Once you have sent in your application form for an Apprenticeship, you will be invited to take one or more tests.

Different construction trades have different tests –

Trade: Carpentry & Joinery, Bricklaying, Plastering or Painting & Decorating:

• Construction Skills Learning Exercise – the “industry standard” entry test, set by ConstructionSkills (the Sector Skills Council for construction).

Trade: Plumbing:

• Plumbing Entrance Assessment.

Trade: Electrical Installation:

• Science Aptitude Test
• Maths Aptitude Test
• English Aptitude Test

The Construction Skills Learning Exercise (SLE) is a multiple choice test. It assesses your ability to interpret technical drawings and information, as well as how well you can apply basic arithmetic to practical situations. There is a set of practice questions that can be sent to you to help you prepare for the test itself.

There are 40 questions in the SLE, and you will be given 50 minutes to complete it.

The Plumbing Entrance Assessment lasts for an hour and a half. There are 40 questions, mainly multiple choice. You will be allowed to use a calculator and ruler.

Many of the questions are applied arithmetic, along with some geometry, basic physics and use of English.

The Aptitude Test for electricians is three short but quite complex test. You are given 30 minutes to answer 30 questions for each subject, totalling 90 questions in all.

There is an aggregated pass mark of 50% for these three aptitude tests. However, there is an individual minimum mark of 40% on each test, which means that although you may get more than 50% you could still fail the assessment if at least 40% is not attained in each test.

To be accepted on an Electrical apprenticeship you must also attain GCSE grade D in Maths, English and Science as a minimum. Failure to achieve these grades may mean any offer being withdrawn.

GCSE results are NOT a mandatory requirement to start on the Plumbing or craft Construction apprenticeships.