ITI/NCVT Welder (Fab & Fit) (AITT Theory) exam-day guide
ITI/NCVT Welder (Fab & Fit) (AITT Theory) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admit card / hall ticket and a government photo ID
Carry the printed or downloaded admit card plus an original photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence). The exact ID list and whether photocopies are accepted vary by test centre - confirm with the provider. Keep both in a clear plastic sleeve so they stay dry in a workshop environment.
Confirm the reporting time, gate-closing rule and centre location
Practical trade tests often start early and late entry may be refused once the safety briefing begins. Re-check the address, reporting time and any gate-closing cut-off on your admit card or the provider's notice, and plan to arrive well before it. If the notice is unclear, confirm with the provider rather than guessing.
Know the permitted PPE list before the day
Typical welding PPE includes safety shoes, leather gloves (welding and handling), a flame-retardant apron or overall, and safety glasses for chipping and grinding. Whether the centre supplies PPE or you must bring your own, and whether a personal auto-darkening helmet is allowed, varies - confirm with the provider. Never rely on borrowed footwear that does not fit.
Welding helmet with correct shade and a clear cover lens
Bring a helmet in serviceable condition with spare clear cover lenses and, if it is auto-darkening, fresh batteries. Passive helmets need a shade suited to the process and current you will use. If the centre issues helmets, check beforehand whether you may use your own - confirm with the provider.
Hand tools: chipping hammer, wire brush, files, centre punch, scriber
Clean slag and spatter between passes; a wire brush and chipping hammer are standard. A centre punch, scriber, steel rule and try square help with layout and checking. Bring a small tool bag you can keep tidy at the bench, and label your tools - shared tool sets at busy centres go missing.
Measuring and marking tools for fit-up checks
A steel rule, try square, combination set or protractor, feeler gauges and a tape measure let you verify squareness, alignment, root gap and bevel angles before welding. Check that your square is actually square and your rule is readable; a damaged reference tool will cost marks on fit-up.
Drawing/instruction sheet and any permitted reference material
If the task is issued as a drawing or job card, read the weld symbols, dimensions, root gap and process notes before striking an arc. Confirm whether any reference tables (e.g. current settings, symbol charts) are allowed at the bench - many centres do not permit personal notes, so confirm with the provider.
Rehearse the safety essentials: fume, fire, arc flash
Know where the nearest fire extinguisher, first-aid point and emergency stop are, and how the local exhaust ventilation or fume extraction is switched on. Keep flammable material clear of the arc, warn neighbours before striking an arc, and never look at an arc without eye protection. These habits are also assessed as safe working practice.
Plan your electrode/consumable and current settings
For manual metal arc work, know the electrode classification you expect to use, the recommended current range for its diameter, and the effect of polarity. For MIG/MAG or TIG, know gas flow, wire feed and current basics. Settings are usually given on the job card; if not, ask the instructor before starting rather than experimenting on the test piece.
Bring water, a snack and any permitted medication
Practical tests can run for several hours in heat and PPE. Hydration and a light snack help steady hands. If you need medication or have a medical condition the invigilator should know about, confirm the centre's policy in advance - confirm with the provider. Do not bring food or drink into the welding bay itself.
Leave prohibited items behind
Mobile phones, smart watches and personal notes are commonly restricted in the test hall. Storage arrangements differ by centre, so confirm with the provider what you may keep with you. Anything not needed for the job should stay at home or in the locker provided.
Know how the job will be assessed
Practical assessment usually covers dimensional accuracy and fit-up, weld appearance and profile, freedom from defects, correct process parameters, and safe working practice including housekeeping. Ask the instructor at the briefing which criteria and tolerances apply to your specific task if they are not printed on the job card.
Plan the day
Re-read the admit card and provider instructions end to end: reporting time, address, PPE rules, permitted tools and ID requirements. Note any point that is ambiguous and contact the provider to confirm. Check your helmet, gloves, safety shoes and hand tools; replace damaged items now rather than the night before.
Do a dry run of the task sequence on scrap if you have workshop access: layout, fit-up, tacking, root pass, filling, capping, cleaning and inspection. Practise reading the job card and setting current for the electrode diameter you will use. Focus on the steps you usually rush, such as root gap and inter-pass cleaning.
Pack the tool bag and PPE and check every item against the permitted list. Confirm transport: route, travel time, and a backup plan if the first route fails. If you are travelling from another town, confirm accommodation and keep the booking details with your documents.
Lay out admit card, ID, tools and PPE in one place. Charge any devices you legitimately need for travel, and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal, avoid late nights and alcohol, and protect your hands - a cut or burn the night before can affect grip and glove fit.
Skim your own notes on weld symbols, electrode classification, current ranges and common defects (porosity, slag inclusion, undercut, lack of fusion, spatter). Do not try to learn new material; consolidate what you already know and get sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate. Arrive well before the reporting time so you can find the gate, complete any registration or biometric check, and settle. Re-check that phone and other restricted items are stowed as the centre requires.
Listen for the location of extinguishers, first-aid and emergency stops, the fume extraction controls, and the rules on breaks and leaving the bay. Ask about anything unclear before work starts. Note the stated time allowance and any checkpoint at which the job must be presented.
Read the drawing or job card fully before touching metal. Identify dimensions, weld symbols, joint preparation, root gap and process. Check your material and consumables, set current, and make a short test run on scrap if permitted. Mark out and fit up carefully - fit-up errors cannot be welded out later.
Work in a steady sequence: tack, check squareness and alignment, then weld. Clean between passes, control heat input to limit distortion, and inspect your own work as you go. Keep the bench and floor clear of offcuts and spatter. Manage time so you finish cleaning and can present the job before the deadline.
Remove slag and spatter, wipe the job, and check dimensions and squareness against the drawing. Present the job as instructed, with your identification attached if required. Clean your bay, return borrowed tools, and collect your belongings and documents before leaving.
Rules to check
Carry the admit card and original photo ID at all times in the test area. The accepted ID types and whether digital copies are valid vary by centre - confirm with the provider, and do not assume a photocopy will be accepted.
Follow the centre's safety rules without exception: wear the specified PPE, use fume extraction, keep flammables away from the arc, and never strike an arc without warning those nearby. Unsafe practice can lead to removal from the test as well as loss of marks.
Work only on your own job. Do not ask another candidate to weld, fit up or finish any part of your test piece, and do not assist theirs. Practical tests assess individual competence, and shared work is treated as malpractice.
Use only the tools, materials and consumables issued or permitted for your task. Do not bring prepared or pre-welded parts into the bay. If you need an extra consumable or a replacement, ask the instructor rather than taking from another bench.
Ask the instructor before leaving the bay, whether for a break, toilet or first aid. Break arrangements and whether the clock stops are centre-specific - confirm with the provider. Unsupervised absence during a timed test may be treated as leaving the test.
Keep restricted items such as phones and smart watches stowed as instructed. If you must keep a phone for a genuine emergency, declare it to the invigilator at the start and confirm the centre's policy - confirm with the provider.
Do not alter the job card, drawing or assessment sheet, and do not remove your test piece from the bay until you are told to present it. Present the job exactly as instructed, including any identification tag.
If you feel unwell, are injured, or believe the equipment is faulty, stop and tell the instructor immediately. Continuing with a faulty machine or an injury risks your safety and your result; the centre will advise on the next step.