ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) study guide
ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor AITT Theory paper is the trade theory assessment taken by trainees who have completed the Mason (Building Constructor) course at an Industrial Training Institute under the Craftsman Training Scheme. It tests whether you understand the trade, not just whether you can perform it on site: the properties of bricks, blocks, cement and aggregate; how mortar and concrete are proportioned and cured; how walls are bonded and corners raised; how buildings are set out, levelled and marked; how foundations, arches, lintels, stairs and roofs go together; and how floors and tiles are laid and finished. The ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) study guide has 15 sections and about 4,800 words.
01Trade Safety, Health and Environment
Trade Safety, Health and Environment tests how a mason recognises site hazards, selects PPE, and applies safe methods for scaffolds, ladders, excavations, dust control, manual handling and waste disposal. Questions often use a short site situation and ask for the safest action, not the fastest one.
352 words, about 2 min02Materials
Materials examines the selection, storage and simple field testing of bricks, blocks, cement, sand, aggregates, lime, water and reinforcement. The exam expects you to connect material properties to use: a good brick for external load-bearing work is not the same as a rejected brick with high absorption or efflorescence.
387 words, about 2 min03Tools and Equipment for Masonry
Tools and Equipment for Masonry tests correct selection, safe use and maintenance of hand tools and plant: bricklayer’s trowel, pointing trowel, floats, jointers, club hammer, bolster, chisels, line and pins, plumb bob, spirit level, mason’s square, straight edge, mortar board, mixer, vibrator, hoist and cutting equipment. Use a brick trowel for picking up and spreading mortar; a steel float for dense finishing; a wooden float for plastering and textured finishes.
388 words, about 2 min04Masonry Bonds
Masonry Bonds tests the arrangement of bricks or blocks so that load is spread and vertical joints do not align from course to course. Expect English bond, Flemish bond, stretcher bond, header bond, garden-wall bond and rat-trap bond, plus terms such as course, bed joint, perpend, lap, quoin, queen closer and bat.
358 words, about 2 min05Brick and Block Work
Brick and Block Work tests laying technique, joint thickness, alignment, bonding, curing and the differences between clay brickwork and concrete or AAC blockwork. The exam expects practical decisions: soak the right bricks, fill joints fully, keep courses level and cure the finished work.
368 words, about 2 min06Mortar
Mortar tests the selection, proportioning, mixing and use of cement, lime, cement-lime, gauged and pozzolana mortars. It covers workability, water retention, bond, curing and the difference between mortar for brickwork, blockwork and plastering.
305 words, about 2 min07Concrete and Plastering
Concrete and Plastering tests batching, mixing, placing, compaction and curing of concrete, plus plaster thickness, mix proportions, surface preparation, bond and finishing. The exam links mix design and workmanship to strength, shrinkage and appearance.
320 words, about 2 min08Drawing, Setting Out and Levelling
Drawing, Setting Out and Levelling tests reading plans, elevations and sections, using scales, transferring dimensions to ground, establishing a datum and checking levels with a dumpy level or total station. A plan is a horizontal view; an elevation is a vertical face; a section is a cut view.
313 words, about 2 min09Foundations
Foundations tests shallow and deep foundation types, bearing capacity, setting out, excavation, concrete blinding, reinforcement cover and damp-proofing at plinth level. Expect strip footings, isolated spread footings, rafts and piles, with attention to soil condition and water.
304 words, about 2 min10Walls and Structural Elements
Walls and Structural Elements tests load-bearing versus non-load-bearing walls, piers, lintels, beams, columns, damp-proof courses, movement joints and the effect of openings on stability. Load-bearing walls carry loads from above and need proper bonding, thickness and restraint; non-load-bearing walls carry only their own weight and finishes.
281 words, about 1 min11Arches, Lintels, Stairs and Roofing
Arches, Lintels, Stairs and Roofing tests arch terminology and centering, lintel bearing, stair geometry, and roof types including RCC slabs, trusses and sheet roofing. Arch parts include springing line, skewback, voussoir, keystone, crown and intrados; centering supports the arch until the mortar hardens.
286 words, about 1 min12Flooring, Tiling and Finishing
Flooring, Tiling and Finishing tests floor construction, tile and stone laying, skirting, grouting, polishing and surface finishing. The exam focuses on level, bond, adhesive coverage, expansion joints and curing.
274 words, about 1 min13Estimation, Measurement and Costing
Estimation, Measurement and Costing tests quantity take-off, measurement units, deduction rules, rate analysis and preparation of a simple bill of quantities. Expect brickwork in m3, plaster in m2, concrete in m3, reinforcement in kg and finishes in m2.
312 words, about 2 min14Maintenance, Repair and Waterproofing
Maintenance, Repair and Waterproofing tests defect diagnosis, repair methods and moisture control. Expect cracks, efflorescence, damp patches, spalling concrete, honeycombing, leaking roofs, wet areas and failed joints.
275 words, about 1 min15Employability Skills and Workplace Practice
Employability Skills and Workplace Practice tests communication, teamwork, interview and resume basics, digital tools, workplace discipline and simple productivity or wage calculations. It connects technical masonry work to how a site actually runs.
277 words, about 1 min