For most of our Proficiency Modules, the examination includes a written paper and a practical assessment and candidates must pass both elements, and for some of the Modules, the qualification is not complete without a further supporting submission of a report. Reports can only be submitted (directly to the BOHS Head Office) once the candidate has passed (both of) the required preceding written (and practical) element(s). Where there is a formactive practical assessment, this is run as part of the course and tutors will directly assess candidates' suitability to continue to the written examination at the end of the course. Unless specified otherwise, Proficiency Module written examinations are not open book and will be independently invigilated.
Full details are encapsulated in the table below.
Examination format and marking scheme
Module
Number | Part A – written | Part B –Practical Assessment | Reports | Pass Marks |
|---|
| P304 | 30 short answer questions to be answered in 90 minutes
under open book conditions | Formative practical assessment to take place as part of the
course not as a Part B examination; see the relevant Syllabus
and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written |
P401 | 20 short answer questions to be answered in 45 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 70% pass in practical (in each element) |
P402 | 40 short answer questions to be answered in 90 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | Reports of 2 refurbishment surveys | 50% in written 80% in practical (in each element) pass in both reports |
P403 | 20 short answer questions to be answered in 45 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 70% pass in practical (in each element) |
P404 | 40 short answer questions to be answered in 90 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 80% in practical (in each element) |
P405 | 40 short answer questions to be answered in 90 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 80% in practical (in each element) |
P406 | 40 short answer questions to be answered in 90 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 80% in practical (in each element) |
P601 | 35 short answer questions to be answered in 75 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | Reports of 2 ventilation assessments | 50% in written 70% in practical (in each element) pass in both reports |
P602 | 35 short answer question to be answered in 75 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | n/a | 50% in written 70% pass in practical (in each element) |
P701 | 35 short answer questions to be answered in 75 minutes | See the relevant Syllabus and Practical Assessment Guidance | Reports of 2 HAV assessments | 50% in written 70% in practical (in each element) pass in both reports |
P801 | 30 short answer questions to be answered in 45 minutes | No Practical Assessment | n/a | 50% in written |
P901 | 20 short answer questions to be answered in 45 minutes | No Practical Assessment | n/a | 50% in written |
P902 | 20 short answer questions to be answered in 45 minutes | No Practical Assessment | Report of 1 field assessment of water systems | 50% in written pass in report |
Sample questions and past papers
Course Providers may well offer some guidance on examination technique. We provide a guidance document on the Short Answer Question (SAQ) examinations, and this document includes information about the marking scheme, as well as sample questions and answers; please note, however, that these may not be current questions, do not necessarily relate to current legislation and do not necessarily cover all of the examination subjects - the sample questions and answers are for guidance only.
We do not, currently, provide past question papers as we are building our question banks up following the changeover from Multi Choice Questions to SAQs and so in some circumstances need to re-use the same paper for future examinations. However, we do hope to be in a position to issue past papers in the near future; these will be available via the BOHS Head Office and there will be a charge levied to cover our paper and administrative costs. Watch this space!
Results – written & practical examinations
Our target maximum turnaround from receipt of examination scripts and practical assessment sheets (where applicable) to issuing of results is four weeks for all of our Proficiency Modules. We always issue all results as quickly as possible and frequently manage to do so well within this timescale. However, because we have no control – and little advanced warning – of the number of examinations being taken at any one time, and a robust quality procedure to follow to ensure accuracy and consistency of marking, there are busy periods beyond our control when results can take more than four weeks.
We issue all of our results by post. We NEVER issue results over the phone or by email. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Results – reports
Our target maximum turnaround from receipt of reports to issuing of final results is four weeks. We always issue report results as quickly as possible and frequently manage to do so well within this timescale. However, we have no control over the number of reports we receive on a daily basis and, as with the written results, there are busy periods where the process can takemore than four weeks.
Queries and appeals
Queries, appeals and complaints must be submitted in writing by post, fax or email to the BOHS Head Office. Appeals will be accepted by BOHS before the results have been issued, but in all cases appeals must be received by BOHS within 28 days of the date of the candidate's result notification. Any appeals received outside of this timeframe may not be pursued.
In general, queries/appeals should be raised by candidates or Course Providers; issues raised by others (eg. employers) will be addressed but we are unable to discuss individual performances of candidates with a third party, including their employer.
If a complaint is specifically about the conduct and/or content of a taught course, this should be addressed directly to the Course Provider concerned in the first instance.
Borderline results on written examinations are automatically remarked before being issued, therefore any request for remarking will be confined to checking that no administrative errors have occurred.
No appeal will be entertained solely on the grounds that the candidate wishes to challenge the judgement of the examiners.
Download our Queries and Appeals Policy for full details (see the Downloads box on this page).
Re-sits
Candidates can apply to re-sit the examination only, as an external candidate, with a Course Provider (ie. it is not compulsory to re-take the course). If only one element of the examination has been failed, candidates need only re-sit that part. If a written part only re-sit is required, candidates may apply to any Course Provider to re-sit at a date and venue where any BOHS examination is being held. If either the full two-part examination or just the practical assessment needs to be re-taken, then candidates should apply to a Course Provider which offers this particular examination.
In all cases, bookings and payment should be made directly with Course Providers.