C&G 2391-52 exam-day guide
C&G 2391-52 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photographic ID
Bring the original form of photo ID your centre has specified (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). A photocopy or a phone image is normally not accepted. Confirm the exact accepted ID types, and what to do if you have none, with your provider before the day.
Joining instructions and appointment confirmation
Print or save the email/letter showing your candidate number, start time, room or workshop location and any site access or parking instructions. Check the address the day before, as many centres run practical assessments in a separate building from the main reception.
Current edition of BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)
You will need to reference Regulation numbers and tables. Confirm with your provider whether you must bring your own copy or whether copies are supplied in the assessment room, and whether any annotations are permitted.
Permitted reference material (On-Site Guide, Guidance Note 3, manufacturer instructions)
Many centres allow a limited set of clean reference texts for the written element. Confirm in advance exactly which publications are permitted and whether notes, tabs or loose inserts are allowed, as rules vary between centres.
Non-programmable calculator
You may need to calculate values such as expected loop impedance, volt drop or adiabatic check figures. Do not bring a programmable or graphing calculator, and check whether your centre permits a phone-based calculator (assume it does not).
Pens, pencil, eraser, ruler, and a highlighter
Take spare black or blue pens for writing results and schedules, a pencil for annotating and marking up, and an eraser. Confirm with your provider whether correction fluid or tape is accepted on recorded results.
GS38-compliant test instrument(s) and proving unit
Some centres require you to use the instruments they provide; others expect you to bring your own multifunction tester, leads and proving unit. Confirm the centre's policy and any in-date calibration evidence they require in advance.
Suitable workwear and footwear
Wear clothing appropriate for a live workshop environment: no loose sleeves or dangling jewellery, long hair tied back, and sturdy closed-toe footwear. Ask whether the centre supplies PPE such as safety glasses or gloves or whether you must bring your own.
Reasonable adjustments already agreed in writing
If you have an approved adjustment (extra time, separate room, larger print, rest breaks), bring the confirmation letter with you and identify yourself to the invigilator or assessor at the start so the arrangement is applied.
Knowledge of the safe isolation procedure
Be ready to demonstrate approved safe isolation unaided: identify the correct isolation point, isolate, secure against reconnection, prove the tester on a proving unit, test for dead on all conductors, and re-prove the tester afterwards. This is a common point of failure and cannot be looked up.
A clear head on test sequences and expected results
Revise the order of tests for initial verification (continuity of protective conductors, continuity of ring final circuit conductors, insulation resistance, polarity, earth electrode resistance, loop impedance, RCD operation, functional testing) and the recording of results and observations. You will not have time to learn this on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read the joining instructions line by line: venue, arrival time, duration, what you may bring, and what is supplied. Ring or email the centre to settle any open question (ID, reference books, instruments, PPE, breaks) now rather than on the morning.
Check that your BS 7671 and any permitted guidance are the current editions and are clean and free of unapproved notes. Check your test instrument calibration status if you are bringing your own.
Do a final structured revision pass rather than new learning: safe isolation, test sequence, expected values, completion of schedules of inspections and test results, and the classification of observations. Practise explaining your reasoning aloud for the professional discussion element.
Pack your bag and lay everything out: ID, joining instructions, books, calculator, pens, PPE, any calibration paperwork. Charge nothing you cannot take in, and leave smart devices you do not need at home.
Confirm your travel plan and journey time, including traffic and parking. Set two alarms. Eat properly and go to bed at a normal hour; a late cramming session costs more in alertness than it gains in recall.
Eat breakfast, avoid last-minute revision of unfamiliar material, and arrive with time to spare - aim to be on site well before the stated start time so you can sign in and settle. Confirm the centre's policy on late arrival in advance.
Switch your phone off and store it as directed. Present your ID, tell the assessor about any approved adjustment, and listen carefully to the briefing and any house rules.
Read the whole brief or question paper before starting, and plan the order of work. On the practical, carry out safe isolation first and confirm it with the assessor if that is the expected procedure, then work methodically through the tests.
Record results as you obtain them, in the correct units, rather than relying on memory. Note any observations and their classification clearly and legibly while the detail is fresh.
Manage the clock: leave time at the end to complete certification and schedules, check arithmetic, and tidy your work area. If something goes wrong with a reading or a test, stop, think about what the result is telling you, and be prepared to explain your reasoning rather than silently guessing.
During any professional discussion, answer in terms of the regulations and your own recorded results, and say plainly if you are unsure rather than inventing a value or a regulation number.
Rules to check
Bring the original photographic ID your centre requires. Candidates without acceptable ID may be refused entry or have their result withheld - confirm the exact ID policy with your provider before the day.
Mobile phones, smart watches and other connected devices must normally be switched off and stored out of reach for the whole session. Assume any device on your person during the practical is a breach; confirm the centre's storage arrangements in advance.
Arrive early. Late arrival can mean being refused entry or having your time reduced, and the exact cut-off is set by the centre, so confirm it with your provider rather than assuming a grace period.
The assessment is individual work. Do not give or receive help, discuss the tasks with other candidates, or share notes during the session, and do not remove any assessment materials from the room.
Breaks during the practical are not standard. Confirm with your provider whether any break is allowed, whether the clock stops, and what supervision applies if you leave the assessment area.
Test instruments and leads must be suitable for the work and compliant with GS38, and any calibration evidence the centre requires must be in date. Confirm whether you supply the instrument or the centre does - do not assume either way.
Work safely at all times: isolate before working on circuits where the procedure requires it, prove your tester before and after every dead test, and follow the centre's workshop rules. An unsafe act can override otherwise sound test results.
Results and certification are not normally issued on the day. Marking, moderation and any quality assurance are handled through your provider and the awarding body, so ask your provider about the expected result-release date and appeal process.