ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Exam: A Practical Study Guide
The ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) exam tests the rules and the reference books behind the work. This guide lays out the job: the key facts from the official bulletin, what the exam covers, the books you need, sample questions with answers, and how to get ready. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
The ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Exam at a Glance
Here's the rundown from the official bulletin:
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
On exam day
- The exam uses multiple-choice questions.
- NOTE : You do not need to buy all editions associated with the Concrete Manual references. Since all answers associated with those references can be found in any of the listed editions, you will need only one of the reference editions to study for your exam.
You may bring copyrighted, bound books to the test administration, including those specifically listed as approved references. However, training materials such as presentations, study guides, or practice questions are not permitted. All exam questions are based solely on the approved reference list, and only those references may be used as the basis for appealing exam questions.
References you may bring
- International Building Code® (2015)
- Concrete Manual: Based on the 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19
- Concrete Manual: Based on the 2015 IBC and ACI 318-14
Scheduling, changes and retakes
- Exams are scheduled through PearsonVUE at www.pearsonvue.com/ICC, where candidates can create an account, schedule an exam, locate a test center, purchase vouchers and request accommodations.
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
- After passing, contact the jurisdiction in which you wish to be licensed for any other requirements, because ICC is not a licensing agency.
Source: National Contractor/Trades Examination Information Bulletin, PUBLISHED June 30, 2026; ICC Exam Catalog, checked October 2, 2026. Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.
What the ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Exam Covers
The official content outline breaks the exam into 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Administration General Regulations | 14 | 16% |
| Building Planning and Life Safety | 23 | 26% |
| Structural Systems | 40 | 44% |
| Building Envelope | 13 | 14% |
How to Get Ready for the ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Exam
Treat your reference books like your tools. On an open-book exam you don't need every rule memorized. You need to know which book holds it and where to find it.
Buy the books the bulletin lists, in the editions it names. An older or newer edition can put the answer on a different page, or change it.
Learn your way around each book before you study anything else. The table of contents and the index are your layout.
Highlight what you look up most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Do the big jobs first. Structural Systems and Building Planning and Life Safety make up 70% of the exam.
Put in the reps with timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question.
Measure twice. When you miss a practice question, find the section in your book, read it and mark it. Keep at it until you pass practice exams consistently.
The Books for the ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Exam
The listed references are the 2015 International Building Code and either the Concrete Manual: Based on the 2021 IBC and ACI 318-19 or the Concrete Manual: Based on the 2015 IBC and ACI 318-14.
Where to get them:
Working the Exam on Test Day
Work the exam in two passes. On the first pass, answer everything you know and bookmark the rest. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions. On the second pass, go back to your bookmarks and take them one at a time.
Don't get hung up on one question. You have 4 hours for 90 questions, which is about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question. Before you finish, make sure nothing is left blank.
Sample ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) Questions
These come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and the reference behind it.
Sample 1 — Building Envelope
Question: A laminated glass floor panel is being installed as part of a floor/ceiling assembly serving as a walking surface in a commercial building. In addition to the load requirements of the structural provisions, compliance may be demonstrated under which standard?
- A. ASTM E2404
- B. ANSI Z97.1
- C. ASTM E1300
- D. ASTM E2751
Correct Answer: D
Per 2015 IBC Section 2409.1, glass installed as part of a floor/ceiling assembly as a walking surface and constructed with laminated glass must comply with ASTM E2751 or with the load requirements of Chapter 16, and must meet applicable fire-resistance rating requirements. ASTM E1300 covers load resistance of glass under uniform load, ANSI Z97.1 is a human impact standard, and ASTM E2404 addresses specimen mounting for textile wall coverings.
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 24 — Section 2409.1
Sample 2 — Structural Systems
Question: When strength design (load and resistance factor design) load combinations are used, what value is assigned to the snow load factor f2 for roof configurations, such as saw tooth roofs, that do not shed snow off the structure?
- A. 0.7
- B. 0.5
- C. 1.0
- D. 0.2
Correct Answer: A
Per IBC Section 1605.2, f2 = 0.7 for roof configurations (such as saw tooth) that do not shed snow off the structure, and 0.2 for other roof configurations. The 0.5 and 1.0 values belong to the live load factor f1 (0.5 for ordinary live loads, 1 for public assembly live loads over 100 psf and parking garages).
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 16 — Section 1605.2 Load Combinations Using Strength Design or Load and Resistance Factor Design
Sample 3 — Building Planning and Life Safety
Question: You are building a mercantile store and are determining whether an accessible family or assisted-use toilet room must be provided. That room is required where the aggregate number of required male and female water closets reaches:
- A. Twelve or more
- B. Six or more
- C. Eight or more
- D. Four or more
Correct Answer: B
IBC 1109.2.1 requires an accessible family or assisted-use toilet room in assembly and mercantile occupancies where an aggregate of six or more male and female water closets is required.
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 11 — Section 1109.2.1 Family or Assisted-Use Toilet and Bathing Rooms
Sample 4 — Administration General Regulations
Question: A deputy building official, related technical officers, inspectors and plan examiners for the department of building safety are appointed by whom?
- A. The board of appeals at its pleasure
- B. The jurisdiction's governing body by ordinance
- C. The building official, with appointing authority concurrence
- D. The chief appointing authority of the jurisdiction
Correct Answer: C
IBC 103.3 provides that, in accordance with the prescribed procedures of the jurisdiction and with the concurrence of the appointing authority, the building official has the authority to appoint a deputy building official, technical officers, inspectors, plan examiners and other employees. Note that the building official himself is appointed by the chief appointing authority under 103.2.
Reference: IBC 2015 Chapter 1 — Section 103.3 Deputies
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF is like reading about a job instead of doing it. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers with the clock running. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break your score down by topic so you know where to put in more work.
Get Started
Take the free ICC F11 General Building Contractor (A) (2015 IBC) practice exam to see where you stand, then put your time into the topics that need it. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.