RGII Domestic Gas Safety exam-day guide
RGII Domestic Gas Safety · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID matching your registration
Bring the same government-issued photo ID you used to book. Name and spelling must match the registration record exactly. If your ID is expired or the name differs, contact the provider before test day - the fix cannot be made at the door.
Assessment booking confirmation
Carry a printed or downloaded copy of your confirmation showing date, time, and test centre address. Useful if there is a query at reception or a room change.
Approved calculator
Check the provider's permitted-calculator list in advance; some centres restrict programmable or graphing models. Confirm with the provider which models are allowed and whether phones can be used as calculators (usually not).
Two pens and a pencil
Written and practical gas assessments often involve recording readings, tightness-test results, and commissioning data. Bring spares; do not rely on the centre supplying stationery.
Personal protective equipment
Safety footwear and any PPE the provider specifies for the practical workshop or live-appliance area. Confirm with the provider exactly what is supplied by the centre (for example gloves, eye protection, or flame-detection equipment) so you do not duplicate or arrive without it.
Calibrated flue gas analyser and test instruments
Where the assessment requires you to use your own analyser, confirm with the provider whether personal instruments are permitted and what calibration evidence must be shown. Bring in-date calibration certificates if required. needs_review
Manufacturer instructions for appliances in scope
Practical assessments often expect you to work to manufacturer instructions for servicing, commissioning, and checking operating pressures. Confirm with the provider which appliance documentation is supplied and which you must bring. needs_review
Current standards and regulations references if permitted
Some centres allow open-book access to standards and regulations during the written element. Confirm with the provider whether reference material is allowed, and in what format (paper only is common). needs_review
Know the centre location and arrival time
Reconnoitre the route and parking in advance. Arrive at the time stated on your confirmation, allowing margin for traffic and security checks; late arrival may mean you are turned away.
Medical and access needs notified in advance
If you need adjustments (extra time, ergonomic seating, quiet room), these are normally arranged before the day and cannot be granted on request at the test. Confirm with the provider that your adjustment is recorded.
Plan for breaks, food, and hydration
Practical days can be long and physical. Bring water and a snack if the centre permits, and confirm with the provider the break policy and whether you may leave the assessment area between elements.
Leave unnecessary valuables at home
Many centres restrict bags, phones, and smart watches in assessment rooms. Confirm with the provider the secure-storage arrangements so you know what to do with personal items.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment specification or scheme document for the exact scope being tested: tightness testing, purging, commissioning, servicing, combustion analysis, unsafe situations, and emergency procedures. Write a one-page summary of the procedures you are least confident in and rehearse them aloud in the correct sequence.
Confirm logistics: test centre address, start time, parking, and journey time. Re-check your booking confirmation for any instructions about PPE, instruments, or documentation you must bring.
Check your test instruments. If you are using your own analyser, verify calibration is in date and batteries are fresh. If the provider supplies instruments, confirm this so you do not carry unnecessary equipment.
Practise the physical routines you will be assessed on: setting up a tightness test, checking operating pressure, measuring gas rates, and carrying out a let-by and soundness check in the correct order. If you have access to a training rig, run through them with a stopwatch.
Pack your kit bag: ID, confirmation, pens and pencil, approved calculator, PPE, and any permitted reference material. Put it by the door. Check your clothing meets any centre rules on sleeves, footwear, or jewellery.
Do a light revision pass only: unsafe situations classification, emergency actions, ventilation requirements, and flueing checks. Stop early, eat properly, and get a full night's sleep. Cramming the night before tends to hurt practical performance.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive with time to spare. Re-read your one-page summary on the journey, but do not attempt new material. Present your ID and confirmation at reception and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Listen carefully to the briefing and read each question or task instruction in full before starting. In the practical, work methodically and narrate your safety checks where the assessor expects it; do not skip let-by, soundness, or purging steps to save time.
Manage time by scanning the paper or task list first and allocating minutes per section. If a question stalls you, mark it and return later. Leave time at the end to check units, decimal places, and that every question has an answer.
If equipment fails, a task is unclear, or you believe a fault in the rig affects your result, stop and raise it with the assessor immediately rather than improvising. Note the time and what happened.
Ask the provider when and how results are issued and what the resit or appeal process is. Record anything you found difficult while it is fresh, for your own development record.
Rules to check
Bring government-issued photo ID that matches your registration exactly; without acceptable ID you may be refused entry and lose your fee. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted.
Arrive at the stated time. Late arrival may result in refusal of entry or a shortened assessment; confirm with the provider the cut-off for admission.
Follow all safety instructions in the practical area: wear the specified PPE, do not operate appliances or isolation valves except as directed by the assessor, and report any damage, leak, or defect immediately.
Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes are normally prohibited in assessment rooms. Confirm with the provider the rules on personal items and secure storage before the day.
Breaks are usually at the invigilator's discretion and may not be permitted during timed elements. Confirm with the provider the break policy and whether you can leave and re-enter the assessment area.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the assessment, and do not share or discuss question content afterwards. Suspected malpractice is normally handled under the provider's malpractice policy.
Scoring is against the assessment criteria, not against other candidates. Practical tasks are typically graded pass/fail against specified performance criteria, including safety-critical steps that must be completed correctly. Confirm with the provider the pass marks and whether any element is safety-critical.
If you have a disability, medical condition, or need an adjustment, it must be agreed with the provider before the assessment day; adjustments are generally not granted on the day. Confirm with the provider the evidence required and the deadline.