Professional Examination

What are you expecting?

What are the expectations of the assessors?

The HKIE Professional

Assessment
Submission Preparation

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1. Training and Experience Report

• The object of the candidate’s report is to

inform the Assessors about the
Candidate’s training and experience
• The report should be concise, between
1600 and 2000 words, in good English,
typewritten on single sides of A4 paper
and submitted in duplicate

• His account should be in chronological

sequence and should explain clearly the
precise position he has occupied on each
case and the degree of responsibility
assigned to and discharged by him
• Enlarge on any special problems he has met
and on which he has obtained more
extensive experience

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• An indication of the size and cost of work
should be given

2. 4,000 word Project Report

• Is to demonstrate the candidate’s

technical and professional competence
• The report should describe a project or
parts of a project on which the candidate
has been employed in a major role during
the period of post-graduate training and
practical experience

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• The report should include examples of
works, together with sufficient supporting
documents to demonstrate the candidate’s
competence, involvement and appreciation
of the whole spectrum of the development
of a project

• The candidate should describe the role he

played in the development of the project
and should indicate the background to any
important decisions for which he was
responsible
• The report should consider commercial,
statutory, safety, environmental and
sustainability considerations

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• The report should also include numerical
analyses, drawings, sketches, and/or other
illustrations as appropriate
• Cost data should be included to
demonstrate the candidate’s
understanding of the financial implications
of the decisions taken

• Pre-interview Project Presentation

• Candidates will be able to use the
supporting document, submitted as part of
the 4,000 word Reports, and will be
permitted to use photographs and drawings
to illustrate the presentation. No visual
aids such as slides, overhead projectors or
flip chart will be allowed

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• The purpose of this part of the
assessment is to ensure that candidates
are able to present themselves orally as
well as in writing

3. Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Record

• In general, at least 10 days should be

devoted to ‘technical’ subjects, 10 days to
‘contractual/professional’ subjects and ½
days per year be devoted to Environment
issues and also Health and Safety in
Construction

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• The Engineering Supervisor will be
responsible for defining ‘days’ and deciding
which courses are ‘acceptable’ as CPD days
for Scheme ‘A’ candidates
• For candidates under the General
Experience Route the acceptability of CPD
days will be decided by the Assessors

4. Training Logbook

Applies to Scheme A or ICE training scheme

candidates only
• The Role of the Civil Engineer in the
Community
• A professional civil engineer is expected to
be aware of , and take due recognition of,
the Community and environment in which
he/she lives and works

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• Candidates should use the Training Report
and Project Report to demonstrate that
they have thought sufficiently about the
role of the civil engineer in the community.
They should be able to form broad views of
the social value of their work and
demonstrate their awareness and positive
actions to protect the environment in which
they live and work

If the assessors feel that the

Candidate’s report fails to
demonstrate this knowledge they may
set an essay question on the role of
the Civil Engineer in the community

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 Dos
Dos’’ & Don’ts’
Don’ts’
During
Your preparation

Dos’ and Don’ts’

• Do prepare well written reports since the

assessors are expecting a high standard as
you are assumed to have time to prepare and
vet the documents both by yourself and your
supervisors
• Do ask your supervisor and colleagues to
read your report and ask you questions

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• Do allow some openings in your reports for
the assessors to question but don’t over-do
• Do in your report tell the assessors what
you have learned
• Do ask yourself whether you understand
the issues contained in the report
• Don’t rush to finish your reports without
proof reading. Remember that these are
the first things to give the assessors your
impression

• Don’t put in everything just for the sake of

giving a chronological sequence of your
experience. Avoid expanding too much on
things that you have touched only
superficially
• Don’t just put in description of the works.
Emphasize on what you have done

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 The Assessor‘s Perspective
Assessor‘s

1. Presentation of the Project Report

• 15 minutes for the candidate to present

• No questions will be asked
• As this part of the assessment comes first,
you are giving the assessor the first
impression

– Therefore …..VERY IMPORTANT

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• Although no question will be asked during
the presentation, you should be prepared for
more in-depth questions on the project
during the interview
• Do expect that one of the essay question
will be set on the questions asked about the
project

2. Interview

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• The assessors are expecting well prepared
and grammatically correct reports since it is
expected that the reports are vetted by
your supervisors

• Do expect that the assessors will ask question on

subjects which you haven’t came across
What should you do……?
– Don’t be nervous as this will emotionally overcome your
logical thinking
– Make sure you understand what the assessors are asking.
If in doubt, repeat to the assessors in your own wording
your understanding of the question

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– Do tell the assessors the truth that you do not
have the experience on the subject if you are
really not having
– Then tell the assessors how you will tackle the
problem by applying your experience and
knowledge to a different circumstance
– Don’t worry! The assessors are after all testing
your application of knowledge and experience for
a logical and practical solution to an engineering
problem

– Some typical questions:

• What is the function of sub-base?
• What is liquidated damages?
• Will you allow concreting if the slump doesn’t
comply if this is the final truck available?
• Name some elements in a Project Quality Plan
• What should be considered when designing a
certain civil engineering element?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of an
RE wall?

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• What are the effects of vehicle overloading on a
pavement?
• What are the contractual basis for claims?
• How are cracks controlled in concrete?
• Types of plant used in construction and their
capacities
• How do you understand a lump sum contract?
• How many elements are there in a safety plan?
• How is bottom dumping controlled to avoid mud
wave in reclamation?

• What are the normal limits for noise, air and

effluent discharge (water quality)?
• When is the contractor required to revise his
Clause 16 Programme?
• What are the critical factors affecting the
watertightness of a concrete structure?
• Under what circumstances are variation order
issued?
• What is most important to ensure safety?

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Essay

Some typical essay questions

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 Dos
Dos’’ & Don’t’s
Don’t’s
During
Professional Assessment

The Assessors’ perspective

Dos’ and Don’t’s

• Do arrive a little bit earlier to familiarize

yourself with the venue
• Do start some relaxed conversation with the
assessors even if they don’t. This will help
to warm both you and the assessors up and
create a more relaxed atmosphere
• Do practice well your presentation as this is
the first impression of the interview

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• Do always wear a relaxed smile on your face and
maintain a good eye contact
• Do be confident about your point but don’t argue
• Do expect that most of the questions will be
directed at your experience and project reports as
more often then not, the assessors will not be
having enough time to read in detail your training log
book

• Do expect the assessors to ask the theory

behind the work you have done.
• Do expect the assessors to ask how the
work you have designed can practically be
constructed

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• Do tell the assessors you don’t have the experience
when being asked questions on things you don’t know.
Tell your answer by saying that if you were put into
such position, then you would…………, drawing
experience from something you know
• Do expect the spectrum of questions asked will
cover all the scope, including quality, safety,
environment as well as sustainable development

• Do give the assessors a very good impression

during the interview as this will help in the
way the assessors are going to set your
essay questions. This essentially means if
the assessors think you are ok, they will set
an easier question
• Do draft the framework with points for your
essay answer on the front sheet

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• Do write with good penmanship
• Do be concise and to the point
• Do make sure you have enough points to give
1,600 words
• Do often use signpost word to add flavour to
your writing
• Do draw a conclusion for the ending

• Don’t overrun the presentation.

• Don’t be nervous when being asked questions
on something you don’t know
• Don’t pretend to know if you don’t know. Tell
the assessors you have not come across this
or you did not notice this and then tell your
answer by saying……..similar to above

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• Don’t challenge your assessors since they
may know something you may have missed
• Don’t just stop to think as you have to
maintain the rhythm of the interview. If
you really need time to think, tell the
assessors that you need a moment to think

• Don’t think you know everything as even the

assessors don’t
• Don’t just start right away to answer your
essay question without a framework and
points
• Don’t rush to finish your essay

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• Don’t put in abbreviations you think are
commonly used
• Don’t write incomplete sentence
• Don’t ever write less than 1,000 words as
this essentially means a fail

Sustainable
Development

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Sustainable Development is:-

• “Development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs”

This means:-

• Finding ways to increase prosperity and improve the

quality of life while reducing overall pollution and
waste;
• Meeting our own needs and aspirations without doing
damage to the prospects of future generations; and
• Reducing the environment burden we put on our
neighbours and helping to preserve common
resources.

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Engineers’ Commitment to
Sustainable Development

• Our professional engineers, with advanced scientific

knowledge and specialised technical skills, endeavour
to shape Hong Kong as a prosperous international
city by building world-class infrastructure.
• We are dedicated to making a safe, green and
pleasant living environment for Hong Kong.
• We will work hand in had with all sectors of the
community to achieve a sustainable future for Hong
Kong.

Sustainable Development
Considerations

• Social
• Environmental
• Economic
• (Natural Resources)

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Considerations in Engineering
• Renewable Energy – Solar, Wind, Waste, (hydro?)
• Clean Coal, Bio-energy
• Reduce Energy Wastage
• Reduce Emission
• Recyling C&D Material and Waste
• Reduce Water Wastage
• Reclaimed water
• Development/Ecology Balance
• Greening
• More…………….

4. Pass/Fail?

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• Impress the assessors during the interview.
It will help your chance of success unless
you are real bad in your essay

The Profession of a Civil Engineer

• Being the art of directing the great sources

of power in Nature for the use and
convenience of Man.

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