Just Finished june 14 2391

[mills.phil]

Hi has anybody else just done the 2391 today just got home how do you think you have done

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Was an interesting evening with the new assessment.

Questions seemed very BS 7671 in my opinion, far more than you usually get.

The national pass rate should go up a bit with this one.

 

[mills.phil]

I was thinking that the questions seem easer than the other test papers i tried or was that i just done a lot of homework

 

[DaveyD]

Me! Terrible I think.

 

[ringer]

I did this one tonight. Am quietly confident it went ok. Different format- giving answers on the question paper. But most of the questions were straight forward. Very little of relevance to the scenario - I struggled to make reference to it in my answers. Did get a few questions wrong - e.g. volt drop, but that is my own fault for skipping over the subject. Listing five potential faults on a visual of the distribution board was the most challenging question - particularly as they wanted the nature of the fault given. IP ratings - again, not done my homework thoroughly enough, but think I got most of them right. The calculations were pretty straightforward - nothing tricky there.

 

[rookeryu67]

Same as Phil for me. I have a funny feeling the pass mark will be close to perfection!

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Surprised how easy it was really, the past papers going back a few years were much more difficult, they have got progressively easier in my opinion.

I did mess up in this exam though, I was told to be wary of the time, as you might not have enough time to finish. I flew through it, then realised I had so much time left. I went over my answers, and could of elaborated more in my answers, but it would of meant having to tipp-ex the majority of what I wrote.

Although I thought in general the test was easier than any before, I had a bad day and my brain went blank. I think I might have failed.

Here are some of the questions(Not word for word, just from what I can remember):

*No charts or diagrams provided by client, what 2 other documents could you receive from the client?

*Checking polarity on an Edison Screw Lampholder, what would you check for?

*Listed in EAWR 1989. 3 Practical steps of work activities that would prevent rise to danger?

Still hungover from drinking after exam, will look these answers up later.

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Do they ever state the pass mark for the exam, or just the percentage pass rate? Any idea what the pass mark would be?

Also, do they mark on answers word for word out of book, or is it your interpretation?

 

[Richard Burns]

Do they ever state the pass mark for the exam, or just the percentage pass rate? Any idea what the pass mark would be?

Also, do they mark on answers word for word out of book, or is it your interpretation?

The pass mark is not given but is considered to be about 70%, this will vary if it was an easy exam then the pass mark will rise. Once they have the results the pass mark is tagged from a bell curve.

Answers will need to have specific information in them, depending on the question, but they are generally looking for understanding of what is written, answering what is asked and correct terminology. The marks will be awarded for the correct inclusion of the information requested. Miss-spellings and bad hand writing are not a factor (so long as it is readable and comprehensible.

 

[Android Marvin]

Hey, having studied like I've never studied before I found the exam pretty straight forward.

After looking at many past papers and example questions I found none of the really tricky questions coming up except maybe Volt Drop and specifics on IP rating. Thankfully these ones were in the Part A section and I'll have only dropped a few marks, hopefully.

I finished a bit early and preceded to look over the paper and changed 3 or 4 answers as I wasn't happy, just as well I did as I checked later and all the ones I changed, I got right.

Hopefully I've done enough and now just have to prepare for the practical exam whenever that will be.

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Thanks Richard Burns. Was hoping to work out if I passed from previous test papers.

Ringer, I also found that the scenario was not used that much. Nothing out of the norm, that was designed to catch you out, from what I could tell.

 

[glennprice]

Also took exam last night goin fairly easy apart from got abit lost on departures from bs7671 for within distribution board I put
Missing labels
-next time date
Connection of conductors
-poorly terminated cables
Missing charts diagrams or tables
- every distribution board should have a chart diagram or table located within or adjacent
Selection of protective devices
- that devices are selected correctly for overload and fault protection

But think I got completely miss lead what you guys do?
Cheers

 

[Android Marvin]

Hey Glenn

I was a bit confused about that one, left it to the end and wrote a speel.
If I remember correctly I wrote.
-Cable sizes to big for terminals
-Holes on front of DB incorrect size for IP rating
-too much copper showing at termination, insulation cut back too much
-busbar missing protective cover if relevant
-cpc and neutral cables in the incorrect order on their relevant terminal blocks in relation to the order of the CBs.

Probably all wrong but we'll see.

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Not great on the deviations question.

Presence of Protective conductors - check to see if there are any missing circuit protective conductors.
Identification of conductors - verify all conductors have identification and are colour coded
Cable Current Rating - verify all circuits have the correct current carrying capacity for intended use.
Presence of warning notices - Any voltage differences, RCD has intergral test device notice saying test quarterly(not a good answer).

Can't think what else I put for that. My answers are not word for word out of GN3, I am hoping it is good enough.

 

[glennprice]

Ahh yes i put that I put blanks missing
- doesn't comply with ip2x
I left it to the end to apart from that I found the other questions fairly straight forward but worried if I lost all 15 marks on that one plus a few others in places might not of done enough :/
The thing that got me was on the test forms where it states departures from bs7671 you wouldn't write that in there so confused

 

[glennprice]

Billy all your answers sound better than my answers! All I'm really hoping for on that question is to srape a few marks but thinking looks like a 0

 

[AndyL]

May have a problem with some of the answers above if the question is talking about inspection within the board as would not expect to see the mentioned labels there, other than that cant see much wrong

 

[BillyBigBalls]

I think the opposite Glen (sorry I got the name wrong, I should quote, I am still drunk), I think the question was "practical" things you were looking for, giving examples. I am not sure I did that for everyone. I tried to state word for word out of GN3. I hope I will still get marks for it.

 

[mills.phil]

Why not talk about metal db earthing steel trunking earthing and size of mcb to cable size

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Some other questions and stupid things that I did wrong are flooding back to me.

State 3 services that would be connected to bonding? (not word for word)

Metal Gas Pipe, Metal Water Pipe, and my mind went blank.

Two methods for determining Voltage Drop?

Argh...Calculation and Direct measurement.

3 methods of achieving compliance if Zs do not comply?

Increase CSA of conductors
Increase rating of protective device
Additional protection by 30mA RCD ???

Draw a TN-C-S earthing system, earth fault loop path for the lighting circuit.

I drew the generic earth fault loop path diagrams for a load, but added a lighting circuit to it. The thing that gets me is the generic drawing you find everywhere does not show the circuit breaker operating, so I hope that is fine. I also (trying not to swear) missed out the supply earth electrode, I only put the additional one, how I messed that up, I just had a bad day.

There was also 2 calculations if I remember right. One was m ohms/m and other R1+R2. Was the R1+R2 a ring circuit?

 

[mills.phil]

Billy the metal work of the building the three methods i put the same and for the voltage drop the same TNCS i did not say the lighting i just put load

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Billy the metal work of the building the three methods i put the same and for the voltage drop the same TNCS i did not say the lighting i just put load

Cheers Phil, the metal work of the building did not occur to me. I struggled with a third answer for that one, played on my mind for the rest of the exam. In the end I just said heating and ventilation metalwork lol

 

[mills.phil]

You never know with the exam paper marker he may like this ??

 

[Android Marvin]

I did much the same as Billy, I did put checking for loose connections to achieve compliance with Zs.

Bit worried about the questions on IP rating in Zones 1 and 2. Didn't give that much thought, only really thought about IP ratings at the DB when I studied. Hopefully don't drop too many marks.

 

[AndyL]

3 methods of achieving compliance if Zs do not comply?

Increase CSA of conductors
Increase rating of protective device
Additional protection by 30mA RCD ???

Sorry Billy bad news, increasing the rating of the protective device would mean Zs needs to be even lower, you could possibly have changed the type

 

[BillyBigBalls]

I think there were 2 calculations needed, can't really remember exactly. One was m ohms/m calculation of 2 conductors. Was that an R1+R2 for a ring?

 

[Android Marvin]

You never know with the exam paper marker he may like this ??

That's the problem with non multiple choice questions, it is all up to the exam paper marker to see if he thinks you've done enough.

THE SUSPENSE IS GONNA KILL ME!!

 

[mills.phil]

We could go round to his house and see if he/she would like a hand with the marking

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Damn it. I knew I was doing something wrong in that question. I've dropped marks on all of those questions. I think I will be doing a resit, not a bad thing really because I will learn more, but all the revision needed for this exam takes up a lot of time.

 

[Android Marvin]

The problem is my work say that it'll be OK if I fail, everyone deserves a second chance. Think of the pressure if I have to re-sit, don't think they'll give me an infinite amount of chances.

 

[BillyBigBalls]

Loose connections did not even enter my tiny mind.

For the shower question I put. 1.20m from a fixed water outlet not containing a basin, with a basin, the area circumscribing the basin.

I need to look up all my answers, but I just can't face it yet.

 

[mills.phil]

Zone 1 in the shower zone two outside the shower up to 600mm a basin is not in a zone

 

[BillyBigBalls]

I think you have nothing to fear, sounds like you did well. I can imagine the pressure from work, and the difficulties studying while working. For me, I am not working, I have very little practical experience, I have only recently finished the 2330 full time at college, so it is all basically out of a book I have learnt.

 

[Android Marvin]

Wish I could have brought a copy of the paper home to double check what I put against the books.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

This thread makes interesting reading. I know that the exam is not an easy one, if you have revised like hell, then it may appear easier, but dont any of you try and do yourselves down because you thought it was easy. The fact is it is a hard exam, so well done to all. If it is easier for any reason, then i can only think that C&G have gone a bit soft, and want everyone to get through before it all changes. Once it has changed, if you havent passed both parts its back to square one. I dont for a minute think C&G will have gone soft in anyway, you will have achieved a pass by nothing other than bloody hard work.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[wrighty]

sat mine last night, and i think ive wasted the £660 it cost me for the course and the exam. was off to what seemed like a flyer and then all of a sudden i hit a brick wall. i could see the answers in GN3 in my head but just couldnt read them if you get what i mean.

Think i might keep my head in GN3 and prepare for the resit

 

[tucksey]

Hi lads
I think the inspection. Of the dB also done me
I put no sleeping on cpc
Uninsulated busbar
Signs of overheating. At mcb
No bonding on dB cover(as it said metal)
And can't remember the other
Also the Ip ratings got me

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Sorry meant sleeving

 

[rapparee]

i put

ip ratings <missing blank plate>

conduit entering db board<not reamed and bushed>

db not securely erected <securely fixed to wall>

conductors loose <check terminations secure at mcb>

conductor identification <wrong colour>

@tucksey re earth sleeving, i was going to say this but it said that installation was done in pvc singles

 

[rapparee]

sat mine last night, and i think ive wasted the £660 it cost me for the course and the exam. was off to what seemed like a flyer and then all of a sudden i hit a brick wall. i could see the answers in GN3 in my head but just couldnt read them if you get what i mean.

Think i might keep my head in GN3 and prepare for the resit

£660 that was a wild price it only cost me £150 to do it in N Ireland

 

[rapparee]

for three methods of complying with ze i put

increase csa of cpc

decrease the length of the circuit

change fome a type c to a type b breaker

 

[rapparee]

what did people say for documentation made available to inspector

i put manufacturers instructions and previous eic/schedule of results and inspections

this was a weak answer from me what should i have said??

 

[mills.phil]

rapparee i put Log of faults last schedule of tests can not remember the third i am trying hard to forget the exam

 

[mills.phil]

By the way rapparee did you do the test in a collage or another it cost me £600 plus 1 free retest if needed

 

[rapparee]

By the way rapparee did you do the test in a collage or another it cost me £600 plus 1 free retest if needed

i did it at the local college £150 although any resit costs extra, and we had to buy our own books gn3 bs7671 and onsite guide, however all other materials were provided

 

[tucksey]

Fair play I was just trying to think in a panic!!!

i put

ip ratings <missing blank plate>

conduit entering db board<not reamed and bushed>

db not securely erected <securely fixed to wall>

conductors loose <check terminations secure at mcb>

conductor identification <wrong colour>

@tucksey re earth sleeving, i was going to say this but it said that installation was done in pvc singles

 

[BillyBigBalls]

what did people say for documentation made available to inspector

i put manufacturers instructions and previous eic/schedule of results and inspections

this was a weak answer from me what should i have said??

I think that is a good answer, it said state, so no explanation necessary. Manufacturers instructions is a good answer, and a 10 year old installation at a Paper Mill(?) would must of had a previous PIR. Maybe maintenance records, would of been another option as a document. In guidance note 3 it always relates to 'diagrams, charts and tables'. In the question they said no diagrams or charts were available. So I answered Tables and Previous Test documents.

 

[BLBelfast]

I can barely remember any of my answers never mind the questions.

- - - Updated - - -

And it cost me £540 for three day course and the exams in Northern Ireland.

 

[rapparee]

I can barely remember any of my answers never mind the questions.

- - - Updated - - -

And it cost me £540 for three day course and the exams in Northern Ireland.

did you go to ett in ballymena, sounds a bit steep.

i done it at the local tec the girl that organised it told me they got a subsidy through some business support group, through stormont

 

[BLBelfast]

did you go to ett in ballymena, sounds a bit steep.

i done it at the local tec the girl that organised it told me they got a subsidy through some business support group, through stormont

Training solutions in Antrim, ETT was a bit cheaper but the fella teaching at Antrim was highly recommended

 

[Blackout]

well at the time of the exam my mind went blank and came out thinking that was hard, then within 5 mins starting to realise how many mistakes i made and how easy it really was. nerves i guessing. silly mistakes like..

What type of switch would be used in a bathroom.

my answer; a double pole switch. (what a c**k) i think they was looking for pull cord.

The more i thought about it the more i started to think and know how many i got wrong. Im doing the july exam now as im pretty certain i have failed.