PCRS (Pearl Community Rating System), PBRS (Pearl Building Rating System), and PVRS (Pearl Villa Rating System) have separate exams for certification. Each system targets a different scale of sustainability assessment, and the PQP (Pearl Qualified Professional) exams are structured accordingly.
Breakdown of PQP Exams for Estidama
1️⃣ PQP – PBRS (Pearl Building Rating System)
Covers sustainability requirements for commercial, residential, and mixed-use buildings.
Exam includes topics like:
Energy efficiency (RE)
Water conservation (PW)
Sustainable materials (SM)
Livability and comfort (LB)
Required for professionals working on building-scale sustainability projects.
2️⃣ PQP – PVRS (Pearl Villa Rating System)
Focuses on individual villas and low-rise residential projects.
Exam covers:
Water-efficient landscaping
Energy-saving home design
Sustainable construction materials
Ideal for architects, villa developers, and residential sustainability experts.
3️⃣ PQP – PCRS (Pearl Community Rating System)
Designed for large-scale community and district-level projects.
Exam covers:
Urban planning principles
Green infrastructure and transit
Sustainable community design
Public space management
Required for professionals working on master-planned communities and large real estate developments.
Do You Need to Take All Three Exams?
If you work on multiple project types, you may need multiple PQP certifications.
Some professionals specialize in either buildings, villas, or community projects and take the relevant exam.
If your work overlaps (e.g., mixed-use projects), taking multiple PQP exams can be beneficial.
The Pearl Building Rating System (PBRS) PQP Exam is designed to assess a professional’s understanding of Estidama sustainability principles, technical requirements, and compliance processes for buildings. Below is the typical structure based on past exam formats:
📌 Exam Overview
Total Questions: 40 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Exam Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Passing Score: 70% (28/40 correct answers required)
Exam Format: Closed book, multiple-choice
Question Types:
Conceptual understanding
Application of Pearl Rating requirements
Basic calculation-based questions (energy, water, material efficiency)
📌 Exam Question Distribution
The exam covers all seven sustainability pillars of PBRS, with different weightages for each category:
Section | Approx. No. of Questions |
1. Pearl Process & Integrated Development Process (IDP) | 5-7 questions |
2. Natural Systems (NS) | 3-5 questions |
3. Livable Buildings (LB) | 4-6 questions |
4. Precious Water (PW) | 6-8 questions |
5. Resourceful Energy (RE) | 6-8 questions |
6. Stewarding Materials (SM) | 3-5 questions |
7. Innovating Practice (IP) | 1-2 questions |
📌 Types of Questions
1️⃣ Conceptual Questions (60-70%)
Understanding Estidama, PBRS structure, and sustainability goals
Definitions and terminology of Pearl Credits
Mandatory (R) vs. Optional (C) Credit requirements
2️⃣ Application-Based Questions (20-30%)
How to achieve Pearl Ratings (1 Pearl to 5 Pearl)
Documentation and compliance processes
Role of Pearl Qualified Professionals (PQP)
3️⃣ Calculation-Based Questions (5-10%)
Energy efficiency improvements (% reductions in consumption)
Water use calculations (e.g., irrigation efficiency)
Embodied carbon in materials
📌 Key Topics to Focus On
✔ Pearl Rating System structure & rating process
✔ Mandatory vs. Optional Credit Requirements
✔ Water and energy efficiency strategies
✔ Natural system conservation and biodiversity credits
✔ Indoor air quality and thermal comfort requirements
✔ Waste management & circular economy principles✔ Innovation in sustainability practices
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