Craftsman Motor Vehicles Body Repair exam-day guide
Craftsman Motor Vehicles Body Repair · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the original document named in your booking confirmation. Confirm with the provider which forms they accept and whether a second ID is required; do not assume a photocopy or digital copy is accepted.
Appointment confirmation and candidate number
Print or save the booking email showing date, time, location, and any candidate or registration number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is mandatory.
Personal protective equipment
Safety boots and eye protection are standard for any practical body repair assessment. Confirm with the provider the exact PPE list (boots, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, coveralls) and whether the provider supplies any of it.
Work clothing suitable for a workshop
Wear clothes you can move and bend in and that you do not mind getting dusty or painted. Avoid loose sleeves or jewellery near rotating tools and spray equipment.
Any tools or materials the provider asks you to bring
Some providers supply all tools and consumables; others expect you to bring hand tools. Confirm with the provider before buying or packing anything.
Required documentation or portfolio
If your qualification requires a logbook, record of work, or employer sign-off, confirm with the provider whether it must be submitted before or on the day.
Medication, inhaler, and any agreed access arrangements
Bring personal medication you may need during the day. If you have an agreed adjustment (extra time, separate room, rest breaks), confirm with the provider in writing how it will be applied and bring the confirmation.
Food, water, and a plan for the day
Practical assessments can run long with limited breaks. Confirm with the provider whether food is available on site and whether you may leave the assessment area between tasks.
Route, parking, and arrival time
Plan to arrive with margin before your reporting time. Confirm with the provider where candidates report, what parking is available, and what happens if you are late.
Read the assessment brief and marking criteria
Review the task list and the criteria you will be marked against, especially safety, work method, and finish quality. Confirm with the provider which tasks are assessed and in what order.
Phone and valuables
Expect phone use to be restricted during the assessment. Confirm with the provider where personal items are stored and whether phones must be switched off and handed in.
Emergency contact and provider phone number
Save the assessment centre's contact number so you can call if travel goes wrong. Confirm with the provider who to contact on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read the assessment brief and the task list. Write a short sequence for each task: prepare the panel, remove damage, shape filler, sand, prime, refinish, reassemble, clean down. Practise the safety checks you will be marked on, such as inspecting leads and plugs on power tools, checking a respirator fits, and setting up extraction before spraying.
Check your PPE and clothing: boots sound, eye protection unscratched, coveralls clean, gloves in the right size. Replace anything worn out now rather than on the morning. Confirm with the provider any item they supply.
Confirm logistics in writing: reporting time, site entrance, parking, and what to bring. Confirm with the provider any access arrangements and how they will be delivered on the day.
Plan your sleep and food for the last two nights. Avoid heavy physical work the day before; steady hands and clear attention matter more than last-minute practice.
Pack your bag: ID, confirmation, PPE, documentation, medication, water. Put it by the door. Check the weather and traffic forecast and set two alarms.
Do a light review only: safety rules, torque and mixing ratios you use daily, and the marking criteria. Stop early and eat a normal meal. Do not start a new technique the night before.
Eat breakfast, arrive early, and allow time to find the reporting point. Have your ID and confirmation ready before you reach the desk.
At sign-in, listen for the briefing: task order, time limits, where materials are stored, where waste goes, and how to call for help. Ask about anything unclear before the clock starts.
Set up your bay before you touch the vehicle: PPE on, extraction running, tools laid out, fire equipment located. Assessors mark safe setup, so do not rush it.
Work to the brief, not to habit. Read each task instruction fully, check dimensions and gaps against the stated tolerances, and confirm the finish standard expected before you declare a task complete.
Manage the clock: note the time at the start of each task and leave time for final checks, clean-down, and tool return. If a task is going wrong, stabilise it, record what happened, and move on rather than losing all remaining time.
Keep the bay tidy and waste segregated as you go. Housekeeping is commonly assessed and is hard to recover at the end.
Return tools and materials, clean the bay, and check with the assessor before leaving. Confirm with the provider how and when results are issued.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo ID named in your booking and present it at sign-in. If your name or document differs from the booking, contact the provider before the day; confirm with the provider how discrepancies are handled.
Arrive before your reporting time. Late arrival may mean you are refused entry or given reduced time; confirm with the provider the cut-off and any appeal route.
Follow all site safety instructions and wear the required PPE at all times in the workshop. An assessor may stop your assessment if you work unsafely; confirm with the provider how a safety stop affects your result.
Work only on the vehicle, panel, or task assigned to you. Do not ask other candidates for help, and do not discuss tasks with candidates who have not yet been assessed.
Electronic devices must usually be switched off and stored away during the assessment. Confirm with the provider the rule for phones, smart watches, and listening devices, and where to store them.
Breaks are normally only those scheduled by the provider. If you need to leave the assessment area, ask an invigilator first; confirm with the provider how time away is treated.
Scoring is against the published criteria for each task, including safety, method, tolerances, finish, and housekeeping. Confirm with the provider how marks are weighted and whether a pass is required in every task.
If you believe something affected your performance, such as equipment failure or illness, tell the assessor at the time and ask for it to be recorded. Confirm with the provider the deadline and process for special consideration.