- Reporting to prometric test center late: You may be denied entry. Even if you are admitted, you are unnecessarily putting yourself under stress right before a day long exam. Look at Exam Tutorial before the exam and our videos on exam day. It reduces your stress significantly helping you to concentrate on the exam only.
- Cramming Lessons until late at night just the day before the exam: You already have a 3 Hours exam plus commuting to the prometric test center. Give yourself a rest and good nigh sleep before the exam. Don’t study more than 3-4 hours the day before the exam and that only the important points (for example, highlights slides and cue cards within our online training courses:
https://inspector-training.com/courses/tis-online-api-1169-pipeline-construction-inspector-training-course/
- Poor Time Management: You need to answer minimum 115 Questions within 3 Hours. That is 1.5 minute maximum per question. You should actually consider answering on average 1 question per minute because you need some time (15- 20 minutes) to review the flagged off questions. Besides, some 15 open book questions take on average around 2 minutes to answer because you need to find answer between reference documents. See exam tutorial before the exam to understand how it work.
https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Certification/ICP/Examinations/ICP-PD-201c_ICP%20Tutorial%201169.pdf
- Always keep a tab of the clock on the right hand top corner of the computer screen during the exam. It show the remaining time versus number of questions attempted. Before the clock stops, make absolutely sure that you have answered all the questions as there is no negative marking.
- Wasting Time studying Non- Inspection Sections of Reference Documents: You would hardly find any questions related to non-inspection issues. Instead, concentrate on inspection parts of standards and recommended practices.
- Giving equal weightage to all the reference materials: As a general rule, 40 – 45% of questions come from CGA, API 1169 and API 1104.
In the API 1169 Pipeline Construction Inspector Certification, a large portion of the exam is indeed anchored in core references, especially:
- API 1169 (primary framework)
- API 1104 (very heavily tested)
- CGA (often referring to Canadian Gas Association materials or equivalent pipeline guidance)
- Ignoring Body of Knowledge Tips: Examination content is based on specific areas of knowledge and proficiencies. Study those sections noted within body of knowledge at least twice. It is an excellent source to tell you what sort of questions to expect during the exam.
https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Certification/ICP/ICP-Certification-Programs/1169/1169_BOK_2025_Final.pdf
- Memorizing huge volume of information: API exam is not about remembering, it is about verifying whether or not you understood the concept within the codes and recommended practices. Many questions come within a scenario and therefore you should be able to interpret. This is not possible unless you understand the underlying logic and concept behind codes and best practices. You only need to memorize practical type of questions. Those that inspector encounter on a daily basis and expected to know without conferring documents. This exam tests application, not memory. If you don’t understand concepts, tricky questions will catch you out. That is why; we have brought lots of videos and animations so candidates can understand how pipeline construction is really about at the field.
- Not actually practicing how to solve an open book question: To answer open-book questions, you only need to know where to find the answer in the code because search button is disabled during open book part of the exam. There is no easy way to achieve this except actually solving the open book mock questions by frequenting the books. We have also highlighted potential open book documents. Practice navigating through the PDF version of these documents without using search button as this is the medium you have to work through during the examination. If you cannot find the answer within 1 -2 minutes tops, answer it using your hunch, flag it off and come back to it at the end. Chances are you may find the answer when looking at open book documents when trying to answer other questions. Weak document Navigation Skills means not knowing where to find answers quickly which is more important than memorizing everything. Many fail because they flip pages too slowly. Another tip would be look at list tables or list of figures. They are smaller and faster to scrutinize. The exam is long and time-pressured. Flagg off the open book questions and answer them at the end.
- Try complex questions while skipping easy basic questions: You are being examined at the basic level; therefore, a lot of questions are about vocabulary, terms and definitions, roles and responsibilities. Skip difficult questions; first answer difficult or open book questions using your gut feeling; then flag it off and return later at the end during the remaining time; Use elimination techniques.
- Don’t overthink: Being a qualified welding or coating inspector or a NDT examiner may backfire on you: You are not expected to also be a welding inspector or NDT examiner although invariably you shall approve welding repair, select thickness monitoring location, approve NDT report and hence only need to know the basics about welding and NDT methods. The questions are as simple as they look. Welding inspectors and NDT specialists are surprized how simple the questions are and think there is a catch. There is none. In your exam journey, prioritize selecting the “BEST” answer as per API standards. Even when faced with multiple seemingly correct choices; opt for the one that most effectively addresses the question at hand.
- Don’t jump to the conclusion: Read each question carefully and understand what is given and what is asked. Sometimes, a perfectly valid statement as one of the answers is totally wrong simply because it is irrelevant to the question or what is asked. This is to discourage those who heavily rely on memorizing facts and figures rather than understanding the logic and concepts within the codes and best (recommended) practices.
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