SVQ Level 3

Carpentry & Joinery Skills Test

Information for Employers and Apprentices
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Guidelines:

1. The Skills Test for Carpentry & Joinery must be taken by apprentices approaching
the end of their four year modern apprenticeship (MA). Adult Apprentices
complete their skills tests after two years.

The MA is not complete until the test is passed. A re-sit of the test will be
available.

Adult apprentices will sit the test after their 2 year time element has been
completed.

2. The duration of the test will be one day (8 hours) at a Carpentry & Joinery Skills
test centre.

3. The test will assess competencies from the Scottish Qualifications Authority
(SQA) Awards and UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) Approved
Qualification Structure derived from National Occupational Standards (NOS)

Information on the Qualification structure is available on the CITB Website.

Information on the NOS is available on the UK Standards website.

4. Candidates will be assessed on five test items; an achievement is required on all

test items.

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Employer and Candidate Checklist

Preparation on the points listed below should prove beneficial when taking the
Carpentry & Joinery Skills Test.

Employer Checklist

 Provide sufficient time for the candidate to prepare

 Ensure the candidate is prepared

 Provide refresher training as necessary

 Provide candidate briefing prior to the test

 Encourage the candidate to approach the skills test in a positive and confident
manner.

Candidate Checklist

 Understand what competencies you are required to demonstrate

 Ensure you are prepared and have undertaken refresher training if it is required

 Approach the skills test in a positive and confident manner

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Assessed Elements

Candidates are provided with instructions prior to the test they have 15 minutes to study
the information before commencing.

Candidates are expected to inspect the materials provided and report any findings to the
invigilator which will be recorded and reported to the assessor and taken into consideration
where relevant.

Candidates should bring their own tools as detailed to the test, the candidates completed
test will be assessed using the same equipment: -

An independent assessor will mark the completed structure as either a pass or fail, there is no
grading system.

1. The overall test consists of the following five tests items:

a) Fit and fix a mortice latch and latch set

b) Fix door lining (already prepared)
c) Hang a door to a rebated frame
d) Fix skirting
e) Cut and fix canopy members

(The tests can be carried out in any order)

2. Each component part of the test carry the following marks

a) 4 points from a possible 6

b) 5 points from a possible 9
c) 4 points from a possible 6
d) 3 points from a possible 5
e) 6 points from a possible 9

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CITB

Skills Testing

Candidates’ Joining Instructions (Carpentry & Joinery)

1. You have been booked for a Skills Test on the date and at the Test Centre shown on your copy
of the booking letter. You should report to the test Invigilator at the time and place shown on
the attached instructions and map. Please ensure you report on time, as trainees arriving late
may not be allowed to take the test.

2. You are reminded that candidates must conform at all times to the rules of conduct of the Test
Centre. Any candidate who fails to abide by the rules or to accept the instructions of the
Invigilator or his accredited representative may be excluded from the test.

3. Candidates will be briefed in detail by the Invigilator on the test requirements when they arrive
at the Centre. General rules on the test are listed below:

a) Candidates will be required to break for lunch at the same time where facilities for lunch
and refreshments are available candidates must pay for their own meals.
b) Candidates are not allowed to smoke, or to use a radio or audio equipment within the
test area.
c) Candidates will only be allowed to take the test if they are wearing suitable clothing and
footwear. Trainers are not allowed.

4. Candidates must bring some form of photographic identification, e.g,

driving licence.
5. Tools and equipment – Candidates must bring a pen, pencil and a kit of tools containing the
following:

1. Crosscut saw 9. Assorted chisels to include 10mm firmer or bevel edged

2. Panel saw 10. Bevel
3. Tenon saw 11. Marking gauges
4. Coping saw 12. Bradawl
5. Square – Combination Square 13. Assorted screwdrivers
6. Hammer 14. Mallet
7. Nail Punch 15. Oilstone/oilcan
8. Jack and smoothing plane 16. Portable drill with power pack (fully charged) plus
assorted bits

NB: A 1 metre plumb rule/spirit level will be provided by the Test Centre. Do not bring one!

No power tools, other than those listed, will be allowed

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Candidates Instructions

1. The overall test consists of the following five test items:

A Fit and Fix a Mortice Latch and Latchset

B Fix Door Lining (Already Prepared)
C Hang a Door to a Rebated Frame
D Fix Skirting
E Cut and Fix Canopy Members

The tests can be carried out in any order.

2. The maximum time allowed to complete the overall test is 8 hours carried out in a
single day. The test will be stopped when this period of 8 hours has expired.

3. Plumb rules and levels which are provided within the test area must be used at all times
and remain in the area on completion. This is to ensure that the marking is carried out
using the same plumb rule and level.

4. If you need a tool, ask the invigilator. The test centre will provide it. Tools should be
returned at the end of the test.

5. Any problem with materials must be referred to the invigilator before the test
commences. If the material has been wrongly cut or jointed, you should as far as
possible adapt it for re-use, provided standards are met. No marks will be deducted
where this occurs.

6. Included in this booklet is a list of standards for each item giving the permitted
tolerances all component parts of the test are to be attempted in the given time? Each
component part of the test carry the following minimum marks

 Fit & Fix Mortice Latch and Latchset 4 points from a possible 6
 Fix Door Lining 5 points from a possible 9
 Hang a Door to a rebated frame 4 points from a possible 6
 Fix Skirting 3 points from a possible 5
 Cut and Fix Canopy Members 6 points from a possible 9

7. The completed test will be marked by an assessor who will either pass or fail your work;
there is no grading system.

8. It is your responsibility to work safely without danger to yourself or to others.

9. Stay within the test area allocated to you.

10. Candidates completing the test before time may leave quietly after informing the
invigilator.

This test booklet should be handed in to the invigilator before leaving the test area.
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Fit and Fix a Mortice Latch and Latchset

1. Check that you have the following items before the test commences:

Materials: 1 mortice latch

1 latchset

2. Mark, fit and fix a mortice latch and latchset to an inward opening door to height
shown on drawing

3. All work to be carried out to the standards listed

Study the drawing and list of standards before commencing test.

Standards and Tolerances

All parts operating correctly

Latch engaged into striking plate

No movement of door to exceed 1mm when closed

Fixing of latch and receiver:

(a) Latch and receiver securely fastened

(b) Latch case flange recessed flush or no more than 1mm below face edge of door stile
(c) Striking plate recessed flush or no more than 1mm below face of jamb
(d) Latchset backplate edges parallel to within 1mm of door edge

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Fix Door Lining (Already Prepared)

Fix softwood door lining into tower unit door opening using folding wedges and screw to
timber framework.

1. Check that you have the following items before the test commences:

Materials: 1 of 2.100m x 100 x 32mm p.a.r. door lining complete

2. Check opening for plumb and twist before fixing lining

3. Where opening is plumb and out of twist, fix lining flush with face of opening in
readiness for architrave if required

4. Where opening is not plumb and in twist, fix lining with minimum projection on face of
opening – NO FRONT EDGES OF LINING TO BE SET BACK FROM FACE OF OPENING

5. Underside of head of lining to be positioned from datum as indicated on drawing

6. Door lining to be fixed approximately at centre of opening

7. Door lining to be fixed at 4 points each side (with screws)

8. Method used to straighten jambs can be:

– folding wedges (cut flush with face edge of lining)

– packing pieces

9. All work to be carried out to the standards listed

Study the drawing and list of standards before commencing the test

Standards and Tolerances

 Internal width of lining at head as issued to within 2mm measured at top and bottom
 Underside of lining head positioned to within 3mm of dimension indicated from
datum (steel sole plate)
 Face of lining on hanging side plumb to within 3mm
 Edge of lining on hanging side plumb to within 3mm
 Lining fixed with no twist exceeding 3mm
 Head of door lining face flush with steel framework
 Head of door lining level to within 2mm
 Lining fixed and packed in four places each side
 No hollows or bows in jambs exceeding 3mm

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Hang a door to a rebated frame

1. Hang door to the rebated frame in tower unit on the test rig.

2. Check that you have the following items before the test commences:

Materials: 1 of 35mm internal flush door

1 pair 75mm butt hinges
14 of 25mm No 7 steel countersunk wood screws

3. Hang door to hand shown on drawing

4. All work to be carried out to the standards listed

Study the drawing and list of standards before commencing the test

Standards and Tolerances

 Door operates freely with no binding

 Top and bottom hinges recessed into frame and door edge (as local practice)

 Recesses cut neatly with no gaps exceeding 1mm around leaves of hinges (9 out of
12)

 Door hung with a clearance gap of a 2p piece or 2mm (minimum of 1.5mm and
3.5mm
 maximum) clearance gap parallel to within 1mm (top of door and sides only)

 Door hung to correct hand as indicated on drawing

 Arris removed from closing side of door

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Fix Skirting

Fix skirting to the skirting unit on the test rig.

Skirting section may not be as shown on the drawing!

1. Check that you have the following items before the test commences:

Materials: 1 of 2.000 skirting (MDF) Torus pattern 14mm x 95mm

38mm oval nails
Mitre Fast adhesive

2. Plan the layout of the skirting with the appropriate joints positioned correctly (internal
joints scribed and external joints mitred)

3. Skirting fixed directly by nailing to timber grounds on return end of rig

4. No ‘doctoring’ of mitres on extreme meeting points of timber

5. Skirting returned to floor with moulding mitred (one end only)

6. Skirting returned to wall with moulding mitred (one end only)

7. All work to be carried out to the standards listed

Study the drawing and list of standards before commencing test

Standards and Tolerances

 Internal joint scribed and external joint mitred

 Joints tight with no gaps exceeding 1mm

 No overlap exceeding 2mm at extreme ends of mitred joint (no ‘doctoring’)

 Skirting returned to floor at 150 mm

 Skirting returned to wall at 200 mm

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Cut and fix canopy members

Cut and fix canopy members to the table unit on the test rig with the plywood faced wall
plates already fixed.

1. Check that you have the following items before the test commences:

Materials: 1 of 1.800 x 100 x 38mm sawn

2 of 900 x 100 x 38mm sawn
1 of 2.300 x 150 x 38mm sawn
1 of 700 x 145 x 20mm planed finished size
65mm RHW nails
75mm RHW nails

2. Fix ridge to timber uprights

3. Mark rafter positions on ridge and wall plate

4. Measure length of hip (using measuring rod) to the corner of the plywood faced wall
plate before cutting the corner to expose the pre-cut end of the wall plate

5. Using the sliding bevel, transfer cuts from the bevel sheet for the canopy members

6. All work to be carried out to the standards listed

Study the drawing and list of standards before commencing test

Standards and Tolerances

 Pitch line 70mm from top of common and jack rafters (3 No.) and with no deviation
exceeding 3mm (2 out of 3 acceptable)
 Overhang of foot plumb cut of common, jack and hip rafters to be within 3mm of 100mm
(3 out of 4 acceptable)
 Height of common rafters as indicated (863mm) to within 10mm
 Sea cuts, common, jack and hip rafters on wall plate to have no gaps exceeding 3 mm (4No.)
(3 out of 4 acceptable)
 Plumb cuts, common, jack and hip rafter (4 No.) at correct angle with no gaps exceeding 3mm
(3 out of 4 acceptable)
 Edge cut to jack and hip rafters (4 No.) at correct angle with no gaps exceeding 3 mm
(3 out of 4 acceptable)
 Rafters positioned as shown on drawing measured at bottom to be within 5mm of size
indicated (1355mm and 555mm)
 Height of hip measured vertically above outside edge of wall plate to underside of backing
bevel to be within 5mm of vertical height on common rafter measured above outside edge
of wall plate
 Top of jack rafters finishing to within 2mm of backing bevel on hip

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