1|Page
CQM-C ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026
|QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |ALREADY A GRADED |NEW AND
REVISED
1. The primary purpose of Construction Quality Management
(CQM) is to:
A. Ensure contractors finish work quickly
B. Achieve the quality established by properly
developed requirements through the combined
responsibility, but separate efforts of contractor and
government personnel
C. Reduce government oversight
D. Increase contractor profits only
Rationale: CQM focuses on achieving contract-defined
quality through coordinated, but separate, responsibilities
of contractor and government staff.
2. Construction Quality Management ensures that
construction is performed:
A. With minimum government involvement
B. Only according to the contractor’s standards
C. According to plans and specifications, on time, within
budget, and in a safe work environment
D. Without safety considerations
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Rationale: Effective CQM monitors compliance with
design, schedule, budget, and safety standards.
3. Partnering relationships between contractors and
government personnel are based upon:
A. Shared budgets only
B. Casual communication
C. Building trust and dedication to common goals
D. Contractual enforcement alone
Rationale: Successful partnering relies on trust and
mutual objectives, not solely contractual obligations.
4. It is the responsibility of Quality Assurance personnel to:
A. Conduct all field work personally
B. Approve contractor pay
C. Periodically verify that the contractor’s system of
control is working effectively
D. Supervise the contractor directly at all times
Rationale: QA personnel monitor and verify that
contractor QC systems function as intended.
5. An effective contractor Quality Control program will:
A. Allow work to be done without inspections
B. Focus only on safety
C. Incentivize work to be done correctly the first time,
resulting in earlier completion, reduced field overhead,
and greater profits
D. Replace government oversight entirely
Rationale: QC programs prevent errors, improve
efficiency, and support profitability.
6. The success or failure of all contractors is primarily based
upon:
A. Marketing and public relations
B. Ability to control costs, finance work, estimate jobs,
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schedule work, and maintain effective quality control
C. Staff seniority alone
D. Government enforcement only
Rationale: Effective management of cost, schedule, and
quality is the key determinant of contractor performance.
7. Quality Assurance personnel are responsible for:
A. Conducting daily contractor work
B. Requiring contractors to maintain the quality
specified in the plans and specifications
C. Approving all contractor budgets
D. Supervising all laborers directly
Rationale: QA ensures compliance with contract quality
requirements rather than direct supervision.
8. Inspection is defined as:
A. The final project acceptance only
B. Verifying invoices
C. The process by which ongoing and completed work is
examined
D. Testing financial documentation
Rationale: Inspection monitors work quality during and
after execution to ensure compliance.
9. During the punch-out inspection of a project, QA personnel
must:
A. Ignore minor defects
B. Sign off work immediately
C. Ensure the contractor prepares a punch-list and
makes necessary corrections
D. Replace the contractor if deficiencies are found
Rationale: Punch-out inspections confirm all deficiencies
are corrected before project completion.
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10. If a disagreement arises over whether the contractor’s
work complies with the contract:
A. The contractor decides
B. QA personnel decide independently
C. The issue is ignored
D. The government makes the final determination
Rationale: Contractual compliance is ultimately
determined by the government authority.
11. Characteristics that describe a definable feature of
work include:
A. Only budget-related metrics
B. Cross-referenced listings to the contractor’s
construction schedule, possibly with multiple features
under one specification section
C. Only safety requirements
D. Only the project timeline
Rationale: Definable features are specific, measurable
portions of work linked to the schedule.
12. The phase that consists of daily checks to assure
ongoing compliance with contract requirements is the:
A. Preparatory phase
B. Follow-up phase
C. Final inspection phase
D. Planning phase
Rationale: The follow-up phase involves continuous
verification of compliance.
13. The Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) is:
A. Optional guidance for contractors
B. A financial auditing tool
C. A government management tool establishing staffing,
training, pre-award activities, and surveillance activities
CQM-C ACTUAL EXAM PREP 2026
|QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS |ALREADY A GRADED |NEW AND
REVISED
1. The primary purpose of Construction Quality Management
(CQM) is to:
A. Ensure contractors finish work quickly
B. Achieve the quality established by properly
developed requirements through the combined
responsibility, but separate efforts of contractor and
government personnel
C. Reduce government oversight
D. Increase contractor profits only
Rationale: CQM focuses on achieving contract-defined
quality through coordinated, but separate, responsibilities
of contractor and government staff.
2. Construction Quality Management ensures that
construction is performed:
A. With minimum government involvement
B. Only according to the contractor’s standards
C. According to plans and specifications, on time, within
budget, and in a safe work environment
D. Without safety considerations
,2|Page
Rationale: Effective CQM monitors compliance with
design, schedule, budget, and safety standards.
3. Partnering relationships between contractors and
government personnel are based upon:
A. Shared budgets only
B. Casual communication
C. Building trust and dedication to common goals
D. Contractual enforcement alone
Rationale: Successful partnering relies on trust and
mutual objectives, not solely contractual obligations.
4. It is the responsibility of Quality Assurance personnel to:
A. Conduct all field work personally
B. Approve contractor pay
C. Periodically verify that the contractor’s system of
control is working effectively
D. Supervise the contractor directly at all times
Rationale: QA personnel monitor and verify that
contractor QC systems function as intended.
5. An effective contractor Quality Control program will:
A. Allow work to be done without inspections
B. Focus only on safety
C. Incentivize work to be done correctly the first time,
resulting in earlier completion, reduced field overhead,
and greater profits
D. Replace government oversight entirely
Rationale: QC programs prevent errors, improve
efficiency, and support profitability.
6. The success or failure of all contractors is primarily based
upon:
A. Marketing and public relations
B. Ability to control costs, finance work, estimate jobs,
,3|Page
schedule work, and maintain effective quality control
C. Staff seniority alone
D. Government enforcement only
Rationale: Effective management of cost, schedule, and
quality is the key determinant of contractor performance.
7. Quality Assurance personnel are responsible for:
A. Conducting daily contractor work
B. Requiring contractors to maintain the quality
specified in the plans and specifications
C. Approving all contractor budgets
D. Supervising all laborers directly
Rationale: QA ensures compliance with contract quality
requirements rather than direct supervision.
8. Inspection is defined as:
A. The final project acceptance only
B. Verifying invoices
C. The process by which ongoing and completed work is
examined
D. Testing financial documentation
Rationale: Inspection monitors work quality during and
after execution to ensure compliance.
9. During the punch-out inspection of a project, QA personnel
must:
A. Ignore minor defects
B. Sign off work immediately
C. Ensure the contractor prepares a punch-list and
makes necessary corrections
D. Replace the contractor if deficiencies are found
Rationale: Punch-out inspections confirm all deficiencies
are corrected before project completion.
, 4|Page
10. If a disagreement arises over whether the contractor’s
work complies with the contract:
A. The contractor decides
B. QA personnel decide independently
C. The issue is ignored
D. The government makes the final determination
Rationale: Contractual compliance is ultimately
determined by the government authority.
11. Characteristics that describe a definable feature of
work include:
A. Only budget-related metrics
B. Cross-referenced listings to the contractor’s
construction schedule, possibly with multiple features
under one specification section
C. Only safety requirements
D. Only the project timeline
Rationale: Definable features are specific, measurable
portions of work linked to the schedule.
12. The phase that consists of daily checks to assure
ongoing compliance with contract requirements is the:
A. Preparatory phase
B. Follow-up phase
C. Final inspection phase
D. Planning phase
Rationale: The follow-up phase involves continuous
verification of compliance.
13. The Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) is:
A. Optional guidance for contractors
B. A financial auditing tool
C. A government management tool establishing staffing,
training, pre-award activities, and surveillance activities
