LCA Childcare/Community Care exam-day guide
LCA Childcare/Community Care · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document (passport, driver's licence, or national ID) whose name matches your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which ID types it accepts and whether a photocopy is ever allowed - assume originals only unless told otherwise.
Admission or confirmation letter
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, test location or platform, and start time. Some providers require it at check-in; confirm with the provider whether a digital copy on your phone is acceptable.
Appointment time and arrival window
Note the reporting time, which is usually earlier than the start time for identity checks and briefing. Confirm with the provider how early to arrive and what happens if you are late.
Route and travel plan
Plan the journey with a buffer for delays; for a test centre, check parking, public transport, and building entry in advance. For a remote test, confirm your room and internet setup instead.
Permitted stationery and materials
The LCA practical exam is typically observation- and scenario-based rather than written, but confirm with the provider exactly what is allowed (pen, notebook, watch, water). Do not bring notes, manuals, or reference cards unless the provider confirms they are permitted.
Personal care essentials
Bring water, a snack for scheduled breaks, and any medication you may need. Confirm with the provider the rules on food, drink, and medication in the test room.
Comfortable, professional clothing
Wear clean, practical clothing suitable for a childcare and community care setting, including closed-toe shoes. Avoid anything that could be a safety issue during practical tasks; confirm with the provider if a uniform or apron is required.
Knowledge of the assessment format
Re-read the provider's candidate guide so you know the number of tasks, whether you are observed with children, colleagues, or role-players, and how long each section lasts. If anything is unclear, confirm with the provider before test day.
Reviewed practical skills and scenarios
Practise the core skills and scenarios your course covered - for example hygiene routines, safe supervision, communication with children and families, and responding to a simulated incident - following your provider's published assessment criteria only.
Access arrangements confirmed
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other adjustments, confirm with the provider that these are approved and recorded before test day; do not assume they carry over automatically.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's contact number and your emergency contact in your phone and on paper. If you are ill or delayed, you will need to notify the provider promptly; confirm with the provider its notification and rescheduling rules.
Plan for belongings
Confirm with the provider where bags, phones, and smart devices must be stored during the test, as many centres require phones to be switched off and stored away from the assessment area.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate guide and your course's practical assessment criteria; list the skills and scenarios you are least confident about and rehearse them with a peer or trainer. Check your ID, confirmation letter, and travel or remote-test arrangements. Confirm any access arrangements with the provider.
Do a full timed run-through of the practical tasks you expect, talking aloud through your reasoning as you would on the day. Review safeguarding, hygiene, and communication basics from your own course materials. Avoid learning new material at this stage; consolidate what you already know.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, permitted stationery, water, snack, medication, and comfortable clothing. Charge your phone and any device needed for a remote test, and test your internet connection if applicable. Confirm the reporting time and location once more. Eat a normal meal, set two alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast and hydrate. Leave with a generous travel buffer, or set up your remote-test space early with a clear desk and a closed door. Arrive within the provider's reporting window, switch off and store your phone as instructed, and use the waiting time for calm breathing rather than last-minute cramming.
Listen carefully to each instruction and read or repeat the task before acting. Work at a steady, safe pace and narrate your reasoning if the assessor invites it. If you make a mistake, correct it calmly and continue. If an instruction is ambiguous, ask the assessor for clarification rather than guessing. Use scheduled breaks to rest and hydrate, and note the time remaining so you complete every task.
Hand in or return any materials as instructed, collect your belongings, and note down anything you found difficult while it is fresh. Ask the provider about result timelines and the appeals or reassessment process if you are unsure.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID matching your registration and present it at check-in; if your ID is lost, expired, or in a different name, contact the provider before test day rather than arriving without it.
Follow all instructions from the assessor and centre staff, including where to sit, how to handle equipment and materials, and how to interact with children, role-players, or simulated clients. Treat every scenario as if it were a real care setting.
Phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices must usually be switched off and stored away from the assessment area; confirm with the provider what is permitted and never use a device to look up answers.
Do not communicate with other candidates about task content during the test or during breaks; keep to designated areas and follow the provider's rules on leaving and re-entering the room.
Breaks are normally only at times set by the provider, and leaving the room may be supervised or recorded; confirm with the provider how to request an unscheduled break, for example for medication or illness.
Scoring is based on the provider's published assessment criteria, typically requiring you to demonstrate each practical task safely and competently; confirm with the provider whether tasks are graded pass/fail, whether all tasks must be passed, and whether any reassessment is available.
If you feel unwell or cannot attend, notify the provider as soon as possible; do not attend if you have a condition that could put children or others at risk, and confirm with the provider its illness and rescheduling policy.
Declare any conflict of interest, such as knowing an assessor or a role-player personally, to the provider before the test so alternative arrangements can be considered.