Practical Skills
The Practical Skills domain is assessed on the bench: opening a phone, handling connectors, replacing parts and testing the result in a safe order. Examiners look for sequence and control, not speed.
Disassembly discipline
- Power off, then disconnect the battery before any other connector; a live board can be shorted by a slipped tool.
- Warm the edges to 70-80 °C to soften adhesive, use plastic picks and suction, and keep metal away from the battery.
- Map every screw on a layout sheet; screws differ in length and thread, and a long screw in a short hole damages the board.
Handling and reassembly
- Lift connectors straight up with a plastic spudger; levering one end bends pins.
- Transfer brackets, gaskets and shields to the new part, fit fresh adhesive, and route cables clear of screws.
- After assembly, charge and test: display, touch, cameras, speaker, microphone, Wi-Fi, cellular, charging and sensors.
Worked example
A screen replacement: power off, heat the edges, free the adhesive, open from the bottom, disconnect the battery first, then the display flex, transfer the earpiece and brackets, fit the new screen, reconnect the battery last, and test before sealing. Reasoning: disconnecting the battery first removes the risk of a short when the display connector touches the frame.
Traps that cost marks
- Prying near a lithium battery and puncturing it.
- Reconnecting the battery before the display and shorting a rail.
- Trapping a cable under a screw boss.
- Sealing the phone before testing, then having to reopen it.
Bench habits
- One job at a time, tools returned, screws counted, and the work area cleaned before the next phone.