Grade-1 Cost Engineer Examination flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Earned Value CV

Cost variance = BCWP − ACWP. A positive value means the project is under budget; a negative value means it is over budget. It measures cost performance at a given point in time.

Earned Value SV

Schedule variance = BCWP − BCWS. A positive value indicates the project is ahead of schedule; a negative value indicates it is behind schedule. It is expressed in monetary units.

Cost Performance Index

CPI = BCWP / ACWP. A value greater than 1 means cost efficiency is good (under budget); less than 1 means cost overrun. It is a relative measure of cost performance.

Schedule Performance Index

SPI = BCWP / BCWS. A value greater than 1 means the project is ahead of schedule; less than 1 means it is behind. It measures schedule efficiency relative to the plan.

Construction and installation cost

The cost of labor, materials, machinery, enterprise management fee, profit, and taxes required to complete a construction project. It is the core component of the project cost.

Enterprise management fee

The fee covering the organization and management of construction activities, including management staff wages, office expenses, travel expenses, fixed asset use fees, tools, and other management costs.

Profit in construction cost

The profit earned by the contractor from the construction project, calculated on a base of labor cost plus machinery cost or labor cost, depending on the regional quota rules.

VAT general tax method

Under the general tax method, the construction VAT output tax is calculated as pre-tax cost × 9%. Input tax on materials and services can be credited against output tax.

Bill of Quantities

A document listing the project code, name, features, unit, and quantity of each work item, prepared by the tenderer according to the national measurement code. It forms the basis for bidding.

Comprehensive unit price

The unit price in BOQ pricing that includes labor cost, material cost, machinery cost, enterprise management fee, profit, and risk fee, but excludes taxes and statutory fees.

Quota pricing method

A pricing method where the unit price is determined by the quota (labor, materials, machinery), then enterprise management fee, profit, fees, and taxes are added to obtain the total cost.

Provisional sum

A sum included in the BOQ for unforeseen work or materials that cannot be determined at the tender stage. It is controlled by the tenderer and used as instructed.

Daywork

A provision for small and miscellaneous work that cannot be priced by the BOQ. It is paid based on actual labor, materials, and machinery used, as verified by the engineer.

General contractor service fee

A fee paid to the general contractor for providing site coordination, management, and facilities to subcontractors. It is usually a percentage of the subcontract price.

Measure project cost

The cost of measures taken to complete the project, including environmental protection, civilized construction, safety, temporary facilities, night construction, secondary handling, large machinery, and scaffolding.

Other project cost

Costs in the BOQ other than the measure project cost, including provisional sum, daywork, general contractor service fee, and total contract price service fee.

Earthwork pit volume

For a sloped foundation pit: V = (a + 2c + kH)(b + 2c + kH)H + 1/3 k²H³, where a,b are base dimensions, c working face, k slope coefficient, H depth.

Rebar unit weight

The weight per meter of reinforcement: 0.00617 × d² kg/m, where d is the diameter in millimeters. For example, a 12 mm bar weighs 0.888 kg/m.

Concrete beam volume

Measured in cubic meters: cross-sectional area × beam length. Beam length is the clear span plus half the support length at each end, per the measurement code.

Formwork area

Measured by the contact area between formwork and concrete. For beams, it includes the bottom and both sides; for slabs, only the bottom area is measured.

Masonry volume

Wall volume = length × height × thickness, deducting openings larger than 0.3 m² and embedded concrete components. It is measured in cubic meters.

Roof waterproofing area

Calculated as roof horizontal projection area × slope coefficient + additional layer area. The slope coefficient depends on the roof gradient and is taken from the measurement code.

Bored pile volume

The volume of a bored pile = design cross-sectional area × design pile length (including the pile cap). It is measured in cubic meters per the measurement code.

Scaffolding measurement

For buildings, scaffolding is measured by the building's horizontal projection area. For independent columns, it is measured by the volume of the column.

Working face

The additional width on each side of a foundation base to allow workers to operate. It is added to the excavation dimensions when calculating earthwork volume.

Slope coefficient

The ratio of the horizontal projection of a slope to its vertical height (k = b/h). It is used in earthwork volume formulas to account for sloped excavation.

Contract price adjustment

A change to the contract price due to quantity deviation, price fluctuation, or changes. The adjustment method is specified in the contract and the BOQ clauses.

Quantity deviation adjustment

If the actual quantity deviates by more than 15% from the BOQ quantity, the comprehensive unit price may be adjusted. The adjustment is based on the BOQ clause.

Price adjustment formula

ΔP = P0 × [A + B × (Ft/F0) − 1], where A is the non-adjustable portion, B the adjustable portion, Ft the current price index, F0 the base price index.

Claim analysis

A claim is analyzed using the critical path method for time impact and the actual cost method or contract rate method for cost impact. Supporting documents are required.

Completion settlement

The final payment for the project, based on the contract, design changes, site visas, and claim documents. It is the basis for the final account of the project.

Progress payment

Payment = completed project cost − retention money − advance payment deduction − other deductions. Retention money is usually 3%-5% of the contract price.