Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Georgia Residential Basic Contractor Exam
Georgia · PSI Services Contractor
Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
80
Passing score
70%
Exam time
200 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Georgia State Portion 80 questions
Sitework, Footings and Foundation
8 Q · 10%
Footing size, depth, and minimum dimensions based on soil bearing capacity and building loadsFrost protection requirements and minimum footing depth below frost lineFoundation wall types, materials, and thickness requirements (concrete, masonry, wood, precast)Foundation drainage, dampproofing, and waterproofingSoil classification, bearing capacity, and geotechnical investigationSite layout, excavation, and grading requirementsSoil compaction methods, testing, and backfill requirementsFoundation anchorage, sill plate attachment, and anchor bolt requirements
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
8 Q · 10%
Concrete mixture components and proportioning (cement, aggregates, water, admixtures)Types and grades of Portland cement and supplementary cementitious materialsCompressive strength requirements and concrete testing procedures (slump, air content, cylinders)Steel reinforcement types, sizing, placement, and concrete cover requirementsFormwork design, materials, erection, and safe removal proceduresFooting types, dimensions, depth, and reinforcement per IRC requirementsConcrete joints (contraction, isolation, and construction joints) for slabs and wallsOSHA safety requirements for concrete and masonry construction operations
Masonry
5 Q · 6%
Mortar types, mixing, and propertiesBrick types, sizes, and classificationsConcrete masonry unit (CMU) types and classificationsMasonry wall systems (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, reinforced)Laying brick and block techniquesFoundation and footing requirements for masonryMasonry anchors, ties, and joint reinforcementFireplaces and chimneys (IRC requirements)
Carpentry
16 Q · 20%
Wood framing members and lumber grades (studs, plates, headers, joists, rafters, girders)Floor framing systems (joists, girders, sill plates, subfloor, cantilevers, and span tables)Wall framing and sheathing (layout, assembly, bracing, drilling/notching limits, and IRC fastening schedules)Roof framing types and rafter layout (gable, hip, valley, jack rafters, ridge boards, slope/pitch calculations)Engineered wood products (plywood grading, LVL, OSB, glulam, I-joists, and structural panels)Roof truss handling, installation, temporary restraint, and permanent bracing (BCSI requirements)Doors, windows, and skylights installation (frame components, hardware, clearances, and egress requirements)Finish carpentry elements (stairway construction, molding and trim, cabinets, countertops, and decks)
Roofing
8 Q · 10%
Roof framing terminology and planning (span, run, rise, slope, pitch, unit run, unit rise)Common rafter layout and sizing (Pythagorean theorem, unit-length method, step-off method, rafter span tables)Roof framing members and assembly (ridge board vs. ridge beam, collar ties, purlins, braces, ceiling joists, rafter ties)Hip, valley, and jack rafter layout and cutting (shortening allowances, side cuts, bird's mouth, backing/dropping the hip)Roof sheathing installation (panel sheathing spans, nailing, staggered joints, lumber sheathing)Roof covering materials and installation requirements (asphalt shingles, wood shingles/shakes, tile, metal panels, minimum slopes, fasteners)Underlayment, ice barriers, and flashing (types, application, drip edge, step flashing, valley flashing, eaves protection)Roof ventilation and attic access (IRC requirements, ridge vents, soffit vents, Georgia amendment for attic service access)
General Code and Construction Knowledge
18 Q · 22%
IRC 2018 scope, administration, and permit requirementsGeorgia state amendments to the IRC (definitions, building planning, fire-resistant construction)Structural design criteria: load types, dead loads, live loads, roof loads, and allowable deflectionClimatic and geographic design criteria: wind, seismic, snow, and flood loadsFire-resistant construction: exterior wall separation distances, townhouse wall assemblies, and fireblockingGeorgia energy code requirements: insulation R-values, air sealing, fenestration, and blower door testingReading and interpreting construction drawings: plans, elevations, scales, symbols, and dimensionsEstimating, bidding, and project cost components: labor burden, overhead, direct and indirect costs
Associated Trades
10 Q · 12%
Interior wall and ceiling surface installation (drywall, plaster, paneling)Exterior siding materials and installation methodsFinish flooring types and installation (hardwood, vinyl, tile, carpet)Thermal and acoustical insulation types, R-values, and vapor retardersPlumbing system basics (supply, DWV, fixtures, and materials)Electrical system basics (circuits, wiring, service panels, and outlet boxes)HVAC systems, duct construction, and exhaust systemsExterior and interior paint types, application techniques, and paint problems
OSHA Safety
7 Q · 9%
Fall protection systems and requirements (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest systems)Scaffold types, capacity, and safety requirementsLadder types, safety rules, and proper useExcavation cave-in protection and hazardous atmosphere controlsPersonal protective equipment (PPE) selection and employer obligationsFire protection, prevention, and flammable liquid storageElectrical safety, GFCI requirements, and lockout/tagoutToxic and hazardous substances (asbestos, silica, lead, permissible exposure limits)
Key Distinctions
SlopevsPitch
Slope is the ratio of rise to run (the term best suited to roof framing), while pitch is the ratio of rise to span.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 470Shed (single-slope) roof common raftervsGable roof common rafter
A shed rafter's total run equals the building span minus the width of the top plate on the higher wall and it has two bird's mouths, whereas a gable common rafter's run is one-half the span with one bird's mouth.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 483Type-S drywall screwvsType-W drywall screw
Type-S screws have narrow threads for steel framing (steel framing accepts screws only, not nails), while Type-W screws have wide threads that grip wood framing; neither needs a pilot hole.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Drywall Fasteners sectionType-X drywallvsType-C drywall
Type-X fire-code drywall is 5/8" thick with glass fibers that prevent crumbling in extreme heat, while Type-C is even more fire resistant and contains vermiculite.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Fire-Code Drywall sectionSetting-type joint compoundvsTopping compound
Setting-type compound comes only as a powder, cures chemically, and is stronger — preferred for embedding tape; topping compound shrinks very little and finishes smoothly, making it ideal for final coats over embedded tape.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Setting-Type Compounds sectionDirect construction costsvsDirect (job) overhead costs
Direct construction costs are labor, material, and equipment tied to a trade or phase (pipe material, backhoe rental, bedding aggregate), while direct (job) overhead is administrative cost caused by the job but not tied to a trade or phase (traffic control, barricades, flaggers, soil density/pipe testing).
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 20-21Georgia flood Option A / Option B / Option CvsBase flood elevation
Under IRC 2018 Georgia Appendix U, floors must be built at the higher of several criteria, one of which is the base flood elevation plus 1 ft (Option A), plus 2 ft (Option B, AU302.1.3), or plus 3 ft (Option C).
IRC 2018 Amendments, Appendix U - Section AU302.1.3 (Option B)Type III portland cementvsType I portland cement
Type III is high-early-strength, reaching in 7 days about the strength Type I (general purpose) reaches in 28 days, with little difference in long-term strength beyond 2–3 months.
Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Pages 14-15Thickened slab under an interior bearing wallvsStandard footing
The thickened slab area acts like a footing but is formed by a trench dug in the subgrade (strengthened with rebar) rather than by formwork.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 11.1, Page 295Directional drillingvsDirectional boring with a pneumatic mole
Directional drilling is practical for tunneling up to 2,200 ft with 16- to 36-inch pipe (e.g., under a waterway), while a pneumatic mole typically handles pipe only up to 6 inches for 50 to 150 ft.
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 176-177Bullnose corner beadvsSegmented corner bead
Bullnose bead creates rounded 90° outside corners (small radius resembles plastered walls, large radius resembles adobe), while segmented bead flexes to finish the edges of arches and other curved surfaces.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Trim Accessories sectionRidge boardvsCollar tie
The ridge board is the horizontal member connecting the upper rafter ends and running the full length of the house, while a collar tie horizontally connects opposing rafter pairs to keep them from spreading or bowing inward.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 468Key Terms
Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 8.2, Page 227
The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms, done with a vibrator, tamping, spading, or tapping the forms.
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces, created in part by specific sheathing nail spacing and fastened to the framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below.
Escalation allowance Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 27
An allowance for the increase in labor, material, and equipment costs between bid submission and the time work is done and paid for, especially important in high-inflation periods.
Base flood IRC 2018 Amendments, Appendix U - Definitions
A flood having a 1 percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year, also called the 100-year flood (0.2 percent corresponds to the 500-year flood).
Townhouse (Georgia amendment, IRC R202) IRC 2018 Amendments, Chapter 1 - Section R202 Definitions
A single-family dwelling unit constructed in a group of three or more attached units separated by a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated wall assembly.
Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57
A plan schedule identifying the materials and finishes for floors, walls, and ceilings in each room and hallway.
Floor framing plan Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3 Reading Architectural Plans, Page 51-52
A plan specifying the sizes and spacing of joists, girders, and columns supporting the floor, and showing doubled framing at openings and beneath bathroom fixtures.
Wall-framing elevation Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3 Reading Architectural Plans, Page 54
An elevation view used where a framing plan cannot show enough detail; it shows the locations of studs, plates, sills, and bracing in a particular wall.
Glass-mat gypsum board Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 32, Moisture-Resistant Drywall section
Paperless drywall whose front and back surfaces are covered with thin fiberglass instead of paper, approved as backing in shower stalls and tub/shower surrounds where green board is no longer permitted (except ceilings).
Extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS/XEPS) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 31.1 — Rigid Insulation Materials and R-Value
Rigid insulation rated R-5 per inch with greater compressive strength than EPS, suitable for foundation insulation below grade.
Plyform Modern Masonry (9th ed.), Chapter 19, Page 402
An exterior-type plywood made from special species and veneer grades specifically for concrete forming, available in Class I and Class II grades.
Jointer (jointing tool) Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 24, Page 688
A shaped metal bar run over masonry joints to pack mortar into them and give the joints a particular shape.
Unit weight test Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 149
A field density test of fresh concrete that, together with batch weights and measured air content, gives a good indication of water content, since water is the lightest component of the mix.
Formulas to Know
Roof rise and rafter (top chord) length from slope
Run = span ÷ 2 (symmetric gable); Rise = run × (pitch rise ÷ 12); Ridge elevation = top-of-wall elevation + rise; Rafter length = √(run² + rise²). Slope in x-in-12 = (rise ÷ run) × 12.Net (actual) sloped roof area from plan area
Sloped area = plan-view footprint × slope factor (e.g., 1.014 for 2:12, 1.031 for 3:12, 1.054 rafter-length factor, 1.118 for 6:12); take off sections of differing slope separately. Rafter length = plan run × slope factor.Shingle bundles with waste
Total sloped area ÷ 100 = squares; Bundles = squares × 3 bundles/square × 1.10 waste, rounded up.Hip roof ridge and true hip length
Ridge length = building length − building width (symmetric, equal slopes); True hip length = √(run_width² + run_length² + rise²) where rise = plan run × (pitch ÷ 12).Excavation volume for a foundation
Add clearance to each side: (length + 2×clearance) × (width + 2×clearance) × depth = cubic feet; ÷ 27 = cubic yards.Continuous footing concrete and formwork
Concrete: length × width × depth ÷ 27 = cubic yards (round up to order). Formwork contact area = length × form height × number of faces (2 if both faces formed).Lot average elevation and fill volume
Average elevation = sum of corner spot elevations ÷ 4; Max elevation difference = highest corner − lowest corner; Fill depth = target elevation − average elevation; Fill cy = lot area (sf) × fill depth (ft) ÷ 27.Drywall material estimating (figured solid)
Wall area = perimeter × ceiling height; add ceiling area; total ÷ 32 sf per 4'×8' sheet (no deduction for openings). Joint tape = 370 lin ft per 1,000 sf. Nails for 1/2" drywall on wood framing 16" OC = 4.5 lb per 1,000 sf.Crawl-space ventilation net area
Minimum net vent area = crawl-space floor area ÷ 150 (1 sq ft of venting per 150 sq ft of crawl space).Gutter slope and gutter cross-section
Metal gutter slope: at least 1 inch per 16 ft (1/16 in per ft) toward downspouts, so total drop = run (ft) × 1/16. Gutter size trade rule: 1 sq in of cross-section per 100 sq ft of roof at 1 in/hr, so cross-section = roof area × rainfall rate ÷ 100.