Exams

There are 2 exams at the end of each module that you must pass before you are able to reschedule your next module. The passmark for both tests is 80%. If you get a 79% or below you will be able to reschedule the tests and retake only the answers you got wrong. You will retake these wrong answers until you bring your passmark up to 80%.

The two exams are:

1. BTSC exam
2. City and Guilds exam

You will be required to pay 20 pounds for the BTSC exam. The first take of the City and Guilds is free, but if you have to retake it is another 20 pounds.

The questions on the exam are are multiple choice, although they are often not very clear and can have many right answers, are not relevant or outdated.

Module Revision

Okay, if you have signed up to the college you will need a head start on what to revise. I will give you the framework but you must do the work! I will not post all of the modules here but just enough to give you a good head start. I hope this helps.

The first test you must pass before you even start your course modules is the Health and Safety exam.

Please note: My suggestions here are only with regards to the book revision. In addition, if you are already attending the college, the book revision does NOT supplement your paying attention in class and taking notes. You must also add to my suggestions BTSC TCM revision as well. If you are not attending the college courses yet, at least you have a heads up on what you will be covering before you get there!

Also, there is some different information on the same topics in all of the books.  I use the two (JTL and John Thompson) in my revision to get a well rounded understanding of the information.

Health and Safety Exams

My personal suggestions for revision on the Health and Safety exam is:

Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL

Chapter 1, 2, 3

Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson

Chapter 1, 2

Safe Start by CITB

Module 1

You will be covering pipe bending, soldiering, fittings, etc. The very basics of plumbing. You will still cover a large portion of Health and Safety over again in this module.

My suggestions to get a heads up on module one is to revise the following:

Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL

Chapter 1, 2, 3

Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson

Chapter 1, 2

(Most new information will be in your notes and BTSC TCM)

Module 2

You will be covering Cold Water Supply in this module. Get a head start reading up on anything to do with cold water systems, storage and circulation.

Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL

Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson

Chapter 3, 4, 5, 8, 9

Module 3

This is a very important Module.  You will be covering everything to do with Hot Water and Hot water systems.  I suggest even revising and refreshing some of the Module 2 information on cold water storage cisterns as well.

Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL

7, 8, 9, 10

Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson

6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 17

Module 4

Coming soon…

Getting a head start

Getting a head start!

The college does not have a policy of telling the students in advance what to study to get a head start on the courses. They want everyone to go into the courses on the same level.

That is where this blog comes in handy!

To give you a head start, I will go over some of the books sold by BTSC at contract signing for level 1&2. You level 3 people already are advanced enough to figure out what is going on in the industry. This blog is designed to give people, who know nothing about the plumbing industry and desire a career change through a BTSC course, a head start.

Here is a list of the 6 books that BTSC will sell to you on contract signing:

1. Safe Start by CITB (Amazon UK)
2. Plumbing Mechanical Sevirces Book One by G.J. Blower (Amazon UK)
3. Plumbing Mechanical Sevirces Book Two by G.J. Blower (Amazon UK)
4. Plumbing by R.D. Treloar (Amazon UK)
5. Water Regulations Guide by Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (Amazon UK)
6. Plumbing Encyclopedia by R.D. Treloar (Amazon UK)

There is only one book listed here that one really needs to refer to in their revision (Water Regulations Guide by Water Regulations Advisory Scheme). The Plumbing Encyclopedia by R.D. Treloar is a good resource to have in general but you won’t need it for revision.

Everything you need to know to start your Health and Safety exam and to pass your first 4 module’s exams are going to be found in:

1. Safe Start by CITB
2. Plumbing Mechanical Sevirces Book One by G.J. Blower
3. Plumbing Mechanical Sevirces Book Two by G.J. Blower
4. Plumbing by R.D. Treloar
5. Water Regulations Guide by Water Regulations Advisory Scheme

However, you don’t need all of these books to have a good head start or to pass the BTSC exams. While attending the college, even some of the instructors will tell you that you will find that there are other books on the market that are better to revise from in addition to the notes from the classroom and the BTSC TCM (Trainee Courseware Manual). Two things they will refer you to, one website and one book that encompasses most of what you are taught for level 1&2.

1. Learne-A-Trade website revision CD
2. Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL (Amazon UK)
3. Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson (Amazon UK)

I cannot speak for the Learn-a-Trade software. Although it has been recommended by the college, I don’t know anyone who uses it. However, the two books, Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL and Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson, are two of the most valuable books you can purchase! Everything you find in the 6 books the college sells you will be covered in these two books. The books that the college sells you are packed with information but it is dry and not in a format that is easy to understand, read or remember for the beginner. The Water Regulations Guide by WRAS, Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL and Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson (along side of your class notes and BTSC TCM) are really the only books you need to revise and pass your exams. In fact, with these three books you will find you are covering some of the same information over again. However, I would suggest still purchasing the both since they are written somewhat differently. Of the two books, I prefer the Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson because I think it is written with passing the exams in mind and contains better self tests at the end of each chapter.

So, in short, if you want to get a head start on what you will be covering in class and pass your exams, purchase and revise with the following:

1. Plumbing NVQ and Technical Certificate: Level 2 by JTL
2. Plumbing Revision Guide by John Thompson

I will give you a beginners overview of what you will be covering in the Health and Safety Exam and first couple of modules so that you can study in advance before you get there! See this link: Module Revision

Course Material

Course Material

In addition to the 5 books they sell you at the contract signing (for Level 1&2), each module is supplied with a Trainee Courseware Manual (TCM). These roughly match the PowerPoint presentations they show you in the classroom. You will find that your training material is not up to date (not updated since 2005) and much of what you learn has to be double checked by more current books. That is not to say that the material is not still a good study aid, but you really have to know your material from more up-to-date sources.  We were told by our trainer that the reason the PowerPoint slides are not updated is because the person who designed them is no longer with the College and they cannot make the necessary changes.

The TCM is basically taken from the NVQ books and edited to suit the course. You will find much of the same information and diagrams. However, they only give you the backbone of what you need to know. You will have to do a lot of extra reading to learn everything you need to pass the exams. I will give you an idea of what to study and what books are best for this course.

In addition to the TCM, you will be given an evidence binder that chronicles your passed assessments and all of the hands on work you do. It is like a portfolio. Do not lose this! In fact, never take it out from the college or let it far from your sight! If you lose it, you will have to retake the entire course. That means paying for the modules and the extra 150 quid or so for the binder (which only costs the school less than a 5′r to put together).

Expect that you will have to write out evidence sheets of the tasks you perform and get your picture taken. These are added to your evidence binder as proof that you understand and have accomplished the tasks given.

Periodically you are given questionnaires that you must answer and are revised at the end of the week. These are very helpful.

In the workshops, when doing assessments that require drawings, you are supplied with drawings to follow.

Security and Rules

In your orientation they would have told you what I am telling you here.

If you have been to the college for your interview you would have noticed that upon entry into the college is a security station. This is usually unmanned. However, every Monday morning and most evenings when the college closes, there will be a security guard present.

Beyond the security station, you will see straight ahead a keypad activated locked door. On the other side of the door is the workstations and classrooms. You cannot enter into those areas on Monday when you arrive until you first go upstairs to the offices and find out what area or classroom you will be in that week. You will be given a key code to be given access after you are told where you have been assigned.

Remember where to park and not to park! Don’t park in bays 1-13, staff parking or parking for other businesses or you will be clamped!

No food or drink in classrooms or work areas.

No working in work area unless your instructor is present.

CCTV is everywhere.

When taking your exams remember about CCTV. They will catch you cheating. You are not allowed to write down questions from test for later review.

Smoking in designated area near the back of the building, not outside of the front door.

You must wear your safety gear in the work areas.

Remember, security staff have little to do other than watch the students and are patrolling and enforcing these rules. Especially during breaks and in the car park.

BTSC Marketing (Getting you to stump up the cash)

So, how did they persuade me to part with my precious millions of Pounds? Okay, well maybe not that many but a whopping 5,000 of them!

First, I called BTSC to enquire about the program, when it starts, costs, content, etc. I talked to a person who will remain nameless for the purposes of this review. I was given minimal information at this point and told that I need to schedule an “interview”, which involved quite a long trek!

Okay, talk about sales pitch! These people can really lay it on and if you don’t know exactly what you are getting into, DON’T sign anything! I fear for those who I have heard of taking out loans or spending hard earned cash and not realizing what exactly is happening until they get into the college and find out that some things may have been misrepresented. The BTSC sales set up is the same for any common door to door sales pitch, except you have to schedule an interview and go in yourself. Having seen many schemes myself, I was privy to their game and thoroughly questioned them and took their information with a ‘grain of salt’. A ‘grain of salt’ is how you should view any information coming out of the mouth of even BTSC salesmen. I’ll explain more on this point further down this post.

First thing you will notice is that they have their recruiting set up much like an interview if you were applying for a regular job. Your interviewer is not actually an employer but a salesman. During the interview process you are asked questions just like in a job interview and will feel the need to try to ‘prove’ that you deserve one of the ‘few slots’ they have open for new recruits. You are then given the grand tour around the Centre and brought back to the office.

After you are totally impressed with the facilities they ask you if you are still interested in the opportunity to become a qualified plumber. You say yes (naturally because you feel like you are actually interviewing for special acceptance into limited open slots) and they hand you your brochures outlining Level 1&2 NVQ and Level 3. Now comes the discussion about cost. You are given 2 prices. One price covers Level 1&2, roughly 5,000. Level 1&2 has 8 one week modules. I will explain what that entails in another post. Level 3 has 5 modules and is roughly prices out at another 5,000. If you are still interested at this point you are given 2 options of payment, if you are accepted. Note that at this point you are still not accepted into the college. You can pay either in one large installment. If you choose this plan you are given a 1,000 pound discount. The second payment option is to pay in two installments with no discount. Payments are to be made after having been accepted into the college. Note: The payment is a non-refundable payment! If you get into the course and decide you’re not plumber material or you get yourself kicked out for some reason you will not get back any of your money.

You are then sent to a test room to take an aptitude test in which you must score a 80%. Don’t let that scare you, it is an easy test.

You are told to go home and think about it while they consider you and they will inform you via post if you have been accepted into the college. What happened in my case, I received a call a few days later from the salesman… *cough*… interviewer. He told me that hundreds of people come through the centre per day and he had narrowed it down to just a few of us. He said that he had “x” amount of slots open and one too many people to consider. He interviewed me again and told me to explain to him why I deserve the slot over another bloke. I told him. After the phone interview he told me I could be expecting an acceptance letter, which I promptly received a few days later.

The letter of acceptance was simple and requested me to come in to another appointment for the contract signing and to bring my passport, national insurance number and check for the correct amount. I met with him again and was shown the contract and explained the terms and conditions.

According to their contract, you have 12 months to complete Level 1&2, that’s 8 1-week modules. If you fail a module or run over your 12 months you are charges another 350 pounds per module to progress in the course. The procedure for scheduling your courses and exams is explained to you.

This brings us to the things they fail to mention or misrepresent in their sales pitch or wait until after you sign your contract to mention.

You cannot book modules in advance.

You cannot start (or book) your course modules (module 1) until you attend an orientation and take a Health and Safety Exam. At orientation they tell you that pass marks for all exams (BTSC and City and Guilds) are 80% and above. 79% is a fail and you would be given a chance to retake your exam. It took 3 weeks to book into the Healt and Safety exam before starting any of the modules. Contract time begins from its signing, not at Module 1!

Although in the terms and conditions it says that the time over the Easter and Christmas holidays is not included in your 12 month time limit, they do not tell you that it will take up to 6 weeks to book a module! You cannot be credited this time!

When booking your courses, the college is allowed to delay up to 4 weeks (in level 1&2) without crediting your account (except Easter and Christmas holidays which they can delay up to 6 weeks). If you have to wait more than 4 weeks during normal days (and more than 6 weeks over Easter and Christmas), you must write a letter by post requesting to be credited the time. In Level 3 the college is allowed to delay up to 6 weeks before they have to credit you time. (For example: If you call and book your next module, and you are given a date with a delay from the day you call to the module schedule date of 5 weeks. If it is not over a Easter or Christmas holiday, they will credit you back 1 week extending you contract termination date by that time.)

I was told that I could finish the course in 8 months. The salesman (interviewer) said I would book a Module (which is 1 week college training). After that week, I could take a week to study and book my exams. On the third week, I could take my exams. Assuming I pass, I would receive notification by post that week and book my next module for the following week (the 4th week from my previous module). This is impossible because the college is overbooked with students trying to get a date for their next module. Everyone must wait at least 4-6 weeks per module.

They tell you that if you want to go on holiday or need to take the time for some event you have the time. I was told I could do the course in 8 months (one module per month) if I really dedicated myself to complete the course. However, you have to wait 3 weeks for the Health and Safety exam before you even start and you cannot book your modules in advance, so you cannot plan a holiday or anything else for that matter. The delays are such that if you are lucky you will finish the course in 12 months let alone take time out for a holiday.

They boast having Centres, not only in Chessington, but many other locations. This is not true. Many others who have researched have found that Chessington (possibly Manchester also) is the only Centre open and operational. The other locations are just a wish list at present.

The salesman (interviewer) said, and our orientation group was told, that the college offers Part P training in Level 3. Later on in the course we were told that they do not offer Part P training, but are considering it.

Part of proving you performed the assessments they take photos of you. They have the right to use these photos however they see fit. So, if your camera shy or have a very good reason to not have your picture on the front of a brochure someday, you are now made aware before you sign your contract!

Lastly, on the signing of the contract they sell you 6 books (the college sells books). I can see only the necessity for two of the books and even the college tells you (after they sold you the books and start the module classes) of books they don’t sell that are better to study from. After you start your courses you will feel the need to pick up these books in order to study and revise. Some of the other costs like exams and safety equpment are mentioned at contract signing. This creates a feeling that the college has ‘hidden’ or ‘unexpected’ costs.

If I think of anything else I will update this post. Any questions, please feel free to leave a comment.