AIC EXAM Study Questions and
Answers 100% Correct
Which of the following statements is true about the use of texting as a means of communicating
in the construction industry?
A) means of easily and effectively
documenting communication
B) Appropriate for clarifying but not for
formal direction
C) Should be completely avoided in
construction
D) Acceptable for communication if
specifically allowed in the contract answer - B) Appropriate for clarifying but not for formal
direction
A subcontractor identifies a significant discrepancy between the architectural and structural
drawings. The subcontractor immediately meets with the general contractor at their
construction trailer to discuss the discrepancy. The general contractor agrees that this could be
a significant change depending on which of the drawings describes the designer's intent. Which
of the following actions is the most appropriate in this situation?
A) Draft a change order proposal and arrange a meeting with the design team and owner to
resolve the conflict.
B) Draft an RFI that describes the discrepancy in detail and submit it to the architect
immediately.
C) Send a short text alerting the design team of the issue and discuss the discrepancy in detail at
the next meeting.
,D) Email the engineer of record to collect relevant background information and follow up with a
formal RFI to the architect answer - B) Draft an RFI that describes the discrepancy in detail and
submit it to the architect immediately.
What are the leadership skills needed to conduct a productive meeting?
A) Planning, probing questions, responding critically, and decision making
B) Planning, timing, coordinating, probing,
responding critically, and following up
C) Listening attentively, responding
constructively, soliciting all ideas, and matching decision making to the situation
D) Coordinating, listening selectively, responding critically, soliciting supportive ideas, and
adjusting decision making to the situation answer - C) Listening attentively, responding
constructively, soliciting all ideas, and matching decision making to the situation
Which of the following statements made by the indicated parties below would least likely be
made at an owner/architect/contractor progress meeting?
A) Contractor: "There are 14 unanswered RFIs on the log."
B) Superintendent: "A third party inspector will assist the supervision of the roofing
installation."
C) Owner: "It is very likely, that change order proposal #23 will be accepted."
D) Project manager: "The bond rate for ABC subcontractor is 1.45%" answer - D) Project
manager: "The bond rate for ABC subcontractor is 1.45%"
What is a listener's retention percentage of an oral conversation?
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 60%
D. 90% answer - A. 10%
,Which of the following communication methods is the most effective way to know that the
communication has been understood?
A) The sender should ask closed-ended questions and tell the receiver twice.
B) The sender should ask open-ended questions and make them speak.
C) The sender should ask how they feel and their attitude toward the activity.
D) The sender should tell them what to do and get them back to work quickly. answer - B) The
sender should ask open-ended questions and make them speak.
Which of the following is the best example of an open-ended question?
A) Do you understand what work is
supposed to be completed?
B) Do you know which shovel to get me
from the tool shed?
C) What steps are you going to take to
complete the activity?
D) How do you feel about completing the
activities assigned? answer - C) What steps are you going to take to complete the activity?
Which of the following statements about the following organizations and their justifications of
its use is most appropriate when designers develop project specifications?
A) Organize building materials by International Building Code chapters to facilitate inspections
by the authority having jurisdiction.
B) Only use materials tested by Underwriters Laboratories to ensure the highest quality and
lowest flame spread rating.
C) Use the Construction Specification Institute's organizational system for categorizing
construction materials into divisions and sections as it is widely used by the industry.
, D) Use products endorsed by the American Society for Testing Materials to prevent the
likelihood of structural failure. answer - C) Use the Construction Specification Institute's
organizational system for categorizing construction materials into divisions and sections as it is
widely used by the industry.
Assume you have a simple beam 16 ft long supported on each end by R1 and R2. There is a
concentrated load of 900 lb that is 4 ft from R2. Reaction R1 is pinned 12 ft from the load.
Reaction R1 is 225 lb and R2 is 675 lb. What is the maximum bending moment in pounds per
foot?
A. 900
B. 1,800
C. 2,700
D. 3,600 answer - C. 2,700 (225 x 12)
Assume that you are pouring a wall that is 151 ft 4 in. long, 14 ft high and, 1 ft 4 in. thick. The
crew's daily placement rate is 375 cy per 8-hr day. How many hours will it take to complete the
wall?
A. 0.3
B. 2.2
C. 27.0
D. 58.8 answer - B. 2.2 • (151.33 ft × 14 ft × 1.33 ft) × (1 cy/27 cft) = 104.6 cy
• 375 cy/8 hr = 46.9 cy/hr
• 104.6 cy/46.9 hr/cy = 2.2 hr
Using the average soil weights from the table in Figure 1, what is the swell percentage of a loam
soil?
A. 8.3%
B. 23.8%
C. 31.9%
Answers 100% Correct
Which of the following statements is true about the use of texting as a means of communicating
in the construction industry?
A) means of easily and effectively
documenting communication
B) Appropriate for clarifying but not for
formal direction
C) Should be completely avoided in
construction
D) Acceptable for communication if
specifically allowed in the contract answer - B) Appropriate for clarifying but not for formal
direction
A subcontractor identifies a significant discrepancy between the architectural and structural
drawings. The subcontractor immediately meets with the general contractor at their
construction trailer to discuss the discrepancy. The general contractor agrees that this could be
a significant change depending on which of the drawings describes the designer's intent. Which
of the following actions is the most appropriate in this situation?
A) Draft a change order proposal and arrange a meeting with the design team and owner to
resolve the conflict.
B) Draft an RFI that describes the discrepancy in detail and submit it to the architect
immediately.
C) Send a short text alerting the design team of the issue and discuss the discrepancy in detail at
the next meeting.
,D) Email the engineer of record to collect relevant background information and follow up with a
formal RFI to the architect answer - B) Draft an RFI that describes the discrepancy in detail and
submit it to the architect immediately.
What are the leadership skills needed to conduct a productive meeting?
A) Planning, probing questions, responding critically, and decision making
B) Planning, timing, coordinating, probing,
responding critically, and following up
C) Listening attentively, responding
constructively, soliciting all ideas, and matching decision making to the situation
D) Coordinating, listening selectively, responding critically, soliciting supportive ideas, and
adjusting decision making to the situation answer - C) Listening attentively, responding
constructively, soliciting all ideas, and matching decision making to the situation
Which of the following statements made by the indicated parties below would least likely be
made at an owner/architect/contractor progress meeting?
A) Contractor: "There are 14 unanswered RFIs on the log."
B) Superintendent: "A third party inspector will assist the supervision of the roofing
installation."
C) Owner: "It is very likely, that change order proposal #23 will be accepted."
D) Project manager: "The bond rate for ABC subcontractor is 1.45%" answer - D) Project
manager: "The bond rate for ABC subcontractor is 1.45%"
What is a listener's retention percentage of an oral conversation?
A. 10%
B. 50%
C. 60%
D. 90% answer - A. 10%
,Which of the following communication methods is the most effective way to know that the
communication has been understood?
A) The sender should ask closed-ended questions and tell the receiver twice.
B) The sender should ask open-ended questions and make them speak.
C) The sender should ask how they feel and their attitude toward the activity.
D) The sender should tell them what to do and get them back to work quickly. answer - B) The
sender should ask open-ended questions and make them speak.
Which of the following is the best example of an open-ended question?
A) Do you understand what work is
supposed to be completed?
B) Do you know which shovel to get me
from the tool shed?
C) What steps are you going to take to
complete the activity?
D) How do you feel about completing the
activities assigned? answer - C) What steps are you going to take to complete the activity?
Which of the following statements about the following organizations and their justifications of
its use is most appropriate when designers develop project specifications?
A) Organize building materials by International Building Code chapters to facilitate inspections
by the authority having jurisdiction.
B) Only use materials tested by Underwriters Laboratories to ensure the highest quality and
lowest flame spread rating.
C) Use the Construction Specification Institute's organizational system for categorizing
construction materials into divisions and sections as it is widely used by the industry.
, D) Use products endorsed by the American Society for Testing Materials to prevent the
likelihood of structural failure. answer - C) Use the Construction Specification Institute's
organizational system for categorizing construction materials into divisions and sections as it is
widely used by the industry.
Assume you have a simple beam 16 ft long supported on each end by R1 and R2. There is a
concentrated load of 900 lb that is 4 ft from R2. Reaction R1 is pinned 12 ft from the load.
Reaction R1 is 225 lb and R2 is 675 lb. What is the maximum bending moment in pounds per
foot?
A. 900
B. 1,800
C. 2,700
D. 3,600 answer - C. 2,700 (225 x 12)
Assume that you are pouring a wall that is 151 ft 4 in. long, 14 ft high and, 1 ft 4 in. thick. The
crew's daily placement rate is 375 cy per 8-hr day. How many hours will it take to complete the
wall?
A. 0.3
B. 2.2
C. 27.0
D. 58.8 answer - B. 2.2 • (151.33 ft × 14 ft × 1.33 ft) × (1 cy/27 cft) = 104.6 cy
• 375 cy/8 hr = 46.9 cy/hr
• 104.6 cy/46.9 hr/cy = 2.2 hr
Using the average soil weights from the table in Figure 1, what is the swell percentage of a loam
soil?
A. 8.3%
B. 23.8%
C. 31.9%
