The EPA is graded Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction. All three assessment methods must be passed. The overall grade combines the Knowledge Test and Professional Discussion grades — the Practical Demonstration is Pass/Fail only.
Tests underpinning knowledge across all KSBs: planning and preparation, machining processes, quality inspection, health & safety, materials, CNC and continuous improvement.
The apprentice machines a complex component set by the EPAO from a pre-agreed bank. Machine type is not revealed in advance. The assessor observes throughout and asks supplementary questions.
A structured conversation led by the independent assessor, drawing on the portfolio. The portfolio underpins the interview — it is not directly marked. Learners must speak fluently to all evidence submitted.
| Knowledge Test | Professional Discussion | Practical Demo | Overall EPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinction | Distinction | Pass | Distinction |
| Distinction | Pass | Pass | Merit |
| Pass | Distinction | Pass | Merit |
| Pass | Pass | Pass | Pass |
| Fail (any) | Any | Any | Fail |
| Ref | Skill Statement |
|---|---|
| S1 | Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and procedures. |
| S2 | Comply with environmental, ethical and sustainability regulations; safe disposal of waste; efficient use of resources. |
| S3 | Prepare and set up conventional or CNC machines. |
| S4 | Operate and adjust conventional or CNC machines during production. |
| S5 | Apply risk assessment and hazard identification processes in the work area. |
| S6 | Monitor, obtain and check stock and supplies; complete stock returns. |
| S7 | Record information (paper-based or electronic); complete all required documentation accurately. |
| S8 | Read and interpret engineering drawings, technical data and job documentation. |
| S9 | Plan machining activities: produce operation sheets; select tooling; determine machining sequence; calculate cutting data. |
| S10 | Check and inspect materials against specification: confirm grade, dimensions, condition and traceability. |
| S11 | Select and use workholding and fixturing for conventional and CNC machining tasks. |
| S12 | Select, prepare and use cutting tools: install; set offsets; monitor wear; replace at appropriate intervals. |
| S13 | Machine complex components using a broad range of processes. |
| S14 | Produce, prove or edit CNC programmes: dry runs; prove-out; programme edits to correct errors or optimise cycle. |
| S15 | Inspect and measure components using appropriate equipment; record results; compare to drawing specification. |
| S16 | Identify, communicate and report non-conformances; quarantine; raise NCRs; investigate root causes. |
| S17 | Carry out in-process and final inspection; apply FOI procedures; maintain inspection records and traceability. |
| S18 | Maintain and restore the machining work area: housekeeping; waste management; swarf management. |
| S19 | Perform scheduled machine checks and safe machine shutdown / LOTO isolation procedures. |
| S20 | Communicate with stakeholders; keep them informed of progress, issues and resolution. |
| S21 | Support CI activities: identify waste and inefficiencies; contribute ideas; participate in improvement projects. |
| S22 | Select, handle and apply cutting fluids and lubricants correctly; monitor coolant condition; dispose in compliance with COSHH. |
| S23 | Carry out or support machine maintenance within scope of role: pre-use checks; lubrication; minor adjustments; escalation. |
| S24 | Apply ethical principles in all work activities: act with integrity; respect colleagues; uphold company values. |
| S25 | Apply team working principles: work effectively with others; share knowledge; support colleagues and apprentices. |
| Duty | Description | Key KSBs |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Safety checks and performance monitoring | K1S1S5B1 |
| D2 | Interpret engineering data; plan machining schedule | K4K5K6S8S9 |
| D3 | Check and inspect materials | K7K23S10 |
| D4 | Plan and prepare machining; tooling and workholding | K6K8K10S9S11S12 |
| D5 | Set up, operate, adjust or edit machining equipment | K9S3S4S14 |
| D6 | Machine high-quality complex components | K8K11S13 |
| D7 | Inspect components; adjust to meet quality requirements | K14K15S15S17 |
| D8 | Identify, communicate and report quality issues | K16K17S16S20 |
| D9 | Complete documentation at all stages | K18S7 |
| D10 | Maintain work area; housekeeping and waste management | K2K3S2S18 |
| D11 | Keep stakeholders informed | K17S20S25 |
| D12 | Scheduled inspection and machine shutdown | K13S19S23 |
| D13 | Support continuous improvement activity | K21S21B3B4 |
Gateway is not automatic. The employer must confirm the apprentice is occupationally competent before recommending gateway. The EPAO then checks all requirements before the EPA period begins.
| Stage | Typical Timing | Who Acts |
|---|---|---|
| On-programme training completes | ~Month 42 | Training Provider / Employer |
| Employer confirms competence | Month 42 | Employer |
| Portfolio submitted to EPAO | Gateway | Apprentice / Provider |
| EPAO gateway checks complete | Gateway | EPAO (City & Guilds) |
| EPA period begins | Month 43 | EPAO arranges all 3 methods |
| EPA period ends | Typically within 3 months | All methods complete |
The discussion is ~60 minutes led by the independent assessor, drawing on the portfolio. Model responses shown at Fail Pass Distinction.
"I look at the drawing and set the machine up. I've done it loads of times so I know what to do."
"When I got the job pack I read the drawing carefully to understand the dimensions and tolerances. I planned the sequence — roughing then finishing — and selected the right tooling for the material. I checked the bar was the correct grade and set up workholding, then did a first-off inspection before running the batch."
"The job was a precision hydraulic actuator rod in 17-4 PH stainless. Before touching the machine I studied the drawing: three critical h6 diameters all with total runout ≤0.015 mm to a common datum — which told me all three must be machined in a single setup to guarantee concentricity. I mapped the operation sequence on our operation sheet, identified which features needed quality engineer witness, and planned PVD sub-micron carbide at 180 m/min Vc with flood coolant and a defined insert change interval at 15 components based on tool supplier data. I checked the material cert for heat number, composition and hardness certificate, marked the heat number on the workpiece for traceability before loading. First-off was CMM-inspected on all critical features."
"I check the machine looks okay and clean up at the end."
"At the start of my shift I check the guards are in place, the machine looks undamaged, coolant is at the right level, and the area is clear. I wear the correct PPE. At the end of the shift I clean the machine, clear swarf, put tools away and shut down correctly."
"I follow a formal pre-use checklist: machine axis condition on a dry cycle; guards present and interlocked and functional; coolant concentration with a refractometer — logged with date, target 5–8% for our soluble oil; coolant colour checked for microbial growth; lubrication systems primed; emergency stop tested; work area clear; PPE confirmed. I also check the shift handover log. End of shift: LOTO with my personal padlock; tooling on shadow board; swarf into segregated metal waste bin per our environmental policy; exposed metal surfaces oiled to prevent rust; shift log updated; maintenance requirements raised via CMMS before leaving. The purpose is threefold: safety, quality, and compliance."
"I always try to do a good job and work efficiently. I think that is continuous improvement."
"We had a problem where tools were always being searched for. I suggested a shadow board so tools had a fixed place. We implemented it and set-up time improved. My supervisor said it saved about 10 minutes per set-up."
"I volunteered to lead a SMED exercise on a job where we averaged 87 minutes to set up a 4-axis CNC machining centre — run 3–4 times per week. I videoed three complete setups with the operator's permission, then analysed the footage frame by frame to categorise every activity as internal (machine stopped) or external (machine running). The biggest finding: 22 minutes was spent searching for the correct revision of the setup sheet and tooling — all external setup that could be done during the previous run. I designed a dedicated job trolley — pre-kitted with all tools, gauges, fixture hardware and the latest setup sheet. Average setup time dropped from 87 to 54 minutes — a 38% reduction. Over 52 cycles per year this freed up 28.6 hours of machine time. I was asked to train two operators in SMED methodology as a result."
"I just remachined it and it was fine after that."
"A component came out undersize on a diameter. I tagged it non-conforming, told my supervisor, raised an NCR, adjusted my tool offset and re-proved the first-off before continuing. The cause was tool wear that happened quicker than expected."
"We had a batch of precision bores drifting oversize by 0.003–0.005 mm over each 20-component interval. I quarantined the last 15 components, raised the NCR on all affected pieces, and began a systematic root cause investigation. I plotted the measurement data chronologically and confirmed the drift was monotonic — consistent with tool wear — but the rate was faster than previous experience with this material. I inspected the boring bar insert under the optical comparator and found accelerated flank wear caused by a partially blocked coolant-through-tool line. I rectified the blockage, replaced the insert, adjusted the offset, proved the first-off, and wrote a corrective action updating the SOP to include a coolant-through-tool flow check before each run. 8 quarantined components were salvageable under concession; 7 were scrapped. Lesson shared to the team: don't just fix the symptom — understand the mechanism."
Pass/Fail only — no Distinction. Machine type and component NOT disclosed to the learner in advance. The EPAO selects the task from a bank agreed with the employer.
| Stage | What is Assessed | KSBs | Pass / Fail Indicators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-task | Safety checks, PPE, machine condition, docs reviewed | K1S1S5B1 | ✅ Unprompted, systematic ❌ Skipped or repeatedly prompted |
| Drawing interpretation | Reads drawing, identifies datums, tolerances, GD&T | K5S8 | ✅ Correct before setup ❌ Proceeds without reading fully |
| Material check | Verifies grade, dimensions and traceability | K7S10B3 | ✅ Checked before machining ❌ Not verified |
| Sequence planning | Plans and articulates machining sequence with reasons | K6S9 | ✅ Logical, reasoned ❌ Random order, no reasoning |
| Tooling & workholding | Selects appropriate tooling and workholding; sets up correctly | K10S11S12 | ✅ Correct with justification ❌ Incorrect or unsafe |
| Machine set-up | Offsets set, datum established, programme loaded (CNC) | K9S3S14 | ✅ Verified ❌ Unchecked errors |
| Machining | Controlled operation, monitoring, adjustments | K8S4S13 | ✅ Controlled, quality-focused ❌ Unsafe, uncontrolled |
| Inspection | Correct instruments, technique and recording | K14S15S17 | ✅ Correct instruments ❌ Wrong instrument or poor technique |
| NC handling | Identifies NC, responds with correct process | K16S16B3 | ✅ Quarantine and NCR raised ❌ NC ignored |
| Documentation | Job card and records completed at all stages | K18S7 | ✅ Accurate, timely ❌ Missing or incomplete |
| Shutdown | LOTO, housekeeping, tool storage, waste segregation | K13S18S19B1 | ✅ LOTO applied, area safe ❌ Machine left running |
| Questions | Answers show underpinning knowledge of actions taken | All | ✅ Clear, accurate ❌ Vague or cannot explain |
Automatic Fail: Unsafe act risking injury · Failure to wear mandatory PPE · Bypassing a safety interlock · Deliberate equipment damage · Abandonment · Failure to report a significant NC
| Dimension | Pass | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Describes what they did | Explains why — reasoning, alternatives considered, technical justification |
| Initiative | Follows procedures correctly when instructed | Proactively identifies problems; drives solutions before asked |
| Quality | Reports non-conformances correctly | Investigates root causes; implements systemic corrective action; prevents recurrence |
| CI | Participates in improvement activities | Leads or initiates improvement with measurable, documented outcomes |
| Technical language | Correct terminology used consistently | Precise technical vocabulary used fluently and contextually |
| Safety | Follows safety procedures correctly | Safety mindset embedded in all decisions; actively challenges unsafe acts; explains the why |
| Documentation | Completes documentation accurately | Articulates multiple purposes of documentation; treats it as professional responsibility |
| Learning | Can reflect on own work when asked | Demonstrates continuous learning; shares learning with team; seeks CPD proactively |
Click each item to mark complete. Work through this with your training provider and employer before gateway is confirmed.
Machining Technician EPA — Complete Guide · City & Guilds Machining Technician EPA · ST1305 v1.5 · Level 3