NYC DCAS Construction Project Manager Exam –
200 Practice Questions & Answers
**1. A Construction Project Manager (CPM) is responsible for all the following EXCEPT:**
A) Planning and scheduling project activities
B) Managing the project budget and costs
C) Performing hands-on construction labor
D) Coordinating between stakeholders and agencies
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CPM oversees planning, coordination, and budgeting. Direct manual labor is
performed by contractors and tradespeople, not the PM .
**2. According to NYC DCAS guidelines, what is the primary purpose of a project charter?**
A) To list all subcontractors and suppliers
B) To formally authorize the project and outline scope, goals, and stakeholder roles
C) To provide a detailed construction schedule
D) To document project closeout procedures
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The project charter is the formal document that authorizes the project and establishes
high-level scope, objectives, and key stakeholders .
**3. In the context of a lump sum contract, the contractor agrees to:**
A) Be reimbursed for all costs plus a fixed fee
B) Perform all work for a fixed price regardless of cost overruns
C) Work on a time-and-materials basis only
D) Share any project savings with the owner
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A lump sum contract requires the contractor to complete the entire project for a
single, pre-negotiated price, assuming the project scope remains unchanged.
**4. What is a "schedule of values" used for?**
A) Listing the CPM activities in chronological order
,B) Allocating the total contract sum among the various portions of work
C) Documenting employee performance evaluations
D) Recording the mission statement of the contracting agency
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The Schedule of Values (SOV) breaks down the total contract price into line items for
each major work component and is used as the basis for reviewing progress payments .
**5. What does the Critical Path Method (CPM) indicate?**
A) The maximum budget allowed for the project
B) The sequence of tasks that determines the shortest possible project duration
C) The list of tasks assigned to subcontractors
D) The tasks that can be delayed without affecting the project
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The critical path identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks that dictates the
overall project completion date. Any delay on the critical path directly delays the project .
**6. What is the purpose of 'retainage' in a construction contract?**
A) A bonus paid to the contractor for early completion
B) A percentage of each progress payment withheld by the owner until project completion
C) The amount a contractor owes to subcontractors for materials
D) The insurance deductible on a builder's risk policy
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Retainage is a percentage (commonly 5-10%) withheld from each progress payment as
security for contractor performance, typically released at substantial completion .
**7. What is "fast tracking" in construction scheduling?**
A) Overlapping design and construction activities to compress schedule duration
B) Using only the fastest available construction equipment
C) Assigning the most experienced superintendent to a project
D) Reducing the number of project meetings
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Fast tracking compresses the schedule by performing phases in parallel that are
traditionally done in sequence .
,**8. What is a unit price contract?**
A) A contract where the contractor is paid based on actual quantities of work multiplied by pre-
established unit prices
B) A contract where the contractor is paid a flat fee regardless of quantity
C) A contract where the contractor is reimbursed for all costs plus a percentage fee
D) A contract where the contractor works on an hourly basis
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Unit price contracts are common for projects where quantities cannot be precisely
determined in advance. Payment is based on actual measured quantities multiplied by agreed unit
prices .
**9. What is "Value Engineering"?**
A) A process to reduce contract quality standards
B) A systematic method to achieve necessary functions at the lowest life-cycle cost without sacrificing
quality
C) A tool used only during construction closeout
D) A method for increasing contractor profit margins
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Value engineering is a structured, function-based analysis aimed at optimizing cost,
quality, and performance by identifying alternatives that meet project requirements at lower cost .
**10. An RFI (Request for Information) is used to:**
A) Approve the final payment to the contractor
B) Resolve ambiguities in the contract documents before work proceeds
C) Provide a list of project closeout documents
D) Request a change in the project scope
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** RFIs are formal requests submitted by the contractor to clarify missing or unclear
details in the plans or specifications to prevent errors and rework.
**11. What is the primary purpose of construction submittals?**
A) To list the project's critical path activities
B) To allow the project team to review and approve materials, equipment, or shop drawings before
installation
C) To submit final payment invoices to the owner
, D) To document the daily log of construction activities
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Submittals provide samples, product data, and shop drawings for review and approval
to ensure materials and systems meet project quality requirements.
**12. Which NYC code governs building design and construction standards?**
A) Fire Code
B) Electrical Code
C) Building Code
D) Zoning Resolution
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The NYC Building Code sets the minimum safety, structural, and design standards for
all new construction and major renovations in the city .
**13. A document used to formally change the scope, schedule, or cost of a municipal construction
project is a:**
A) Submittal log
B) Punch list
C) Change Order
D) Bid Proposal
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** A change order is the formal document used to modify the original contract for
approved changes to scope, budget, or schedule .
**14. What is the purpose of a Punch List?**
A) To list deficiencies and remaining work items that must be completed before final acceptance
B) To schedule weekly progress meetings
C) To document contractor payroll information
D) To list items that will be excluded from the project
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Punch lists are created near the end of a project to list minor items that need
correction or completion for the owner to accept the work as substantially complete.
**15. What is a Cost Contingency?**
200 Practice Questions & Answers
**1. A Construction Project Manager (CPM) is responsible for all the following EXCEPT:**
A) Planning and scheduling project activities
B) Managing the project budget and costs
C) Performing hands-on construction labor
D) Coordinating between stakeholders and agencies
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The CPM oversees planning, coordination, and budgeting. Direct manual labor is
performed by contractors and tradespeople, not the PM .
**2. According to NYC DCAS guidelines, what is the primary purpose of a project charter?**
A) To list all subcontractors and suppliers
B) To formally authorize the project and outline scope, goals, and stakeholder roles
C) To provide a detailed construction schedule
D) To document project closeout procedures
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The project charter is the formal document that authorizes the project and establishes
high-level scope, objectives, and key stakeholders .
**3. In the context of a lump sum contract, the contractor agrees to:**
A) Be reimbursed for all costs plus a fixed fee
B) Perform all work for a fixed price regardless of cost overruns
C) Work on a time-and-materials basis only
D) Share any project savings with the owner
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A lump sum contract requires the contractor to complete the entire project for a
single, pre-negotiated price, assuming the project scope remains unchanged.
**4. What is a "schedule of values" used for?**
A) Listing the CPM activities in chronological order
,B) Allocating the total contract sum among the various portions of work
C) Documenting employee performance evaluations
D) Recording the mission statement of the contracting agency
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The Schedule of Values (SOV) breaks down the total contract price into line items for
each major work component and is used as the basis for reviewing progress payments .
**5. What does the Critical Path Method (CPM) indicate?**
A) The maximum budget allowed for the project
B) The sequence of tasks that determines the shortest possible project duration
C) The list of tasks assigned to subcontractors
D) The tasks that can be delayed without affecting the project
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** The critical path identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks that dictates the
overall project completion date. Any delay on the critical path directly delays the project .
**6. What is the purpose of 'retainage' in a construction contract?**
A) A bonus paid to the contractor for early completion
B) A percentage of each progress payment withheld by the owner until project completion
C) The amount a contractor owes to subcontractors for materials
D) The insurance deductible on a builder's risk policy
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Retainage is a percentage (commonly 5-10%) withheld from each progress payment as
security for contractor performance, typically released at substantial completion .
**7. What is "fast tracking" in construction scheduling?**
A) Overlapping design and construction activities to compress schedule duration
B) Using only the fastest available construction equipment
C) Assigning the most experienced superintendent to a project
D) Reducing the number of project meetings
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Fast tracking compresses the schedule by performing phases in parallel that are
traditionally done in sequence .
,**8. What is a unit price contract?**
A) A contract where the contractor is paid based on actual quantities of work multiplied by pre-
established unit prices
B) A contract where the contractor is paid a flat fee regardless of quantity
C) A contract where the contractor is reimbursed for all costs plus a percentage fee
D) A contract where the contractor works on an hourly basis
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Unit price contracts are common for projects where quantities cannot be precisely
determined in advance. Payment is based on actual measured quantities multiplied by agreed unit
prices .
**9. What is "Value Engineering"?**
A) A process to reduce contract quality standards
B) A systematic method to achieve necessary functions at the lowest life-cycle cost without sacrificing
quality
C) A tool used only during construction closeout
D) A method for increasing contractor profit margins
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Value engineering is a structured, function-based analysis aimed at optimizing cost,
quality, and performance by identifying alternatives that meet project requirements at lower cost .
**10. An RFI (Request for Information) is used to:**
A) Approve the final payment to the contractor
B) Resolve ambiguities in the contract documents before work proceeds
C) Provide a list of project closeout documents
D) Request a change in the project scope
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** RFIs are formal requests submitted by the contractor to clarify missing or unclear
details in the plans or specifications to prevent errors and rework.
**11. What is the primary purpose of construction submittals?**
A) To list the project's critical path activities
B) To allow the project team to review and approve materials, equipment, or shop drawings before
installation
C) To submit final payment invoices to the owner
, D) To document the daily log of construction activities
**Answer: B**
**Rationale:** Submittals provide samples, product data, and shop drawings for review and approval
to ensure materials and systems meet project quality requirements.
**12. Which NYC code governs building design and construction standards?**
A) Fire Code
B) Electrical Code
C) Building Code
D) Zoning Resolution
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** The NYC Building Code sets the minimum safety, structural, and design standards for
all new construction and major renovations in the city .
**13. A document used to formally change the scope, schedule, or cost of a municipal construction
project is a:**
A) Submittal log
B) Punch list
C) Change Order
D) Bid Proposal
**Answer: C**
**Rationale:** A change order is the formal document used to modify the original contract for
approved changes to scope, budget, or schedule .
**14. What is the purpose of a Punch List?**
A) To list deficiencies and remaining work items that must be completed before final acceptance
B) To schedule weekly progress meetings
C) To document contractor payroll information
D) To list items that will be excluded from the project
**Answer: A**
**Rationale:** Punch lists are created near the end of a project to list minor items that need
correction or completion for the owner to accept the work as substantially complete.
**15. What is a Cost Contingency?**
