Cost management on the ExAC means Yardsticks for Costing and RSMeans. Elemental cost planning, $/sq m benchmarks, and how to read a cost estimate at the ar
Examitect drills each of these areas. The list below maps to the question categories you'll see inside.
Why this topic matters. Cost questions test how an architect uses Yardsticks and RSMeans to advise clients and check consultant estimates. Examiners want to see you understand cost categorization, benchmarks, and the limits of class-of-estimate accuracy.
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Every Cost Management practice question links back to the reference you'd use in the real exam.
Estimated study time. Most candidates spend 10 to 14 hours on Cost Management. Adjust up if you don't see this work in your day job, down if you do.
Yardsticks for Costing is a Canadian elemental cost reference. It provides $/sq m benchmarks by building type and breaks costs into elemental categories (substructure, structure, envelope, etc.).
Some. Most calculations are unit conversions or applying a $/sq m factor. You'll rarely build a full estimate from scratch.
RSMeans is unit-cost-based, useful for detailed estimates. Yardsticks is elemental, useful for early-stage benchmarking. The ExAC tests both.
Class A is the most precise, typically within +/- 5 to 10 percent. Class D is roughest, often +/- 25 percent or more.
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