How to Prepare for the Exam
You can consult the aspects of skills that may be the subject of questions in the exam and, if applicable, the documentary references to help you prepare. This information is accessible online, in the section Information sheets for the qualification examination.
Before your exam, avoid learning the material under pressure at the last minute. Steady preparation over a longer period makes it easier to memorize information. In addition, the quality of skills and diversity of experience acquired during your apprenticeship on site remain your best assets for passing the exam.
Tips
Here are some tips that may improve your chance of passing the exam:
- You can consult sample questions similar to those that may be asked in some trades or specialties; these questions do not constitute a review but are a tool to help you familiarize yourself with the type of questions in a qualification examination.
- In some trades or specialties, the exams require knowledge and use of a code (electricity and plumbing codes, for example) or installation standards manuals to execute certain tasks; if this is the case (see the information sheet for the exam), familiarize yourself with these documents before your exam.
- If there are some bibliographic references on the information sheet for the exam, read the suggested books; these references may be a complement to the practical apprenticeship.
- If you have earned a diploma of vocational studies (DEP) or taken other training programs or activities related to the trade or specialty, review the important elements in your manuals, workbooks, and notes.
- The CCQ offers upgrading activities related to your trade or specialty; these activities allow you to review certain theoretical notions, review the skills of the trade, and thus prepare better for the exam.
- Get a good night’s sleep before your exam; you’ll be more relaxed!
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Advice for the exam
Stress may take hold when you receive your exam. Stay calm and follow this advice:
- Listen to all the instructions regarding the exam before you start.
- We recommend that when you start your exam, you look at how many questions are in the exam and estimate the time you will have to answer each question. For example, to answer 50 questions in three hours (180 minutes), the average response time for each question should be almost four minutes.
- Concentrate on one question at a time.
- First, try to figure out the answer to the question without looking at the choice of answers, then check whether it is there; if no answer comes to mind for a question, look at the choices offered and find the correct answer by process of elimination.
- If you have the right to consult a code or set of standards, your skill at consulting this document will help you find the answer to certain exam questions quickly.
- Avoid losing time on a question that you find difficult or don’t know the answer to; it is better to go on to the next question and return to the difficult one before the session ends; otherwise, you may lack time to answer questions that you find easier.
- If you skip a question, make sure to return to it later.
- Do not leave any question unanswered.
Fraud alert
It is forbidden to take notes, in whole or in part, on the content of the examination, or to remove the material, which is the property of the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). Any action that disrupts the examination process or any violation of the examination rules will be considered as fraud and will result in failure of the examination.
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The Day of the Exam
It is very important to know that candidates who are late will not be allowed into the exam room and will have to register for a future session. Do not underestimate the amount of time it will take to get to the location of your exam.
You must present one valid piece of identification (unexpired) with photograph from among the following list.
People with disabilities
La Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is committed to offering adapted services to people with a motor, visual, or auditory disability. People who need any assistance with taking their exam may contact Customer Services directly at 1 888 842-8282.
Instructions
Strict instructions, aiming to avoid plagiarism and maintain a climate favourable to concentration by other candidates, will be given to you at the start of the exam session. Among them are the following:
- It is forbidden to have in your possession electronic devices such as a cell phone, a smart watch, a computer, a pager, or a camera.It
- is forbidden to use documentation such as personal notes, books, or dictionaries.
- Only one person at a time may leave to go to the bathroom. If you leave the room without permission, you will have to hand in all of your documents. Your exam will then be considered terminated.
- You may take no documents out of the exam room.
- The only materials allowed during the session are those that the CCQ makes available to you.
For more information on the instructions and authorized materials, consult the candidates guidelines for the provincial examination.
Please consult the information sheets to find out if documentation (e.g., a code) will be handed out to you at the exam.
People with disabilities
La Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is committed to offering adapted services to people with a motor, visual, or auditory disability. People who need any assistance with taking their exam may contact Customer Services directly at 1 888 842-8282.