NICET Level I Highway Construction |Complete Studyguide with
questions that are accurately solved through correct answers
reinforced with rationales| An Update of 2026/2027
Question 1
A contractor has finished all major roadway work except final cleanup and landscaping repairs
valued at 1.5% of the total adjusted contract price. The project is safe for public use. What is this
project's status?
A) Completion
B) Interim Completion
C) Substantial Completion
D) Full Traffic Access
CORRECT ANSWER Substantial Completion
Rationale: Substantial Completion allows work to be complete except for minor
landscaping, SESC removal, final cleanup, and repairs under 2% of the price, provided
safety and nondeterioration conditions are met.
Question 2
If the Resident Engineer determines that a contractor is unable to proceed with at least 75% of
their normal labor force for 60% of the daily time due to adverse conditions, what does this
define?
A) A legal holiday
B) A nonworking working day
C) A suspension of operations
D) A change order condition
CORRECT ANSWER working day
Rationale: A working day excludes days where the contractor is prevented from operating
at 75% labor/equipment for 60% of the day due to adverse conditions.
Question 3
A subcontractor prepares its own estimate, negotiates price, orders materials, arranges delivery,
installs them, and pays for them directly. What function is this subcontractor performing?
A) Passthrough transaction
B) Commercially Useful Function
C) Subcontractor brokering
D) Material supply only
CORRECT ANSWER Commercially Useful Function
Rationale: Commercially Useful Function requires the subcontractor to actually perform,
manage, supervise, order, install, and pay for the distinct element of work.
Question 4
A bridge has a clear opening measured along the center of the structure of 22 feet between
undercopings of abutments. How is this structure classified?
A) A culvert
,B) A bridge
C) A traveled way
D) A pavement structure
CORRECT ANSWER bridge
Rationale: A bridge is defined as a structure other than a culvert with a length measured along
the center of more than 20 feet between undercopings of abutments.
Question 5
The Department issues a written order after the contract is executed that modifies the contract
time and changes the basis of payment. What is this document called?
A) Field Order
B) Addendum
C) Change Order
D) Proposal
CORRECT ANSWER Change Order
Rationale: A Change Order is a written order issued by the Department after contract
execution authorizing changes in work, modifications in payment basis, or modifications to
contract time.
Question 6
A contractor receives a progress payment from the Department for work completed to date. What
is this payment officially called?
A) Actual Cost
B) Total Contract Price
C) Estimate
D) Authorized Funding Amount
CORRECT ANSWER Estimate
Rationale: An Estimate is defined specifically as the progress payment made to the Contractor
by the Department.
Question 7
A project is paid for in part with federal funds obtained through a grant program where NJDOT
participates in the construction work. What type of project is this?
A) State Funded Project
B) Federal Aid Project
C) Local Assistance Project
D) Turnkey Project
CORRECT ANSWER Federal Aid Project
Rationale: A Federal Aid Project is any agreement for construction work paid for in whole or
in part with federal funds where NJDOT participates in the construction work.
Question 8
The Department's main testing laboratory is located at 930 Lower Ferry Road in Trenton, New
Jersey. What is this facility officially called?
A) The Regional Testing Center
,B) The Materials Evaluation Lab
C) Department Laboratory
D) The AASHTO Accreditation Facility
CORRECT ANSWER Department Laboratory
Rationale: The Department Laboratory is specifically defined as the main testing laboratory at
930 Lower Ferry Road, Trenton, NJ, or such other laboratory as the Department may
designate.
Question 9
A contractor receives a written direction signed by the Resident Engineer requiring immediate
action on a specific construction issue. What is this instrument called?
A) Change Order
B) Addendum
C) Field Order
D) Special Provision
CORRECT ANSWER Field Order
Rationale: A Field Order is a written direction signed by the Resident Engineer requiring
action by the Contractor.
Question 10
A person is denied a construction opportunity solely because of their genetic information and
atypical hereditary cellular trait. What has occurred?
A) A contract dispute
B) Discrimination
C) A commercial useful function violation
D) A surety claim
CORRECT ANSWER Discrimination
Rationale: Discrimination includes intentional or unintentional unequal treatment based on
race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular or
blood trait, and other protected characteristics.
Question 11
The Department directs the Contractor to perform work that is not covered under any existing
Item in the Contract and is not a penalty or bonus adjustment. What is this called?
A) Extra Work
B) New Work
C) Asbuilt quantity
D) Change order work
CORRECT ANSWER New Work
Rationale: New Work is work directed by the Department that is not covered under an existing
Item or combination of Items in the Contract, excluding damages, bonuses, and penalties.
Question 12
A contractor wants to use a specific product on the Department's approved list found at a state
website. What is this list called?
, A) Approved Materials Registry
B) Qualified Products List (QPL)
C) Standard Specifications Catalog
D) Manufacturer's Recommendation Index
CORRECT ANSWER Qualified Products List (QPL)
Rationale: The Qualified Products List (QPL) is a list of specific qualified products
maintained by the Department for use in the Work, available at the specified website.
Question 13
The Contractor's authorized representative who is responsible for and in charge of the Work and
receives all communications from the Department is called what?
A) Resident Engineer
B) Inspector
C) Superintendent
D) Materials Engineer
CORRECT ANSWER Superintendent
Rationale: The Superintendent is the Contractor's authorized representative responsible for
and in charge of the Work and authorized to receive all communications from the Department.
Question 14
A privatelyowned facility that tests components for certification and must be an
AASHTOaccredited laboratory for each material type tested is called what?
A) Department Laboratory
B) Testing Agency
C) Materials Certification Bureau
D) Qualified Products Laboratory
CORRECT ANSWER Testing Agency
Rationale: A Testing Agency is a privatelyowned facility capable of testing components for
certification and must be an AASHTOaccredited laboratory for each field of accreditation.
Question 15
The correctly determined summation of lump sum bids and products of all quantities for Items
shown in the Proposal multiplied by the unit prices bid is called what?
A) Total Adjusted Contract Price
B) Authorized Funding Amount
C) Total Contract Price
D) Actual Cost
CORRECT ANSWER Total Contract Price
Rationale: The Total Contract Price is the correctly determined summation of lump sum bids
and products of all quantities for Items shown in the Proposal multiplied by unit prices bid.
Question 16
The Total Contract Price as adjusted through the issuance of Change Orders and the calculation
of asbuilt quantities is called what?
A) Total Adjusted Contract Price
questions that are accurately solved through correct answers
reinforced with rationales| An Update of 2026/2027
Question 1
A contractor has finished all major roadway work except final cleanup and landscaping repairs
valued at 1.5% of the total adjusted contract price. The project is safe for public use. What is this
project's status?
A) Completion
B) Interim Completion
C) Substantial Completion
D) Full Traffic Access
CORRECT ANSWER Substantial Completion
Rationale: Substantial Completion allows work to be complete except for minor
landscaping, SESC removal, final cleanup, and repairs under 2% of the price, provided
safety and nondeterioration conditions are met.
Question 2
If the Resident Engineer determines that a contractor is unable to proceed with at least 75% of
their normal labor force for 60% of the daily time due to adverse conditions, what does this
define?
A) A legal holiday
B) A nonworking working day
C) A suspension of operations
D) A change order condition
CORRECT ANSWER working day
Rationale: A working day excludes days where the contractor is prevented from operating
at 75% labor/equipment for 60% of the day due to adverse conditions.
Question 3
A subcontractor prepares its own estimate, negotiates price, orders materials, arranges delivery,
installs them, and pays for them directly. What function is this subcontractor performing?
A) Passthrough transaction
B) Commercially Useful Function
C) Subcontractor brokering
D) Material supply only
CORRECT ANSWER Commercially Useful Function
Rationale: Commercially Useful Function requires the subcontractor to actually perform,
manage, supervise, order, install, and pay for the distinct element of work.
Question 4
A bridge has a clear opening measured along the center of the structure of 22 feet between
undercopings of abutments. How is this structure classified?
A) A culvert
,B) A bridge
C) A traveled way
D) A pavement structure
CORRECT ANSWER bridge
Rationale: A bridge is defined as a structure other than a culvert with a length measured along
the center of more than 20 feet between undercopings of abutments.
Question 5
The Department issues a written order after the contract is executed that modifies the contract
time and changes the basis of payment. What is this document called?
A) Field Order
B) Addendum
C) Change Order
D) Proposal
CORRECT ANSWER Change Order
Rationale: A Change Order is a written order issued by the Department after contract
execution authorizing changes in work, modifications in payment basis, or modifications to
contract time.
Question 6
A contractor receives a progress payment from the Department for work completed to date. What
is this payment officially called?
A) Actual Cost
B) Total Contract Price
C) Estimate
D) Authorized Funding Amount
CORRECT ANSWER Estimate
Rationale: An Estimate is defined specifically as the progress payment made to the Contractor
by the Department.
Question 7
A project is paid for in part with federal funds obtained through a grant program where NJDOT
participates in the construction work. What type of project is this?
A) State Funded Project
B) Federal Aid Project
C) Local Assistance Project
D) Turnkey Project
CORRECT ANSWER Federal Aid Project
Rationale: A Federal Aid Project is any agreement for construction work paid for in whole or
in part with federal funds where NJDOT participates in the construction work.
Question 8
The Department's main testing laboratory is located at 930 Lower Ferry Road in Trenton, New
Jersey. What is this facility officially called?
A) The Regional Testing Center
,B) The Materials Evaluation Lab
C) Department Laboratory
D) The AASHTO Accreditation Facility
CORRECT ANSWER Department Laboratory
Rationale: The Department Laboratory is specifically defined as the main testing laboratory at
930 Lower Ferry Road, Trenton, NJ, or such other laboratory as the Department may
designate.
Question 9
A contractor receives a written direction signed by the Resident Engineer requiring immediate
action on a specific construction issue. What is this instrument called?
A) Change Order
B) Addendum
C) Field Order
D) Special Provision
CORRECT ANSWER Field Order
Rationale: A Field Order is a written direction signed by the Resident Engineer requiring
action by the Contractor.
Question 10
A person is denied a construction opportunity solely because of their genetic information and
atypical hereditary cellular trait. What has occurred?
A) A contract dispute
B) Discrimination
C) A commercial useful function violation
D) A surety claim
CORRECT ANSWER Discrimination
Rationale: Discrimination includes intentional or unintentional unequal treatment based on
race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular or
blood trait, and other protected characteristics.
Question 11
The Department directs the Contractor to perform work that is not covered under any existing
Item in the Contract and is not a penalty or bonus adjustment. What is this called?
A) Extra Work
B) New Work
C) Asbuilt quantity
D) Change order work
CORRECT ANSWER New Work
Rationale: New Work is work directed by the Department that is not covered under an existing
Item or combination of Items in the Contract, excluding damages, bonuses, and penalties.
Question 12
A contractor wants to use a specific product on the Department's approved list found at a state
website. What is this list called?
, A) Approved Materials Registry
B) Qualified Products List (QPL)
C) Standard Specifications Catalog
D) Manufacturer's Recommendation Index
CORRECT ANSWER Qualified Products List (QPL)
Rationale: The Qualified Products List (QPL) is a list of specific qualified products
maintained by the Department for use in the Work, available at the specified website.
Question 13
The Contractor's authorized representative who is responsible for and in charge of the Work and
receives all communications from the Department is called what?
A) Resident Engineer
B) Inspector
C) Superintendent
D) Materials Engineer
CORRECT ANSWER Superintendent
Rationale: The Superintendent is the Contractor's authorized representative responsible for
and in charge of the Work and authorized to receive all communications from the Department.
Question 14
A privatelyowned facility that tests components for certification and must be an
AASHTOaccredited laboratory for each material type tested is called what?
A) Department Laboratory
B) Testing Agency
C) Materials Certification Bureau
D) Qualified Products Laboratory
CORRECT ANSWER Testing Agency
Rationale: A Testing Agency is a privatelyowned facility capable of testing components for
certification and must be an AASHTOaccredited laboratory for each field of accreditation.
Question 15
The correctly determined summation of lump sum bids and products of all quantities for Items
shown in the Proposal multiplied by the unit prices bid is called what?
A) Total Adjusted Contract Price
B) Authorized Funding Amount
C) Total Contract Price
D) Actual Cost
CORRECT ANSWER Total Contract Price
Rationale: The Total Contract Price is the correctly determined summation of lump sum bids
and products of all quantities for Items shown in the Proposal multiplied by unit prices bid.
Question 16
The Total Contract Price as adjusted through the issuance of Change Orders and the calculation
of asbuilt quantities is called what?
A) Total Adjusted Contract Price
