SHB Specialist Makeup Services exam-day guide
SHB Specialist Makeup Services · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification matching your booking name
Bring the original government-issued photo ID you registered with. If your name differs from your booking record, bring supporting documentation and confirm accepted ID types with the provider beforehand.
Appointment or admission confirmation
Have your booking confirmation, candidate number, or admission letter ready to show at reception. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital version is accepted.
Full makeup kit and tools
Pack your complete professional kit: brushes, sponges, sanitising products, disposables, skincare and prep products, colour cosmetics, and setting products. Check the current kit list published in your candidate handbook rather than relying on memory.
Model or client arrangements
Many practical makeup assessments require you to supply a model. Confirm with the provider whether a model is required, what consent or patch-test steps apply, and whether the model must arrive at a set time.
Sanitation and hygiene supplies
Bring sanitiser, disinfection wipes or spray, clean towels, spatulas, and disposable applicators. Hygiene is usually assessed as part of the practical criteria, so treat these as graded equipment, not optional extras.
Printed assessment brief and timing plan
Bring your own copy of the tasks, look requirements, and time allocations if the provider permits notes. Confirm with the provider what reference material is allowed in the assessment room.
Professional uniform and personal presentation
Wear clean, professional attire and closed-toe shoes, with hair tied back and nails short and clean. Confirm the exact dress code with the provider, as some centres specify a uniform or apron.
Water, snacks, and any permitted medication
Practical assessments can run for several hours. Bring water and a light snack, and check with the provider where food and drink may be consumed and whether breaks are scheduled.
Travel and arrival plan
Confirm the venue, arrival time, and check-in location in advance, and plan to arrive with buffer time for transport delays. Late arrival rules vary, so confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
Portfolio or written work if requested
Some practical assessments include a supporting portfolio, consultation records, or written evidence. Confirm with the provider whether any written components are due on the day or submitted beforehand.
Contact details for your model and the venue
Store your model's phone number and the centre's contact number so you can manage last-minute problems. Confirm with the provider how to report an absent model or an emergency.
Backup essentials
Pack spare brushes, extra disposables, a spare set of lashes or key products, and a small mirror. Redundancy protects your timing if a tool is dropped, contaminated, or fails.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment brief and mark each required look, technique, and timing against your kit. Confirm your model's attendance, travel plan, and consent or patch-test requirements, and confirm any uncertain rules with the provider.
Do a full timed rehearsal of the practical tasks, including setup and cleanup, and note where you lose time. Practise your sanitation routine until it is automatic, and check that every product you plan to use is in date and in good condition.
Pack your kit against the brief and check it off item by item, then set aside anything you need to replace. Confirm the venue address, arrival time, and ID requirements with the provider, and print any permitted reference material.
Lay out your uniform, ID, confirmation, and packed kit by the door. Charge your phone, confirm your model's travel arrangements, and check transport timetables or parking. Avoid late-night cramming; sleep protects the fine motor control and focus the practical demands.
Eat normally and hydrate, and avoid trying brand-new products or techniques on the day. If you feel unwell, check the provider's illness and deferral policy now rather than on the morning.
Arrive early enough to check in calmly, present your ID and confirmation, and locate your station, power points, and wash facilities. Set up your station in a logical working order and complete any pre-assessment checks the centre requires.
Read or listen to each task instruction fully before starting, and track time against your plan. Work cleanly, sanitise between clients or stages, and keep your station tidy, because hygiene and professional practice are usually graded throughout.
If a task overruns or something goes wrong, stabilise the look, note the issue, and move on rather than abandoning the remaining tasks. Ask an invigilator only for procedural clarification, not for technique guidance.
Use the last minutes to check symmetry, blending, and finishing details, then complete any required cleanup and documentation. Hand in any required records before leaving, and confirm with the provider when and how results will be released.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID you registered with and your appointment confirmation; if either is missing or the names do not match, speak to the centre staff immediately and confirm with the provider how identity disputes are handled.
Arrive at the stated check-in time. Late-arrival and admission cut-off rules vary between centres, so confirm with the provider in advance what happens if you are delayed.
Follow all hygiene and safety instructions from the centre, including station setup, waste disposal, and any model consent or patch-test requirements. Confirm with the provider which safety breaches are treated as critical failures.
Keep to the permitted materials. Do not bring unauthorised notes, phones, or recording devices into the assessment area unless the provider explicitly allows them, and confirm the phone policy before the day.
Treat models, staff, and other candidates professionally. Do not coach your model through the assessment, discuss tasks with other candidates during the test, or interfere with another candidate's station.
Breaks are usually only those scheduled by the centre. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted, how they affect your time, and whether you may leave the assessment area.
Scoring is normally against published practical criteria covering technique, hygiene, timing, and professional presentation. Ask the provider for the current marking criteria and pass requirements rather than assuming weightings.
If you believe an assessment condition was unfair, report it to the invigilator at the time and follow the provider's appeals or special-consideration process afterwards; confirm the deadlines with the provider.