Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Virginia Contractor Advanced Portion (Class A)
Virginia
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
24
Passing score
71%
Exam time
60 min
Format
Reference materials allowed
Virginia State Portion 24 questions
Estimating and Bidding
1 Q · 4%
Bid documents and bid package componentsEthics in bidding (bid shopping, bid peddling, bid rigging)Quantity take-off estimating methodLabor cost calculation and labor burdenMaterials, equipment, and subcontractor cost determinationProject overhead vs. company overheadMarkup, profit margin, and cost-based pricingJob cost recording system and estimating technology tools
Contract Management
4 Q · 17%
Required elements of a legally binding contract (offer, acceptance, consideration, competent parties, legal purpose)Virginia written contract requirements for residential projectsContract price and payment structures (lump-sum, unit-price, cost-plus)Progress payments and retainageBreach of contract types, liquidated damages, and statutes of limitationsRisk-allocation provisions (force majeure, indemnification, differing site conditions, warranties, delay clauses)Change orders and contract modificationsAlternative dispute resolution methods (negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, arbitration)
Project Management
1 Q · 4%
Scheduling process elements (sequence of tasks, activity duration, contingency time, float time)Scheduling methods: calendar, bar chart/Gantt, and critical path method (CPM)Scheduling and cash flow managementProject manager roles and responsibilitiesProject supervisory team roles (superintendent, foreman, materials expediter, architect/owner's representative)Project life cycle phases (pre-construction, construction, closeout)Budget and cost controls (job cost tracking, materials management, purchase orders, just-in-time delivery)Quality assurance and value engineering
Risk Management
2 Q · 8%
Risk assessment: probability and consequence of lossProperty insurance types for contractors (builders risk, inland marine, equipment floater)Liability insurance types (CGL, umbrella, completed operations, professional liability)Surety bond types (bid, performance, payment, maintenance, fidelity, lien bonds)Qualifying for a surety bond and the underwriting processBond claims process and contractor default optionsVirginia Public Procurement Act bonding requirements for public construction projectsMiller Act and Construction Industry Payment Protection Act federal bonding requirements
Safety
2 Q · 8%
Fall protection requirements and trigger heights (6-foot rule)Guardrail, safety net, and personal fall arrest system specificationsLadder and stairway safety requirementsPersonal protective equipment (PPE) selection and useFire protection and prevention on construction sitesFlammable and combustible liquid storage and handlingOSHA recordkeeping, injury reporting, and penalty typesOccupational health controls: noise exposure, air contaminants, and ventilation
Labor Laws
4 Q · 17%
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — minimum wage, overtime pay, and recordkeeping requirementsHiring and interviewing practices — lawful vs. prohibited interview questionsNew hire reporting requirements and procedures (Virginia New Hire Reporting Program)Child labor laws — restricted hours, prohibited tasks, and penalties for minors in constructionForm I-9 completion and employment eligibility verification (Immigration and Nationality Act)Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — covered employers, reasonable accommodation, and undue hardshipVirginia Right-to-Work Law — union membership, dues requirements, and prohibited agreementsVirginia unemployment insurance — employer tax liability, experience rating, SUTA dumping, and quarterly reporting
Financial Management
5 Q · 21%
Bookkeeping practices and the accounting cycleFinancial statements (balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows)Financial ratio analysis (liquidity, quick, activity, debt, profitability, return on assets ratios)Methods of accounting (cash method vs. accrual method)Contract accounting methods (completed contract, percentage of completion, cost comparison)Cash flow management and accounts receivable collectionPayroll accounting (gross pay, tax deductions, net pay, payroll journal)Equipment depreciation methods (straight-line and MACRS accelerated depreciation)
Federal and State Taxes
4 Q · 17%
Employer Identification Number (EIN) requirements and applicationFederal business tax types by entity structure (income, self-employment, employment taxes)FICA taxes: Social Security and Medicare withholding and employer matchingFederal unemployment tax (FUTA): liability thresholds, deposit schedule, and Form 940Federal tax deposit schedules: monthly, semiweekly, and daily rulesFederal tax penalties for late or insufficient depositsForm 1099-MISC reporting requirements for independent contractorsVirginia withholding tax: registration, filing frequency, and forms (VA-4, VA-5, VA-6, VA-15, VA-16)
Lien Laws
1 Q · 4%
Who is entitled to a mechanics' lien (general contractors, subcontractors, laborers, materialmen)Memorandum of lien requirements and filing deadlines (90-day rule, required content, forms)Notice to mechanics' lien agent for one- and two-family residential dwellingsSubcontractor and sub-subcontractor lien perfection requirements and amount limitationsLien priorities among mechanics' liens and relative to other encumbrancesEnforcement and foreclosure of mechanics' liens (filing deadlines, court process, sale of land)Penalties for misuse of funds, lien waiver forgery, and willful false statementsWaiver of lien rights and restrictions on advance waiver provisions