CQM-C EXAM 2026/2027
210 ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR
CONTRACTORS PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
USACE / NAVFAC CQM-C EXAM PREPARATION
SECTION 1 — CQM FUNDAMENTALS, CQC & QA
Questions 1–21
1. What is the primary objective of Construction Quality Management
(CQM)?
A) Reduce the number of project employees
B) Ensure construction conforms to contract requirements
C) Eliminate Government involvement
D) Increase the contractor's profit regardless of quality
Correct Answer: B) Ensure construction conforms to contract
requirements
Rationale: CQM focuses on achieving the quality established by the
plans, specifications, and other contract requirements.
2. Which party has the primary contractual responsibility for
Contractor Quality Control (CQC)?
A) The contractor
B) The Government QA team
,C) The facility user
D) The designer
Correct Answer: A) The contractor
Rationale: The contractor is responsible for controlling and
documenting the quality of its construction work.
3. What is the principal role of Government Quality Assurance (QA)?
A) Perform the contractor's daily QC
B) Redesign deficient work
C) Verify that the contractor's QC system is effective
D) Manage subcontractor employees directly
Correct Answer: C) Verify that the contractor's QC system is effective
Rationale: QA provides Government assurance that CQC is functioning
and contract requirements are being achieved.
4. Which statement best distinguishes control from inspection?
A) Control is preventive; inspection evaluates work
B) Control is performed only after completion
C) Inspection eliminates the need for planning
D) They are identical processes
Correct Answer: A) Control is preventive; inspection evaluates work
Rationale: CQM emphasizes proactive control rather than relying solely
on after-the-fact inspection.
,**5. CQM is best described as:
A) Government-only inspection
B) Contractor-only testing
C) A combined contractor and Government quality effort
D) A financial auditing system
Correct Answer: C) A combined contractor and Government quality
effort
Rationale: CQM joins contractor CQC responsibilities with Government
QA responsibilities.
6. Which concept is central to modern CQM?
A) Reactive correction
B) Proactive prevention
C) Minimal documentation
D) Government-directed construction
Correct Answer: B) Proactive prevention
Rationale: The CQM system is designed to identify and prevent
deficiencies before they become costly problems.
7. Which activity is primarily the contractor's responsibility?
A) Establishing Government QA policy
B) Performing daily CQC
C) Changing the contract
D) Approving Government funding
, Correct Answer: B) Performing daily CQC
Rationale: The contractor controls the quality of its construction
operations.
8. Which party normally establishes the quality standards reflected in
the construction documents?
A) The subcontractor
B) The designer through the contract documents
C) The material supplier
D) The QC inspector alone
Correct Answer: B) The designer through the contract documents
Rationale: The plans and specifications establish the required quality
against which construction is controlled.
**9. Effective CQC can benefit a contractor by:
A) Increasing rework
B) Reducing tear-out and replacement
C) Eliminating all subcontractors
D) Removing the need for planning
Correct Answer: B) Reducing tear-out and replacement
Rationale: Good quality control helps the contractor get the work right
the first time.
10. Which is a Government benefit of effective CQC?
210 ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR
CONTRACTORS PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & RATIONALES
USACE / NAVFAC CQM-C EXAM PREPARATION
SECTION 1 — CQM FUNDAMENTALS, CQC & QA
Questions 1–21
1. What is the primary objective of Construction Quality Management
(CQM)?
A) Reduce the number of project employees
B) Ensure construction conforms to contract requirements
C) Eliminate Government involvement
D) Increase the contractor's profit regardless of quality
Correct Answer: B) Ensure construction conforms to contract
requirements
Rationale: CQM focuses on achieving the quality established by the
plans, specifications, and other contract requirements.
2. Which party has the primary contractual responsibility for
Contractor Quality Control (CQC)?
A) The contractor
B) The Government QA team
,C) The facility user
D) The designer
Correct Answer: A) The contractor
Rationale: The contractor is responsible for controlling and
documenting the quality of its construction work.
3. What is the principal role of Government Quality Assurance (QA)?
A) Perform the contractor's daily QC
B) Redesign deficient work
C) Verify that the contractor's QC system is effective
D) Manage subcontractor employees directly
Correct Answer: C) Verify that the contractor's QC system is effective
Rationale: QA provides Government assurance that CQC is functioning
and contract requirements are being achieved.
4. Which statement best distinguishes control from inspection?
A) Control is preventive; inspection evaluates work
B) Control is performed only after completion
C) Inspection eliminates the need for planning
D) They are identical processes
Correct Answer: A) Control is preventive; inspection evaluates work
Rationale: CQM emphasizes proactive control rather than relying solely
on after-the-fact inspection.
,**5. CQM is best described as:
A) Government-only inspection
B) Contractor-only testing
C) A combined contractor and Government quality effort
D) A financial auditing system
Correct Answer: C) A combined contractor and Government quality
effort
Rationale: CQM joins contractor CQC responsibilities with Government
QA responsibilities.
6. Which concept is central to modern CQM?
A) Reactive correction
B) Proactive prevention
C) Minimal documentation
D) Government-directed construction
Correct Answer: B) Proactive prevention
Rationale: The CQM system is designed to identify and prevent
deficiencies before they become costly problems.
7. Which activity is primarily the contractor's responsibility?
A) Establishing Government QA policy
B) Performing daily CQC
C) Changing the contract
D) Approving Government funding
, Correct Answer: B) Performing daily CQC
Rationale: The contractor controls the quality of its construction
operations.
8. Which party normally establishes the quality standards reflected in
the construction documents?
A) The subcontractor
B) The designer through the contract documents
C) The material supplier
D) The QC inspector alone
Correct Answer: B) The designer through the contract documents
Rationale: The plans and specifications establish the required quality
against which construction is controlled.
**9. Effective CQC can benefit a contractor by:
A) Increasing rework
B) Reducing tear-out and replacement
C) Eliminating all subcontractors
D) Removing the need for planning
Correct Answer: B) Reducing tear-out and replacement
Rationale: Good quality control helps the contractor get the work right
the first time.
10. Which is a Government benefit of effective CQC?
