CAP Monteur Thermique exam-day guide
CAP Monteur Thermique · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Convocation and valid photo ID
Bring the convocation (summons) sent by the exam centre together with an official photo ID (national ID card or passport). Check that the name on both documents matches exactly. If you have not received a convocation, contact the organising body immediately; do not assume the date. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted.
Confirmation of the practical test format and duration
The CAP Monteur Thermique (installateur thermique) practical assessment is organised by the académie/centre where you are registered. Confirm with the provider the exact duration, the number of stations or workshops, and whether you must supply your own tools or they are provided on site.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Bring safety shoes (S3 or equivalent), safety glasses, work gloves, and hearing protection if the workshop requires it. PPE is normally mandatory for any practical work involving cutting, brazing, or power tools. Confirm with the provider whether PPE is supplied or must be brought.
Work clothing
Wear or bring suitable work clothes (overalls or work trousers and a top) that allow safe movement and protect against sparks and hot surfaces. Avoid loose sleeves and synthetic fabrics near brazing work.
Hand tools and measuring instruments
Bring the basic hand tools you were trained with: pipe cutter, deburring tool, adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measure, spirit level, and a marker. Confirm with the provider the exact tool list, since some centres provide a complete toolkit and forbid personal tools for fairness.
Calculator and writing materials
Bring a non-programmable calculator, pens, pencils, an eraser, and a ruler for any written or calculation part (dimensioning, pressure drops, reading a wiring diagram). Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed.
Technical documentation and standards
Bring the documentation you are allowed to use (manufacturer instructions, DTU extracts, wiring diagrams) only if the provider permits it. Many practical tests supply their own dossier. Confirm with the provider what reference material is authorised.
Review of core practical skills
Revise the gestures you will be assessed on: measuring and cutting copper pipe, deburring and flaring, brazing and soldering, bending, assembling a hydraulic circuit, pressure testing, leak testing, wiring a boiler or heat pump control circuit, and commissioning checks. Practise each gesture until it is fluent.
Review of safety procedures
Be able to explain and apply lockout/tagout (consignation), gas leak detection, purging before brazing, ventilation, and safe handling of refrigerant cylinders. Examiners often award marks for verbalising safety steps before acting.
Plan your journey and arrive early
Locate the exam centre in advance, check transport, and plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start. Late arrival may mean exclusion; confirm with the provider the exact cut-off time.
Rest and preparation the night before
Sleep well, eat a proper breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Practical performance depends on steady hands and clear thinking.
needs_review: Specific candidate instructions for your centre
Any centre-specific instruction (room number, workshop access, locker use, mobile phone policy, exact tool list, PPE rules) must be confirmed with the provider. Do not rely on second-hand information from other candidates.
Plan the day
Re-read the exam programme and the list of assessed competences. Make a checklist of the gestures and documents you need. Gather and inspect your PPE, tools, and work clothes; replace anything worn or missing. Do one full dry run of the assembly you expect (measure, cut, deburr, braze, pressure test) and time yourself.
Practise reading a wiring diagram and a hydraulic schematic aloud, explaining each component and its function. Rehearse the safety talk: lockout, gas purge, ventilation, leak detection. These are common oral or observational assessment points.
Confirm the exam centre address, transport, and start time. Check with the provider the exact duration, break policy, and whether food and water are allowed in the waiting area. Prepare your convocation and ID in a single folder.
Pack your bag: convocation, ID, PPE, work clothes, tools, calculator, pens, ruler, and any authorised documentation. Lay everything out so nothing is forgotten. Do a light revision of formulas and unit conversions (pressure, flow, temperature, heat output) rather than new topics.
Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed early. Set two alarms. Do not stay up revising; fatigue causes handling errors in practical work.
Eat breakfast, arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes early, and present your convocation and ID at reception. Store your phone as instructed. Visit the toilets before the start. Read any instructions posted at the workshop entrance.
Listen carefully to the examiner's briefing and read the whole subject before touching anything. Identify the stations, the time allocated, and the marks for each task. Plan your sequence so that slow operations (brazing, pressure testing) are not left to the last minute.
Work cleanly and safely: wear your PPE, keep your bench tidy, and verbalise safety steps. Measure twice and cut once. Check dimensions and alignments before brazing. Record readings as you go rather than from memory.
If a task goes wrong, stay calm, note what happened, and continue with the remaining tasks. Do not hide a defect; explain it to the examiner if asked. Reserve the last 10 minutes for tidying, checking your work, and completing any written record.
Hand in any written record or drawing, return borrowed tools, and leave the workshop as instructed. Do not discuss the subject with other candidates in a way that could breach confidentiality. Results are communicated by the organising body; confirm the timeline with the provider.
Rules to check
Identity: present the convocation and a valid official photo ID on arrival. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted.
Conduct: follow the examiner's instructions at all times, respect the workshop safety rules, and do not interfere with other candidates' workstations or equipment.
Equipment and documentation: use only the tools and documents authorised by the provider. Personal phones and connected devices are normally prohibited in the assessment area; confirm with the provider where they must be stored.
Breaks: the practical test is usually continuous, with short supervised breaks if the duration requires it. Ask the examiner before leaving the workshop, and confirm the provider's break and toilet policy in advance.
Safety: any unsafe act (working without PPE, brazing without purging, bypassing a safety device) may lead to a warning or exclusion from the test. Safety is normally part of the assessment.
Scoring: marks are awarded for the finished work, the method, safety, and the quality of the record. Partial credit is common, so complete every task even if one earlier step failed. Confirm the exact marking scheme with the provider.
Integrity: the work must be your own. Do not copy another candidate's results or accept help during the test. Suspected cheating is handled under the organising body's rules.
Uncertainty: for any policy not stated here (late arrival, illness, resit, special arrangements), contact the provider directly. Do not rely on unofficial sources.