BCM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BCM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The statute of limitations in construction defect claims refers to: → The time period within which a legal claim must be filed after discovery of a defect
2. Pick the false statement. → None of the above
3. Which dispute resolution method is generally faster and less expensive than litigation in construction disputes? → Arbitration
4. What are any project's three main parts? → Time, Budget, Quality
5. As a guarantee of the tender, or ___, the contractor is obliged to deposit a certain sum with the department when submitting a bid. → Earnest money
6. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) identifies how many primary process groups? → 5
7. What does 'Total Float' represent in Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling? → The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion
8. A Notice to Proceed (NTP) in construction contracts signals: → The official authorization for the contractor to begin work on a specific date
9. The water-cement ratio (w/c ratio) in concrete mix design primarily affects: → Compressive strength and durability of the hardened concrete
10. Tensile strength is a structural weakness of concrete, which is why: → Steel reinforcing bars (rebar) are embedded in concrete to resist tension forces
11. Project closeout in construction typically includes all of the following EXCEPT: → Issuing the original project charter
12. A differing site condition (Type I) claim arises when: → Actual site conditions materially differ from what was indicated in the contract documents
13. Which type of respiratory protection provides the highest level of protection against airborne contaminants? → Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
14. CMU stands for which common masonry construction material? → Concrete Masonry Unit
15. Substantial completion in construction law is typically defined as the point when: → The project is sufficiently complete for the owner to use it for its intended purpose
16. A subcontractor's 'pay-when-paid' clause in a construction contract means: → The GC is not obligated to pay the sub until the GC receives payment from the owner
17. A conceptual (order-of-magnitude) estimate in construction typically has an accuracy range of: → -30% to +50%
18. The minimum distance construction workers must maintain from energized overhead power lines when using equipment (without special precautions) is: → 10 feet for lines up to 50 kV
19. In construction cost control, a 'cost code' system is used to: → Organize and track actual expenditures by work category for comparison to the estimate
20. Which document formally establishes the approved project schedule that is used to measure and report schedule performance? → Schedule Baseline
21. The Estimate at Completion (EAC) in EVM, assuming future performance matches current CPI, is calculated as: → Budget at Completion ÷ CPI
22. In construction scheduling, a lag is best defined as: → A delay intentionally added between the start or finish of two activities
23. Choose the untrue statement from the list below: → None of these
24. A Schedule of Values (SOV) in construction is used primarily to: → Break down the contract sum by work items to support monthly payment applications
25. A construction project's baseline schedule is best described as: → The approved, original project schedule used as a reference for performance measurement
26. Fast-tracking as a schedule compression technique involves: → Overlapping phases or activities that were originally planned in sequence
27. Which risk response strategy involves transferring the financial consequences of a risk to a third party, such as through insurance? → Transfer
28. The OSHA 'Fatal Four' in construction refers to the four leading causes of worker fatalities, which are: → Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution
29. Higher volume, lower cost commodities need: → Little Inspection
30. Which type of logical relationship in Precedence Diagramming means 'Activity B cannot start until Activity A finishes'? → Finish-to-Start (FS)