LEED Green Associate Exam
LEED Content Overview
The underlying premise behind our curated LEED exam prep content, is that we are all different. Some of us are visual learners, others prefer to go over as many practice questions as possible, while there are people who can’t stand sitting in front of a screen and rather just go for a run while they listen to an audio book. Regardless of where you fit in, we have got you covered.
What sets us apart
- We prefer quality over quantity. Don't get carried away when someone offers 600 questions, it probably means they are redundant, too easy or just not relevant to the LEED Green Associate Exam. We know because we tested all our competitors' questions.
- We provide very detailed explanations for each of our questions. We also provide a specific page of a reference book – recommended by USGBC – where you can find the specific topic of each question. Unlike our competitors, which don't have any explanation for the correct answer or sometimes just say “Good job!”. That's just not helpful.
- We offer a free quiz. Simply because we are not afraid of showing our content before you commit to a purchase.
- We don't use deceiving marketing tools like writing, in capital or bold letters, 100% satisfaction guarantee., or money back guarantee. But we do care. A lot, actually. If you purchase any product on our site and are not satisfied, just reach out to us, we'll be happy to refund you.
Practice Exams
- 200 questions that align exactly with the type of questions – Recall, Application and Analysis – you’ll see on the real LEED GA exam.
- Summary page at the end of each practice exam with detailed explanations of all the questions.
- Outstanding interface that is ready for every platform – desktop, tablet or mobile.
- Feedback button for each question if you are unclear about a specific topic. Our team will get back to you shortly thereafter.
- Choose the length of the practice exam you want to take, ranging from a minimum of 10 questions all the way up to 100.
Glossary
- A brief description of all the important definitions you encounter across all of our LEED GA content
Study Guide, Audio Book and Video Course
- WeAre working on new and exciting content. Stay tuned!
Getting Started with LEED
About LEED
Created by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED serves as a comprehensive model for guiding and evaluating green building and neighborhood design, construction, operations, and maintenance. As a voluntary, market-driven tool, LEED functions both as a set of guidelines and an evaluation framework. It applies to various types of structures, including commercial, institutional, and residential buildings, as well as community developments.
LEED aims to make efficient use of natural resources while advocating for sustainable and restorative approaches. It focuses on mitigating the environmental and health impacts of the construction sector and aims to create superior indoor spaces for occupants. The framework encourages a holistic approach to design, incorporation of existing technologies, and cutting-edge methods to push the boundaries of green building expertise. LEED balances current best practices with forward-thinking leadership approaches, setting ambitious but attainable criteria for green interiors, entire buildings, and communities.
Initially introduced in 1998 for commercial construction, the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations has undergone multiple updates. Various other rating systems have been introduced to cater to different industry needs over time.
LEED continually evolves to keep pace with advancements in technology and sustainability practices, as well as to better understand the environmental and human health implications of built spaces. This evolution is a collaborative effort, involving USGBC volunteers, sub-committees, and working groups, along with a review by the LEED Steering Committee and the USGBC Board of Directors. Before implementation, these updates are voted on by USGBC members, adhering to a process grounded in transparency, openness, and inclusivity.
LEED’s Goals
- To reverse contribution to global climate change
- To enhance individual human health and well-being
- To protect and restore water resources
- To protect, enhance, and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
- To promote sustainable and regenerative material resources cycles
- To build a greener economy
- To enhance social equity, environmental justice, community health, and quality of life
Benefits of using LEED
- Lower operating costs and increased asset value
- Reduced waste sent to landfills
- Energy and water conservation
- More healthful and productive environments for occupants
- Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
- Qualification for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives in many cities
LEED Certification Process
The journey towards LEED certification initiates when the project owner selects an appropriate rating system and registers the project (as outlined in Rating System Selection). The project is then meticulously planned to meet all mandatory prerequisites, along with any additional credits the team opts to pursue. Once all the required documentation is submitted, the project undergoes two phases of review: a preliminary review and a final review.
The preliminary review serves as a consultative stage, offering technical guidance on credits that may need further refinement to meet the criteria. The final review, on the other hand, provides the project's conclusive score and its corresponding certification level. Should the team dispute the final decision, an appeal process is available for further scrutiny.
LEED offers four tiers of certification based on the total points accumulated:
- Certified: 40–49 points
- Silver: 50–59 points
- Gold: 60–79 points
- Platinum: 80 points or more
LEED Green Associate Exam Specifications
The LEED Green Associate examination consists of a total of 100 multiple-choice questions, administered within a time frame of 2 hours. Each question is designed to have a single correct answer. The test is a mix of both scored and unscored questions, which are interspersed randomly throughout the exam. Candidates are not notified about the status of each question; therefore, it's crucial to answer every question presented. Unscored questions serve a research purpose; they help collect performance data that influences whether the question will be included in future exam iterations. The exam interface allows you the flexibility to alter your responses, bypass certain questions, and mark questions for reconsideration later in the test. For more information, please read the LEED Green Associate Handbook.
The LEED Green Associate exam evaluates your capabilities across three cognitive dimensions: Recall, Application, and Analysis.
a. Recall Questions: These questions gauge your aptitude for retrieving specific facts and details outlined in the exam's reference materials.
b. Application Questions: These questions present you with a new issue or situation that you need to resolve using the principles or methodologies listed in the exam references.
c. Analysis Questions: These questions require you to dissect a problem into its constituent parts to formulate a solution. You'll need to identify the various components of the issue and understand how they interact or relate to one another.
Below you’ll find all the content areas for the LEED Green Associate exam. These knowledge domains reflect the rating systems’ credit categories and what one needs to know as a LEED Green Associate.
Knowledge Domains:
- LEED Process (16 Questions)
- Integrative Strategies (8 Questions)
- Location and Transportation (7 Questions)
- Sustainable Sites (7 Questions)
- Water Efficiency (9 Questions)
- Energy and Atmosphere (10 Questions)
- Materials and Resources (9 Questions)
- Indoor Environmental Quality (8 Questions)
- Project Surroundings and Public Outreach (11 Questions)
LEED Study Materials
- U.S. Green Building Council. Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide. 3rd Edition. U.S. Green Building Council, 2014.
- U.S. Green Building Council. Introductory and Overview Sections. LEED Building Design + Construction Reference Guide. V4 Edition. U.S. Green Building Council, 2019
- U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v4 Impact Category and Point Allocation Process Overview. U.S. Green Building Council, 2013
- U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v4 User Guide. U.S. Green Building Council, 2019
- Guide to LEED Certification: Commercial. U.S. Green Building Council
- “LEED Certification Fees.” U.S. Green Building Council
- “Addenda Database.” U.S. Green Building Council