SOLAS Electrical Apprenticeship exam-day guide
SOLAS Electrical Apprenticeship · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original ID document in the name used on your registration. Confirm with the provider which forms of ID they accept and whether a second piece is required; do not rely on a photocopy or a photo on your phone.
Appointment or registration confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your name, test date, time and location. If you did not receive one, contact the provider before test day rather than arriving without documentation.
Calculator policy check
Confirm with the provider whether a calculator is supplied, permitted, or prohibited, and which models are allowed. If permitted, bring a basic non-programmable unit you are familiar with; do not assume your usual model is accepted.
Writing materials
Bring two pencils and a pen unless the provider states that materials are supplied. Confirm whether scratch paper is provided or whether you may bring your own.
Personal protective equipment, if instructed
If your practical assessment involves workshop tasks, confirm with the provider in advance whether you must bring safety footwear, eye protection, gloves, or coveralls, or whether these are supplied on site. Needs_review - requirements vary by test centre.
Current edition of the relevant standard or regulation
Where the assessment is open-book on regulations, confirm with the provider which documents and editions are permitted and whether you must bring your own copy. Annotated or loose-leaf copies may be restricted. Needs_review.
Route and arrival plan
Check the exact building and entrance, not just the street address, and plan to arrive with a margin for delays. Confirm with the provider the recommended arrival time and the procedure if you are late.
Personal items plan
Expect phones, smart watches, and bags to be stored away from the test area. Confirm with the provider what can be brought into the room and what secure storage is available.
Medical and access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, medication, or other adjustments, confirm with the provider that these have been approved and recorded before test day. Bring any required supporting documentation.
Rest and logistics the night before
Confirm your travel and accommodation, set two alarms, and avoid last-minute study of new material. Practical assessments reward steady hands and clear thinking more than late-night cramming.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the test centre's contact number so you can call immediately if something goes wrong on the way. Confirm with the provider which number to use on the day.
Review the published test regulations
Read the provider's candidate handbook or regulations for conduct, prohibited items, and scoring. Rules differ between providers, so use their document rather than second-hand advice.
Plan the day
Re-read the provider's candidate handbook and confirmation email. Verify the date, start time, address, ID requirements, and any equipment list. If anything is unclear, contact the provider now rather than the morning of the test.
Do a final review of core topics using your own notes and summaries: electrical principles such as Ohm's law and power relationships, series and parallel circuits, AC fundamentals, protective earthing, insulation resistance and continuity testing, and the safety procedures you will be asked to demonstrate. Stop trying to learn new material.
Practise the physical tasks you may be assessed on, such as safe isolation, using a multimeter correctly, terminating conductors, or interpreting a simple circuit diagram. Work slowly and narrate each step aloud as you would to an assessor.
Assemble your kit bag: ID, confirmation, permitted calculator, writing materials, and any PPE or documents the provider requires. Check that any tools you plan to bring are on the permitted list.
Confirm your travel arrangements and check for disruptions. Work out the door-to-door time and add a buffer for traffic, parking, or public transport delays.
Lay out clothes, ID, confirmation, and your kit bag by the door. Charge your phone but plan to store it away during the test.
Do a light review only: safety rules, measurement procedures, and the sequence of steps for common practical tasks. Eat a proper meal, avoid alcohol, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat breakfast and arrive at the confirmed time with your ID and confirmation in hand. Call the provider immediately if you are delayed or unable to attend.
Leave prohibited items such as smart watches and phones in secure storage as directed. Use the toilet before the assessment begins.
Read or listen to all instructions before touching equipment. Ask the invigilator or assessor to clarify any instruction you do not understand; clarifying a procedure is normally acceptable, but confirm the provider's policy on questions during the test.
For practical tasks, follow safe isolation and lock-off procedures every time, even if the circuit is already dead. Assessors commonly mark the safety sequence as heavily as the finished result.
For written or calculation sections, show your working, keep units consistent, and check answers for sensible magnitude. If time allows, return to flagged questions rather than leaving blanks.
Manage the clock: note the total time, divide it by the number of sections or tasks, and keep a few minutes at the end to check your work and tidy your bench.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID in the name used at registration. If your ID is expired, damaged, or in a different name, contact the provider before test day; do not assume an alternative will be accepted.
Follow the provider's rules on prohibited items. Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised notes are normally kept outside the test area; confirm with the provider what is permitted and where items are stored.
Ask before you act if an instruction is unclear, but do not seek help with the technical content of a question. Confirm with the provider what kinds of questions are allowed during the assessment.
Follow all safety instructions and site rules during practical tasks. Refusing a safety instruction or bypassing an isolation procedure can lead to removal from the assessment; confirm the provider's safety policy in advance.
Breaks are usually scheduled and supervised. Confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are allowed and whether the clock stops; do not leave the test area without permission.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the provider and may differ between written and practical components. Ask the provider for the published pass criteria rather than relying on what other candidates report.
If you are ill or cannot attend, contact the provider as early as possible to ask about rescheduling. Do not attend if you have been told not to; confirm the provider's policy on illness and refunds.
Keep any assessment materials, question content, and task details confidential. Sharing them after the test may breach the provider's regulations; confirm the exact confidentiality terms with the provider.