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 and permanently attached materials, while a live load is weight not permanently attached, such as furniture and people.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 14.1 Framing Systems & Structural Design, Page 383Quality ControlvsQuality Assurance
Quality control involves controlling the product to meet requirements, while quality assurance verifies that the controls are in place and working.
The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Page 132Carbon Monoxide AlarmvsCarbon Monoxide Detector
A carbon monoxide alarm incorporates sensor, control components, and notification appliance in one unit, while a detector only senses and transmits a signal to a separate alarm control unit.
International Residential Code, Section R202 Definitions (Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detector), PDF Pages 30-31Face-Frame CabinetvsFrameless (European-Style) Cabinet
Face-frame cabinets have a hardwood frame around the front carcase for hinge mounting, while frameless cabinets mount concealed cup hinges directly on the side walls with no front frame.
Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 27.2, Page 788Positive Method (roof measuring)vsNegative Method (roof measuring)
The positive method divides an irregular roof into rectangles and adds their areas, while the negative method extends roof lines to form one large rectangle and subtracts non-roof areas.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 1, Pages 7-8Plan ViewvsProfile View
A plan view is a bird's-eye overhead view showing layout, while a profile view is a horizontal cut-away cross-section showing elevations, grades, and depths along the alignment.
Page 105, Chapter 3 introduction, plan view/profile view definitionsShed Roof Common Rafter (total run)vsGable Roof Common Rafter (total run)
A shed roof rafter's total run equals the building span minus the top-plate width on the higher wall, while a gable roof rafter's total run is one-half the span; a shed rafter also has two bird's mouths versus one for a gable rafter.
Carpentry and Building Construction, Page 483Fiberglass Asphalt ShinglesvsOrganic Asphalt Shingles
Fiberglass shingles use a fiberglass base mat saturated with asphalt, while organic shingles use a cellulose-fiber base mat.
Roofing Construction and Estimating, Chapter 4—Asphalt ShinglesQuantity Takeoff EstimatevsParametric Estimate
A quantity takeoff estimate counts and measures actual materials from completed construction documents, while a parametric estimate uses historical cost-per-unit data before design is complete.
IRC, Section R602.3, Table R602.3(1)Wood Shake Valley FlashingvsWood Shingle Valley Flashing
Wood shake valley flashing must extend at least 11 inches from the centerline each way, while wood shingle flashing varies by slope (10 inches for slopes under 12:12, 7 inches for 12:12 and greater).
International Residential Code For One- And Two-Fa, Section R905.8.82×6 Bearing Wall Studs Supporting Two Floors + Roofvs2×6 Bearing Wall Studs Supporting Roof-Ceiling Only
When supporting two floors plus a roof-ceiling assembly, 2×6 studs are limited to 16 inches on center maximum spacing, versus 24 inches on center when supporting only a roof-ceiling assembly.
International Residential Code, Table R602.3(5), Page 206Bid Bond Default PenaltyvsFull Bid Bond Amount
The penalty for defaulting on a bid bond is the lesser of either the full bid bond amount or the difference between the low bid and the next lowest bid — not automatically the full bond amount.
Pages 45–46, 'Bid Bonds' sectionKey Terms
Permissible Noise Exposure (8-hour) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.52
Per 29 CFR 1926.52, construction workers may not be exposed to sound levels exceeding 90 dBA slow response over an 8-hour duration without engineering controls or PPE.
Guardrail Top Rail Height 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M, §1926.502(b)(1)
Per 29 CFR 1926.502(b)(1), the top edge of guardrail systems on construction sites must be 42 inches (±3 inches) above the walking/working level.
Personal Fall Arrest Maximum Free Fall 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M, §1926.502(d)(16)(iii)
Per 29 CFR 1926.502(d)(16)(iii), personal fall arrest systems must be rigged so an employee cannot free fall more than 6 feet before arrest begins.
Asbestos Medical Surveillance Threshold 29 CFR 1926, Subpart Z, §1926.1101(m)(1)(i)(A)
Per 29 CFR 1926.1101(m)(1)(i)(A), employers must institute a medical surveillance program for employees engaged in Class I, II, or III asbestos work for a combined total of 30 or more days per year.
Asbestos Exposure Record Retention 29 CFR 1926, Subpart Z, §1926.1101(n)(2)(iii)
Per 29 CFR 1926.1101(n)(2)(iii), employers must maintain employee asbestos exposure measurement records for at least 30 years.
First Aid Kit Inspection Frequency 29 CFR 1926, §1926.50(d)(2)
Per 29 CFR 1926.50(d)(2), employers must check first aid kit contents before sending them out on each job and at least weekly on each job to replace expended items.
Emergency Action Plan (≤10 Employees) 29 CFR 1926.35(e)(3)
Per 29 CFR 1926.35(e)(3), employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate their emergency action plan orally and are not required to maintain a written plan.
Flammable Gas Excavation Limit 29 CFR 1926, Subpart P, §1926.651(g)(1)(iii)
Per 29 CFR 1926.651(g)(1)(iii), precautions such as ventilation must be taken when flammable gas concentration in an excavation exceeds 20 percent of the gas's lower flammable limit.
Board Foot Carpentry and Building Construction, Section 13.2, Page 359
One board foot equals the volume of a piece of lumber with nominal dimensions of 1 inch thick × 12 inches wide × 12 inches long, calculated as (nominal thickness × nominal width × length in feet) ÷ 12.
Rafter Span Measurement IRC, Section R802.4.1
Per IRC Section R802.4.1, rafter spans are measured along the horizontal projection of the rafter, not the actual rafter length.
Presumptive Load-Bearing Value (GW/GP Soils) IRC, Table R401.4.1
Per IRC Table R401.4.1, sandy gravel and/or gravel soils (GW and GP classifications) have a presumptive load-bearing pressure of 3,000 pounds per square foot.
Rafter Span Adjustment Factor (Hc/Hr = 1/3) IRC, Table R802.4.1(9)
Per IRC Table R802.4.1(9), when ceiling joists or rafter ties are located at one-third the ridge height above the rafter support walls, the tabulated rafter span must be multiplied by an adjustment factor of 0.67.
Maximum Stair Riser Variation Carpentry & Building Construction, Section 25.1, Page 740
Building code allows no more than 3/8 inch variation between the tallest and shortest riser heights (or between deepest and shallowest treads) in a residential stairway.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Gypsum Construction Handbook, Chapter 10 — Selection of Materials
An evaluation approach that considers the total cost of a building assembly throughout its entire useful life, including maintenance, rather than only initial construction cost.
Footing Width/Depth Adjustment (Building Width >32 ft) IRC, Table R403.1(1), footnote (c)
Per IRC Table R403.1(1) footnote (c), for every 4 feet of building width exceeding 32 feet, the wall footing width must increase by 2 inches and depth must increase by 1 inch.
Retarding Admixture Effect on Formwork The Contractor's Guide to Quality Concrete Construction, Pages 72 and 82
Retarding admixtures delay concrete set, which increases lateral pressure on vertical forms (chemistry coefficient CC = 1.2) and requires longer form stripping times.
Formulas to Know
Board Feet of Lumber
Board feet = (Nominal thickness in. × Nominal width in. × Length ft) ÷ 12Studs Required for Wall (16" OC)
Number of studs = (Wall length in ft ÷ 1.333) + 1Excavation Volume (cubic yards)
CY = (Length + clearance each side) × (Width + clearance each side) × depth factor per sq ftRoof Area from Plan Area
Roof area = Plan (horizontal) area × Roof slope factorRoof Sheathing Panels with Waste
Panels ordered = (Roof area ÷ 32 sq ft per panel) × 1.05Scale Drawing Conversion
Actual length = Drawing measurement ÷ Scale factor (e.g., at ¼" = 1′, actual = drawing inches × 4 ft)Footing Width/Depth Adjustment
Extra width (in) = [(Building width − 32 ft) ÷ 4] × 2 ; Extra depth (in) = [(Building width − 32 ft) ÷ 4] × 1Maximum Elevation Difference on Site
Max elevation difference = Highest corner elevation − Lowest corner elevationCantilever Backspan Minimum
Backspan ≥ 2 × Cantilever span (for floor joists supporting exterior balcony)