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Georgia Residential – Basic Contractor Practice Exam

What This Practice Exam Covers

The Georgia Residential Basic Contractor licensing exam consists of 80 questions answered in 200 minutes. A score of 70% (56 correct) is required to pass. The exam spans 8 topic areas drawn from residential construction knowledge, Georgia-specific IRC amendments, OSHA safety regulations, and associated trades.

This practice exam gives you two ways to prepare:

• Free practice exam: 10 questions per attempt pulled from a limited pool. Retake it as many times as you like to get a feel for the question style, format, and difficulty before committing to full prep.
• Full practice exam (paid): Mirrors the real exam exactly — 80 questions, 200-minute time limit, drawn from a pool of 841+ questions. Every attempt produces a unique set of questions, so repeated sessions deliver genuine new practice rather than repetition of the same items. Questions are built from the exact topic blueprint used by the official test provider.

Start with the free exam to calibrate where you stand, then use the full exam for structured preparation.

What You'll Be Tested On

General Code and Construction Knowledge (18 items — largest topic)
This is the heaviest-weighted section. Questions cover IRC scope, permit requirements, and Georgia-specific amendments — including fire-resistant construction, exterior wall separation distances, townhouse wall assemblies, and fireblocking requirements per IRC Section R302.11. You must know structural load types (dead, live, roof), allowable deflection limits from IRC Table R301.7, and climatic design criteria for Georgia: wind speed, seismic category, snow loads, and flood zone requirements. Georgia energy code questions draw from IRC Amendments covering insulation R-values by assembly, air sealing obligations, fenestration limits, and blower door test requirements under IRC 2018 Amendments, Section R402.4.1.2. Expect calculation-style questions involving change orders, markups, and permit fees alongside code-lookup questions.

Carpentry (16 items — second largest topic)
Expect span table lookups, lumber grade identification, and fastening schedule questions. You must know IRC requirements for floor joist bridging (IRC Page 141, Section R502.7.1), sill plate anchoring, header sizing, and wall framing limits for drilling and notching under IRC Sections R602.6 and R602.6.1. Roof framing questions require pitch and slope calculations, ridge board versus ridge beam distinctions per IRC Page 384, Section R802.3, and rafter layout using the Pythagorean theorem or unit-length method. Engineered wood product questions cover plywood grading, OSB panel spans, I-joist installation, and glulam use. Truss handling and bracing questions reference BCSI requirements for temporary lateral restraint and permanent bracing.

Associated Trades (10 items)
Questions span drywall installation, exterior siding, finish flooring, insulation, and basics of plumbing and electrical systems. Drywall questions frequently involve estimating sheet quantities with waste allowances, fastener spacing per the Gypsum Construction Handbook, and correct board type for moisture-prone or fire-rated assemblies. Insulation questions focus on R-values, vapor retarder placement, and radiant heat barriers. Plumbing and electrical questions test fundamental system knowledge — DWV layout, circuit sizing, and service panel basics — without requiring license-level depth.

Sitework, Footings and Foundation (8 items)
Questions require you to apply soil bearing capacity values from IRC Table R401.4.1, size footings based on load, and identify minimum footing depths relative to frost line. Foundation drainage, dampproofing, and waterproofing under IRC Sections R405.1 and R402.2 appear regularly. Bank-to-loose yard conversion for excavation quantities is tested using the methods in Pipe and Excavation Contracting.

Concrete and Concrete Reinforcement (8 items)
Know the five basic Portland cement types from Carpentry and Building Construction, Chapter 8, Table 8-1. Questions test slump test procedures, compressive strength requirements, water-cement ratio effects, and proper reinforcing steel cover. Formwork removal timing and concrete admixture purposes are common question subjects.

Roofing (8 items)
Rafter terminology — span, run, rise, unit rise, unit run, slope — is foundational. Questions require calculating rafter lengths, identifying hip and valley rafter layout steps, and knowing minimum slope requirements for asphalt shingles (IRC R905.2.2), wood shakes (IRC R905.7.1), and tile (IRC R905.3.2). Roof sheathing nailing and panel span requirements also appear.

OSHA Safety (7 items)
Questions cite specific 29 CFR 1926 sections. Fall protection triggers at 6 feet on construction sites per 29 CFR 1926 §1926.501(b)(1). Scaffold capacity requirements under §1926.451(a)(1), ladder safety rules under §1926.1053(b)(1), and excavation cave-in protection under §1926.651(c)(2) are all testable. Know PPE obligations and flammable liquid storage rules under §1926.152(b)(1).

Masonry (5 items)
Questions cover mortar type selection, CMU classifications, cavity wall versus veneer wall systems, and masonry foundation requirements. Estimating brick quantities using the methods in Modern Masonry Chapter 6 appears alongside code requirements for wall thickness and anchorage.

Worked Sample Questions

Question 1 — General Code and Construction Knowledge

A change order totals $25,000 with a 15% markup applied. What is the total amount charged to the owner?

• A. $26,000
• B. $28,000
• C. $28,750
• D. $30,000

Correct Answer: C

Multiply the base cost by the markup factor: $25,000 × 1.15 = $28,750. This is a straightforward percentage markup calculation. A common mistake is adding 15% of $25,000 incorrectly ($3,750) and then selecting a distractor. The arithmetic is simple, but misreading "markup" as something other than a multiplier — or confusing it with margin — trips up candidates under time pressure.

Question 2 — Carpentry

Joists larger than a nominal 2 inches by 12 inches require lateral support by bridging at intervals not exceeding what distance?

• A. 10 feet
• B. 6 feet
• C. 8 feet
• D. 4 feet

Correct Answer: C — 8 feet

Per IRC Section R502.7.1 (International Residential Code, Page 141), joists exceeding a nominal 2×12 must be laterally supported by solid blocking, diagonal bridging (wood or metal), or a continuous 1×3 strip nailed across the bottom of joists — at intervals not exceeding 8 feet. The 6-foot and 10-foot distractors are plausible but wrong. This section applies specifically to joists larger than 2×12, not all joists.

Source: International Residential Code, Page 141 (Section R502.7.1)

Question 3 — Associated Trades

Using Figure DW-2 and the printed waste allowance, how many drywall sheets are needed for the ceiling alone?

• A. 9 sheets
• B. 6 sheets
• C. 2 sheets
• D. 8 sheets

Correct Answer: B — 6 sheets

Calculate ceiling area: 16 × 16 = 256 sq ft. Apply the standard 10% waste factor: 256 × 1.10 = 281.6 sq ft. Divide by the area of one 4×8 sheet (48 sq ft): 281.6 ÷ 48 = 5.87, which rounds up to 6 sheets. Always round up on material estimates — you cannot order a fraction of a sheet. The 8- and 9-sheet distractors reflect errors in applying the waste factor or using the wrong sheet size.

Source: Gypsum Construction Handbook — Ch. 1, Joint Compound and Joint Tape Coverage

How to Read Your Score

The passing score on the real exam is 70% — 56 correct out of 80 questions.

On a first practice attempt, treat your score as a diagnostic, not a verdict. Most candidates score lower on their first full attempt than they will after focused review, because the question pool is broad and some topics haven't been touched recently. A first score of 60–65% typically means you're in the right range with targeted work still needed. A first score below 55% means there are likely entire topic areas requiring structured review, not just quick refreshers.

Use the topic-by-topic breakdown your score report provides. If you scored well on Carpentry (16 items) but poorly on General Code and Construction Knowledge (18 items), that imbalance has a bigger effect on your total score than it might feel. Prioritize topics by both your accuracy and the number of items that topic contributes to the exam.

Scoring 70–74% on practice should be taken as a caution, not a clearance. A few unexpected questions on exam day can close that margin quickly. Aim for consistent 78–80%+ on the full practice exam before scheduling.

Where Candidates Lose Points

Misreading units on calculation questions. Roofing and excavation questions routinely mix linear feet, square feet, and cubic yards. Converting bank yards to loose yards — or forgetting to apply a swell factor — produces wrong answers that look plausible.

Using the wrong table or code edition. The Georgia exam tests the 2018 IRC with Georgia amendments. A candidate who knows the base IRC but hasn't studied the state amendments will miss questions on insulation R-values (IRC 2018 Amendments, Table R402.1.2), energy code requirements, and fire-resistant construction provisions that Georgia modified.

Skipping a step in multi-step calculations. Change order markups, drywall sheet estimates with waste allowances, and rafter length calculations all require multiple operations. Stopping after the first correct step and selecting that intermediate value as the answer is a reliable way to lose points on otherwise solvable questions.

Confusing similar OSHA sections. Fall protection, scaffolding, and ladder requirements each have specific height thresholds and load requirements. Mixing up the 6-foot fall protection trigger (§1926.501(b)(1)) with scaffold platform width minimums or ladder angle rules costs points on the 7-item OSHA section.

Running out of time on the heavy sections. General Code (18 items) and Carpentry (16 items) together account for 42.5% of the exam. Candidates who spend too long on early calculation questions may rush these sections, which is where the most points are available.

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