7056. A general engineering contractor is a contractor whose principal contracting business is in connection with fixed works requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill, including the following divisions or subjects: irrigation, drainage, water power, water supply, flood control, inland waterways, harbors, docks and wharves, shipyards and ports, dams and hydroelectric projects, levees, river control and reclamation works, railroads, highways, streets and roads, tunnels, airports and airways, sewers and sewage disposal plants and systems, waste reduction plants, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and other similar works, pipelines and other systems for the transmission of petroleum and other liquid or gaseous substances, parks, playgrounds and other recreational works, refineries, chemical plants and similar industrial plants requiring specialized engineering knowledge and skill, powerhouses, power plants and other utility plants and installations, mines and metallurgical plants, land leveling and earthmoving projects, excavating, grading, trenching, paving and surfacing work and cement and concrete works in connection with the above mentioned fixed works.
Content of the Examination
The General Engineering (A) Examination is divided into eight major sections. These sections are:
1. Estimation, Plans, and Specifications (20%)
Plans and specifications
Estimation
Standards, codes, & regulations
General building mathematics
2. Principles of Structures (8%)
Structural framing
Seismic safety
Basic engineering
3. Safety (18%)
Worker and site safety
Traffic control
Environmental impact
4. Earthwork and Surveying (15%)
Earthwork
Soils and geology
Surveying
Site preparation
5. Subsurface Work (20%)
Shoring and scaffolding
Permanent and temporary piling
Waterproofing
Utilities
Tunneling, drilling, and boring
Drainage and water work
Trenching and pipeline
Sewers, water, and storm drain systems
6. Foundation and Form Work (9%)
Concrete principles and placement
Forms and falsework
Foundations
7. Buildings and Related Work (5%)
Industrial plants
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
Masonry
Painting and coating
Demolition
8. Surface Work and Paving (5%)
Highways and roads
Parking lots
*Percentages are approximate*
Sample Questions
The following questions are typical of the types of items that are on the examination. The correct answer is highlighted.
1. What is the volume of a cylinder if the diameter equals 2 feet and the length equals 4 feet?
8.00 cubic feet
12.56 cubic feet
25.12 cubic feet
50.24 cubic feet
2. In a temperate area, which of the following is NOT a significant factor that influences soil compaction?
the amount of moisture present during compaction
the type of material to be compacted
the temperature of the soil
the depth of each lift being compacted
3. High frequency vibration used to compact freshly poured concrete results in which of the following?
higher lateral pressures
lower lateral pressures
faster curing time
slower curing time
*All questions are written and reviewed by licensed contractors who are actively working in the field*
Resources
California Building Code.
International Conference of Building Officials Headquarters,
