UEBQ2153_Estimating_PYQ_Analysis

September 2018

Q3
Briefly explain the purpose of the documentation of an estimate.
“Contingencies are often an excuse for poor estimating practice.” Discuss.

Q4
As a senior estimator in a contractor company, you are assigned by the chief estimator to assist the junior
estimator in developing an estimate. In order to prepare a detailed estimate, please elucidate the important
factors of the estimating procedures to the junior estimator.

Q5
Describe the roles of the consultant(s), contractor and subcontractor in a construction project.
Assuming you are a consultant quantity surveyor of your firm, your client does not know the difference
between Square-Foot Estimates and Parametric Estimates. Please compare these particular estimates and
explain to him.

April 2018
Q2
The wastage of building materials on sites remains a constant and considerable problem, representing a cost
running into millions of ringgits each year of the nation’s energy and raw material resources. It is also an
unavoidable aspect of material cost, of which the estimator must allow within his unit rates for a proportion
of each material which for one reason or another will be purchased by the contractor but not incorporated
into the works as intended. As such, discuss the types of waste and the nature of waste factors.

Q3
Your contracting firm is invited to tender for a project. A new colleague had just joined your firm and is not
too sure about the tender estimating process. Hence,as a senior estimator of your firm, he sought your
assitance in explaining to him the tender estimating process in completing the estimate.

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September 2017
Q3
Once the estimate is complete, a detailed review should be made of the entire estimate package, including
the backup materials, assumptions, unit prices, productivity rates, etc. As a quantity surveyor/estimator, you
are assigned by your boss to prepare a final review near completion of the estimate. Elucidate the essential
procedures in preparing the final estimate review.

Q4
As an estimating team leader in a project, you are required to explain the factors to your client who doesn’t
know the major factors influencing pproject cost estimating practice. Please prepare a table of summary of
the influencing factors and briefly explain the factors.

Q5
Discuss the differences between preliminary estimate and conceptual estimate.
An organisation staff structure is vital to the success of the organisation as it shows the work flow for every
position to avoid any miscommunication You are required to advise and estimating staff structure for a
medium sized organization. Propose a suitable estimating stuff structure and describe the roles for the parties
who are involved in the chart.

April 2017
Q3
It is essential for a leader of the estimating team to develop a work plan prior to starting the estimate. In a
proposed factory project, you are required by your company to prepare an estimate work plan as a team
leader. List down the necessary information that must be addressed in the work plan and explain them in
detail.

Q4
Briefly explain conceptual estimate.
Assume you are an estimator and you have received a proposed shopping mall project lately. The client has
provided some basis information to you, such as number of storeys, size for the building, size for every shop,
percentage of common area, thickness of the wall, size for footing and slab. With the limited information,
you need to prepare a conceptual estimate to your client. Suggest and elucidate the most suitable type of
estimate to your client.

Q5
Contractors adopted the costing practices for the purpose of pricing and cost control. Existing literature
review showed the cost information plays a central role in construction projects. ‘Variables behind cost
information’ and the ‘types of information the cost of those variables are derived from’ and ‘the judgements

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people make’ as cost information flow through the construction industry. Discuss the cost information that
will be considered when contractors preparing their estimates.

September 2016
Q3
As a quantity surveyor, your client has appointed you to prepare a preliminary cost estimate for a proposed
depot. Because of limited amount of information available during the early stage of the project, you could
only estimate based on the basic information of the building. Propose and elucidate the most suitable type of
cost estimating method that can be employed in this task.

Q4
Explain what estimate timetable is and briefly explain the items in estimate timetable.
What are Overheads, Attendances and Analogous Rates?

Q5
In a housing project, the contractor has subcontractored the water reticulation work to the subcontractor.
However, the design of water reticulation work has not been completed due to the pending approval from
local authority. At the same time, the subcontractor has started the work on site. As the contractor’s site
quantity surveyor, explain in detail the steps/actions to be taken in managing the associated risk.

April 2016
Q3
One of your project team members is new in the construction industry and would like to know more on
estimating process in detail. Explain the process to him. Provide your answer by following this format: Draw
the estimating work process cycle, one point and its elaborations in one paragraph.

Q4
Discuss the difference between Provisional sums for undefined work and Provisional sums for defined work.
Provide your answer by following this format: Draw a table, list down every point in the table.
As a project estimator, you have been assigned to prepare a cost estimating for a proposed project. Your
company has a completed project in a nearby city. What is the type of estimates will you adopt? Select and
explain the detail/care to be taken during preparation of the particular type of estimate. Provide your answer
by following this format: one point and its elaborations in one paragraph.

Q5
Existing literatures have already suggested various variables that will have an impact on the project cost.
Many of the variables are interrelated among each other to varying degrees. At times, it is possible to group
some of the variables into a factor grouping. Evaluate the casual relationships among five possible factor

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groupings in influencing the project cost. Provide your answer by following format: one point and its
elaborations in one paragraph.

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