Construction Technology, Organization, and Management
Candidates must understand construction methods, sequencing, and project management. Technology topics include earthworks, formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, masonry, roofing, and finishes, plus the equipment used for each. Organization covers site layout, temporary works, logistics, and the roles of the contractor, designer, and supervisor. Management covers scheduling (critical path, Gantt), cost control, procurement, contracts, and quality and risk management.
Know the standard contract forms and the meaning of terms such as lump sum, unit price, and cost-plus. Understand variations, claims, extensions of time, and delay analysis. Health and safety planning on site is integral to organization. Documentation-daily reports, as-built records, handover-is a management responsibility.
Traps
A frequent trap is confusing the critical path with the longest activity; the critical path is the longest path through the network and has zero float. Another is mixing up float types. Questions about claims often test whether a delay was excusable and compensable. Watch for confusion between quality control (contractor's own) and supervision (independent verification).
Worked example
In a network where A (5 days) precedes B (3 days) and C (4 days) in parallel, then D (2 days), the critical path is A-C-D with duration 11 days; B has 1 day of float. Always recompute after a change, because the critical path can shift.