Help/info for approved assesment

[Heeshny]

Finally got my date for my approved assessment after almost 5 yrs after passing my trade test, however I have zero information on what's involved, what I need or what I should revise.
First off I am in located in scotland,

My date is a week on Thursday which is pretty short notice. I have read some threads on this but dated 2010, anyone able to help that's been to sit it more recently?
I am an industrial sparky and what I found for my trade test was it aimed more at domestic electricians which I have only encountered when rewiring my own house and the occasional job for a friend,

any help would be much appreciated

cheers
paul

 

[marc_v33]

i got it through a couple of weeks ago but they had sent it to my employer in december and the usual must have sat on someones desk for weeks. to be honest mate iv found that post ideal so far and just refer to that for any info

 

[Heeshny]

If you don't mind stick a thread up after you sit yours for some updated info that would be great,
how long have you been out your time?
Looks pretty straight forward from that thread tbh.

 

[Sparkystu79]

I did the aca 2 years ago, shouldn't be anything to worry about if you are confident, not much different to the FICA. Risk assessment, quite a bit of testing, fault finding and a couple of multiple choice question papers.

 

[Heeshny]

Cheers stu, I am quietly confident. Don't do much testing but know the theory behind it and good knowledge of the processes for each test. Need to look out the regs book and osg to refresh myself

 

[paul_h]

Buy urself the guidance note 3 and read it from cover to cover. Just the usual stuff as said above risk assessments fault finding etc hardest bit IMO was the 50 questions in 90 mins. U need to go like **** lol. Only other thing I was told about was wen doing the Ze u have to clip a plastic sheet round the booth to cover all exposed metallic parts. Good luck

 

[emacleod]

Hi mate I sat mine last year.the bulk is testing safe isolation is a big part.also remember the plastic sheet during Ze it's on the bottom of the trolley.the guy will help fit it.there is a fault finding with a buzz tester it's really simple faults.then the written parts ones a supervisor roll. Quick tricky at bits but not to bad.the final bit is a underpinning knowledge but you've got all the books on front of you. Think that's the bulk covered.

 

[barneybhoy]

The ACA has 6 parts
1- Risk Assesments
You get half an hour to carry out 4 risk assesments, most of them the guy will give u a scenario eg yourself and an apprentice have to install a roller door supply high level in a busy workshop carry out a risk assesment
2- safe isolation
Pretty self explanatory, just make sure when you isolate the 3 phase motor circuit you also remember to isolate the coil supply
3- inspection and testing
Carrying out various tests across 3 booths (domestic, industrial switchroom and commercial)
4- fault finding
Across the same 3 booths you'll get various job cards one after another eg star delta motors not starting in sequence (there's 3 of them), shower not working etc
5- written paper on supervision/levels of supervision required in different scenarios
6- underpinning knowledge
This is a 50 question paper you get an hour and a half to sit, make sure you know your on-site guide and guidance note 3 really well and make sure you know your way around your regs book, my first 15-20 questions were from these 3 books the rest of the questions are from various other books you get in the exam eg building regs, memorandum of guidance etc
The questions from the on-site guide, guidance note 3 and regs book (bs7671) don't tell you what book the answers in so make sure u know them, the questions on the other books tell you what book to look at, this section is quite tight for time so if you can't find an answer move on and go back later
I hope this helps, goodluck!

 

[Heeshny]

Hey guys,
well assessment was today and pretty sure I have failed the testing. It all went not to bad and except for 1 stupid mistake I think I would have passed.
it is frustrating that your under pressure to test within real tight timelines as in real life if you are not a fast tester the you would give yourself plenty time to ensure you test correctly.
so did my ze on first boards all fine, pefc and pssc no prob, when I found out what the difference was! ( never had the guidance note 3 to revise from!)
On the second instal did my ze again by dropping out main earth, BUT forgot to put my earth back in before testing my pefc. Noticed it after tests complete and got stupid values.
So gutted as I went through the rest not to bad and was happy as I am not a regular tester.
If it was real world I would have spent a we minute longer doing my tests as I already completed the full set of tests ten minutes earlier. But when you look at the clock and worry about time then nerves kick in. Unfortunately I think I will be back redoing the full 2 hour set.
If anyone needs info on this I am more than happy to help, the guys in the place are excellent and try to make it as relaxed as possible so can't fault them for putting myself under pressure.
Gutted

 

[barneybhoy]

If you passed everything else then worst case scenario it would only be the testing part you'd have to resit, hopefully though if you nailed the rest of the testing he might just mark you down but still pass you, especially if he knew that you realised the mistake you made. Goodluck

 

[Heeshny]

Failed on underpinning knowledge. Gutted as actually felt comfortable on that. On the positive I passed the testing even with the hiccups.
Retest here we go

 

[sedgy34]

What a bummer, more bedtime reading for you

 

[Heeshny]

Wish I had the time for bedtime reading dude, I am working 6 nights a week and my job gives me no time for anything let alone study.