CIC Grade A Electrical Trade Test exam-day guide
CIC Grade A Electrical Trade Test · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification
Bring the original government-issued photo ID (passport or driver's licence) whose name matches your registration exactly. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a second piece is required.
Appointment or admission letter
Print or save the confirmation showing your candidate number, test location, date, and start time. Some centres ask to see it at reception before they let you into the holding area. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Personal protective equipment
Bring your own safety boots, safety glasses, and, where the tasks require it, gloves and hearing protection. The test is a practical trade assessment and PPE is usually mandatory in the workshop area. Confirm with the provider what PPE is supplied and what you must bring yourself.
Hand tools
Many practical trade tests expect you to work with familiar hand tools (screwdrivers, pliers, side cutters, knife, tape measure, spirit level, chalk or marker). Confirm with the provider whether tools are provided at the bench or whether you must bring your own, and whether any tool types are prohibited.
Test instrument and proving unit
If the assessment includes verification or testing, bring a voltage indicator or multimeter in good condition, plus a proving unit or known live source for proving the instrument. Confirm with the provider whether test instruments are supplied and whether yours must be calibrated or recently checked.
Non-programmable calculator and pen
Bring a basic calculator for cable sizing, load, and resistance calculations, plus a pen and pencil for marking up drawings or writing results. Confirm with the provider whether programmable or phone calculators are banned.
Regulations or reference material
Some centres allow a copy of the relevant wiring regulations or a formula sheet; others provide everything. Confirm with the provider what reference material is permitted in the test room and whether it must be unannotated.
Clothing and personal items plan
Wear practical work clothing you can move and bend in. Plan where your phone, wallet, and bag will go, because phones are usually switched off and stored away from the work area. Confirm with the provider the storage arrangements.
Travel and arrival plan
Work out the route and aim to arrive with time to spare before the stated start. Late arrival can mean refusal of entry. Confirm with the provider the latest arrival time and what happens if you are delayed.
Medical and access needs
If you need medication, a break pattern, or access adjustments, contact the provider in advance rather than on the day. Confirm with the provider the deadline and evidence it requires for adjustments.
Rest and fuel
A practical test is physically and mentally demanding. Sleep properly the night before and eat before you arrive; bring water if the centre allows it in the holding area. Confirm with the provider whether drinks are permitted in the test area.
Read the candidate instructions pack
Read the full instructions the provider sends you, including any candidate handbook or code of conduct, and note any task-specific requirements. Confirm with the provider which documents you are expected to have read before the day.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate instructions and your appointment letter line by line, and list every item the centre says you must bring. Check the start time, address, parking, and public transport options, and plan to arrive early. Confirm any open questions (tool policy, PPE, ID, permitted reference material) with the provider now, not on the morning.
Lay out and inspect your kit: boots in good condition, glasses unscratched, hand tools clean and undamaged, insulation on pliers and cutters intact, test instrument working and proved. Replace anything worn out. Practise the core practical routines you expect, such as safe isolation, terminating conductors neatly, and taking readings, at a steady pace rather than rushing.
Protect your sleep and your body. Avoid late nights and heavy physical work in the days before, because hand skill and concentration fall off when you are tired. Do a final light review of formulas and safe-isolation steps, then stop; cramming the night before a practical test rarely helps.
Pack your bag completely: ID, appointment letter, PPE, tools, instrument and proving unit, calculator, pen, and any permitted reference material. Put it by the door. Check the weather and the journey again, and set two alarms. Eat a proper meal and go to bed at a normal time.
Eat breakfast, dress in your work clothing, and take the packed bag without repacking it in a rush. Arrive at the centre with time to spare, follow reception instructions, and store your phone and bag where you are told. Use the waiting time to settle your breathing and review your safe-isolation sequence in your head, not to cram new material.
Listen carefully to the briefing and read each task instruction fully before touching anything. Work to the safe-isolation routine every time, prove your instrument before and after testing, and keep your work area tidy. Manage the clock: note the time allowed, do the straightforward parts first, and leave time to check terminations, torque, labels, and test results before you hand in. If a task is unclear, ask the invigilator rather than guessing what is permitted.
Record results as you go, in the format the task asks for, with units. If something goes wrong, stop, make the area safe, and report it to the invigilator instead of trying to hide it. At the end, return tools and materials where instructed, leave the bench clean, and confirm with the invigilator that your work has been collected.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registration and present it when asked. If you have changed your name or your ID does not match, contact the provider before the test day; do not rely on being admitted with different documents.
Phones and smart devices are normally switched off and stored away from the work area for the whole session. Confirm with the provider its exact policy on phones, smart watches, and any recording devices before the day.
Follow the centre's safety rules at all times: wear the required PPE, use guards and safe isolation procedures, and never work live unless the task and the invigilator expressly permit it. Unsafe behaviour can end your test.
Work only on your own task. Do not ask other candidates for help, share tools or answers, or discuss task content during breaks. If you need something, ask the invigilator.
Ask before you leave the test area. Break arrangements vary between centres, so confirm with the provider how breaks are handled, whether the clock stops, and whether you may leave the building.
Scoring is against the published assessment criteria for each task, including safety, workmanship, and recorded results. Marks are not awarded for speed alone, so check your work rather than racing to finish.
If you feel unwell, need medication, or need an adjustment, tell the invigilator immediately. Confirm with the provider in advance how medical needs and adjustments are handled on the day.
Only use reference material, calculators, and instruments that the provider permits. Bringing a banned item into the test area can lead to your result being voided, so confirm the list with the provider beforehand.