ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Exam Study Guide
This guide covers what you need for the ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Pearson VUE gives the exam.
ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Exam at a Glance
Here are the exam's key facts 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® (2018)
- 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 G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Exam Covers
The official content outline has 4 topics:
| Topic | Questions | Share of the exam |
|---|---|---|
| Permits and General Regulations | 17 | 19% |
| Building Planning and Life Safety | 28 | 31% |
| Structural Systems | 38 | 42% |
| Building Envelope | 7 | 8% |
How to Prepare for the ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Exam
Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.
Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.
Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.
Spend most of your time on the biggest topics. Structural Systems and Building Planning and Life Safety make up 73% of the exam.
Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question.
Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.
Reference Books for the ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Exam
The listed references are the 2018 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:
On Test Day
- Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions.
- Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
- Don't let one question eat your time. You have 4 hours for 90 questions, which is about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question.
- Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.
Sample ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Practice Questions
These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.
Sample 1 — Building Envelope
Question: Copper sheet roofing installed over a combustible roof deck qualifies as a Class A roof assembly provided the copper has a minimum weight of how many ounces per square foot?
- A. 10 ounces
- B. 16 ounces
- C. 12 ounces
- D. 14 ounces
Correct Answer: B
Per IBC Section 1505.2, Exception 3, Class A roof assemblies include minimum 16-ounce-per-square-foot copper sheets installed over combustible decks. Other exceptions cover brick/masonry/exposed concrete decks, metal and tile over noncombustible decks, and slate over ASTM D226 Type II underlayment.
Reference: IBC 2018 Chapter 15 — Section 1505.2
Sample 2 — Structural Systems
Question: A prescriptively designed hollow concrete masonry unit foundation wall will support wood girders bearing at the top of the wall. What minimum thickness of solid masonry must be provided at the girder supports?
- A. 6 inches
- B. 3 inches
- C. 2 inches
- D. 4 inches
Correct Answer: D
IBC 1807.1.6.3, Item 9, requires that not less than 4 inches (102 mm) of solid masonry be provided at girder supports at the top of hollow masonry unit foundation walls.
Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1807.1.6.3
Sample 3 — Building Planning and Life Safety
Question: You are installing handrails on an interior stairway in a commercial office building. Measured above the stair tread nosings, the handrail height must be uniform and within what range?
- A. Not less than 30 inches and not more than 34 inches
- B. Not less than 36 inches and not more than 42 inches
- C. Not less than 32 inches and not more than 36 inches
- D. Not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches
Correct Answer: D
IBC Section 1014.2 requires handrail height, measured above stair tread nosings or the finish surface of a ramp slope, to be uniform, not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches. The 30-inch to 34-inch range in option A applies only to handrails on alternating tread devices and ships ladders.
Reference: IBC 2018 Section 1014.2
Sample 4 — Permits and General Regulations
Question: On a commercial hotel project, you are reviewing room types with the design team. Which feature would cause a room to meet the code definition of a dwelling unit rather than a sleeping unit?
- A. Provisions for sleeping and eating only
- B. Sanitation facilities but no cooking facilities
- C. Permanent provisions for both cooking and sanitation
- D. Cooking facilities shared with an adjacent unit
Correct Answer: C
Per the Chapter 2 definitions, a dwelling unit provides complete, independent living facilities including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. A sleeping unit may include provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen facilities, but not both. Providing permanent cooking and sanitation facilities in the same unit makes it a dwelling unit.
Reference: IBC 2018 Chapter 2 (Definitions), 'Dwelling Unit' and 'Sleeping Unit'
Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF
A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.
Start Practicing
Take the free ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.