The End-point Assessments tests your knowledge, skills and behaviours gained during your training. It includes a Knowledge Test, a Skills Test and a Professional Discussion and it can start as soon as you have finished all of your training and the EPA Gateway requirements have been met.
Assessments should be taken in the order shown. However, with your employers permission, they can be taken in any order. You will be able to have one attempt at each component. Should you fail any of the components you can retake them only when all components have been attempted, and a Fail grade has been recorded.
Your employer, supported by your training provider, will arrange your training as you develop your skills in the workplace. You must spend at least 20% of your normal working hours (6 hours per week) on off-the-job training.
The training and support given will vary between employers and training providers but could include: knowledge and practical training in a training centre or online; collection of evidence; and support with English and Maths.
Your training provider will carry out assessments and monitor your progress throughout your training, but none of this will go towards your final grade.
You will need to record learning activities and collect evidence of some of your knowledge, skills and behaviours in a portfolio. Autoexel provides an Evidence Review Form for the portfolio, which you can use to help identify the evidence required and record its location.
The evidence in the portfolio will not be judged by your assessor. However, it will be used to guide the discussion and support you in demonstrating your understanding.
Your employer will confirm that you are ready to take the End-point Assessment and complete a Declaration and Consent form, which also needs signing by yourself and the training provider.
Your training provider will submit your Portfolio and copies of your English and Maths certificates to Autoexel. Autoexel will check that they meet the requirements and approve you for the End-point Assessment.
This marks the end of your training and the beginning of your End-point Assessment. You have three months to achieve an overall Pass grade, otherwise the entire EPA must be retaken.
There is one Knowledge Test consisting of 60 questions, with a maximum time limit of 90 minutes.
The Knowledge Tests can be taken either at your training centre or remotely at any suitable location using a web link and camera.
Grading
- 0–47 marks = Fail
- 48–55 marks = Pass
- 56–60 marks = Distinction
Autoexel have practice tests available which can be completed at any time and on completion of any of the tests you can download a Coaching Report, which shows your score for each topic.
The Professional Discussion will last approximately 45 minutes.
The Professional Review will be based around the Professional Review Criteria listed in the Evidence Review Form submitted as part of your portfolio and will cover health & safety, commercial productivity, customer service and behaviours.
You can achieve a Fail, Pass or Distinction in the Professional Discussion.
Your Trainer will arrange your Skills Test. There will be 5 tasks to complete over two consecutive days:
- Identify panel material and different substrates from a range of panels supplied. Using technical data sheets, document how to repair and refinish process.
- Prepare and paint a new plastic and a new steel panel.
- Prepare a vehicle for masking by identifying trim components to be removed and mask the vehicle so that the rear wing/quarter panel and adjacent door can be painted.
- Repair/prepare and refinish a scratched steel panel. Carry out colour blend and clear coat fade out on the steel panel. Using flatting and polishing techniques to remove any dirt inclusions, paint defects and polish the fade out area.
- Identify the correct variant using available colour matching tools from an existing painted panel. Prepare and apply the correct variant to a previously painted 3 stage panel and to confirm an acceptable match to the spray out card chosen. Blend the colour onto the painted panel and apply clear coat to the whole panel.
Your assessor will grade you on your overall performance over the two days. You can achieve a Fail, Pass or Distinction in the Skills Test.
You will receive your results of the Knowledge Tests at the end of the test and the results of the Professional Discussion and Skills Test will be emailed to you within 21 days.
When all three assessment methods have been completed you will receive an overall grade, which will be determined by collective performance in the three assessment methods: Knowledge Test, Skills Test and Professional Discussion.
If you fail any of the methods you will receive a Fail overall grade. You will achieve a Pass if you achieve a Pass in all three methods and to achieve an overall Distinction you will need to achieve a Distinction in all three methods.
If you feel that the assessment has not been carried out correctly then you have 31 days to submit an appeal.
Your employer will need to agree that a retake is an appropriate course of action and you should receive a supportive action plan to prepare for the retake.
There is no limit on the number of retakes allowed, however they must be taken within 3 months from the EPA Gateway, otherwise the entire EPA must be retaken.
The maximum grade awarded to a retake will be a Pass.
We will apply for your certificate 31 days after you have been awarded your overall grade. Unless requested otherwise, the certificate will be delivered to your employer.
For further information regarding the apprenticeship standard and assessment plan, including the full details of the assessment methods, please see the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website.
