NABTEB Light Vehicle Body Repair exam-day guide
NABTEB Light Vehicle Body Repair · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid photo identification
Bring the original ID used at registration (national ID card, driver's licence, or passport). A photocopy is normally not accepted. Confirm the exact accepted ID types and whether a candidate slip/admit card must be presented alongside it with your centre or the NABTEB state office before exam day.
Examination slip / registration printout
Print or collect your registration slip showing candidate number, subject, and centre. Keep it in a clear folder so it stays clean and readable. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is acceptable.
Personal hand tools in a labelled toolbox
Bring the basic panel-beating and body-repair tools you are trained to use: hammers (planishing, shrinking), dollies, spoons/pry bars, body file, sanding block, measuring tape/rule, scribe, punches, chisels, hacksaw, files, and spanners/screwdrivers. Mark every tool with your name or candidate number. Confirm the official tool list with your instructor, since centre toolkits vary.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Overalls or workshop coveralls, safety boots, eye protection (goggles/face shield), ear defenders, and gloves. Dust masks/respirators are needed if any sanding, filling, or spraying is involved. Inspect PPE the day before; damaged PPE should be replaced.
Writing materials
Two blue or black ballpoint pens, a pencil, eraser, sharpener, and a 30 cm rule. Some practical papers include a short written or sketch component; carry a plain notebook-free folder for any answer sheets issued by the centre.
Clean rag and basic cleaning items
Bring rags and, if permitted by the centre, a small quantity of cleaning agent for surface preparation. Do not bring solvents or paints unless the centre explicitly instructs you to; storage and safety rules apply.
Water and a light snack
Practical sessions can run long with limited breaks. Bring water in a closed container and a light snack, subject to centre rules on food in the workshop.
Know your centre, date, and reporting time
Visit or confirm the exact workshop/venue, gate, and reporting time in advance. Arrive early enough to locate the workshop and store your tools. Confirm the reporting time with the provider; do not rely on second-hand information.
Read the practical instructions the day before
Re-read your syllabus topics: panel removal and refitting, dent removal, filler application and finishing, welding/joining basics, measuring and alignment checks, and safe use of tools. Practise the sequence of each task once more.
Confirm tool-sharing and material policy
Ask your instructor or centre whether tools and materials (sheet metal offcuts, filler, abrasives) are supplied or must be brought. This is a common source of last-minute problems; confirm with the provider.
Medical or access needs
If you need extra time, a scribe, or specific access arrangements, confirm the procedure and required documentation with the provider well before the exam. Do not assume it will be arranged on the day.
Transport and emergency contact
Plan your route and a backup. Save the centre's phone number and a family contact. Keep your phone off and stored during the practical unless the invigilator permits otherwise.
Plan the day
Confirm venue, date, reporting time, and ID requirements with your centre or the NABTEB state office. Check that your registration slip is correct (name spelling, candidate number, subject). Resolve any discrepancy immediately.
Lay out and inspect every tool. Replace broken handles, worn chisels, or damaged PPE. Label all tools with your name or candidate number. Pack them in a sturdy toolbox you can carry alone.
Revise the practical sequence for the main tasks: safe jacking and support of a vehicle, panel removal without damaging clips or wiring, dent assessment, filler mixing and application, sanding and finishing, and refitting with correct alignment and gap. Practise each step once in the workshop.
Re-read the safety rules for the workshop: PPE, fire exits, no running, correct lifting technique, safe handling of sharp and hot metal, and no unauthorised use of equipment. Know where the first-aid point is.
Pack your bag: ID, registration slip, pens and pencil, rule, PPE, rag, water, snack. Put the toolbox by the door. Charge your phone but plan to switch it off at the centre.
Check transport and set two alarms. Eat properly and sleep early; fatigue causes tool-handling errors and safety slips.
Eat a proper breakfast, dress in your overalls, and arrive at the centre well before the reporting time. Present your ID and registration slip at the gate and follow the invigilator's instructions.
Listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing and read the whole task sheet before touching any tool. Note the marks allocated to each task and the time allowed.
Work in a safe, methodical order: set up and secure the work, prepare surfaces, carry out the repair, then finish and clean up. Keep your bench tidy and put tools back after use.
Check your work as you go: measurements, panel gaps, surface flatness, and tightness of fixings. Correct small errors early rather than at the end.
At the end, clean your work area, return borrowed tools, and make sure the assessor has seen and recorded your finished work before you leave the bench.
Rules to check
Bring and display the ID and registration documents required by the centre. If you do not have them, speak to the invigilator immediately; do not attempt to enter the workshop without clearance. Confirm the exact document policy with the provider.
Follow all workshop safety instructions: wear the required PPE at all times, use guards on machines, do not run, and do not use any tool or machine you have not been trained or authorised to use.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the practical, and do not copy or interfere with another candidate's work or tools. Raise your hand and wait for the invigilator if you need help.
Switch off mobile phones and store them out of reach unless the invigilator permits otherwise. Unauthorised devices or notes may lead to disciplinary action under the examination rules.
Ask the invigilator before leaving the workshop for water, toilet, or first aid. Breaks are normally at the invigilator's discretion, so confirm the centre's break policy with the provider.
Scoring is by the assessor against the task's marking criteria, including safety, correct procedure, workmanship, and finish. Marks may be lost for unsafe practice even if the finished work looks acceptable.
If you believe a tool is faulty, a material is missing, or a task instruction is unclear, report it to the invigilator at once. Do not improvise with unsafe substitutes.
Do not remove materials, tools, or finished work from the workshop unless the invigilator instructs you to. Leave the bench clean and the tools accounted for.