Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Tennessee BC-A Residential Contractor
Tennessee · 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
100
Passing score
73%
Exam time
300 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Tennessee State Portion 100 questions
Sitework, Footings, and Foundation
10 Q · 10%
Footing design and sizing (width, depth, and soil bearing capacity)Footing types (continuous, stepped, pier/isolated, and monolithic)Footing reinforcement (rebar placement, sizing, and keyway construction)Foundation wall types (full-height basement vs. crawl-space)Foundation wall formwork (form materials, ties, wales, bracing, and stripping)Concrete mix requirements and compressive strength standards for foundationsSoil classification, bearing capacity, and geotechnical investigationSite layout and building location (batter boards, bench marks, and excavation volumes)
Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement
10 Q · 10%
ConcreteConcrete ReinforcementConcrete mixture components and proportioning (cement types, aggregates, water-cement ratio, admixtures)Field control testing (slump, air content, compressive strength cylinders, unit weight/yield)Formwork design, materials, and safety requirementsConcrete placement methods and consolidation techniquesCuring methods and weather considerations (hot and cold weather concreting)Joints in concrete construction (contraction, isolation, and construction joints)Foundation types, footings, and soil bearing requirementsCommon concrete field problems, causes, and prevention
Masonry
7 Q · 7%
Mortar types, proportions, and mixing proceduresBrick and concrete masonry unit (CMU) types, grades, and classificationsMasonry wall systems (solid, cavity, composite, veneer, reinforced)Laying brick and block techniques (leads, coursing, jointing, leveling, plumbing)Anchors, ties, and joint reinforcement in masonry constructionFoundation systems and footings for masonry structuresMasonry fireplaces and chimneys (IRC requirements)OSHA safety requirements for concrete and masonry construction
Carpentry
20 Q · 20%
Wood framing systems: platform, balloon, and post-and-beam constructionFloor framing components: sill plates, girders, joists, bridging, and subfloor installationWall framing components: studs, plates, headers, cripple studs, and sheathingRoof framing: common, hip, valley, and jack rafters; ridge boards; roof styles and slope calculationsEngineered wood products: plywood grading, LVL, OSB, glulam, and I-joistsStairway construction: stringers, treads, risers, headroom, and IRC code requirementsIRC code requirements for floors, walls, and roof-ceiling construction: span tables, fastening schedules, header sizing, and wall bracingFinish carpentry: interior doors, windows, molding and trim, cabinets, and finish flooring installation
Roofing
10 Q · 10%
Roof measurement and area calculation (slope factors, ridge/hip/valley lengths)Asphalt shingle types, ratings, and installation methodsUnderlayment types, requirements, and installation by roof slope and covering typeFlashing installation (drip edge, valley, step, chimney, and vent flashings)Roof sheathing and decking requirements by material typeWood shingles and shakes: grades, exposure, and installationTile and slate roofing: materials, underlayment systems, and fasteningRoofing repair, maintenance, and leak identification
Estimating, Plan Reading, and Gen Residential Code Requirements
20 Q · 20%
EstimatingPlan ReadingGeneral Residential Code RequirementsBuilding permits and inspections processZoning regulations and deed restrictionsTypes of architectural drawings and plan viewsArchitectural drawing elements: lines, symbols, dimensions, and scalesIRC scope and administrationStructural design criteria: loads, wind, seismic, and snowFire-resistant construction requirementsCost estimating components: direct costs, overhead, markup, and profit
Associated Trades
15 Q · 15%
Drywall installation and panel types (standard, fire-code, moisture-resistant, flexible)Drywall finishing levels (Level 0 through Level 5) and joint treatment methodsPlumbing system components: supply, drain/waste/vent (DWV), and fixture requirementsElectrical service, branch circuit, and feeder requirements for residential dwellingsGFCI and AFCI protection requirements and receptacle outlet placementHVAC equipment installation, duct systems, and exhaust system requirementsFuel gas piping, appliance installation, combustion air, and venting requirementsThermal and acoustical insulation types, R-values, and vapor retarder installation
OSHA Safety
8 Q · 8%
Fall protection requirements and trigger heights for residential constructionScaffold safety requirements and platform standardsExcavation cave-in protection and protective systemsPersonal protective equipment selection and employer obligationsElectrical safety and ground-fault circuit interrupter requirementsFire protection programs and portable fire extinguisher requirementsHazardous substances exposure limits and toxic materials handlingStairway and ladder safety requirements and duty ratings
Key Distinctions
Dead loadvsLive load
A dead load is the total weight of the building including the structural frame and anything permanently attached (such as wall coverings), while a live load is weight that is not permanently attached (furniture, people) and is determined by the building's use.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383Quantity takeoff estimatevsPre-design and parametric estimates
A quantity takeoff is prepared after design is complete by counting and measuring actual material quantities from finished construction documents, while pre-design estimates are rough approximations made before drawings are complete and parametric estimates use historical cost-per-unit data.
IRC Section R602.3, Table R602.3(1)Nominal lumber dimensionsvsActual (dressed) dimensions
Board feet are always figured with nominal dimensions (a 2×6 is counted as 2 in. × 6 in.), not the actual dressed size of 1½ in. × 5½ in.
IRC Section R602.1, R602.3Face-frame cabinetvsFrameless (European-style) cabinet
Face-frame cabinets have a hardwood frame around the front of the carcase that provides the mounting surface for hinges and drawer hardware, while frameless cabinets have no front frame — concealed cup hinges mount directly to the side walls and the cabinet sits on leveling feet or a wood base frame rather than directly on the subfloor.
Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 27.2, Page 788Shed (single-slope) roof common raftervsGable roof common rafter
For a shed roof the total run equals the building span minus the width of the top plate on the higher wall and the rafter has two bird's mouths, while a gable roof common rafter's total run is one-half the span and it has one bird's mouth.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 483Quality controlvsQuality assurance
Quality control is action taken to control and document the product so applicable standards and contract documents are followed, while quality assurance is action taken to provide and document assurance that those controls are in place and working.
Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 132Carbon monoxide alarmvsCarbon monoxide detector
Per IRC R202, an alarm is a single- or multiple-station unit that combines sensor, control components, and the alarm notification appliance in one device, while a detector has only an integral sensor and transmits an alarm signal to a connected alarm control unit.
IRC 2021 Section R202 Definitions (Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector)Plan viewvsProfile view
A plan view is a bird's-eye overhead view showing the layout of the work area, while a profile view is a horizontal cut-away (cross-section) along the alignment showing elevations, grades, and depths.
Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 105, Chapter 3 introduction, plan view/profile view definitionsPositive method of roof measurementvsNegative method of roof measurement
The positive method divides an irregular roof into rectangles and adds their areas, while the negative method extends the roof lines to form one large rectangle and subtracts the areas that are not roof; both yield identical results.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 1, Pages 7-8SlopevsPitch
Slope is the ratio of rise to run (the term best suited to roof framing), while pitch is the ratio of rise to span, even though carpenters often use the terms interchangeably.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 470Sound Transmission Class (STC)vsImpact Insulation Class (IIC)
STC rates a partition's ability to attenuate sound passing through it, while IIC is a numerical evaluation of a floor-ceiling assembly's effectiveness in retarding impact sound transmission (tested per ASTM E492, rated per ASTM E989); CAC applies to ceilings between adjacent spaces and NRC measures sound absorption.
Gypsum Construction Handbook (7th ed.), Chapter 10 — Fire and Sound TestsWood shake valley flashingvsWood shingle valley flashing
Per IRC R905.8.8, corrosion-resistant sheet metal valley flashing for wood shakes must extend not less than 11 inches from the centerline each way, while wood shingle valley flashing varies by slope (10 inches for slopes less than 12:12 and 7 inches for slopes 12:12 and greater).
IRC 2021 For One- And Two-Fa, Section R905.8.8Key Terms
Dead load Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383
The total weight of the building, including the structural frame and anything permanently attached such as wall coverings.
Live load Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383
Weight on a structure that is not permanently attached, such as furniture and people, determined based on the use of the building.
Span table Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 13.2, Page 355
A list of the distances a particular structural product can span between structural supports such as walls or columns; manufacturers supply span tables and installation details for their I-joists.
Schedules (window and door) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.2, Page 440
Charts included in building plans that provide rough-opening sizes and related information for windows and doors, used for layout and estimating.
Room-finish schedule Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 2.3, Page 57
A schedule on architectural plans identifying the materials and finishes to be used for floors, walls, and ceilings in each room, including hallways.
Shear wall Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 378
A wall designed to resist lateral (sideways) forces — commonly required in earthquake-prone areas — created in part by specific sheathing nail spacing and properly fastened to the framing above and to the sill plate and foundation below.
Collar tie Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 542
A horizontal framing member connecting opposing rafter pairs to keep them from spreading apart and from bowing inward under load; in a finished attic it may also support ceiling surfaces.
Ridge board Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 468
The horizontal framing member that connects the upper ends of the rafters and extends the full length of the house; in a nonstructural ridge it is nominal 2" lumber slightly wider than the rafter stock (e.g., a 2×10 for 2×8 rafters) so the angled rafter cuts bear fully on it.
Consolidation Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 233
The process that removes air pockets and forces concrete into all parts of the forms for a dense, uniform placement.
Benchmark (BM) Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 111 and 115–116, elevation and benchmark definitions
A fixed point of known elevation from which the elevations of other points are calculated by adding or subtracting measured vertical distances (elevation being the height of a point above sea level).
Bid bond Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Pages 45–46, 'Bid Bonds' section
A bond guaranteeing that the bidder will enter into a contract if awarded and will furnish performance and payment bonds; the default penalty is the full bond amount or the difference between the low bid and the next lowest bid, whichever is smaller.
Escalation Pipe and Excavation Contracting, Page 27
The increase in costs of labor, materials, and equipment between the time the bid is submitted and the time the work is done and paid for; a small allowance should be included when costs are expected to rise, especially during high inflation.
Life-cycle cost analysis Gypsum Construction Handbook (7th ed.), Chapter 10 — Selection of Materials
An evaluation method (along with benefit-cost analysis) that considers the total cost of an assembly throughout its useful life, including maintenance, rather than only initial construction or budgeted cost.
Camber Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction (4th ed.), Page 77
A slight upward curvature intentionally built into a form or structural member to compensate for deflection, shrinkage, and creep; rule of thumb is 1/4 inch per 10 feet of span.
Panel span rating (e.g., 32/16) Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 19.5 Roof Sheathing, Page 562-563
The pair of numbers stamped on a performance-rated panel: the number before the slash is the maximum support spacing in inches for use as roof sheathing, and the number after the slash is the maximum support spacing for use as subflooring.
Fireblocking Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 16.4 Special Framing Details, Page 461
Short lengths of 2× framing lumber installed crosswise between studs to slow the passage of flames through wall cavities and strengthen the wall; codes may require it in walls over 10 feet high, while in standard-height walls the top and bottom plates are considered sufficient.
Formulas to Know
Board feet of lumber (nominal dimensions)
Board feet per piece = (nominal thickness in. × nominal width in. × length ft) ÷ 12; multiply by number of pieces. Ex: 2×10×22' = (2×10×22)÷12 = 36.67 bf × 24 pcs ≈ 880 bf; 2×4×10' = (2×4×10)÷12 = 6.67 bf × 35 pcs ≈ 233 bf. From a board-foot table, a 2×6 at 12' = 12 bf, so 50 pieces = 600 bf.Rough lumber material cost estimate from floor area
Step 1: floor area = length × width for each level (20' × 40' = 800 sq ft); then apply a board-feet-per-100-sq-ft factor from the table and multiply by cost per board foot. Table factors for ceiling plank: 2×6 @16" o.c. = 88 bf/100 sq ft; 2×6 @24" = 63; 2×4 @16" = 42; 2×8 @16" = 117.Stud count for a wall at 16 in. on center
Studs = (wall length in ft ÷ 1.333 ft) + 1, not counting extras for corners and openings. Ex: (48 ÷ 1.333) + 1 = 37 studs.Excavation volume using a depth factor
Excavation length = house length + clearance each side; width = house width + clearance each side; area = L × W; volume (cy) = area × depth factor. Ex: (40+2+2) × (26+2+2) = 44 × 30 = 1,320 sq ft × 0.259 cy/sq ft (7-ft depth) = 341.88 ≈ 342 cy.Reading an architect's scale at ¼" = 1'-0"
Each ¼ inch on the drawing = 1 foot of actual building; actual feet = drawing inches ÷ 0.25. Ex: 3 in. ÷ 0.25 = 12 ft.Roof sheathing panel count with waste
Panels = roof area (plan area × slope factor) ÷ 32 sq ft per panel; then add 5% for trim and waste and round up. Ex: 72.19 × 0.05 = 3.6; 72.19 + 3.6 = 75.79 → 76 sheets.Number of stair risers from total rise
Risers = total rise in inches ÷ 7 in. (ideal riser height), rounded to the nearest whole number. Ex: 8'-11" = 107 in.; 107 ÷ 7 = 15.28 → 15 risers. Riser heights may vary no more than 3/8 in. between tallest and shortest (same limit for tread depth).Gutter slope / total drop
Minimum slope = 1 in. per 16 ft (1/16 in. per ft) toward the downspout; total drop = run in ft × 1/16 in. Ex: 32 ft × 1/16 = 2 in.Gypsum board and screw quantity takeoff
Board area = partition wall area × 2 (single layer each side): 12,000 sq ft of partition = 24,000 sq ft of board. Screws = (sq ft ÷ 1,000) × chart rate, then add an allowance for loss. Chart rates: 4'×8' vertical, 16" framing, 12" screws = 1,125/1,000 sq ft (5,000 sq ft → 5,625); 4'×8' horizontal, 16"/12" = 1,094; 4'×12' horizontal, 16"/12" = 1,050; 4'×10' horizontal, 24" framing/16" screws = 600 (8,000 sq ft → 4,800).Site plan and lot grading calculations
Equal side setback = (lot dimension − house dimension) ÷ 2 (e.g., (78 − 42) ÷ 2 = 18'-0"). Rear yard = lot width − front setback − house width (110 − 24 − 30 = 56'-0"). Diagonal between corners = √(a² + b²) (√(24² + 18²) = 30'-0"); the 3-4-5 rule squares a layout when the diagonal across 3 ft and 4 ft legs measures exactly 5 ft. Average lot elevation = sum of corner elevations ÷ 4 ((4+3+2+3) ÷ 4 = +3.00'); maximum elevation difference = highest − lowest (4.00 − 2.00 = 2.00'). Fill = lot area × average fill depth ÷ 27 = cy (6,000 sq ft × 1.00' = 6,000 cf ÷ 27 = 222.2 cy).