I85PREP
⌘ K
AR Landscape study materials
AR Landscape study resources

AR Landscape practice questions

One question at a time. Build your AR Landscape understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Project and Construction Administration

A contractor finds an inconsistency between the landscape drawings and the specifications and needs a binding interpretation. What is the purpose of a request for information (RFI) in this situation?

  1. Request clarification of ambiguous or missing contract documents Correct answer.
  2. Document a requested substitution of a specified product
  3. Certify that installed work conforms to the drawings
  4. Authorize a change in the contract sum or contract time

Explanation

An RFI is the formal process for asking the design professional to interpret or clarify the contract documents. It does not itself authorize a change, approve a substitution, or certify installed work. Those actions require separate contract administration instruments.

Question 2Project and Construction Administration

Substantial completion is best described as which of the following?

  1. The date final payment becomes due under the contract
  2. The date the owner first occupies any portion of the work
  3. The point when every punch-list item has been closed
  4. The stage when work is sufficiently complete for its intended use Correct answer.

Explanation

Substantial completion occurs when the work is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract documents so the owner can use it for its intended purpose. Punch-list items may remain open at that point. Final payment and warranty administration follow later.

Question 3Project and Construction Administration

Who typically signs a change order to make it a binding modification of the construction contract?

  1. Owner and contractor, with the landscape architect's recommendation Correct answer.
  2. The construction manager acting alone without any owner review or approval
  3. The contractor acting alone
  4. The landscape architect acting alone

Explanation

A change order is a written modification to the contract that becomes binding when the owner and contractor sign it. The landscape architect usually prepares or recommends it and may sign as the design professional, but the architect alone cannot bind the parties to a change.

Question 4Project and Construction Administration

In construction payment provisions, retainage is best defined as which of the following?

  1. A percentage of each payment withheld until closeout Correct answer.
  2. A penalty assessed against the contractor for late completion
  3. A bond posted by the contractor to guarantee performance
  4. A discount offered to the owner for early completion

Explanation

Retainage is a portion of progress payments withheld by the owner to protect against incomplete work, liens, and closeout deficiencies. It is released according to the contract, typically in stages near substantial and final completion. It is not a penalty, discount, or bond.

Question 5Project and Construction Administration

What is the primary purpose of a product data submittal?

  1. Demonstrate that the contractor has scheduled the work
  2. Request payment for materials stored off site
  3. Record actual field dimensions for fabrication
  4. Show that proposed products meet specified requirements Correct answer.

Explanation

Product data submittals demonstrate the characteristics of proposed products so the design professional can compare them with the specifications. They are not schedules, payment requests, or field measurement records. Shop drawings are more commonly used for fabricated dimensions.

Question 6Project and Construction Administration

During construction, the landscape architect's site visits are primarily intended to do which of the following?

  1. Supervise the contractor's workforce and direct daily operations
  2. Observe work for conformance with the contract documents Correct answer.
  3. Direct the means and methods of construction
  4. Guarantee the contractor's workmanship and materials

Explanation

Site visits allow the landscape architect to observe progress and quality and to determine whether the work generally conforms to the contract documents. The contractor remains responsible for construction means, methods, safety, and workmanship. Site observation is not supervision or a guarantee.

Question 7Project and Construction Administration

A contractor's monthly application for payment is normally reviewed and certified by which party?

  1. The building official
  2. The landscape architect Correct answer.
  3. The material supplier
  4. The contractor's surety

Explanation

The landscape architect typically reviews the pay application and certifies the amount due based on observed progress and submitted documentation. The surety, building official, and suppliers do not certify the contractor's payment application.

Question 8Project and Construction Administration

For most constructed landscape work, the contractor's warranty period typically begins on which date?

  1. The date the contract is signed
  2. The date of the first site visit
  3. The date of substantial completion Correct answer.
  4. The date of final payment

Explanation

Warranty periods commonly begin on the date of substantial completion, when the owner can use the work for its intended purpose. The exact trigger is set by the contract, but final payment, contract signing, and first site visit are not the usual starting points.

Question 9Project and Construction Administration

On a typical progress payment application, the current payment due is calculated as which of the following?

  1. Retainage minus previous payments
  2. Completed and stored to date less retainage and prior payments Correct answer.
  3. Contract sum minus total completed and stored to date
  4. Total completed and stored to date minus previous payments only

Explanation

The current payment due reflects the value of completed and stored work, less retainage and less amounts already paid. Prior payments must be deducted to avoid duplicate payment. Retainage and stored materials are handled within the application rather than by subtracting the contract sum.

Question 10Project and Construction Administration

A construction change directive is most appropriate when which condition exists?

  1. Owner and contractor have already agreed on cost and time
  2. Contractor proposes an equal product substitution
  3. Contractor requests clarification of an ambiguous drawing
  4. Price or time is unresolved when a change is directed Correct answer.

Explanation

A construction change directive directs the contractor to proceed with a change before the owner and contractor agree on the price or time adjustment. It preserves progress while the commercial terms are resolved later. An agreed change is handled by change order, while clarification and substitution use other procedures.

Question 11Project and Construction Administration

A landscape architect issues a written field order to the contractor. What does a field order typically authorize?

  1. A request for substitution of a specified product
  2. A written order for minor work that does not change cost or time Correct answer.
  3. A formal change order signed by the owner and contractor
  4. A notice that work is nonconforming and must be corrected

Explanation

A field order is a written order for a minor change in the work that does not involve an adjustment to the contract sum or contract time. It is not a substitute for a formal change order when cost or time is affected. Substitutions and nonconformance notices use separate procedures.

Question 12Project and Construction Administration

A subcontractor signs a conditional waiver and release on progress payment. What does the word conditional indicate?

  1. The waiver is effective only after payment is received Correct answer.
  2. The waiver is provided by the owner to the contractor
  3. The waiver is effective immediately regardless of payment
  4. The waiver applies only to final payment

Explanation

A conditional waiver becomes effective only when the stated payment is actually received. If payment does not clear, the waiver does not extinguish the claimant's rights. An unconditional waiver, by contrast, is effective regardless of whether payment is received.

Question 13Project and Construction Administration

The landscape architect returns a submittal marked with no specific exceptions noted. What is the proper interpretation of that review action?

  1. Rejected, so the contractor must resubmit before proceeding
  2. Approved in full, relieving the contractor of all responsibility for errors and omissions
  3. Accepted as a substitute for the contract documents
  4. No specific exceptions noted; contractor remains responsible for conformance Correct answer.

Explanation

A review noting no specific exceptions indicates that the submittal appears to conform, but it does not relieve the contractor of responsibility for errors, omissions, or compliance with the contract documents. The contractor remains responsible for the submittal's accuracy and for the work. It is not a full approval or a contract document substitute.

Question 14Project and Construction Administration

The contractor discovers a conflict between the landscape drawings and the specifications before installing the affected work. What is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Proceed with the less expensive of the two options
  2. Submit an RFI before proceeding with the affected work Correct answer.
  3. Stop work indefinitely until the owner resolves the conflict
  4. Install per the drawings and notify the landscape architect later

Explanation

When a conflict is discovered, the contractor should request clarification through an RFI before proceeding with the affected work. This avoids installing work that may later require removal or modification. Stopping all work indefinitely is excessive unless the contract requires a stop.

Question 15Project and Construction Administration

Who is generally responsible for maintaining record documents at the site during construction?

  1. The building official
  2. The contractor Correct answer.
  3. The landscape architect
  4. The owner

Explanation

The contractor typically maintains a current set of record documents at the site showing actual conditions, changes, and field decisions. The landscape architect may review them, and the owner ultimately receives them at closeout. The building official does not maintain the contractor's record set.

Question 16Project and Construction Administration

Final retainage is generally released when which milestone is reached?

  1. Substantial completion and owner occupancy
  2. Final completion and owner acceptance Correct answer.
  3. The contractor's final pay application submission
  4. The end of the one-year warranty period

Explanation

Final retainage is generally released after final completion, when the work is fully complete, closeout documents are accepted, and the owner accepts the work. Substantial completion may trigger a partial retainage release depending on the contract, but not necessarily the final balance. Warranty periods may continue after final payment.

Question 17Project and Construction Administration

What is the purpose of the schedule of values in a construction payment process?

  1. Establish the contractor's planned sequence of construction
  2. Set the dates for substantial and final completion
  3. List the contractor's employees and subcontractors
  4. Allocate the contract sum among work portions for payment Correct answer.

Explanation

The schedule of values breaks the contract sum into portions of work so progress payments can be evaluated fairly. It is not the construction schedule, a workforce roster, or the source of completion dates. The landscape architect uses it to assess whether payment requests match completed work.

Question 18Project and Construction Administration

The contractor repeatedly fails to correct nonconforming landscape work after proper notice. What action may the owner generally take if the contract permits?

  1. Pay for the nonconforming work as installed
  2. Immediately terminate the contract without any notice in all cases
  3. Withhold payment and, if the contract permits, stop work or terminate Correct answer.
  4. Ignore the nonconformance and rely on the warranty

Explanation

Construction contracts commonly allow the owner to withhold payment for nonconforming work and, after proper notice and opportunity to cure, to stop work or terminate for cause. Immediate termination without notice is usually not permitted unless the contract expressly allows it or an emergency exists. Paying for defective work would waive legitimate remedies.

Question 19Project and Construction Administration

During a site visit, the landscape architect observes a minor deviation from the drawings that does not affect safety or performance. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Issue a change order immediately to correct the deviation
  2. Ignore it until the final inspection and punch list
  3. Record it in a field report and notify the contractor for correction Correct answer.
  4. Stop all work until the owner authorizes a correction

Explanation

The landscape architect should document the observation in a field report and notify the contractor so the deviation can be evaluated and corrected through the normal process. A minor deviation does not usually justify stopping all work or issuing a change order without evaluation. Waiting until final inspection may allow the condition to be covered up.

Question 20Project and Construction Administration

Which closeout document is typically required to explain the maintenance and operation of installed equipment?

  1. Operation and maintenance manuals Correct answer.
  2. Schedule of values
  3. Bid bond
  4. Notice to proceed

Explanation

Operation and maintenance manuals provide the owner with instructions, parts information, and maintenance procedures for installed equipment. They are a standard closeout submittal. Bid bonds, notices to proceed, and schedules of values serve earlier procurement and payment functions.

Question 21Project and Construction Administration

The contractor encounters a subsurface condition that differs materially from the information in the contract documents. What should the contractor generally do under a typical differing site conditions clause?

  1. Adjust the work at the contractor's own cost
  2. Stop work immediately and terminate the contract
  3. Give prompt written notice before disturbing the condition Correct answer.
  4. Proceed and later submit a claim without prior notice

Explanation

A differing site conditions clause generally requires the contractor to give prompt written notice before the condition is disturbed so the owner and design professional can investigate. The contractor usually must await instructions before proceeding with the affected work. Silent proceeding may waive or weaken the claim.

Question 22Project and Construction Administration

A project is delayed by unusually severe weather that meets the contract's excusable-delay criteria. How is that delay generally classified?

  1. Neither excusable nor compensable
  2. Excusable but not compensable Correct answer.
  3. Compensable but not excusable
  4. Excusable and compensable

Explanation

Weather delays that qualify under the contract are generally excusable, meaning the contractor may receive a time extension, but they are usually not compensable because the owner did not cause the delay. Compensable delays typically involve owner-caused events such as late owner-furnished information or access. This distinction determines whether the contractor receives time, money, or both.

Question 23Project and Construction Administration

Which situation best describes a constructive change?

  1. The contractor voluntarily performs extra work without direction
  2. The owner issues a written change order for extra work
  3. The contractor submits a low bid for the project
  4. A direction requires extra work without a formal change order Correct answer.

Explanation

A constructive change arises when the owner or design professional directs or interprets work in a way that requires extra work or cost without issuing a formal change order. The contractor may be entitled to an adjustment even though no written modification was signed. A voluntary act by the contractor or a low bid does not create a constructive change.

Question 24Project and Construction Administration

What is the typical effect of a no-damage-for-delay clause in a construction contract?

  1. Bars all delay claims, including owner-caused delays, in every case
  2. Requires the owner to pay bonuses for early completion
  3. Allows the contractor to recover all delay costs automatically
  4. Limits certain delays to time extensions rather than money damages Correct answer.

Explanation

A no-damage-for-delay clause generally limits the contractor to time extensions for specified delays and bars money damages for those delays. Such clauses are not universally enforceable and may be subject to exceptions, but their intended effect is to allocate delay risk to the contractor. They do not automatically compensate the contractor or create early-completion bonuses.

Question 25Project and Construction Administration

Before making final payment, the owner typically requires the contractor to provide which of the following?

  1. A bid bond from the contractor's surety
  2. A final lien waiver and affidavit that all claims are settled Correct answer.
  3. A new performance bond for the warranty period
  4. A notice to proceed from the owner

Explanation

Final payment is commonly conditioned on the contractor providing a final lien waiver and an affidavit or release confirming that subcontractors, suppliers, and others have been paid and claims are settled. This protects the owner from later liens. A bid bond and notice to proceed belong to earlier project stages.

Question 26Project and Construction Administration

A bid bond submitted with a contractor's proposal primarily protects the owner against which outcome?

  1. Defective materials arriving at the site
  2. Subcontractors demanding higher prices
  3. The contractor failing to complete the work
  4. The selected bidder refusing to sign the contract Correct answer.

Explanation

A bid bond assures the owner that the successful bidder will execute the contract and provide the required performance and payment bonds. If the bidder refuses, the surety may be liable up to the bond penalty for the difference between bids.

Question 27Project and Construction Administration

After a construction progress meeting, who normally prepares and distributes minutes that record decisions and action items?

  1. The landscape architect Correct answer.
  2. The owner's construction lender
  3. The contractor's site foreman
  4. The independent testing laboratory

Explanation

The landscape architect usually administers progress meetings and prepares minutes that document decisions, assignments, and schedules. Participants are expected to review the minutes promptly and object to errors so the record stays accurate.

Question 28Project and Construction Administration

A contractor submits a request for information because a detail is unclear. What is the primary purpose of the landscape architect's response?

  1. To clarify the design intent Correct answer.
  2. To authorize extra compensation automatically
  3. To transfer design responsibility to the contractor
  4. To replace the need for a change order

Explanation

A request for information seeks clarification of the contract documents so the contractor can proceed correctly. If the answer changes cost or time, it must be handled through the appropriate modification process rather than by the response alone.

Question 29Project and Construction Administration

Substantial completion is generally the point at which which condition is met?

  1. All warranties have expired
  2. The work is usable for its intended purpose Correct answer.
  3. Final payment has been made in full
  4. Every punch list item has been completed

Explanation

Substantial completion occurs when the work is sufficiently complete in accordance with the contract so the owner can use it for its intended purpose. A punch list of minor incomplete or corrective items may remain at that time.

Question 30Project and Construction Administration

An addendum issued during the bidding period is intended to do which of the following?

  1. Modify or clarify the bidding documents Correct answer.
  2. Change the contract after construction begins
  3. Record a subcontractor's request for information
  4. Replace the contractor's schedule of values

Explanation

An addendum is issued before bids are opened to clarify, correct, or modify the bidding documents. Bidders must acknowledge it, and it becomes part of the contract documents.

Question 31Project and Construction Administration

Who is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of dimensions and details shown on a contractor-prepared shop drawing?

  1. The contractor Correct answer.
  2. The product manufacturer
  3. The owner
  4. The landscape architect

Explanation

The contractor prepares shop drawings and must verify field dimensions and product information before submission. The landscape architect's review checks conformance with the design concept and does not transfer that responsibility to the designer.

Question 32Project and Construction Administration

Liquidated damages in a construction contract are best described as which of the following?

  1. A fee paid to the landscape architect for extra visits
  2. A bonus paid for early completion
  3. A pre-agreed amount for delay damages Correct answer.
  4. A penalty imposed only for defective work

Explanation

Liquidated damages are a contractually agreed amount intended to compensate the owner for delay when actual damages are difficult to calculate. They must be a reasonable forecast of loss rather than an unenforceable penalty.

Question 33Project and Construction Administration

On a typical construction site, who has primary responsibility for implementing jobsite safety measures?

  1. The contractor Correct answer.
  2. The landscape architect
  3. The owner
  4. The testing agency

Explanation

The contractor controls the means, methods, and sequencing of construction and is responsible for jobsite safety programs. The landscape architect's site visits are for observing whether work conforms to the contract documents.

Question 34Project and Construction Administration

A performance bond provides the owner with which protection?

  1. Payment of valid subcontractor claims
  2. Reimbursement of bid preparation costs
  3. Recourse if the contractor defaults Correct answer.
  4. Coverage for the landscape architect's errors

Explanation

A performance bond guarantees that the surety will step in if the contractor fails to perform in accordance with the contract. It protects the owner against default, up to the bond amount.

Question 35Project and Construction Administration

The contractor's daily field log is most valuable in construction administration because it does which of the following?

  1. It creates a contemporaneous record of site events Correct answer.
  2. It guarantees that the project will finish on time
  3. It sets the contract sum for the project
  4. It replaces the landscape architect's observation reports

Explanation

A daily log records weather, labor, equipment, visitors, deliveries, and events as they occur, creating a contemporaneous project record. Such records are important for resolving delay, extra work, and dispute claims.

Question 36Project and Construction Administration

A contractor wants to substitute a different paving product for the specified product. What is the usual first administrative step?

  1. Delete the item from the schedule of values
  2. Install the product and request payment later
  3. Submit a written substitution request Correct answer.
  4. Ask the owner's lender for written approval

Explanation

A substitution normally requires a written request with product data and other information needed to evaluate equivalence. The landscape architect reviews it and issues a decision before the product is installed.

Question 37Project and Construction Administration

A notice to proceed typically establishes which of the following?

  1. The date when contract time begins Correct answer.
  2. The date when warranties begin
  3. The deadline for final acceptance
  4. The date when final payment is due

Explanation

A notice to proceed authorizes the contractor to begin work and generally starts the contract time. Milestones and completion dates are then measured from that date unless the contract states otherwise.

Question 38Project and Construction Administration

Before covering work that will later be concealed, the contractor should normally do which of the following?

  1. Notify the landscape architect Correct answer.
  2. Submit a bid bond to the owner
  3. Wait for the owner to issue a change order
  4. Remove the work from the punch list

Explanation

Contracts commonly require notice before work is concealed so the landscape architect can observe it if appropriate. If the contractor fails to give notice, the contract may require uncovering at the contractor's expense.

Question 39Project and Construction Administration

In a construction budget, an owner's contingency allowance is intended for which purpose?

  1. Paying the contractor's normal overhead
  2. Replacing the project retainage
  3. Covering unforeseen costs within scope Correct answer.
  4. Funding only the landscape architect's fees

Explanation

A contingency is a reserve for unforeseen conditions, scope adjustments, and other uncertainties within the approved project. It is not part of the contractor's normal price and is drawn only when authorized.

Question 40Project and Construction Administration

When a change order is priced on a time-and-materials basis, the contractor's records should typically document which of the following?

  1. Only the final negotiated lump sum
  2. The owner's permanent financing costs
  3. The landscape architect's payroll records
  4. Labor hours and material quantities Correct answer.

Explanation

Time-and-materials pricing requires records of actual labor hours, material quantities, and typically equipment use so the change can be verified and paid. Good records also support auditing and later negotiation.

Question 41Project and Construction Administration

If the owner occupies a completed portion of the project before substantial completion of the entire work, what is the usual consequence?

  1. The warranty for the entire project begins
  2. All retainage is immediately forfeited
  3. The contractor must stop all remaining work
  4. That portion may be accepted as complete Correct answer.

Explanation

Partial occupancy or use may cause the occupied portion to be treated as substantially complete for purposes such as risk of loss and warranty start. The remaining work continues under the contract.

Question 42Project and Construction Administration

A submittal log maintained during construction is primarily used to do which of the following?

  1. Track submittal status and review dates Correct answer.
  2. Calculate the amount of retainage
  3. Record certified payroll submissions
  4. Establish the priority of lien claims

Explanation

A submittal log lists required submittals and tracks their receipt, review status, and dates so the review process can be managed. It helps identify overdue items that may affect the schedule.

Question 43Project and Construction Administration

A preconstruction conference is typically held to accomplish which objective?

  1. Award the contract to the lowest bidder
  2. Conduct the final project inspection
  3. Finalize the owner's permanent financing
  4. Clarify procedures before work begins Correct answer.

Explanation

A preconstruction conference brings the parties together before construction to clarify communication, submittal procedures, scheduling, and administrative responsibilities. It helps prevent misunderstandings once work starts.

Question 44Project and Construction Administration

A unit-price item in a construction contract is most useful when which condition exists?

  1. The owner wants to avoid measuring quantities
  2. No payment will be made for the item
  3. The quantity of work is uncertain Correct answer.
  4. The entire scope is fixed and known

Explanation

Unit pricing establishes a cost per unit of work and is used when quantities are uncertain but the unit cost can be defined. Payment is based on measured installed quantities at the stated unit price.

Question 45Project and Construction Administration

When the owner terminates a contract for convenience, the contractor is generally entitled to which of the following?

  1. The full remaining profit without doing work
  2. Payment for work performed Correct answer.
  3. No compensation for any work performed
  4. Only the amount of the bid bond

Explanation

Termination for convenience is not based on contractor default, so the contractor normally recovers payment for work performed and reasonable closeout costs. The contract may also allow limited profit on work already done.

Question 46Project and Construction Administration

An unconditional waiver and release on final payment differs from a conditional waiver primarily in that the unconditional waiver does which of the following?

  1. It releases only the final retainage
  2. It can be used only by subcontractors
  3. It requires lender approval before use
  4. It is effective even if payment fails Correct answer.

Explanation

A conditional waiver becomes effective only when the stated payment is actually received. An unconditional waiver is effective when signed, regardless of whether the payment clears, so claimants should sign it with care.

Question 47Project and Construction Administration

A contractor is directed in writing to accelerate the schedule to recover delays that were not the contractor's responsibility. This direction most likely constitutes which of the following?

  1. A constructive change Correct answer.
  2. A no-cost schedule update
  3. A default termination
  4. A suspension of work

Explanation

Directing acceleration to overcome owner-caused or excusable delay can be a constructive change because it requires extra effort beyond the original contract basis. The contractor may be entitled to additional compensation for the acceleration costs.

Question 48Project and Construction Administration

Which situation best describes a cardinal change in a construction contract?

  1. A minor field adjustment within the design
  2. A routine substitution of an equal product
  3. Work far beyond the original scope Correct answer.
  4. A normal monthly progress payment

Explanation

A cardinal change is so extensive that it fundamentally alters the scope of the bargain beyond what the contract contemplated. It may constitute a breach and can entitle the contractor to repricing or other relief.

Question 49Project and Construction Administration

When owner-caused and contractor-caused delays occur at the same time, how is a concurrent delay generally treated under a typical contract?

  1. Time relief but no delay damages Correct answer.
  2. No adjustment is made to time or compensation
  3. Both time and delay damages are automatic
  4. Liquidated damages are automatic

Explanation

With concurrent delay, the contractor often receives a time extension because the owner delay would independently affect completion. Delay damages are commonly not awarded for the concurrent period because the contractor also caused delay.

Question 50Project and Construction Administration

Upon partial occupancy or use of a portion of the work by the owner, who typically bears the risk of loss for that occupied portion under a standard contract?

  1. The surety, under the performance bond
  2. The owner, under the contract Correct answer.
  3. The landscape architect, as designer
  4. The contractor, regardless of terms

Explanation

Standard construction contracts commonly shift risk of loss for an occupied or used portion to the owner, subject to the contract's insurance provisions. The contractor remains responsible for unoccupied portions and for correcting its own work.