CTVET Ghana Certificate II - Blocklaying & Concreting exam-day guide
CTVET Ghana Certificate II - Blocklaying & Concreting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Official photo ID
Bring the same ID used at registration (national ID card, passport, or driver's licence). Confirm with the provider which forms are accepted and whether a photocopy is allowed.
Examination admission slip / candidate number
Print or download your admission notice showing your candidate number, centre, and paper schedule. Confirm with the provider how the slip is issued and whether a printed copy is required.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Safety boots, hard hat, safety goggles, and work gloves are standard for blocklaying and concreting tasks. Confirm with the provider whether PPE is supplied at the centre or must be brought; do not assume loan equipment fits.
Work clothing
Wear durable trousers and a long-sleeved top that can get mortar on them. Avoid loose sleeves or jewellery near mixing and cutting areas.
Hand tools for blocklaying
Bricklayer's trowel, club hammer, bolster chisel, pointing trowel, 600 mm spirit level, steel tape, line and pins. Confirm with the provider the exact tool list and whether tools are provided.
Concreting and measuring tools
Shovel, mixing board or wheelbarrow, measuring box or bucket, float (wood and steel), edger, and a straightedge. Confirm with the provider which items the centre supplies.
Setting-out and marking kit
Pencil, chalk line, try square, and pegs or profiles for setting out corners. A folding rule or retractable tape marked in millimetres helps with dimension checks.
Small personal items
Water bottle, a cloth or rag, and a small notebook if permitted. Confirm with the provider whether notes, phones, or smart watches are allowed in the workshop.
Read the practical task brief in advance
If the provider releases the task scope or drawing before the day, study the dimensions, bond pattern, and finish required. Confirm with the provider what pre-exam information is issued.
Know your centre and arrival time
Visit or locate the workshop beforehand and plan to arrive well before the reporting time. Confirm with the provider the exact reporting time and late-entry rule.
Health and fitness check
Practical tasks involve lifting blocks, mixing, and standing for long periods. If you have a condition affecting safe work, confirm with the provider in advance what adjustments are possible.
Transport and backup plan
Arrange transport that gets you to the centre early and a contact number for the centre in case of delay. Confirm with the provider who to call if you are running late.
Plan the day
Re-read the practical task brief and any drawing issued. Practise the key operations at a slow pace: setting out a right angle with the 3-4-5 method, laying a stretcher bond corner, and mixing a concrete batch by volume. Check every tool on your list, replace worn trowel handles, and confirm that your PPE fits. Confirm with the provider the reporting time, centre address, and what is supplied versus what you must bring.
Pack your bag with ID, admission slip, PPE, and tools, and lay out work clothes. Charge your phone but plan to leave it outside the workshop if rules require. Eat normally, avoid late nights, and do a light review of mix ratios and levelling checks rather than heavy practice. Confirm transport times and set two alarms.
Eat a proper meal and drink water; the work is physical. Arrive at the centre with time to spare, report to the invigilator, and present your ID and admission slip. Listen carefully to the safety briefing and task instructions, and ask the invigilator to clarify anything unclear before you start. Set out your tools in a logical order so you are not searching mid-task.
Work to the drawing and stated dimensions; check levels and squareness before the mortar sets. Keep your work area tidy and mortar off the floor where possible. Manage time by breaking the task into setting out, laying or placing, finishing, and cleaning up, and leave time to clean tools and the bay. If a tool breaks or you need a break, raise your hand and speak to the invigilator rather than leaving the area.
Rules to check
Bring and display the ID and admission documents required by the provider; candidates without acceptable ID may not be admitted. Confirm with the provider the exact ID and late-entry policy.
Follow all safety instructions from the invigilator and workshop supervisor. PPE must be worn for mixing, cutting, and lifting tasks; refusal to wear required PPE may lead to removal from the workshop.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the practical task, and do not ask another candidate to complete any part of your work. Confirm with the provider how collaboration and talking are treated during the test.
Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes must be switched off and stored as directed. Confirm with the provider where personal items are kept and whether any electronic device is permitted.
Raise your hand and ask the invigilator if you need a toilet break, water, or first aid; do not leave the workshop unaccompanied. Confirm with the provider the break rules and whether time is stopped.
Work only on your own allocated bay and with the materials issued to you. Do not take materials or tools belonging to another candidate.
Scoring is based on the published assessment criteria for the task, which may include dimensional accuracy, level and plumb, bond pattern, finish quality, safety, and housekeeping. Ask the invigilator which criteria are being marked if this is not stated in the brief.
Stop work immediately when time is called. Continuing after the stop signal may be treated as a breach of rules. Confirm with the provider the penalty for working beyond time.