CCM Cheat Sheet 2026

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

1. Which quality management principle does ISO 9001:2015 emphasize as the foundation for all other quality activities? → Customer focus
2. A construction manager notices concrete test cylinders are consistently failing at 28 days. Which action reflects a corrective action approach? → Investigating the water-cement ratio and adjusting the mix design
3. A project's Estimate at Completion (EAC) is calculated as BAC / CPI. This formula assumes: → The current cost performance will continue for the remainder of the project
4. Under the CMAA Body of Knowledge, which document formally defines the quality standards and inspection procedures applicable to a construction project? → Quality Management Plan
5. A contractor discovers that installed concrete has a compressive strength 15% below specification. Under a quality management system, what is the FIRST step? → Issue a nonconformance report and quarantine the affected area
6. During construction, 'quality surveillance' refers to: → Ongoing observation of work activities to ensure compliance with quality requirements
7. A project manager receives a cost variance (CV) of -$50,000. What does this indicate? → The project is $50,000 over budget
8. A construction manager conducts a 'constructability review' during design. What is the primary cost management benefit? → It identifies construction issues early when changes are least expensive to make
9. When predecessor activity B cannot start until successor activity A is 50% complete, this relationship is called: → Start-to-Start with lag
10. What is the primary function of a construction contract? → To define legal and project terms
11. The OSHA 300 Log must be posted in the workplace annually during which period? → February 1 – April 30
12. When a project manager identifies a risk event with a 30% probability and a $200,000 potential impact, what is the expected monetary value (EMV)? → $60,000
13. A construction manager uses a cost-loaded schedule to track project finances. What is the primary benefit of this approach? → It allows earned value analysis by linking costs directly to schedule activities
14. A CM observes that a subcontractor is consistently installing ductwork 1/8 inch outside the specified tolerance. The CM should FIRST: → Document the observations and issue a nonconformance notice to the subcontractor
15. OSHA's trenching standard requires a competent person to classify soil and inspect the excavation: → Before each shift and after any hazard-increasing event
16. Which cost estimating technique uses a statistical relationship between historical data and project variables? → Parametric estimating
17. Which technology captures millions of data points to produce precise 3D point clouds for as-built documentation of existing structures? → 3D laser scanning (LiDAR)
18. During project execution, the actual cost of work performed (ACWP) exceeds the budgeted cost of work performed (BCWP). This indicates: → A cost overrun (negative cost variance)
19. Which party is typically responsible for issuing a notice to proceed? → Owner
20. Which document establishes the approved project schedule baseline against which progress is measured? → Baseline Schedule
21. Which quality principle states that a relatively small number of causes typically account for the majority of quality problems? → Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
22. What is the To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI) used for in construction EVM? → To calculate the required future cost efficiency to meet the budget goal
23. The process of decomposing project deliverables into smaller, manageable components is used to create the: → Work breakdown structure (WBS)
24. Under OSHA's scaffolding standard (29 CFR 1926 Subpart L), the maximum permissible deflection for a scaffold plank is: → 1/60 of the span
25. In construction quality management, what distinguishes 'quality assurance' from 'quality control'? → QA is process-oriented and preventive; QC is product-oriented and detective
26. In construction cost management, what is a contingency reserve used for? → Known unknowns — identified risks that may or may not occur
27. Which feature is a defining element of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)? → Multi-party agreement that aligns financial incentives of owner, designer, and contractor
28. What does 'bid shopping' refer to in construction procurement, and why is it considered unethical? → Revealing a subcontractor's bid to competitors to drive down prices after award
29. Which scheduling technique is BEST suited for projects with uncertain activity durations that require probability analysis? → Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT)
30. Which method of schedule compression reduces project duration by adding resources to critical path activities? → Crashing