ABPL20042 Construction of Residential Buildings
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 60%: exam-heavy
- About 3 class hours a week
Is ABPL20042 hard?
ABPL20042: Harder. Makes it harder: Reviewers say it takes a lot of time, Final exam 60%.
What you learn
How houses and low-rise flats are built: footings, frames, walls and roofs, materials and structural choices.
After it you can
- Describe residential construction methods
- Select suitable materials and structures
- Read and report on a building site
What you need first
ENGR10004 or CONS10001
What it leads to
- ABPL20053 Construction of Concrete Buildings
- ABPL30041 Architectural Technologies 3: Implement
- ABPL30055 Construction Management
- CONS20002 Measurement of Building Designs
How it’s assessed
Assignments 40%, Final exam 60%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 3 students on StudentVIP (2016–2018)
- The semester-long site report takes a lot of work for its small weight, but it carries most of the practical construction knowledge.
- All three reviewers found the tutorials weak, while the lecturer was described as friendly and knowledgeable.
- The exam asks specific questions; the site report helps revision, and the physics is manageable if earlier structures went well.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate ABPL20042
Quick answers
- When is ABPL20042 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking ABPL20042?
- Needs ENGR10004 or CONS10001.
- Does ABPL20042 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 60% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 40%, Final exam 60%.
- Is ABPL20042 hard?
- From 3 student reviews on StudentVIP: The semester-long site report takes a lot of work for its small weight, but it carries most of the practical construction knowledge.
- What do students say about ABPL20042?
- The semester-long site report takes a lot of work for its small weight, but it carries most of the practical construction knowledge. All three reviewers found the tutorials weak, while the lecturer was described as friendly and knowledgeable. The exam asks specific questions; the site report helps revision, and the physics is manageable if earlier structures went well.
- How many class hours a week does ABPL20042 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take ABPL20042 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after ABPL20042?
- 4 subjects need it first, for example ABPL20053, ABPL30041, ABPL30055, CONS20002.
- Can I rate ABPL20042?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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