CIDQ Updated IDPX Exam Questions and Answers by abiha

The NCIDQ IDPX exam tests the designer’s understanding of business operations, including the classification of expenses. Overhead expenses in a design business are the ongoing costs required to operate the business that are not directly tied to a specific project (i.e., not billable to a client).

Option A (Rent, taxes and licenses, insurance, advertising, and non-billable support staff):This is the correct choice. These are all overhead expenses because they are general operating costs: rent for the office, taxes and licenses to legally operate, insurance for the business, advertising to attract clients, and non-billable support staff (e.g., administrative staff not assigned to specific projects). These costs are not directly attributable to a project and are part of the firm’s general expenses.

Option B (Advertising, accounts payable, marketing, loan payments, utilities, and rent):Accounts payable is not an expense category; it is a liability (money owed). While advertising, marketing, utilities, and rent are overhead expenses, including accounts payable makes this option incorrect. Loan payments may include interest (an overhead expense) and principal (not an expense), but this is less clear-cut than Option A.

Option C (Utilities, accounts receivable, taxes and licenses, insurance, and rent):Accounts receivable is not an expense; it is an asset (money owed to the firm). While utilities, taxes and licenses, insurance, and rent are overhead expenses, the inclusion of accounts receivable makes this option incorrect.

Option D (Billable support staff, rent, advertising, loan payments, utilities, and insurance):Billable support staff are a direct project expense, not an overhead expense, because their time is charged to specific projects. This makes the option incorrect, even though the other items are overhead expenses.

Verified Answer from Official Source:

The correct answer is verified from NCIDQ’s official study materials on professional practice and business operations.

“Overhead expenses in a design business include rent, taxes and licenses, insurance, advertising, and non-billable support staff, as these costs are not directly attributable to a specific project.” (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Professional Practice Section)

The NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide defines overhead expenses as general operating costs not tied to a specific project. Option A accurately lists these expenses, including non-billable support staff, which distinguishes it from the other options that include incorrect items like accounts payable, accounts receivable, or billable staff.

Objectives:

Understand the classification of business expenses in a design firm (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Professional Practice).

Apply financial management principles to business operations (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Project Management).

When a tenant leases special equipment (e.g., medical devices, IT systems) from a third-party vendor, the vendor typically retains responsibility for installation post-occupancy as part of the leasing agreement. This ensures the equipment is installed per manufacturer specifications and warranty requirements, which the vendor controls. The tenant (A) may coordinate but rarely installs specialized equipment. The contractor (C) handles construction-related installations, not post-occupancy leased items. The building owner (D) is responsible for base building systems, not tenant-specific leased equipment. Industry practice and NCIDQ guidelines point to the vendor as the responsible party.

Verified Answer from Official Source:B - the vendor

"For leased special equipment provided by a third-party vendor, the vendor is typically responsible for installation after occupancy to ensure proper setup and compliance with equipment standards." (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Section 3: Contract Administration)

Explanation from Official Source:The NCIDQ notes that vendors maintain control over their leased products’ installation to protect functionality and liability, a common practice in tenant fit-outs.

Objectives:

Understand roles and responsibilities in project execution (IDPX Objective 3.6).

The NCIDQ IDPX exam tests the designer’s understanding of construction administration, including the proper procedure for documenting meeting minutes during progress meetings. Accurate meeting minutes are critical for recording decisions, action items, and discussions, and they must be verified by attendees to ensure correctness.

Option A (Issue a clause in the minutes indicating that minutes are approved and accepted as written):This approach assumes the minutes are accurate without allowing for review or feedback, which risks perpetuating errors. It does not ensure accuracy, as attendees cannot provide input.

Option B (Issue minutes including a clause stipulating minutes will be approved within 24 hours of issue):While a time limit for approval can encourage prompt review, this option does not explicitly allow for revisions. It focuses on approval timing rather than ensuring accuracy through feedback.

Option C (Issue minutes including a clause enabling attendees to submit revisions within a specified time frame):This is the correct choice. By distributing the minutes with a clause that allows attendees to submit revisions within a specified time frame (e.g., 5 days), the designer ensures that all participants can review the minutes, correct inaccuracies, and confirm the record. This collaborative process is the most effective way to ensure the minutes are accurate.

Option D (Issue draft minutes within 24 hours of the meeting, followed by final minutes within 72 hours of meeting completion):While issuing drafts and final minutes within a set timeframe is a good practice, this option does not explicitly provide a mechanism for attendees to submit revisions, which is essential for ensuring accuracy.

Verified Answer from Official Source:

The correct answer is verified from NCIDQ’s official study materials on construction administration and meeting documentation.

“To ensure the accuracy of meeting minutes, the designer should distribute them with a clause allowing attendees to submit revisions within a specified time frame, enabling corrections before finalization.” (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Construction Administration Section)

The NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide emphasizes that allowing attendees to review and submit revisions is the best method to ensure the accuracy of meeting minutes. This process ensures that all parties agree on the documented discussions and decisions, making Option C the correct answer.

Objectives:

Understand best practices for documenting meeting minutes (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Construction Administration).

Apply communication strategies to ensure accuracy in project records (NCIDQ IDPX Objective: Project Management).

Written specifications, per CSI MasterFormat, define the quality of materials, workmanship, and installation standards (e.g., "Type X gypsum board, 5/8" thick"), ensuring the design intent is met. Quantity (A) is detailed in schedules or drawings. Form (B) is shown in drawings, not specs. Relationship (D) refers to coordination, not specification content. Quality (C) is the primary focus of specs, distinguishing them from other contract documents.

Verified Answer from Official Source:C - quality

"Written specifications define the quality of materials and execution required for the project." (NCIDQ IDPX Study Guide, Section 4: Specifications)

Explanation from Official Source:The NCIDQ emphasizes specs as the tool to establish performance and aesthetic standards, complementing drawings’ spatial details.

Objectives:

Understand specification purposes (IDPX Objective 4.1).