EXAM GUIDE

18th Edition Exam Tips: How to Pass C&G 2382

The C&G 2382 exam is 60 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours, open-book, with a 60% pass mark. This guide covers the exam format, the regulation areas that come up most, how to tab your BS 7671 book, time management strategies, and the study techniques that actually work.

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10 min readUpdated 2026-06-10Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1The C&G 2382 exam is open-book — knowing where to find regulations quickly is more important than memorising every number.
  • 2Part 4 (Protection for Safety) and Part 5 (Selection and Erection of Equipment) make up the bulk of exam questions — prioritise these.
  • 3Tab your BS 7671 book methodically: colour-coded tabs for each Part, with sub-tabs for heavily examined regulations and appendix tables.
  • 4Practise with timed mock exams to build speed — many candidates know the material but run out of time.
  • 5Elec-Mate offers 46+ training courses, flashcards, and timed mock exams that mirror the real C&G 2382 format.
01 · Exam Guide

C&G 2382 Exam Format and Structure

The City & Guilds 2382-22 is the current 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations exam. It assesses your knowledge of BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 — the standard that governs electrical installation work across the UK. Passing this exam is a requirement for most electrical qualifications and is essential for anyone working in the industry.

  • 60 multiple-choice questions covering all Parts of BS 7671, including the Appendices.
  • 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete the exam. That works out at 2 minutes per question — tight if you need to look up regulations.
  • Pass mark: 60% — you need at least 36 correct answers out of 60.
  • Open-book exam — you can bring your copy of BS 7671 with tabs (no handwritten notes). You cannot bring in the On-Site Guide or Guidance Notes.

The exam is typically taken at a City & Guilds approved centre. Some providers offer the exam as part of a classroom course (usually 3 to 5 days), while others offer it as a standalone assessment for distance learners. Either way, the exam itself is the same.

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02 · Exam Guide

Key Regulation Areas That Come Up Most Often

While the exam can draw from any part of BS 7671, certain areas appear far more frequently than others. Prioritise your study time on these sections:

Part 4: Protection for Safety

Chapter 41 (protection against electric shock) is the most heavily examined area. Know the disconnection times in Table 41.1, the maximum Zs values in Tables 41.2 to 41.4, and the requirements for RCD protection under Regulation 411.3.3. Chapter 43 (overcurrent protection) and Chapter 44 (overvoltage protection) also feature regularly.

Part 5: Selection and Erection of Equipment

Chapter 52 (wiring systems) covers cable selection, installation methods, and the correction factors from Appendix 4. Chapter 53 (switching and control) and Chapter 54 (earthing and protective conductors) are also frequently tested. Earthing arrangements (TN-S, TN-C-S, TT) are essential knowledge.

Part 7: Special Locations

Sections 701 (bathrooms), 702 (swimming pools), 704 (construction sites), and 711 (exhibitions) are commonly tested. Know the zone requirements for bathrooms, the additional RCD requirements, and the IP ratings needed for each zone.

Part 2: Definitions

Do not skip the definitions. The exam regularly tests whether you understand terms like "skilled person (electrically)," "basic protection," "fault protection," "extraneous-conductive-part," and "simultaneously accessible." A question might hinge on knowing the exact definition.

Part 1 (Scope, object and fundamental principles), Part 3 (Assessment of general characteristics), and Part 6 (Inspection and testing) are also examined but typically carry fewer questions. Still, do not ignore them entirely — a few easy marks from these sections could make the difference between pass and fail.

03 · Exam Guide

Building an Effective Study Strategy

The 18th Edition exam rewards structured, active study. Reading the book cover to cover is not efficient — BS 7671 has over 500 pages and much of it reads like a legal document. A better approach is to study strategically, focusing on understanding and recall.

  • Use active recall. After reading a section, close the book and write down what you remember. Then check. This is far more effective than re-reading. Elec-Mate's flashcards tool is designed for exactly this — rapid-fire questions that test your recall of key regulations.
  • Apply spaced repetition. Review material at increasing intervals — 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days. This moves information into long-term memory. Elec-Mate's study planner automatically schedules your revision sessions based on this principle.
  • Practise with mock exams. Take full 60-question, 2-hour mock exams under timed conditions. This builds both knowledge and exam technique. Elec-Mate offers timed mock exams that mirror the real C&G 2382 format, with detailed explanations for every answer.
  • Study the tables and appendices. Many exam questions require you to look up values from tables — particularly Appendix 3 (maximum earth fault loop impedance) and Appendix 4 (current-carrying capacity and voltage drop). Practise finding values quickly.
  • Learn the numbering system. BS 7671 uses a logical numbering system: Part → Chapter → Section → Regulation. Once you understand it, navigating the book becomes much faster. For example, 411.3.3 is Part 4, Chapter 41, Section 411, Regulation 411.3.3.

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04 · Exam Guide

Common Question Types You Will See

Understanding the types of questions that appear on the C&G 2382 exam helps you prepare more effectively. Here are the main categories:

  • Regulation recall: "According to Regulation 411.3.3, additional protection by an RCD with a rated residual operating current not exceeding ___mA shall be provided for..." These questions test whether you can find and interpret specific regulations.
  • Table lookups: "Using Table 41.3, what is the maximum earth fault loop impedance for a 32A Type B MCB in a TN system with a 0.4s disconnection time?" You need to find the right table, the right row, and read the correct value.
  • Scenario-based: "An electrician is installing a new circuit in a bathroom. The socket outlet is located 2.5 metres from the edge of the bath. Which zone does this fall within, and what protection is required?" These require you to apply multiple regulations together.
  • Definition-based: "Which of the following is the correct definition of an extraneous-conductive-part?" Taken directly from Part 2 of BS 7671.
  • Calculation-based: "A circuit is protected by a 20A Type B MCB. The design current is 16A. Using Appendix 4, Table 4D5A, what is the minimum cable size for installation method C?" You need to apply correction factors and read the tables.

The best preparation is to practise all question types. Elec-Mate's mock exams include a mix of all these formats, with each question linked to the relevant BS 7671 regulation so you can review the source material after answering.

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05 · Exam Guide

Time Management in the Exam

With 60 questions in 120 minutes, you have exactly 2 minutes per question. That sounds manageable, but in practice, time pressure is one of the main reasons candidates fail. Some questions can be answered in 30 seconds; others require looking up multiple tables and applying several steps, which can take 4 to 5 minutes.

  • First pass: answer what you know. Go through all 60 questions and answer every question you can answer immediately — from memory or a quick lookup. Mark any questions you are unsure about and move on. This ensures you collect all the "easy" marks first.
  • Second pass: tackle the harder questions. Return to the marked questions. Now you have the remaining time to look up regulations, cross-reference tables, and work through calculations. Prioritise questions where you have a reasonable idea of where to find the answer in the book.
  • Never leave a question blank. There is no negative marking. If you have 30 seconds left and three unanswered questions, make your best guess on each one. A 25% chance of a correct guess is better than a guaranteed zero.
  • Time your mock exams. Practise under real time pressure. If you consistently finish mock exams with time to spare, you are in good shape. If you are running over, focus on speeding up your book navigation.

The candidates who manage time best are those who have practised looking up regulations so often that they can find any regulation within 10 to 15 seconds. This is where book tabs and familiarity with the numbering system pay off.

06 · Exam Guide

How to Tab Your BS 7671 Book for the Exam

Tabbing your BS 7671 book is one of the most effective exam preparation activities. A well-tabbed book can save 30 to 60 seconds per lookup, which over 60 questions could save you 20 to 30 minutes. Here is a systematic approach:

  • Colour-code by Part. Use a different colour tab for each Part of BS 7671. For example: Part 1 = red, Part 2 = orange, Part 3 = yellow, Part 4 = green, Part 5 = blue, Part 6 = purple, Part 7 = pink. Place these on the first page of each Part.
  • Sub-tab high-frequency regulations. Within Part 4, tab Regulation 411.3.3 (30mA RCD requirement), Table 41.1 (disconnection times), Tables 41.2–41.4 (maximum Zs values), and Regulation 433.1.1 (overload protection). These come up in almost every exam sitting.
  • Tab every Appendix. Appendix 3 (maximum earth fault loop impedance tables) and Appendix 4 (current-carrying capacity tables) need their own prominent tabs. You will use these multiple times during the exam.
  • Tab Part 7 special locations. Mark Section 701 (bathrooms), 702 (swimming pools), 704 (construction sites), and 711 (exhibitions) individually. These sections are self-contained and easy to find with a dedicated tab.
  • Tab Regulation 514.12.1. This one covers warning and information notices — it appears on almost every exam paper and is easy to overlook if you have not tabbed it.

Practise using your tabbed book during mock exams. You will quickly discover if any tabs are in the wrong place or if you need additional tabs for regulations you keep searching for. The goal is to be able to open your book to any major regulation or table in under 15 seconds.

07 · Exam Guide

Final Preparation Checklist

In the final week before your exam, use this checklist to make sure you are fully prepared:

  • Complete at least 3 full timed mock exams (60 questions, 2 hours each). Score 70%+ consistently before sitting the real exam.
  • Review all questions you got wrong on mock exams. Find the regulation for each correct answer and tab it if you have not already.
  • Run through your flashcards one final time, focusing on the cards you keep getting wrong.
  • Check your BS 7671 book: all tabs in place, no notes written on pages, book is the current edition (2018+A2:2022).
  • Confirm your exam date, time, and venue. Arrive 15 minutes early. Bring photo ID and your BS 7671 book. No other materials allowed.
  • Get a good night's sleep. The exam tests focus and speed as much as knowledge — being well-rested makes a measurable difference.

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