FREE SAMPLE RESOURCE · QS & CONSTRUCTION APC
Applied judgement at your APC interview
The final assessment is not a memory contest. Assessors explore how your decisions met the competency requirements, how you recognised limits and why you advised a particular course of action.
1 · Your Level 3 evidence
For each Level 3 competency, prepare at least two authentic examples you can defend. Record the project context, your precise role, advice you gave, alternatives, contractual or professional basis, client response and lessons learned.
Practice prompt: Tell us about a time your recommended procurement route was challenged by programme pressure. What options did you assess, what risks did you quantify, and what advice did you ultimately give?
2 · A commercial scenario
At month eight of a project, the contractor claims prolongation costs following several design changes. Their evidence combines a period of employer-risk delay with possible contractor-critical delays.
- Identify the form of contract and any amendments before making assumptions.
- Separate entitlement to an extension of time from any contractual entitlement to loss and expense.
- Review programme updates, critical path analysis, variation instructions and contemporaneous records.
- Consider concurrency and applicable contract wording/case law; do not assume a blanket rule.
- Recommend a transparent assessment, identifying missing information and appropriate notice requirements.
3 · Five probing interview questions
- Which particular record changed your advice and why?
- What was the strongest alternative recommendation and why did you reject it?
- What would you have done differently in hindsight?
- What were the contractual and professional risks if the client ignored your advice?
- How did you demonstrate that the work and advice were personally yours?
4 · Eight-week revision rhythm
Weeks 1–2: map competency evidence and identify gaps. Weeks 3–4: revise technical and contractual principles using your own projects. Weeks 5–6: case-study presentation, ethics and realistic scenarios. Weeks 7–8: timed mock interviews, corrective study and rest before assessment.
Illustrative training resource only. Always check the latest official RICS pathway guide and applicable project contract. APC Academy is independent and is not endorsed by RICS. No pass guarantee.