The 18th edition course is something that all electricians need to take. However, while some people breeze through tests, others find them difficult. This is why mock exams are so important. They give you a real feel for what to expect from the test, enabling you to practise so you can make sure you pass the 18th Edition exam.
The current qualification is the City & Guilds 2382-26, and it is assessed against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the Amendment 4 version of the IET Wiring Regulations, known across the trade as the Orange Book.
Last reviewed: September 2026 — updated for BS 7671:2018+A4:2026.
History of the 18th edition
Also known as the wiring regs or BS 7671, the 18th Edition is the British Standard for electrical installations. It is essential for electricians working in the United Kingdom today.
The 18th Edition was published on 2 July 2018 and came into effect on 1 January 2019. It has since been amended four times:
- Amendment 1 (2020) — a limited amendment relating to electric vehicle charging installations
- Amendment 2 (2022) — the “brown book”, introducing AFDD requirements and significant changes to Chapter 42 and Part 7
- Amendment 3 (2024) — a short amendment introducing Regulation 530.3.201 on bidirectional and unidirectional protective devices, prompted by prosumer installations
- Amendment 4 (2026) — the “Orange Book”, published on 15 April 2026 by the IET and BSI, consolidating Amendment 3 into the main document
The previous version, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024 (together with the 2023 Corrigendum), was withdrawn on 15 October 2026. From that date, BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the only current version of the standard, and all new installations, alterations, additions and periodic inspections are carried out against it.
For completeness: there is no 19th Edition. The IET has not announced a draft, a consultation or a timetable for one — Amendment 4 to the 18th Edition is the current standard.
What can you take into the exam?
The 2382-26 exam lasts for two hours and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You will need the obvious essentials, such as a pen. It is an open-book exam, so you are allowed to take a copy of BS 7671 into the exam with you.
Take the right one. That means BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the Orange Book. Do not take the withdrawn brown book (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024) into a 2382-26 sitting. Questions are set against Amendment 4, and some of them refer to content that does not exist in the older book — you will lose time hunting for regulations that aren’t there, and you risk answering to a superseded requirement.
Check the cover before you set off. If it’s brown, it’s the wrong book.
Do remember that you only have an average of two minutes per question, so you cannot simply turn up without revising and expect to find all your answers in the book. There will not be enough time for that. Use the book to confirm, not to learn.
How can I pass the 18th edition exam?
To pass the 18th Edition exam you need to score 60 percent, which means answering at least 36 of the 60 questions correctly. Results are reported as a straightforward pass or fail.
There is no negative marking, so never leave a question blank — an educated guess costs you nothing. The assessment is delivered online and sat under invigilation, either at an approved centre or remotely with online invigilation, depending on what your centre offers.
Thirty-six out of sixty may sound like a comfortable margin for error, but the last thing you want to do is take a risk when it comes to your career.
18th Edition mock tests
We certainly believe that one of the best ways of preparing for any type of examination is by practising with mock tests. Mock tests are helpful on many levels. First, they enable you to get a sense of the sort of questions you are going to be asked, including the layout and question structure. Aside from this, they simulate real test conditions, helping you to be prepared for whatever is thrown your way on the day. You can also perfect your time management skills by doing a mock test for the 18th Edition.
One caveat that matters a great deal in 2026: make sure any mock you use has been written or updated for Amendment 4. A mock built on the 2022 book will point you at the wrong page numbers and, in a handful of places, the wrong answers.
When was the 18th edition introduced?
The 18th Edition was published in July 2018 and came into force at the start of January 2019. But the date that matters to you now is 15 October 2026 — the day the previous amendment is withdrawn and BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 becomes the sole current standard.
If you have been working as an electrician in the UK for some time and hold a 2382-22 certificate, that certificate remains valid and does not expire. You are not required to resit. You are, however, expected by competent person schemes to be conversant with the Amendment 4 changes relevant to the work you do — which is what the Amendment 4 update course is for.
What is covered by the 18th edition exam?
This course is mainly aimed at professional electricians and domestic installers. The purpose of it is to make sure you have the most up-to-date and relevant knowledge of the IET Wiring Regulations. Some of the areas you will cover include protection for safety, assessment of general characteristics, and special installations or locations.
The 2382-26 covers everything the 2382-22 did, plus the material introduced by Amendment 4:
- Chapter 57 — stationary secondary batteries used for electrical storage and supply
- Section 545 — functional earthing and functional equipotential bonding for information and communication technology (ICT) equipment and systems
- Section 716 — Power over Ethernet (PoE), included in BS 7671 for the first time
- Section 710 — a major revision of the requirements for medical locations, including recording the resistance of supplementary protective equipotential bonding conductors
- Part 6 and Appendix 6 — changes to inspection and testing, the model forms, and how classification codes are applied on EICRs
18th Edition Study Guide and Practice Questions
There are several different types of question you may be asked as part of the 18th Edition exam. Some examples are as follows.
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Download information pack1. When you are classifying external influences, what does the first letter represent?
Still valid under Amendment 4. The first letter denotes the general category of external influence — A for environment, B for utilisation, and C for construction of buildings. See Appendix 5.
2. What are the requirements for periodic inspection and testing?
Valid, but answer it against Amendment 4. Part 6 and the Appendix 6 model forms were revised by A4. Note in particular that the observations section of the EICR is now split in two: C1 and C2 observations drive an “unsatisfactory” outcome, while C3 and FI (further investigation) observations do not affect the overall outcome. Under the previous amendment, an FI made the report unsatisfactory. If you learned the old rule, unlearn it.
3. How do you identify live conductors in a three-phase circuit?
Still valid. Brown, black and grey — see Table 51. Worth knowing that A4 revised Table 51 to add pink for functional earthing conductors, so read the whole table rather than the line you remember.
4. Why do you need to make sure that installations are divided into circuits?
Still valid under Amendment 4. See Regulation 314.1 — to avoid danger and minimise inconvenience in the event of a fault, to facilitate safe inspection, testing and maintenance, and to take account of hazards that may arise from the failure of a single circuit.
5. State the relationship that BS 7671 has in regard to statutory regulations.
Still valid under Amendment 4. BS 7671 is a non-statutory standard, but compliance with it is generally accepted as demonstrating compliance with the relevant statutory requirements, such as the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
New for Amendment 4
The following five questions have been added in September 2026 and are specific to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. They are the sort of thing you should expect to see on a 2382-26 paper that you would never have seen on a 2382-22 one.
6. Which section of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 covers Power over Ethernet?
a) Section 704 b) Section 710 c) Section 716 d) Section 722
Answer: c. PoE is not a new technology, but A4 is the first time it has been explicitly included in BS 7671.
7. Stationary secondary batteries used for electrical storage and supply are covered by which new chapter?
a) Chapter 42 b) Chapter 57 c) Chapter 55 d) Chapter 82
Answer: b. Chapter 57 was introduced by Amendment 4 and sits within Part 5.
8. Which new section covers functional earthing and functional equipotential bonding for ICT equipment and systems?
a) Section 545 b) Section 544 c) Section 551 d) Section 559
Answer: a. Note also that Table 51 was revised to identify functional earthing conductors in pink.
9. When completing a certificate for a circuit protected by a bidirectional protective device, what do you record?
a) The device’s directionality in a dedicated field b) The British Standard of the protective device c) Nothing — bidirectional devices are not recorded d) A separate declaration
Answer: b. Bidirectional and unidirectional devices share the same British Standard, and there is no field on the certificate that distinguishes them. Signing the certificate confirms you have used a bidirectional device where one was required. The comments box may be used to note it for the next inspector.
10. Under Amendment 4, does an observation coded FI (further investigation) on its own make an EICR unsatisfactory?
a) Yes, always b) No — only C1 and C2 observations affect the overall outcome c) Only if there is more than one d) Only on domestic installations
Answer: b. This is one of the most impactful changes in A4 for anyone carrying out periodic inspection and testing, and it reverses the position under Amendment 3.
This is only a handful of suggestions as to the sort of questions you may be asked.
18th Edition Practice Test
This free 18th Edition Practice Test gives you two hours to answer 60 different 18th Edition questions. To pass, you will need to score a minimum of 36. Once the test has finished, you will be able to check your answers to see how you performed. There is also the option of checking your answer after every question if you would prefer.
Before you rely on it, check that any practice simulator states it has been updated for BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. A test written against the older book will point you at the wrong page numbers and, in places, the wrong answers.
18th Edition exam questions free download
There are several places where you can download a practice 18th Edition exam free of charge. Sparky Facts has an 18th Edition Exam Simulator available online.
The same caution applies here: check that any practice simulator states it has been updated for BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 before you use it to gauge how ready you are.
Where can I sit the exam?
You can sit the real exam at Skills Training Group, the country’s leader in electrical training courses for contractors, adults and companies alike. You can book our 18th Edition Course now, which is delivered against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and leads to the City & Guilds 2382-26.
If you already hold the 2382-22 and just need to get up to speed with the changes, the 18th Edition Amendment 4 update course is the shorter route.
If you are an electrician in the UK, you need to keep up to speed with the latest IET Wiring Regulations, and this course makes sure you do. If you have any questions about it, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for more information.
We also encourage you to take a look at the reviews and feedback we have received from past customers. We are sure this will reassure you that we are the best option when it comes to practising and picking up the skills you need to pass your exam. Don’t take chances with your career!
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