Exam Toolkit

Free Study Resources

Download these essential resources to enhance your exam preparation.

Book Tabbing Guide

Our comprehensive guide to properly tab all 6 reference books for maximum lookup efficiency during the exam.

  • Color-coding system
  • Tab placement recommendations
  • Book-specific tabbing strategies
  • Tab organization templates
Exam Day Checklist

A complete checklist to ensure you're fully prepared for test day. Don't miss a single detail!

  • What to bring to the test center
  • Night-before preparation steps
  • Morning-of routine recommendations
  • Test center procedures

Contractor Categories - Book Lists & Study Materials

Exam Strategy Guide

Built to Pass
The PrepBoss Approach
This is a speed + lookup exam — not a memory test.

Focus on finding information quickly, not memorizing content. With 3 minutes per question, effective lookup technique is essential.

You can win with tabs, index, and pattern recognition.

Properly organized reference materials and practice with common question patterns are the keys to success.

Flag it and come back if needed — finish strong.

Don't waste too much time on a single question. Mark it, move on, and return if time permits.

Required Books

The Florida DBPR Business & Finance Exam requires these 6 books:

Florida Contractors Manual 50%
Builder's Guide to Accounting 32%
AIA A201 – General Conditions 7%
AIA A401 – Subcontractor Agreement 5%
AIA A701 – Instructions to Bidders 4%
Florida Statutes Chapter 455 2%

PrepBoss does not sell these books. Please purchase them separately from official sources.

Study Schedule
Accelerated Study Timeline (1-2 Months):
Week 1-2:
  • FCM intensive practice (50% weight)
  • Create comprehensive book tabs
  • Master index navigation
  • BGA fundamentals (32% weight)
Week 3-4:
  • Complete AIA A201 practice (7% weight)
  • All remaining books practice
  • Take first 2 practice exams
  • Speed drills - aim for 2 minutes per question
Week 5-6:
  • Take final 2 practice exams
  • Review all missed questions
  • Perfect your lookup strategy
  • Final preparation and scheduling
Week 7-8 (if needed):
  • Intensive review of weak areas
  • Additional practice exam attempts
  • Final confidence building
Comprehensive 6-Month Study Plan:
Month 1 - Foundation Building:
  • Order and receive all 6 reference books
  • Begin FCM practice (50% weight) - 2-3 chapters per week
  • Create initial tabbing system
  • Familiarize yourself with book layouts and indexes
  • Study 1 hour daily, 5 days per week
Month 2 - FCM Mastery:
  • Complete all FCM practice questions
  • Begin BGA practice (32% weight)
  • Refine your tabbing system based on practice
  • Focus on lookup speed improvement
  • Take first practice exam to establish baseline
Month 3 - BGA & AIA A201:
  • Complete BGA practice questions
  • Begin AIA A201 practice (7% weight)
  • Work on time management strategies
  • Review and strengthen weak areas from first practice exam
  • Take second practice exam
Month 4 - Complete All Books:
  • Complete AIA A201, A401, and A701 practice
  • Begin Florida Statutes Chapter 455 practice
  • Master all book navigation techniques
  • Take third practice exam
  • Aim for sub-3-minute question response time
Month 5 - Intensive Practice:
  • Complete all remaining practice questions
  • Take fourth and final practice exam
  • Focus heavily on missed question review
  • Perfect your tabbing and lookup system
  • Simulate real exam conditions
Month 6 - Final Preparation:
  • Review all flagged and missed questions
  • Take additional practice exams if needed
  • Schedule your DBPR exam
  • Final system refinements
  • Confidence building and mental preparation
6-Month Plan Benefits: Allows for deeper understanding, less daily time commitment (1 hour/day vs 2-3 hours), better retention, and reduced stress.

Study Success Tips: Choose the timeline that fits your schedule. Accelerated (1-2 months): 2-3 hours daily. Standard (6 months): 1 hour daily. Both paths focus on highest-weighted books first (FCM 50%, BGA 32%) and practice exams at your actual test time.

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