CPC33020 Bricklaying exam-day guide
CPC33020 Bricklaying · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your enrolment
Bring the original government-issued photo ID your provider requires. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID are accepted and whether a digital licence is allowed.
Assessment plan or candidate pack
Bring any written assessment plan, project brief, drawings, or specification sheets your provider issued for the practical task. Check the pack for the exact tasks, dimensions, and tolerances being assessed.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Steel-toe safety boots, high-visibility clothing if required, safety glasses, and hearing protection. Confirm with the provider whether PPE is supplied on site or you must bring your own.
Bricklaying hand tools
Bring your own trowel, brick hammer or bolster, jointing or pointing tools, line and pins, spirit level, tape measure, and club hammer if your provider expects candidates to supply them. Ask the provider for the tool list in advance.
Setting-out and measuring equipment
Confirm whether you must bring your own square, chalk line, string line, and marking tools or whether these are provided in the assessment bay.
Calculator and notebook
A basic calculator and notebook are useful for setting out and recording dimensions. Confirm whether programmable calculators or phones are permitted in the assessment area.
Site-safe clothing and weather gear
Practical assessment may be indoors or outdoors. Bring layers, wet-weather gear, and sun protection as appropriate, and confirm the venue conditions with the provider.
Food, water, and any required medication
Bring enough water and food for the scheduled session. Confirm with the provider whether you may leave the assessment area during breaks and where personal items can be stored.
Read the assessment conditions and safety rules
Review the provider's candidate information on time limits, permitted materials, stop-work signals, and safety expectations before the day.
Plan your travel and arrival time
Confirm the venue address, parking, and required arrival time with the provider. Aim to arrive early enough to sign in and set up without rushing.
Know the scoring criteria
Ask the provider for the marking criteria: typically workmanship, dimensional accuracy, setting out, safety, and time management. Confirm the weighting and any pass marks.
Prepare questions for the assessor
Write down any uncertainties, such as tolerance limits or allowed aids, and confirm them with the provider or assessor before the practical begins.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment plan and task brief. Confirm the exact tasks, dimensions, and tolerances. Check your tools for damage and replace worn trowel edges, broken lines, or faulty levels. Practise setting out a small corner or pier to time yourself. Confirm travel arrangements and the venue address. Get two good nights of sleep and avoid heavy physical work the day before.
Lay out PPE, tools, ID, and paperwork so nothing is forgotten. Check the weather forecast if the assessment is outdoors and pack accordingly. Eat properly and hydrate. Re-read the safety rules and confirm what you may and may not bring into the assessment area with the provider. Set an alarm and plan to arrive with time to spare.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive early to sign in. Present your ID and any required paperwork. Listen carefully to the assessor's briefing on the task, time limits, safety, and stop-work signals. Set up your workstation, check your tools and materials, and ask any clarifying questions before the clock starts.
Work to the plan: set out accurately first, then build. Keep your work area tidy and your line and level checked frequently. Manage your time so you complete the task with allowance for finishing and cleaning up. Follow all safety instructions, work steadily rather than rushing, and stop immediately if the assessor signals. Leave time at the end to clean the bay and present your work for inspection.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID required by your provider. Confirm with the provider which forms of identification are accepted and whether a digital version is permitted.
Follow all site safety rules and the assessor's directions at all times. Wear the required PPE and keep your work area clear of trip hazards.
Work only on your own assessment task. Do not ask other candidates for help or share tools, materials, or answers during the assessment.
Use only the tools and materials permitted by the provider. Confirm in advance whether phones, smart watches, or other devices must be stored away.
Ask the assessor before the task starts if anything in the brief is unclear. Once the assessment begins, follow the provider's rules on when questions may be asked.
Confirm break times and whether you may leave the assessment area with the provider. Breaks are usually at set times and the clock may keep running.
Understand how you will be scored: typically workmanship, dimensional accuracy, setting out, safety, and time management. Ask the provider for the marking criteria and any pass mark.
If you feel unwell or unsafe, stop and tell the assessor immediately. Confirm the provider's procedure for illness or incidents on the day.