CSLB General Building (B) Practice Test
Practice the CSLB General Building (B) trade exam with original questions on all five sections of CSLB’s study guide, written to the 2025 California codes. Every answer has an explanation, and the full practice exam runs 110 questions on the 3½-hour clock.
110 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drill- 371 original General Building (B) questions with explanations
- 6 free drills: every study-guide section plus a mixed set
- 44% of candidates passed in fiscal year 2022/23
Over a plywood subfloor on joists, in which direction is solid strip hardwood flooring normally installed?
General Building (B) exam format
Applicants for the B General Building Contractor license, the license for building projects that use at least two unrelated building trades. You also take Law and Business. In fiscal year 2022/23, 7,243 candidates took the B exam and 44% passed.
- Format
- Computer-based multiple choice at PSI test centers. Every question has four choices and one BEST answer
- Time
- 3½ hours for each exam, after an on-screen tutorial of up to 15 minutes that does not count against your time
- Reference
- Closed book. A calculator is provided; you may not bring your own
- Scoring
- No penalty for guessing. You get a printed score report before you leave: a pass report does not show your score; a fail report shows your overall score and the number of questions you answered correctly
- Fees
- $450 application fee to CSLB for one classification, then $51.43 to PSI for each exam, every attempt. After you pass: the initial license fee ($200 sole owner, $350 other entities) and the $25,000 contractor bond
- Retakes
- Wait 21 calendar days after a failed attempt, then reschedule with PSI and pay the exam fee again. You have 18 months from the date CSLB accepts your application to pass
- Spanish
- Law and Business and General Building (B) are offered in Spanish, and you can switch between English and Spanish on screen. For an exam that is not translated, CSLB can approve a translator
- Where
- 20 PSI test centers in California and one in Oregon. Law and Business is also offered at PSI centers in other states
What’s on the General Building (B) exam
The 5 sections of CSLB’s General Building (B) study guide with their approximate weights. Our practice exam draws its 110 questions in the same proportions. Every section has a guide and a free ten-question drill with an explanation after every answer; each drill’s first attempt is free.
| Section | Weight | What it covers | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Planning and Estimating | 15% | Scope and code compliance, reading plans and specifications, catching errors, inspections, coordinating trades and estimating materials, equipment and labor. | 10-question drill |
| 2. Framing and Structural Components | 20% | Floor, wall and roof framing, seismic hardware, siding and stucco, decks and stairs. | 10-question drill |
| 3. Core Trades | 30% | Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, concrete, earthwork and surveying, insulation and weatherproofing, and roofing. | 10-question drill |
| 4. Finish Trades | 20% | Painting and coatings, tile and stone, floor covering, cabinetry and millwork, plaster and drywall, windows and doors, and landscaping. | 10-question drill |
| 5. Safety | 15% | Job-site personnel safety, traffic control around work zones and environmental safety. | 10-question drill |
What the General Building (B) exam tests
- Core Trades is the largest section at about 30%: plumbing, electrical, HVAC, concrete, earthwork and surveying, insulation and weatherproofing, and roofing.
- Framing and Structural Components and Finish Trades are about 20% each.
- Planning and Estimating and Safety are about 15% each, and estimating is where most of the math sits.
Sit the full exam under the real clock
110 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillCommon questions
How many questions are on the CSLB General Building (B) exam?
CSLB does not publish the number of questions. It publishes the sections and their approximate weights in the study guide, and every CSLB exam allows 3½ hours. Our practice exam uses those weights on the same clock.
What score do you need to pass the CSLB General Building (B) exam?
CSLB does not publish passing scores; the percentage of correct answers needed varies by exam, and you are told it at the test site. A pass report does not show your score. A fail report shows your overall score and the number of questions you answered correctly, so you can see how far you were from the line.
Are these real CSLB exam questions?
No. CSLB’s questions are confidential, and sharing them is illegal. These are original practice questions written to CSLB’s published study guide outline, with an explanation and the law or code section behind every answer.
What is the CSLB General Building (B) pass rate?
In fiscal year 2022/23, 44% of the 7,243 candidates who took the B exam passed, according to CSLB’s 2024 Sunset Review report. That is well below the 57% pass rate for Law and Business the same year.
Which codes does the B exam use?
CSLB’s current B study guide lists the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Energy, Fire and Green Building Standards Codes, plus Cal/OSHA’s safety orders, the California MUTCD and construction texts.
Can I take the B exam in Spanish?
Yes. General Building (B) is one of the CSLB exams offered in Spanish, with an on-screen switch between English and Spanish.
Ready for exam day?
110 questions on the real 3½-hour clock, weighted to CSLB’s study guide, with a score for every section and an explanation for every answer.
Or start with a free 10-question drillMore CSLB exam practice
One California contractor pass covers both practice exams and every drill.
Exam format, weights, fees, retake rules and pass rates checked November 2026: CSLB study guide: General Building (B) (13E-B, 03-2026) · CSLB study guide: Law and Business (13E-LAW, 03-2026) · PSI: CSLB Law and Business examination information guide (May 2026) · PSI: CSLB General Building (B) examination information guide (May 2026) · CSLB: Examinations frequently asked questions · CSLB: List of all fees · CSLB: Get Licensed to Build · CSLB: 2025 Accomplishments (exams administered, applications, Spanish exams) · CSLB: Sunset Review Oversight Report 2024 (exam pass rates, Table 8).
Original independent practice questions written to CSLB’s published study guide outline. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) or PSI.