RBSE Sec Voc Construction study plan
RBSE Sec Voc Construction · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Construction Materials and Their Properties
Classify the main construction materials (bricks, stones, cement, aggregates, timber, steel, lime, mortar, concrete) by source, use and basic composition
State and explain the key properties of each material: strength, durability, porosity, water absorption, thermal conductivity and workability
Describe the standard tests used to judge quality (compressive strength, water absorption, soundness, fineness, bulking of sand) and the acceptance values you can recall
Build a one-page material-property comparison table from memory and mark every value you are unsure of for review
Your checkpoint
A handwritten or typed 2-page material property and test summary table covering at least 8 materials, with self-flagged uncertain entries
Construction Materials and Their Properties & Building Construction Methods and Components
Explain cement types, grades and storage precautions, and the meaning of setting time and soundness
Describe concrete grades, nominal mixes, water-cement ratio effects and curing methods with typical durations
Identify the parts of a load-bearing and framed structure: foundation, plinth, wall, column, beam, slab, lintel, roof
Sketch a labelled section through a simple framed building showing each component and its function
Your checkpoint
A labelled cross-section sketch of a two-storey framed building naming at least 10 components with a one-line function for each
Building Construction Methods and Components
Compare shallow and deep foundations and state when each is chosen, including soil bearing capacity basics
Describe brick masonry bonds (English, Flemish, stretcher, header) and the rules for mortar joints and bonding
Explain damp-proofing, plastering, pointing and flooring methods and where each is applied
Outline doors, windows, stairs and roof types with the terminology used in drawings and site talk
Your checkpoint
A set of four hand sketches: English bond corner, a stair with rise/tread labelled, a damp-proof course detail, and a simple roof truss
Construction Drawing, Estimation and Costing
Read a simple plan, elevation and section and extract dimensions, levels and material notes correctly
Apply the standard measurement rules for earthwork, brickwork, concrete and plaster to a small single-room plan
Prepare a quantity sheet and a rate-based abstract of cost for that room
Identify common estimation errors such as double counting, wrong units and ignored wastage
Your checkpoint
A complete estimate for a single 3 m x 4 m room: quantity sheet plus abstract of cost with assumed rates, totalled and checked
Surveying and Site Setting Out & Construction Tools, Equipment and Workshop Practice
Explain the principles and uses of chain/tape, compass and level surveying, and the difference between plane and geodetic surveying
Perform and record a simple level booking with rise-and-fall and height-of-instrument methods, including arithmetic checks
Describe setting out of a building line using the 3-4-5 method and offsets from a baseline
List the hand tools and equipment for masonry, carpentry, plumbing and concreting, and state the care and maintenance of each
Your checkpoint
A worked level-book page for a 6-station run with both reduction methods, arithmetic checks shown, and a sketch of a rectangular building set out by the 3-4-5 method
Occupational Safety, Health and Environment & Construction Tools, Equipment and Workshop Practice
Identify site hazards and the correct control for each: excavation collapse, falls from height, scaffolding, electrical, manual handling and silica dust
State the purpose and correct use of PPE and the meaning of common safety signage categories
Describe first aid, fire extinguisher classes and emergency response steps on a construction site
Explain environmental controls for dust, noise, waste segregation and water runoff, and the workshop safety rules for hand and power tools
Your checkpoint
A one-page site hazard register listing 12 hazards with risk rating, control measure and responsible person
Entrepreneurship, Employability and Trade Management
Explain the steps to start a small construction contracting business, including registration, licences and basic record keeping
Prepare a simple labour and material cost build-up for a small job and set a price that covers overhead and profit
Describe workplace rights, duties, communication and teamwork behaviours expected of a construction worker
Practise answering interview-style questions about your trade skills and safety habits aloud
Your checkpoint
A one-page business case for a small contracting job: cost build-up, quoted price, expected profit and a list of records to keep
Practical Project Work and Viva & Construction Drawing, Estimation and Costing & Occupational Safety, Health and Environment
Rehearse the structure of a viva answer: state what you did, why, the tools used, the check applied and the result
Complete two timed mixed mock papers weighted to the domain percentages and score them honestly
Review every wrong answer and write the corrected fact in your own words
Prepare a project file summary covering methods, materials, measurements, safety and cost for your practical work
Your checkpoint
Two scored mock papers with an error log of at least 20 corrected items and a one-page project file summary
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 70% on a self-made 25-question quiz on materials and building components, and produce the labelled building section without notes
Week 4: Complete the single-room estimate unaided in under 90 minutes with quantities within 10% of a recheck and correct units throughout
Week 6: Reduce a 6-station level run with both methods and passing arithmetic checks, and explain 10 hazard controls from the register without notes
Week 8: Average at least 65% across the two timed mock papers with no domain below 50%, and deliver a 5-minute viva rehearsal covering project, safety and cost