must comply with project size requirements.
16 Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)
Under the direct management of the
LEED Technical Committee,
___________ recommend technical
solutions to rating system development
and maintenance issues.
, 17 credit interpretation ruling (CIR)
The project _______ process is
designed to allow project teams to
obtain guidance on how LEED
requirements, including MPRs,
prerequisites, and credits, pertain to
their projects.
# Term Definition
18 LEED interpretations
________ are precedent-setting official
answers to formal technical inquiries
about implementing LEED on a project.
19 Addenda
__________ incorporate changes and
improvements to LEED rating systems
and reference guides to help clarify,
correct, interpret, or provide
alternative language.
20 The LEED _______ library is a rating pilot credit
system development tool designed to
test new and revised LEED credit
language, alternative compliance
paths (ACPs), and new or innovative
green building technologies and
concepts.
21 life cycle cost
A building's _________ is the total cost
of the building over its lifetime, or a
specified period of time, including
initial design and construction costs,
operational and maintenance/updrade
costs, and remaining (residual or
salvage) value at the end of ownership.
22 LEED project boundary
The _______ is the portion of the
project site submitted for LEED
certification.
