QQI Level 6 Beauty & Body exam-day guide
QQI Level 6 Beauty & Body · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your booking name
Bring the same ID you used to register. Confirm with the provider which forms they accept and whether a photocopy is allowed; do not assume a student card is sufficient.
Booking confirmation and candidate number
Have the confirmation email or letter printed or saved offline. You may be asked for your candidate number at sign-in.
Your kit list, checked against the provider's instructions
The provider issues a kit and dress requirements list for the practical. Pack to that list exactly. Confirm with the provider what is supplied on the day versus what you must bring, especially consumables such as wipes, cotton, and sanitising products.
Model arrangements confirmed in writing
If the provider requires you to supply a model, confirm arrival time, ID requirements, consent, and whether the model must remain for the full session. Confirm with the provider whether models are supplied; policies differ.
Uniform, footwear, and hair requirements
Expect professional grooming standards: clean uniform, closed-toe shoes, hair tied back, short unpolished nails or as specified, and no wrist or hand jewellery that interferes with treatment. Confirm the exact standard with the provider.
Treatment plan and consultation notes prepared
Practise writing a consultation, contraindication check, and treatment plan for each protocol on the syllabus so the written component is quick and legible on the day.
Timing rehearsed for each practical task
Run each treatment end to end against the clock, including setup, client care, and cleanup, so you know where you lose minutes.
Anatomy, physiology, and hygiene theory revised
Practical exams commonly include oral questioning on structures, skin or hair conditions, contraindications, and infection control. Revise these alongside the hands-on skills.
Travel and arrival time planned with a buffer
Aim to arrive earlier than your slot allows for sign-in and setup. Check transport the night before.
Food, water, and any medication for the day
Sessions can be long. Bring water and a light snack if permitted. If you need to take medication or require an adjustment, confirm arrangements with the provider in advance.
Any reasonable-adjustment or access request confirmed
If you need extra time, a reader, or other support, confirm in writing that it has been approved and how it will operate on the day. Confirm with the provider; do not assume a verbal request is enough.
Knowledge of the marking criteria and pass requirements
Ask the provider for the assessment criteria and the pass standard for each unit. Knowing whether hygiene, client care, and timing are separately marked changes how you prioritise.
Plan the day
Do a full timed run of every practical task in the order you expect them, using the same kit you will bring. Note every point where you hesitate or overrun, and fix only those points. Stop learning new techniques at this stage.
Check the provider's joining instructions line by line: arrival time, address, kit list, model rules, uniform standard, and ID. Email the provider with any unanswered question now rather than on the morning.
Revise the theory most likely to be questioned orally: skin and hair anatomy relevant to your treatments, contraindications, contra-actions, infection control, and waste disposal. Practise saying answers aloud in short, complete sentences.
Confirm your model's attendance, travel, and what they should wear or expect. Have a backup plan if the provider permits one, and confirm with the provider whether a substitute model is acceptable.
Pack the kit against the checklist and lay it out at home. Check expiry dates, labels, and that everything is clean and in working order. Pack uniform, shoes, ID, confirmation, and water.
Do a light revision pass only: read your own consultation notes and timing plan. Avoid cramming new material. Eat properly, set two alarms, and check the route and weather.
Eat breakfast, dress to the required standard, and arrive with time to spare for sign-in. Leave non-essential valuables at home.
Sign in, present ID, and locate the practical room, wash facilities, and waste bins. Set up your station in the order you will use items, and check that equipment works before the assessment starts.
Work to your rehearsed timings. Talk through what you are doing and why when invited, and narrate your hygiene steps clearly. If something goes wrong, stay calm, state what you are doing to correct it, and continue.
Prioritise hygiene, client comfort and consent, and safe technique over speed. If you are running out of time, complete the critical safety steps and tell the assessor where you are in the protocol rather than skipping them silently.
Clean and store equipment as taught, dispose of waste correctly, and leave the station as you found it. Thank your model and check you have all your belongings before leaving.
Rules to check
Bring the ID specified by the provider and present it at sign-in. If you are unsure what is accepted, confirm with the provider before the day; you may be refused entry without acceptable ID.
Follow the provider's rules on models. If you supply a model, that person must meet the provider's requirements and consent to being treated. Confirm with the provider whether models are supplied or must be arranged by you.
Keep to professional conduct throughout: treat your model with dignity, maintain their privacy and modesty, obtain consent before contact, and follow the provider's policy on photography and mobile phones.
Do not bring or use reference notes, phones, or unauthorised aids in the assessment room unless the provider explicitly permits them. Confirm with the provider what is allowed at your station.
Ask the assessor or invigilator before leaving the room. Break arrangements and toilet access during long practical sessions are set by the provider; confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Raise any problem immediately: a faulty appliance, a missing item, a model who cannot attend, or an incident during treatment. Report it to the assessor at the time rather than after the exam.
Scoring is against the provider's published assessment criteria for each unit, including hygiene, client care, technique, and timing. Ask the provider for the criteria and the pass standard in advance, and do not rely on second-hand accounts.
If you need a reasonable adjustment, request and confirm it in writing well before the exam. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required and how the adjustment will be applied on the day.