Exam Questions

Question 1

List three technical specifications relating to the selection of a wall mounted light switch, when recording on a materials list.

Answer 1

Answers
Any three (1 mark each);

 Gangs or number of switches incorporated
 Ways or switching operation
 Function
 Finish or colour or material
 Type (e.g. grid, plate, surface, flush etc)

Any other suitable answer but do not allow duplicate marks where same feature is given more than
one name.

Question 2

State the two types of losses associated with a transformer core.

Answer 2

The two acceptable (1 mark each);

 Iron
 Copper

Will accept eddy current loss or hysteresis as alternatives to iron loss but no other answers are
acceptable. If eddy current loss or hysteresis is given with iron loss, 1 mark only.
Will also accept heat loss as an alternative to copper loss. Question does state ‘the two’, so mark
first two if more given.

Question 3

State two types of single-phase AC motor.

Answer 3

Any two from (1 mark each);

 Capacitor start
 Split phase
 Universal
 Induction

Accept induction and split-phase or capacitor start separate answers for 1 mark each even though
each are induction motors. Accept squirrel cage as alternative to induction or wound for universal.

Question 4

State two types of fuse commonly found in electrical installations, protecting
the circuits.

Answer 4

Any two from (1 mark each);

 HRC or HBC
 Cartridge
 Semi-enclosed or rewireable
 Plug fuse

Accept BS numbers as alternative answers. Do not accept duplicates e.g., BS88-3 and Cartridge;
or BS88-3 (or BS88) and BS1361, as separate answers. Mark first two only and these must be
fuses for the marks.

Question 5

List three protective conductors commonly installed in electrical installations as given in BS 7671.

Answer 5

Any three from (1 mark each);

 Earthing conductor
 Main protective bonding conductor
 cpc
 Supplementary equipotential bonding conductor
 High integrity protective conductor
 Protective bonding conductor

Accept variations that are fully understandable and cannot be misunderstood. Do not accept
functional earth as this is not protective.

Question 6

List the first three tests carried out on a newly installed radial lighting circuit.

Answer 6

Acceptable answers are (1 mark each);

 Continuity (or continuity of conductors)
 Insulation resistance
 Polarity

No other answers acceptable - order not important. Do not accept continuity of bonding etc or ring
final.

Question 7

List three documents that would assist in fault diagnosis which are to be kept by the client.

Answer 7

Any three (1 mark each);

 Electrical installation certificates
 Periodic reports or electrical installation condition reports
 Operation manuals or manufacturers data
 Fault reports
 Planned maintenance schedules

Exact wording not essential and other similar or separate documents allowed such as schedule of
test results but no duplications such as inspection schedule for periodic and inspection schedule
for certificate.
If electrical installation certificate (or EICR) is given and schedules as alternatives, one mark only
as these form one document.

Question 8

List three factors that affect the decision between repairing or replacing a faulty item of equipment.

Answer 8

Any three (1 mark each);

 Cost
 Availability
 Downtime
 Legal responsibility
 Safety responsibility
 Accessibility
 Frequency of use

Other suitable but do not accept duplications such as cost to repair, cost to replace as this would
attract one mark only or how badly it is damaged (simple language for quantifying) for 1 mark.

Question 9

State the two methods of providing Basic Protection within a dwelling, in accordance with BS 7671.

Answer 9

Any two from (1 mark each);

 Insulation
 Barriers or enclosures
 SELV

Barriers and enclosures only count as one mark and must be given in full for the one mark. If
barriers and enclosures are given as two separate items, one mark only. Obstacles or placing out
of reach not acceptable for a dwelling. (restrict to first two answers but take care to keep barriers
and enclosures as one answer. Eg. barriers, enclosures is 1 mark only but could be presented as
two answers.

Question 10

List three labels, as given in BS 7671, that would be located on the installation consumer unit at the origin of an electrical installation.

Answer 10

Any three (1 mark each);

 Periodic test notice
 RCD test notice
 Alternative supplies
 Voltage label
 Mixed wiring colours

Other suitable notices or labels. Accept circuit chart even though this is not a label. Do not accept
bonding label as this would not be on the consumer unit. Do not accept sections/parts of a circuit
chart. Do not apply first three rule as many could be complex descriptions.