The AM2 is the final practical hurdle before qualifying as an electrician. This guide covers what it involves, how to book it, why candidates fail, and a focused 2–4 week preparation plan to maximise your chance of passing first time.
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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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The AM2 (Achievement Measure 2) is the practical End Point Assessment for electrical apprentices in England completing the Installation Electrician/Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship standard (ST0215). It is the final hurdle before an apprentice achieves their full electrical qualification and can apply for a JIB ECS Gold Card (Electrician level).
The AM2 is administered by EMTA (Engineering and Manufacturing Training Association), which acts as the End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO). It is conducted at approved EMTA assessment centres — typically further education colleges and private training providers with dedicated electrical installation training rigs. All AM2 assessors are EMTA-appointed and independent of the candidate's training provider.
Unlike the theory exams (City & Guilds 2365 units) and the NVQ portfolio, the AM2 is a live practical assessment observed in real time by the assessor. Performance on the day — including speed, accuracy, and safety — directly determines the outcome. There is no "portfolio of evidence" element to the AM2: you either complete the tasks correctly within the time limit or you do not.
This guide covers what the AM2 covers, how to book it, the pass rate and common failure points, and a 2–4 week focused preparation plan.
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The AM2S (the current version for apprentices starting from 2017 onwards) involves approximately 16.5 hours of assessed practical work across 2.5 days. The five task areas are:
Install steel conduit and PVC conduit to a defined route, including bending steel conduit to specified angles (90° set, offset, saddle) using a conduit bender and forming junction boxes. Assessment criteria include accuracy of bends, correct fixings, and quality of finish. This task is not required in the original AM2.
Wire a consumer unit board to a wiring diagram within a time limit. Typically includes a ring final circuit, lighting circuit, cooker circuit, and radial circuit. All cables must be correctly routed, dressed, identified, and terminated. The consumer unit wiring must be neat, correctly phased, and comply with BS 7671. Assessment criteria include correct termination of every conductor, correct identification, cable routing, and overall standard of workmanship.
Carry out the full inspection and testing sequence on the installed board per BS 7671 Chapter 61. This includes visual inspection, continuity of protective conductors (R2), continuity of ring circuit conductors (R1, Rn, R2), insulation resistance (L-E, N-E, L-N), polarity, earth fault loop impedance (Ze and Zs), and RCD operation (trip time at IΔn and 5×IΔn). Record all results correctly on the schedule of test results in the correct format. The testing sequence must follow the correct BS 7671 order — not all tests can be done with the board energised.
The assessor introduces pre-set faults into the board. Candidates must identify, locate, and rectify the faults using appropriate diagnostic instruments and logical fault-finding methodology. Common fault types include open circuits, short circuits, high-resistance joints, polarity faults, and earth faults. Candidates must not randomly swap or disconnect components — a systematic approach is expected. Document the fault, the diagnosis method, and the rectification.
Functional commissioning of the installed circuits, confirming correct operation of all protective devices, RCDs, and socket outlets. Environmental task typically involves questions about energy efficiency, waste disposal, and sustainable installation practice. The EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) or schedule of test results must be correctly completed for the work carried out.
The AM2 booking process cannot be initiated by the candidate directly — it is managed by the employer and training provider as part of the End Point Assessment gateway process:
Contact EMTA at emta.org.uk for a full list of approved assessment centres. Assessment centre places fill quickly — employers should submit gateway reviews as early as possible once the candidate is genuinely ready.
The AM2 first-attempt pass rate is estimated at approximately 70–75%. Understanding the common reasons for failure is the most efficient way to prepare. The four most frequent failure causes are:
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The AM2 rewards candidates who have practised the specific tasks under realistic conditions. The following 4-week plan has been recommended by UK electrical training providers:
Revise BS 7671 Chapter 61 inspection and testing sequence. Review the wiring diagrams for a standard domestic consumer unit — ring final, lighting, cooker. Practise completing a schedule of test results from memory. Review fault-finding methodology: logical elimination, half-split technique, voltage measurement approach.
Wire the consumer unit board to the AM2 wiring diagram — accuracy and quality first, speed second. Carry out the full testing sequence, identifying the correct order of tests at each stage. Practise conduit bending (AM2S): 90° bends, sets, and offsets to specific dimensions. Focus on consistent quality, not speed.
Repeat each task against the AM2 time allowance. Identify which tasks are taking longer than allocated. Focus extra practice on the slow tasks. Practise the full test sequence at speed — instrument setup, measurement, recording — all within the time limit. Simulate the fault-finding task with a colleague or training provider introducing faults.
Complete a full AM2 simulation day — all tasks in sequence under time pressure, with assessor-style observation from your employer or training provider. Review any areas of weakness. The day before the assessment, rest and ensure your equipment is ready (calibrated MFT, charged batteries, PPE complete).
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Try it free for 7 daysKnowing what to expect on AM2 assessment day reduces anxiety and allows you to focus on performance:
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