AL General Contractor study plan

Build a one-page matrix comparing lump-sum, cost-plus, cost-plus-with-GMP, and unit-price contracts, listing who carries quantity risk, who carries price risk, and how retainage is typically applied

Write, from memory, a 15-item checklist of bid-day requirements (bid bond, addenda acknowledgment, unit prices, alternates, withdrawal/revocation window) and then verify each item against a reference text

Draw a 15-activity precedence network by hand and compute earliest start, latest finish, total float, and the critical path for every activity

List the notice, recording, and foreclosure deadlines for mechanic's liens and state in one sentence how a lien waiver differs from a lien release

Solve five earned-value problems computing CPI, SPI, EAC, and VAC from given PV/EV/AC figures and explain in writing what each result signals to the owner

Tabulate builder's risk, general liability, workers' compensation, and umbrella coverage by what each pays for, typical limits, and who is the named insured

Identify on a set of construction drawings the scale of each sheet, the drawing index, the section and detail callouts, and the finish schedule reference

Convert five scale measurements from architectural to engineering scale and check each against a stated dimension string

Classify five soil samples using a sieve analysis and Atterberg limits, and state the bearing capacity assumption each would support

Compute the active earth pressure and required shoring depth for a 12-foot-deep excavation in a given soil profile

Differentiate shallow spread footings, mat foundations, and deep pile/caisson systems by loading condition, settlement behavior, and dewatering needs

Sequence a concrete placement from subgrade prep through curing, naming the inspection hold points and the tests (slump, air content, cylinder breaks) taken at each stage

Specify mortar type (M, S, N, O) and grout for six given masonry conditions and justify each choice by compressive strength and exposure

Detail the reinforcement, grouting, and flashing requirements for a reinforced CMU retaining wall in a two-page sketch

Match five steel connection types (bolted shear, bolted slip-critical, welded moment, etc.) to their inspection method and acceptance criteria

Lay out floor, wall, and roof framing for a simple rectangular structure and identify the load path from roof sheathing to foundation

Compare low-slope roof assemblies (built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply TPO/EPDM) by membrane type, seam method, slope range, and typical warranty term

Detail the flashing conditions at a roof penetration, a parapet, and a wall base for both roofing and below-grade waterproofing

Explain the purpose and placement of vapor retarders, air barriers, and drainage planes, and identify in a wall section which layer performs which function

Diagnose five common water-intrusion failure modes and prescribe the corrected detail for each

Write the fire-rating, hardware, and egress requirements for door assemblies in a rated corridor and verify each against a code citation

Sequence the finish trades for a typical room (drywall, tape, prime, ceiling grid, flooring, paint, trim) and identify the inspection and lead-time gates between them

Produce a coordination drawing showing how a duct main, sprinkler main, plumbing waste line, and cable tray share a ceiling plenum without violating required clearances

List the rough-in inspections and pressure/leak tests required before concealment for plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire protection systems

Build a site-specific safety plan outline covering the six focus areas (falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrical, excavations, cranes) with the control hierarchy for each

Identify the OSHA trigger thresholds for fall protection, trench shoring, scaffold erection, and confined-space entry and state the required response at each threshold

Perform a full takeoff of quantities (concrete volume, masonry units, drywall area) from a small plan set and compare results to a provided answer key

Cross-check a set of drawings against the written specifications and log every discrepancy found

Complete three full-length timed practice exams and record the score by domain after each attempt

Re-teach the two lowest-scoring domains by writing a one-page summary of each from memory without notes

Rebuild the flashcard set for every domain, keeping only cards missed on the practice exams

Rehearse the calculation types most often missed (earned value, earth pressure, concrete volume, load path) until each is solved correctly twice in a row