Practice Test Geeks(CFB) Certified Field Builder Practice Test
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Cost Estimation Flashcards

7 cards from real CFB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Cost Estimation flashcards as text

  1. What is the primary purpose of a 'schedule of values' submitted by a contractor?

    Answer: To allocate the contract sum across work activities for progress billing purposes

    A schedule of values breaks the total contract price into line items corresponding to work activities, enabling proportional payment as each item is completed.

  2. Which of the following scenarios would trigger a 'change order' affecting project cost?

    Answer: Owner requests an addition to the building footprint after contract award

    A change order is required when the project scope, cost, or schedule changes from what was originally contracted, such as an owner-directed addition.

  3. In cost estimating, 'bare cost' refers to which of the following?

    Answer: Direct labor and material cost without overhead or profit

    Bare cost (or bare estimate) includes only direct labor and material — no crew burden, overhead, or profit — and is the starting point before applying markups.

  4. A field estimator calculates masonry quantities in square feet of wall area. The block is 8" × 8" × 16". Approximately how many block are needed per 100 SF of wall?

    Answer: 112 block

    An 8×16 block covers 0.889 SF of face; 100 SF ÷ 0.889 = ~112 block, typically rounded up and adjusted for a standard 5–10% waste factor.

  5. Which term describes the process of transferring risk to subcontractors by requiring them to provide their own cost estimates for defined scopes?

    Answer: Competitive subcontractor bidding

    Competitive subcontractor bidding transfers the cost risk for specific scopes to subs who submit firm prices, reducing the general contractor's estimating exposure.

  6. What is 'force account' work in construction cost tracking?

    Answer: Work performed by the contractor on a time-and-material basis at the owner's direction

    Force account work is directed extra work paid based on actual labor hours, equipment, and material costs plus an agreed markup, typically used for undefined or emergency scope.

  7. When reviewing a competitor's winning bid, a field builder notices it is 15% lower than their own estimate. What is the BEST first step?

    Answer: Audit your own quantity takeoff and unit prices for errors or conservative assumptions

    Auditing your own estimate for errors or overly conservative pricing is the most constructive response; it may reveal legitimate areas for improvement.