LCA Craft and Design exam-day guide
LCA Craft and Design · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the original government-issued photo ID whose name matches your booking exactly. If your registration name differs from your ID (for example a maiden name or a shortened first name), contact the provider before test day to correct it; confirm with the provider which ID types they accept, as rules vary by centre and country.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Print or save offline a copy of your booking confirmation showing the test date, time, centre address, and any candidate or registration number. You may be asked for it at reception, and it also gives you a reference if you need to call the provider on the morning.
Know your test format and section timings
Be clear in advance whether the LCA Craft and Design assessment is delivered on paper, on screen, or as a practical portfolio submission, and how long each part runs. Confirm with the provider the exact structure, number of items, and whether any practical or drawing component is included, since formats change between sessions.
Permitted drawing and writing materials
If the test includes sketching or annotation, bring the pencil grades, eraser, sharpener, and ruler you normally use. Check the provider's list of permitted and prohibited items first: some centres supply materials and ban bringing your own, and mechanical pencils or certain erasers may be restricted. Mark any item you are unsure about as needs_review and confirm with the provider.
Approved calculator or no calculator
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is allowed and, if so, which models are approved. If calculators are permitted, bring a model you have used before and know how to reset; do not assume a phone calculator will be accepted, as phones are usually prohibited in the test room.
Clear water bottle and a light snack for breaks
Bring a transparent, label-free water bottle where the centre allows it, and a snack for any scheduled break. Confirm with the provider whether food and drink are allowed at your desk or only outside the test room.
Watch or silent timer you control
A simple analogue or silent digital watch helps you pace sections if the room clock is hard to see. Confirm with the provider that watches are permitted, as smartwatches and any device with communication or storage features are almost always banned.
Travel plan and arrival buffer
Plan your route to the named test centre and aim to arrive well before your start time; many centres refuse entry to late candidates. Check local transport disruptions the day before. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time and the latest arrival they will accept.
Review the design fundamentals you will be tested on
Revise core craft and design content: the design process from brief to evaluation, materials and their properties, joining and finishing methods, ergonomics and anthropometrics, sustainability and lifecycle thinking, and how to read and produce simple technical drawings. Practise explaining design decisions in precise vocabulary rather than vague description.
Practise timing under exam conditions
Do at least one full timed run using the confirmed section lengths so you learn your pacing. Note how long you spend on multiple-choice items versus extended written or sketching responses, and decide a rule for when to move on from a question you cannot answer.
Sleep, food, and a calm pre-test routine
Protect sleep in the final two nights and eat a normal breakfast. Avoid last-minute cramming in the queue, which tends to increase anxiety; a short review of your own summary notes is enough.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the provider's candidate services number and your centre's contact details on your phone and on paper. If illness or travel problems strike on the day, call as early as possible to ask about rescheduling; confirm with the provider their policy on absence and transfers.
Plan the day
Re-read the official candidate guidance for your session and confirm the start time, centre address, and permitted items. Resolve any open questions with the provider by phone or email now, while there is still time for a reply. Check your ID name matches the booking and fix any mismatch.
Do one full timed practice run covering every section, using the same materials you will bring. Mark it honestly, then list your three weakest topics. Spend the remaining study time on those three rather than re-reading everything.
Consolidate rather than expand. Review your own one-page summaries of the design process, materials, and drawing conventions. Rehearse short written answers that justify design choices with reasons, because extended responses reward structured argument, not just recall.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, permitted materials, water, snack, watch, and any approved calculator. Charge your phone and save the provider's number. Check your travel route and any planned engineering works. Set two alarms. Stop studying by early evening and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in layers so you can adapt to room temperature, and leave with a generous buffer. Do not attempt new topics. Arrive early, use the restroom before entry, and switch your phone off completely before entering the test room.
Read the instructions and check the section timings against your plan. Note the marks available per section so you can allocate time proportionally. If anything about the paper is unclear, raise your hand and ask an invigilator before you start writing.
Work in passes: answer what you know first, flag harder items, and return to them. For design questions, state the requirement, your chosen solution, the material or method, and the reason, in that order. Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust pace. Leave a few minutes at the end to check that every question has an answer and that your candidate details are correct.
Note the topics that appeared and how you felt about your pacing, while it is fresh, as useful input if you retake. Do not attempt to reproduce or share question content with others, which may breach the provider's rules. Confirm with the provider the published results date and the process for any review or appeal.
Rules to check
Bring original photo ID that matches your registered name. Copies, expired documents, and digital images are usually refused; confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept and whether a signature is required.
Arrive by the time stated in your confirmation. Centres commonly set a cut-off after which entry is refused, and this is at the provider's discretion. If you are delayed, call the centre immediately; do not assume you will be admitted.
Phones, smartwatches, and any wearable or device that can store or transmit information must be switched off and stored as instructed before you enter the test room. Unauthorised items on your person can lead to removal from the test.
Follow invigilator instructions on seating, materials, and communication. Talking, passing materials, or looking at another candidate's work is treated as misconduct and may invalidate your result.
Use only permitted materials. If you are unsure whether an item such as a specific calculator, pencil type, or eraser is allowed, confirm with the provider before test day rather than risk confiscation or a conduct issue.
Breaks are normally taken only at scheduled times, and you may be supervised during them. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled restroom breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops; do not rely on extra time.
Marks are awarded for what is written or drawn on your answer sheet, so show working and justify design decisions. If a question asks for a specific number of points or a sketch with labels, give exactly that, as unlabelled or overlong answers may not earn full credit.
Results, review, and appeal procedures and their deadlines are set by the provider. Confirm the published dates and the process for querying a result, and keep your candidate number safe until results are released.