City & Guilds 2377 Study Guide

This study guide is for the City & Guilds 2377-77 award for the In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (603/6790/8). This qualification is recognised across the electrical industry and is designed for individuals responsible for overseeing the maintenance of electrical equipment, as well as those undertaking the practical inspection and testing of electrical equipment, commonly known as PAT Testing. The syllabus for this qualification is based on the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition.

The qualification is divided into two modules. The first module, unit 701, is a multiple-choice exam lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes, consisting of 50 questions with a pass mark set at 80%. The second module, unit 702, is a practical assessment where each candidate is evaluated while inspecting and testing two pieces of equipment and completing the necessary paperwork.

The exam is open book, meaning you can refer to the IET Code of Practice during the exam. The use of a non-programmable calculator is also permitted. This guide will provide you with the necessary knowledge and resources to succeed in both the practical assessment and the multiple-choice exam.

IET Code of Practice

To prepare for the exam, it's essential to have a copy of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition (ISBN:978-1-78562-966-3). This can be purchased from Amazon. The exam allows the use of the Code of Practice, but no other notes or reference materials are permitted. As this is an open book exam, there's no need to commit large sections of the Code of Practice to memory. However, familiarising yourself with its layout by reading through it beforehand will enable you to locate relevant sections quickly during the exam. The use of page markers can further aid in swiftly finding information. The book includes an index at the back, but it's important to note that it references chapter and section numbers, rather than traditional page numbers.

Exam Preparation

The exam comprises 50 multiple-choice questions, designed to assess your knowledge across several areas, as outlined in the table below. With the pass mark set at 80%, you'll need to answer at least 40 questions correctly to pass the exam.

2377-77 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Outcome	Number of Questions	%
1 - Understand the definitions used within the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment	4	8
2 - Understand the statutory and non-statutory requirements relevant to the management and maintenance of electrical equipment	6	12
3 - Understand the electrical units of measurement associated with in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment	3	6
4 - Understand the equipment construction classes and methods of protection within an electrical installation and how these relate to the provision of protection against electric shock	8	16
5 - Understand the procedures for the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment	8	16
6 - Understand how to carry out combined inspection and testing	18	36
7 - Understand the information that needs to be recorded following in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment	3	6
Total	50	100

1 - Understand the Definitions Used Within the Code of Practice.

These questions are focussed on testing your knowledge of the definitions found in Chapter 2 - Definitions. A typical question in for this section would be:

Click on an option to reveal the answer!

2 - Understand the Statutory and Non-Statutory Requirements

This part of the exam is all about testing your understanding of:

• 1) The requirements of statutory obligations and non-statutory standards.
• 2) Premises that are within the scope of the statutory and non-statutory documents.
• 3) Guidance given by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) relating to electrical equipment.
• 4) The legal requirement to maintain electrical equipment.
• 5) The reasons for inspecting and testing equipment.
• 6) The scope of the Code of Practice.

The answers to most of the questions will be found in either the Chapter 1 - Scope, or Chapter 3 - The Law. A typical question type in this section would be:

3 - Understand the Electrical Units of Measurement

These questions are all about testing your knowledge of the units of measurement when carrying out the tests. For this section, you will need to:

• 1) Identify SI units of measurement in relation to electrical equipment testing.
• 2) Understand the multiples and sub multiples of SI units.

In this section of the exam, you'll need to be adept at converting SI units of measurement, such as mA to A, or MΩ to Ω (see page 124). You are permitted to use a calculator during the exam. Appendix 8 will help in this section. For questions concerning the units for a specific test, you may also need to refer to Chapter 10 - Electrical Tests. A typical question type on units of measurement would be:

4 - Understand the Equipment Construction Classes and Methods of Protection

This section is all about testing your knowledge of Class I, Class II, Class II FE, Class III, ES2 and ES3 equipment construction types and how they provide protection against electric shock. You should have an understanding of:

• 1) Equipment construction and classification.
• 2) Construction identification marks.
• 3) How electric shock occurs.
• 4) How protective measures in an installation relate to the protection of connected equipment (i.e. Automatic Disconnection using fuses, circuit breakers and RCDs).
• 5) How equipment construction protects against electric shock.
• 6) The impact of conductor resistance on disconnection times.
• 7) The reasons for requiring the use of RCDs.

The answers to most of the questions in this section will be found in Chapter 6 - Equipment Classification. A typical type of question in this section would be:

5 - Understand the Procedures for the Inspection and Testing

The questions in this section are testing your knowledge of:

• 1) The different types of inspection and testing (ie. user checks, formal visual inspection, and electrical testing).
• 2) The factors which determine the frequency of inspecting and testing.
• 3) How to carry out risk assessments based on the factors identified.
• 4) What needs to be considered when carrying out a formal visual inspection.

This sections spans a few chapters of the Code of Practice, so you may need to refer to Chapter 7 - User Checks, Chapter 8 - Formal Visual Inspection, Chapter 10 - Electrical Tests, Chapter 11 - The Frequency of In-Service Inspection and Testing, and Appenix 6 - User Checks and Formal Visual Inspection. An example question type in this section:

6 - Understand How to Carry out Combined Inspection and Testing

This is an important section focused on testing your knowledge of carrying out the inspection and testing. There will be 18 questions on this section in the exam, 36% of the total marks! You should be able to:

• 1) Identify tests that are suitable for the different types and classifications of in-service equipment (Page 69).
• 2) Identify fake or inappropriate equipment (Page 90).
• 3) Identify the range of test instruments that can be used for testing electrical equipment (Pages 63 to 66).
• 4) Explain the need for test instruments and accessories to be accurate and in good working order (Page 66).
• 5) Understand how to safely isolate a supply before working on equipment (Pages 60 to 61).
• 6) Understand the difference between switching and isolation (Page 60).
• 7) Calculate the resistance of the flexible cable conductors and protective conductors (Page 107).
• 8) know how to carry out protective conductor continuity testing (Pages 70 to 72).
• 9) know how to carry out insulation resistance testing (Pages 72 to 73).
• 10) Understand the application of the protective conductor/touch current test (Pages 73 to 74).
• 11) know how to carry out polarity checks (Page 75).
• 12) know how to carry out functional checks (page 74).
• 13) Describe the requirement for testing RCDs (pages 77 & 78).
• 14) know the requirements for testing equipment lead sets (page 75).
• 15) Understand requirements for equipment that has a high protective conductor current (Page 78).
• 16) Interpret results that come from testing (Pages 71, 72, & 74).
• 17) Specify the actions to be taken with damaged or faulty equipment (page 87).

Some typical question types to expect in this section:

7 - Understand the Information that Needs to be Recorded

The final section is 3 questions based on record keeping. The answers to these questions will be found in Page 57, Page 62, Chapter 12 - Reporting and Record Keeping, and Appendix 4 - Model Forms. A typical question would be:

Advice for Answering Multiple Choice Exam Questions

1. Read the Question Carefully: Make sure you understand exactly what the question is asking. Look out for keywords or phrases that might change the meaning of the question.
2. Eliminate Incorrect Answers: If you're not sure about the correct answer, try to eliminate the options that you know are incorrect. This will narrow down your choices and increase your chances of selecting the correct answer.
3. Don't Rush: Take your time to read through all the answer choices before you make your selection, even if you think you know the answer after reading the first couple of options. There might be another answer that is more correct.
4. Look for Clues in Other Questions: Sometimes, an answer to a question can be found within another question on the test.
5. Trust Your First Instinct: If you have studied well, your first choice is often correct. Be careful about changing your answer unless you are absolutely sure the first one you chose is wrong.
6. Answer Every Question: It's better to guess than to leave a question blank. You can go back and change your answer later. Mark the question using the flag tool and go back to it at the end of the exam.
7. Review Your Answers: If you have time left at the end of the exam, go back and check your answers. Make sure you have answered all the questions and that you haven't made any mistakes in marking your answers.

Mock Exam Pactice

Mock exams are one of the most effective tools to help prepare you for the exam. We have a free mock exam that you can try. This will help you become familiar with the structure and format of the actual exam. This can go a long way in easing any exam-related anxiety, as you'll know exactly what to expect. If you have enrolled in a City & Guilds PAT testing course with us, you can also access some more full mock exams through your course account.

Practical Assessment

During the practical assessment, you'll be required to demonstrate your competence in inspecting and testing two items of electrical equipment, specifically a Class I appliance and a Class II appliance. If you're attending a PAT testing course, there's no need for undue concern about this practical assessment, as you'll have ample opportunity to practise inspecting and testing a variety of appliances throughout the course before the assessment takes place.

You'll also be required to record the results while conducting the inspection and tests. An example of the test record sheet can be found on page 103 of the Code of Practice. When filling out this form, it's crucial to ensure that no sections are left blank. For the 'Frequency' section, simply enter what you deem appropriate.

For the 'Test Results' section, there is a helpful note at the bottom of the form: (✓) indicates a pass, (X) indicates a fail, (N/A) means not applicable, and (N/C) stands for not checked. For instance, when testing a Class II item, ensure you enter 'N/A' in the box for the Continuity reading, rather than leaving it blank.

Most testing machines will automatically perform a leakage test as part of the test sequence, so record the leakage result under the 'Other' section of the test results. Remember to include the units (mA) along with the measurement.

If you have your own PAT testing instrument, you're welcome to use it for the practical assessment. However, it's important that your instrument is capable of displaying the actual readings for the tests. PAT checkers that only indicate a pass or fail result, without providing the specific readings, are not suitable for this assessment.