Free Construction Specifications Institute CDT Practice Exam with Questions & Answers

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

CSI describes post-occupancy evaluation (POE) as a review of how the completed facility is performing for its users and operations staff, compared to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). For the evaluation to be meaningful:

The facility must have been occupied long enough for systems and spaces to be used under normal operating conditions.

It should happen early enough that findings can inform warranty corrections, adjustments, and future projects.

CSI’s practice guidance indicates that POEs are typically performed several months after initial occupancy, often in the range of three to six months, when occupants have adjusted to the building and operational patterns are established but the project is still within the correction/warranty period. That aligns with Option B.

Why the others are less suitable:

A. At the end of the correction period and C. Just before the end of the warranty period – these are usually around one year; waiting this long reduces the time available to act on findings while warranties are in force.

D. One year after substantial completion – also generally coincides with warranty expiration; by then, significant issues may have already affected operations without being captured early.

Relevant CSI references:

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on facility management, occupancy, and post-occupancy evaluation.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – material on owner and facility manager activities during occupancy.

In CSI’s project delivery and construction phase discussions, the time between ordering an item and its arrival on the project site ready for use is referred to as “lead time.”

For construction planning and scheduling, lead time is critical because:

It affects when submittals must be prepared, reviewed, and approved.

It determines when purchase orders must be issued to avoid delays.

Long-lead items (such as custom equipment, certain mechanical/electrical components, curtain wall systems, etc.) must be identified early so the project schedule can accommodate them.

Among the options:

Lead time (Option C) is the established term for this procurement interval.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Estimated time of arrival“Estimated time of arrival” (ETA) may be used informally in logistics, but CSI’s scheduling and procurement discussions specifically use “lead time” for the planning parameter from order to arrival.

B. Procurement time“Procurement time” is a generic phrase, not a defined CSI term. In practice, procurement may include internal approvals, budgeting, and other steps beyond the order-to-arrival period.

D. Manufacturing timeManufacturing time is only one component of lead time (which might also include design, submittal, shipping, customs, etc.). It does not necessarily cover the full period until the item is on site.

Key CSI Reference Titles (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – chapters on Construction Phase scheduling and procurement/lead times.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 scheduling and submittals, including handling of long-lead items.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “Construction Phase: Schedule, Submittals, and Procurement.”

CSI formally recognizes the main methods of specifying as:

Descriptive

Performance

Reference standard

Proprietary

From this list:

Proprietary (B) – A method where specific products, manufacturers, or model numbers are named.

Performance (C) – A method that states the required results or performance rather than prescribing exact materials or methods.

Reference standard (D) – A method that cites published standards (e.g., ASTM, ANSI, UL) to define the requirements.

These three — proprietary, performance, and reference standard — are all recognized CSI methods of specifying.

Option A. “Perspective” is not one of CSI’s methods of specifying. It appears to be a typographical error for “prescriptive,” but CSI generally uses the terms descriptive, performance, reference standard, and proprietary as the main categories. Taken literally as written, “Perspective” is a term related to viewpoint or drawing type, not a spec-writing method, so:

The choice that is NOT a method of specifying is A. Perspective.

(If the intended word were “Prescriptive,” CSI practice would treat “prescriptive/descriptive” specifying as a recognized method, still making the written option “Perspective” the one that is not a valid method.)

CSI-aligned references (no external links):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – section on Methods of Specifying.

CSI CDT Study materials – descriptions of proprietary, performance, reference standard, and descriptive/prescriptive specifying.

CSI identifies several cost-control tools used in specifications and bidding documents:

Alternates – provide optional changes in scope or quality that can add or deduct cost.

Unit prices – establish prices for specific items or quantities where exact amounts may vary.

Contingencies – funds reserved by the owner (in the project budget) for unexpected conditions.

Allowances – specified amounts included in the contract sum for items whose exact product, quantity, or selection is not yet known at bid time.

When insufficient information is available to make final product decisions during design, CSI’s guidance is that the A/E can maintain control over construction cost by specifying allowances. An allowance:

Is clearly described in the specifications or Division 01.

Provides a defined monetary amount (or quantity and unit cost) for a future selection (for example, certain finishes, fixtures, or equipment).

Allows the project to proceed to bidding and contract award while preserving cost control, because bidders all carry the same allowance values in their bids.

Thus the best answer is D. Allowances.

Why the other options are less appropriate:

A. AlternatesAlternates help manage scope and options, but they do not directly solve the problem of not yet knowing which specific product will be chosen. They are more about “add or deduct” scenarios than uncertain product selection.

B. Unit pricesUnit prices are used when quantities are uncertain, not when product decisions themselves are unknown. They are tied to measurable units (e.g., cubic meters of rock excavation), not to undecided product choices.

C. ContingenciesContingencies are normally an owner’s budgeting tool, not written into the contract in the same way as allowances. They help the owner plan for unknowns but do not provide a structured way in the specifications to carry costs for undecided products.

Key CSI Reference Titles (no links):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on Cost Management and Design Phase cost-control tools.

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – Division 01 provisions for Allowances, Alternates, and Unit Prices.

CSI CDT Body of Knowledge – “Methods of Specifying and Cost Control Provisions in the Project Manual.”

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Within CSI’s framework for contract documents, the term “Agreement” (capitalized) has a specific meaning. It refers to the formal written contract for construction between the Owner and the Contractor.

CSI describes the typical structure of the contract documents as including:

The Agreement between Owner and Contractor (such as AIA A101 or similar),

The Conditions of the Contract (General and Supplementary Conditions),

Drawings, Specifications, and Addenda,

And other documents listed in the Agreement.

The Agreement sets out key commercial terms (contract sum, contract time, identification of the work, list of contract documents, progress payments, etc.) and binds the owner and contractor to the Conditions of the Contract and the remainder of the documents.

Why the other options are not correct:

A. Agreement between the owner and the architect/engineer – This is usually a separate professional services agreement (often titled Owner–Architect Agreement or similar) and is not what CSI and AIA mean by “the Agreement” within the construction contract set.

B. The general conditions of the contract for construction – The General Conditions are a separate document; they become part of the contract when they are incorporated by reference in the Agreement, but they are not themselves “the Agreement.”

D. Agreement between the contractor and the subcontractor – This is a separate subcontract document, not part of the owner–contractor contract set defined in the project manual.

CSI’s practice material on contract formation and document relationships consistently identifies “the Agreement” as the contract between the Owner and the Contractor, hence Option C is correct.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

According to CSI’s Project Delivery Practice Guide and CDT body of knowledge, the Contractor is typically required—by the conditions of the Contract—to maintain record drawings during construction. These are sometimes called “as-built” or “marked-up” drawings.

CSI explains that:

The Contractor must keep on site a current set of drawings and, as the work progresses, mark changes, deviations, and concealed conditions that differ from the original contract drawings.

This responsibility is usually stated in the General Conditions and/or Division 01, and is part of the contractor’s obligation to provide Project Record Documents at closeout.

At the end of the project, these contractor-maintained record drawings and related record information are typically delivered to the Architect/Engineer and then to the Owner as part of closeout, but the party maintaining them during the project itself is the Contractor.

The Architect uses the contractor’s record information to prepare formal record documents only if required by the contract, but the day-to-day updating and maintenance during construction is assigned to the Contractor in standard CSI-aligned practice.

Relevant CSI concepts (paraphrased):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on “Construction Phase” and “Project Record Documents” explaining that the contractor keeps a set of marked-up record drawings during the work.

CSI CDT Study Materials – topic on roles and responsibilities for record documents and closeout.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (CSI-based)

Within CSI’s CDT framework, the primary national reference for organizing and presenting design and construction drawings is the U.S. National CAD Standard (NCS). The NCS is a coordinated standard developed by several organizations including the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), CSI, and the AIA. It provides:

Guidelines for drawing sheet organization (titles, numbering, and content).

Layering standards (including what many people know as the AIA CAD Layer Guidelines).

Symbols, plotting conventions, and other tools that make drawings consistent and coordinated across disciplines and projects.

CSI’s project delivery and documentation guidance points design professionals and specifiers to the U.S. National CAD Standard as the key reference for how drawings should be structured and presented to support clear coordination with specifications and other contract documents.

Why the other options are not the best answer:

A. AIA CAD Layer GuidelinesThese guidelines are actually a component of the U.S. National CAD Standard, primarily addressing layer naming and organization. On their own they do not provide the full system for sheet organization, plotting, and cross-discipline coordination that the question describes. CSI and NIBS treat them as part of the broader NCS.

B. National Institute of Building SciencesNIBS is an organization, not the actual “reference document.” NIBS sponsors and publishes several standards (including the NCS and the National BIM Standard–US), but the question asks specifically for the document that includes the guidelines and tools for drawing organization and presentation. That document is the U.S. National CAD Standard, not NIBS itself.

C. National BIM Standard – United StatesThe National BIM Standard–US focuses on BIM information exchange, modeling protocols, data structures, and interoperability, not on the traditional CAD sheet organization and 2D drawing presentation. It is important, but it is not the primary reference CSI cites for the organization and presentation of drawings in the traditional contract documents sense.

Therefore, consistent with CSI CDT content, the correct answer is Option D: U.S. National CAD Standard.

CSI reference concepts:

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – sections on construction documents and the role of standards such as the U.S. National CAD Standard in organizing drawings.

CSI CDT body of knowledge – topics on drawing organization, coordination between drawings and specifications, and national CAD standards.

From a CSI / CDT lifecycle perspective, the project does not end when construction is complete. CSI emphasizes the full facility life cycle, which includes:

Planning and design

Construction

Operation and maintenance

Eventual renovation, repurposing, or decommissioning

The phase during which a building is operated, maintained, and supported so that it continues to perform its intended function is typically referred to as facility management (or “facilities management”). CSI’s project delivery guidance characterizes facility management as including:

Allocating resources (staff, budget, utilities, maintenance contracts, equipment, etc.) to keep the facility functioning as intended

Planning and managing maintenance, repairs, replacements, and upgrades

Overseeing operations, safety, and performance of building systems

Coordinating with design and construction teams when future renovation or major maintenance projects are needed

Because the question specifically highlights “allocating resources for the continued performance of a building’s intended function”, this aligns directly with the responsibilities of facility management.

Why the other options do not fit this definition:

A. BudgetingBudgeting is the process of planning and assigning financial resources for a specific period or scope (project budgeting, department budgeting, etc.). It is a financial planning activity, not the overall ongoing process of managing and operating the facility to ensure it continues to function as intended.

B. CommissioningCommissioning is a quality-focused process performed around the end of construction and the start of operation to verify that building systems are planned, installed, tested, and capable of being operated and maintained in conformity with the design intent and owner’s project requirements. It is primarily a start-up and verification process, not the ongoing allocation of resources over the life of the facility.

D. Project closeoutProject closeout is the process of finishing all project work, completing punch lists, submitting record documents, warranties, training, and formally closing the contract. While closeout transitions the facility to the owner’s operations and facility management, it does not itself describe the ongoing management for continued performance.

In CSI’s project delivery model, once the project is closed out, the responsibility for keeping the building performing as intended shifts to facility management, making Option C the correct answer.

CSI identifies four primary methods of specifying in construction specifications:

Descriptive

Performance

Reference standard

Proprietary

A reference standard specification method uses published standards from recognized organizations to define material, product, or workmanship requirements, rather than repeating long technical descriptions in the spec section.

Applied to steel:

Instead of writing long paragraphs about carbon content, alloying elements, strength, ductility, etc., the spec writer can call for a specific ASTM, AISC, or other recognized standard, such as “ASTM A992 steel shapes” or “ASTM A36 carbon steel.”

This “short” specification points to a standard that already contains the detailed technical requirements, thereby limiting lengthy descriptions in the project specification while still ensuring clear, enforceable quality requirements.

That is exactly what the question describes: using a method of specifying to avoid long, repeated descriptions for complex materials like steel with many grades. Therefore the correct answer is:

D. Reference standard

Why the other choices are incorrect:

A. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)ANSI is a standards organization, not a method of specifying. A reference standard method could incorporate ANSI standards, but the method is “reference standard,” not “ANSI.”

B. DescriptiveDescriptive specifying is the opposite of what the question is asking to avoid. It involves writing out detailed properties, materials, and installation requirements in full text, which leads to lengthy descriptions.

C. PerformancePerformance specifying focuses on required results or performance criteria (e.g., strength, deflection, fire rating), allowing the contractor or manufacturer to choose how to meet those criteria. It is not specifically aimed at avoiding long material descriptions by referencing existing published standards, which is the hallmark of reference standard specifying.

CSI-aligned references (no external links):

CSI Construction Specifications Practice Guide – chapter on Methods of Specifying (descriptive, performance, reference standard, proprietary).

CSI CDT Study materials – topics on methods of specifying and use of reference standards (ASTM, AISC, ANSI, etc.) to define material requirements.

CSI’s project delivery and CDT materials describe design as having a dual nature:

An aesthetic (or qualitative/artistic) side – concerned with form, appearance, spatial experience, and how the built environment is perceived and used.

A technical side – concerned with structural integrity, building systems, code compliance, constructability, performance, and cost.

In the broader project-management literature you’ve uploaded, the design and construction process is described as blending technical requirements with broader qualitative and organizational goals. For example, the project life cycle discussion notes that each stage involves both technical and managerial activities, reflecting the need to satisfy functional, performance, and experiential objectives simultaneously.

CSI’s CDT framework builds on this by emphasizing that:

The architect/engineer must respond to owner values (aesthetics, image, function) and

Technical constraints and criteria (codes, standards, performance, budget, schedule).

This is what is commonly summarized in CDT study materials as the “dual nature of design” – aesthetic and technical.

Why the other options do not match CSI’s phrasing:

A. Site and building – Both are important aspects of design, but CSI’s dual-nature concept is not expressed as site vs. building.

C. Programming and planning – These are phases or processes that precede or support design, not the two “natures” of design itself.

D. Innovation and authenticity – Desirable qualities, but not the canonical CSI pair.

Thus, the correct pair that matches CSI’s description of the dual nature of design is Option B – Aesthetic and technical.

CSI-aligned references (no URLs):

CSI Project Delivery Practice Guide – “The Design Stage” (discussion of design as both artistic/aesthetic and technical/problem-solving).

CSI CDT body of knowledge – conceptual overview of the designer’s responsibilities and