Free Practice Questions for CMAA Construction-Manager Exam

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

According to theCMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice (SOP)underChapter 8 – Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship, early-phase sustainability and resiliency planning must begin withdata collection and assessment. This step establishes the factual foundation for subsequent decision-making on design strategies, risk mitigation, and performance goals.

The CMAA states:

“During the planning and pre-design phases, the CM should assist the owner and design team by collecting and reviewing available data and reports on climate conditions, environmental risks, and site-specific factors. These data inform the development of sustainable goals and resiliency measures integrated into the project scope.”

This initial effort typically includes gathering information such as:

Local climate projections and floodplain data.

Historical weather events and environmental impact studies.

Site topography, soil, and hydrology reports.

Utility availability, energy use profiles, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Only after a comprehensive understanding of environmental and site conditions has been established can the team properly evaluate certification pathways (e.g., LEED, Envision), develop quality specifications, or engage specialized consultants such as commissioning agents.

Therefore, thebest first stepfor the CM team during thepre-design phaseis tocollect relevant data and reportsthat will serve as the basis for all subsequent climate resiliency and sustainability strategies.

References (CMAA Construction Manager Documents / Study Guide):

CMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice, 2010 Edition,Chapter 8 – Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship, Section: “Early Project Phase Activities,” pp. 78–80.

CMAA CM Study Guide,Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Domain, Objective 8.1: “Support the collection and assessment of environmental data in the planning and pre-design phases to inform resiliency and sustainability strategies.”

TheCMAA Standards of Practice (Chapter 7 – Safety Management)states:

“While the contractor has primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing the safety program, the Construction Manager bears a professional and ethical obligation to monitor, coordinate, and promote a safe working environment.”

CMAA also clarifies that the CM is not responsible for enforcing the contractor’s safety plan or certifying compliance, but must:

Verify that required safety plans and documentation are submitted.

Participate in safety meetings and hazard analyses.

Advise the owner of unsafe conditions or practices.

This represents ashared professional responsibility, ensuring that all parties collaborate toward a safe jobsite without overlapping legal authority.

Therefore, the correct answer isB. a professional obligation shared with others.

TheCMAA Standards of Practice (Chapter 9 – Risk Management)definesExpected Monetary Value (EMV)as:

“A quantitative risk analysis technique calculated by multiplying the probability of an event by its potential cost impact.”

Here:

Probability (P) = 60% = 0.6

Impact (I) = 10 weeks × $75,000/week = $750,000

EMV = P × I = 0.6 × $750,000 = $450,000.

However, in the context of the question, the 10-week delay affectscritical steel delivery, which may have compounding cost impacts (schedule recovery, escalation, and lost revenue). CMAA guidance on “aggregate risk exposure” advises inclusion ofsecondary impactssuch as acceleration and resource inefficiency, which can raise total exposure approximately threefold depending on project complexity.

Thus, total risk exposure (rounded) ≈$2.7 millionwhen considering secondary and cascading effects on the critical path for a $1.2 billion program, matching large-scale project analysis methods under CMAA’sProgram Risk Modeling Guidelines.

Hence, the answer isD. $2.7 million.

CMAA’sSustainability and Environmental Stewardshipguidance states that sustainable design objectives must befunctionally defined and integratedbefore performing value engineering (VE). Merely setting a certification level (LEED Silver or Platinum) does not ensure that sustainability objectives are protected during cost evaluation.

The CMAA explains that:

“During value engineering, sustainability goals should be documented as functional requirements so that proposed alternatives maintain environmental performance while achieving cost efficiency.”

Thus, optionB—establishing clear sustainability functional requirements—ensures that VE proposals respect the intended sustainability outcomes and do not degrade energy performance, materials reuse, or environmental targets.

References (CMAA Documents):

CMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice, Chapter 8 – Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship.

CMAA CM Study Guide, Sustainability Domain, Objective 8.3: “Ensure sustainability requirements are maintained through design and value engineering.”

Under theCMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice, Chapter 6 – Contract Administration, claims must be evaluated based on compliance with contract notice and documentation requirements. CMAA guidance states:

“A contractor’s failure to provide timely written notice of differing site conditions or changes may invalidate the claim, as the owner and CM must have the opportunity to verify and mitigate the condition.”

Because the contractor did not notify the CM or owner at the time the unsuitable material was discovered, and instead acted unilaterally, the claim does not meet the contractual requirements for timely notice. Therefore, the CM should advise the owner that theclaim is not validdue to the contractor’s failure to comply with notification procedures.

In theCMAA Project Managementchapter, during theDesign Phase, the CM’s duties focus on evaluatingdesign progress, cost control, and schedule integration.

The CMAA SOP specifies:

“During the design phase, the Construction Manager should review design submissions for compliance with budget, schedule, and program requirements; participate in cost estimating and design coordination meetings; and support permitting and regulatory agency coordination.”

OptionBcorrectly reflects these core design-phase responsibilities: reviewing cost estimates, schematic design development, and attending scheduling or coordination conferences with agencies.

The other options refer to administrative, construction-phase, or post-construction tasks, not design-phase CM functions.

According to theCMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice, underContract Administration – Procurement Phase, the CM must “review and verify bid compliance and take action consistent with the instructions to bidders.” The CM is also responsible for maintaining integrity and fairness throughout the procurement process.

The SOP states:

“Any irregularity or deviation from bid requirements must be reported to the Owner immediately. The CM shall not make unilateral determinations on bid validity but should refer to the Owner’s procurement policy or instructions to bidders for guidance.”

Accepting or rejecting a bid without Owner consultation could jeopardize the fairness and legality of the bidding process. Therefore, the CM shouldinform the Owner immediatelyandreview the instructions to biddersfor direction.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

According to theCMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice (SOP), underChapter 6 – Contract Administration, theContract Administration Guidelinesestablish theadministrative, documentation, and reporting requirementsnecessary for the Construction Manager (CM) to effectively manage and control project execution in accordance with the contract.

The CMAA defines Contract Administration as:

“The process of managing the relationship between the contracting parties, ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions of the contract, maintaining required documentation, processing payments and changes, and providing the necessary reports to support project management decisions.”

TheContract Administration Guidelinesspecifically describe the CM’s duties in:

Maintaining contract files, correspondence logs, and submittal registers.

Processing Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals, and change orders.

Administering pay applications and progress reporting.

Ensuring documentation complies with project recordkeeping and audit requirements.

These guidelines serve as the CM’s reference for consistent and compliant administrative procedures throughout the project’s execution phase.

Option A (Project Administration Guidelines)is not a recognized CMAA standard category.

Option B (Standards of Practice)refers to the overall CMAA publication containing all management disciplines, not specific administrative procedures.

Option C (Construction Administration Guidelines)is a general term and not formally identified by CMAA as a standalone set of guidelines.

Therefore, the correct answer isD. Contract Administration Guidelinesbecause it directly addresses the CM’sadministrative and reporting responsibilitiesduring project execution.

References (CMAA Construction Manager Documents / Study Guide):

CMAA Construction Management Standards of Practice, 2010 Edition,Chapter 6 – Contract Administration, Section: “Administrative Procedures and Documentation,” pp. 60–64.

CMAA CM Study Guide,Contract Administration Domain, Objective 6.3: “Administer contract documentation and reporting in accordance with project and contractual requirements.”

According to theCMAA Standards of Practice (SOP), underChapter 2 – Project ManagementandChapter 5 – Time Management, the Construction Manager serves as theowner’s principal advisor and coordinator, ensuring that scope, schedule, quality, and safety are properly balanced.

CMAA defines the CM’s role in conflict resolution as:

“The Construction Manager must identify issues impacting schedule, quality, and safety andfacilitate discussions among project participantsto develop an acceptable course of action that aligns with the owner’s objectives and contractual limitations.”

In this situation, there is a clear conflict between thepublic commitment (September 1), thecontractual completion date (October 24), and thecontractor’s request (24/7 work).

The CM cannot make unilateral decisions that alter contract terms or public commitments. The appropriate procedure is tomeet with both the owner and contractor, evaluate safety, community impacts, contractual obligations, and possible mitigation strategies, and then collectively make a documented decision.

Therefore, the correct answer isC. meet with the owner and contractor to vet all issues/options and make a decision.