SOLAS Metal Fabrication exam-day guide
SOLAS Metal Fabrication · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original, unexpired ID in the name used on your registration. A photocopy or a photo on your phone is normally not accepted. Confirm with the provider which ID types are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Admission or confirmation document
Print or download the appointment confirmation showing your candidate number, test site, and start time. Some sites require it at the door; confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory or a digital copy is accepted.
Approved calculator
A basic non-programmable calculator is useful for weld sizing, travel speed, deposition rate, and consumable estimates. Confirm with the provider which models are permitted and whether calculators are supplied on screen.
Reference materials, if permitted
Some fabrication exams allow a formula sheet, code extract, or weld symbol chart. Ask the provider in advance exactly which references are allowed, whether they must be clean and unannotated, and whether they are provided at the desk.
Personal protective equipment for any practical station
If the exam includes a hands-on or inspection component, bring safety glasses, suitable footwear, and any required PPE. Confirm with the provider what is supplied on site and what you must bring yourself; do not assume shared PPE is available.
Writing implements and scratch paper policy
Bring two pens and two pencils. Confirm with the provider whether scratch paper and a basic scientific calculator are supplied and whether you may bring your own; notes written before the exam are normally prohibited.
Know your route and arrival buffer
Plan to arrive well before the start time to allow for check-in, ID verification, and seating. Confirm with the provider the exact arrival window and the late-arrival cutoff - these vary by site.
Review the candidate handbook and rules
Read the current handbook for permitted and prohibited items, electronics policy, and misconduct definitions. Rules change; use the version issued for your exam date rather than older forum posts.
Confirm format, duration, and pass standard
Know in advance whether the exam is multiple choice, written response, practical, or mixed, how long it runs, and what score is required. Confirm with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Medical and access accommodations
If you need extra time, a separate room, or other accommodation, request it well before test day and get written approval. Confirm with the provider the deadline and the documentation required.
Rest and logistics the night before
Sleep, eat a normal breakfast, and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. Bring water if permitted; confirm with the provider whether drinks are allowed at the desk.
Emergency contact and site phone number
Save the test center's contact number so you can call if transport fails. Confirm with the provider how to report an emergency delay and whether a reschedule fee applies.
Plan the day
Stop learning new topics. Rework your weakest areas using the exam syllabus as a checklist: weld symbol interpretation, joint design, distortion control, WPS and procedure qualification basics, and inspection and discontinuity terminology. Do timed practice sets under exam conditions so your pacing is settled before test day.
Re-read the candidate handbook for permitted items, ID requirements, and the late-arrival rule. Confirm your appointment time, site address, parking, and whether the format includes a practical component requiring PPE. If anything in the handbook is ambiguous, contact the provider now rather than on the morning of the test.
Assemble your kit in one bag: ID, confirmation document, approved calculator, pens and pencils, PPE if required, and any permitted references. Check that references are clean and unannotated if the rules require it. Prepare clothing layers, since test rooms are often cold.
Do one light review pass only - formula sheet, weld symbol chart, and a short list of terms you have mixed up. Then stop. Confirm your transport plan and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and avoid alcohol; fatigue costs more marks than one extra hour of study gains.
Charge your phone but plan to store it as the rules require. Pack the bag by the door. Reconfirm the arrival time and the late-arrival cutoff, and check for any provider message about site changes or delays.
Eat breakfast, arrive with buffer time, and complete check-in and ID verification calmly. Store prohibited items as instructed. Use the restroom before seating. If a practical station is included, inspect and don the required PPE before you begin.
Read the instructions and scoring notes first, note the time budget, and answer the questions you know before returning to harder ones. For calculation items, write the formula, substitute units carefully, and sanity-check the magnitude of the answer. For written answers, use correct terminology and answer the question actually asked.
If a question is ambiguous, answer the most defensible interpretation and flag it if the system allows. Watch the clock at the halfway point and again with about ten minutes left. If you finish early, review flagged items and confirm no question is blank; confirm with the provider whether wrong answers are penalized before guessing blindly.
Note which topics felt weak while the memory is fresh, and confirm with the provider how and when results are released and what the retake policy and waiting period are.
Rules to check
Bring original, valid photo ID matching your registration name. Without acceptable ID you may be refused entry and lose your fee; confirm with the provider which documents are accepted and whether a second form is required.
Follow the site's electronics policy exactly. Phones, smart watches, and other devices are normally stored away or prohibited at the desk; confirm with the provider before assuming a device is allowed.
Do not bring unauthorized notes, annotated references, or communication devices into the testing room. Attempting to access unauthorized material is misconduct and can void your result.
Raise your hand for the invigilator if you need to leave the room. Breaks are typically limited and may be escorted; confirm with the provider whether unscheduled breaks are permitted and whether the clock stops.
Answer in the language and format the exam is delivered in, and show working where it is requested. For calculation items, state units; unsupported final answers may not earn full credit.
Treat other candidates and staff with respect. Talking, disturbing others, or attempting to view another candidate's work is misconduct and may result in removal and score cancellation.
Report any equipment fault, ambiguous question, or distraction to the invigilator immediately rather than after the exam. Confirm with the provider the process and deadline for filing a complaint or appeal.
Scoring and pass standards are set by the provider and are not negotiable at the desk. Confirm with the provider the pass mark, result timeline, and retake policy before test day.