ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) Exam (2018 IBC) Practice Exam
Free Practice Exam
Test your knowledge with 10 questions from our pool of 20 free questions.
- 10 questions per attempt
- 30 minute time limit
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Full Practice Exam
Complete exam simulation matching the real Pearson VUE test format.
- 90 questions (same as real exam)
- 240 minute time limit
- 4 topic areas covered
- 460 questions in pool
- Detailed explanations
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ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) Practice Exam Guide
What's on the exam
Questions per topic, out of 90This practice exam follows the official content outline for the ICC G11 General Building Contractor (A) (2018 IBC) exam: Permits and General Regulations, Building Planning and Life Safety, Structural Systems, Building Envelope.
You have two ways to practice. The free practice exam gives you 10 questions per attempt, and you can retake it as often as you like. The full practice exam gives you 90 questions on a 4 hours clock, with a new draw from our question bank every attempt.
Permits and General Regulations 17 items
Our study plan for this topic: Regulations and Job Planning; Code Definitions and Terms; Permit application requirements and procedures; Work exempt from permit requirements; Permit validity, expiration, and revocation; Required inspections and inspection sequence; Certificate of occupancy requirements and issuance; Building official authority, duties, and powers.
Building Planning and Life Safety 28 items
Our study plan for this topic: Use & Occupancy & Types of Construction; Fire & Smoke Alarms & Fire Protection Systems; Occupancy Needs & Interior Environment; Exiting & Means of Egress; Accessibility; Building height and area limitations by occupancy and construction type; Allowable area increases for sprinkler systems and building frontage; Mezzanine area limits and openness requirements.
Structural Systems 38 items
Our study plan for this topic: Footings and Foundations; Concrete; Floors; Wall Framing and Stairs; Roof Ceiling Construction Roof Assembly; Masonry; Structural loads and load combinations (dead, live, wind, seismic, snow); Lateral force-resisting systems and seismic design categories.
Building Envelope 7 items
Our study plan for this topic: Interior Finishes; Glass and Glazing; Exterior Finishes and Roof Coverings; Exterior wall weather-resistive barriers and flashing requirements; Fire classification of roof assemblies (Class A, B, C) and minimum requirements by construction type; Roof drainage systems, secondary overflow drains, and scuppers; Roof covering installation requirements by material type (asphalt shingles, clay/concrete tile, metal panels, wood shakes/shingles, single-ply membranes); Combustible exterior wall coverings — area, height, and fire separation distance limitations.
Sample 1 — Structural Systems
Question: In a conventionally framed wood floor system containing a stairwell opening, tail joists must be supported at the header by framing anchors or on ledger strips not less than 2 inches by 2 inches when the tail joists exceed what length?
- A. 12 feet
- B. 6 feet
- C. 4 feet
- D. 16 feet
Correct Answer: A
IBC 2308.4.4 requires tail joists over 12 feet in length to be supported at the header by framing anchors or on ledger strips not less than 2 inches by 2 inches. (Header joists more than 6 feet long require framing anchors or hangers, and trimmers/headers must be doubled where the header span exceeds 4 feet.)
Reference: IBC 2018 Section 2308.4.4
Sample 2 — Building Planning and Life Safety
Question: Emergency lighting in a commercial building must provide initial illumination averaging not less than 1 footcandle, with a minimum of 0.1 footcandle at any point measured along the path of egress at floor level. Along that same path, what maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio shall not be exceeded?
- A. 20 to 1
- B. 10 to 1
- C. 40 to 1
- D. 30 to 1
Correct Answer: C
Per IBC 1008.3.5, emergency lighting facilities shall provide an initial average of not less than 1 footcandle and a minimum of 0.1 footcandle at any point, and a maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded.
Reference: IBC 2018 Page 265
Sample 3 — Permits and General Regulations
Question: Your contract at a commercial nursery operation includes erecting a shade cloth structure over the growing beds. Under what condition is such a structure exempt from the building permit requirement?
- A. Its floor area is not greater than 120 square feet
- B. It is accessory to a Group U occupancy
- C. It is not more than one story in height
- D. It does not include service systems
Correct Answer: D
IBC 105.2, Building item 10, exempts 'shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.' The 120-square-foot limit applies to one-story detached tool and storage sheds (item 1), not to shade cloth structures, and the exemption is not conditioned on story count or on accessory status to a Group U occupancy.
Reference: IBC 2018 Chapter 1 (Scope and Administration), Section 105.2 (Building item 10)
Treat your first attempt as a checkup, not a verdict. After every attempt, the results page breaks your score down by outline topic, so you can see which topics need work. Compare your score with the real exam's passing score, 70% correct, and keep practicing until you pass consistently.
- Answer what you know first. Go through every question once, answer the ones you know, and bookmark the rest. Our practice exams let you bookmark and come back.
- Come back to your bookmarks. Work them out on your second pass.
- Watch your pace. The real exam works out to about 2 minutes 40 seconds per question.
- Look up every miss. After each attempt, find each missed question's reference in your book and read the section.
| Questions | 90 questions |
| Time limit | 4 hours |
| Passing score | 70% correct |
| Books in the exam room | Open book |
| Exam fee | $120 |
- Results for examinations taken electronically are available immediately after the examination is completed.
- You must wait 10 days before retaking a failed exam.
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.