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Examinations

BHI Examinations 2024: Week commencing Monday 13 May 

The entry period is Wednesday 1 November 2023 – Wednesday 31 January 2024

Forms will be available soon. The education team will contact each candidate to confirm their entry after the closing date.

Please continue to check your copy of the HJ and this website for more information.


Exams Timetable

Students will be contacted individually to confirm allocated exam date and times. Should the servicing tests become oversubscribed, students will be offered alternative dates.

  • Unit D1: Theory:
    Wednesday 15 May 14:00-16:30
  • Unit D3: Servicing and Correcting Faults in a Single Train Clock:
    Monday 13 May 09:00 – 18:00/Tuesday 14 May 09:00 – 18:00
  • Unit D4: Servicing and Correcting Faults in a Quartz Watch:
    Monday 13 May 09:00-16:00/Tuesday 14 May 09:00-16:00/Thursday 16 May 09:00-16:00
  • Unit D6: Drawing Clock/Watch Escapements:
    Wednesday 15 May 09:00 -12:00/Coursework Tuesday 2 April to Monday 13 May.
  • Unit D8: The Recoil Escapement, Design and Construction:
    Monday 20 May 09:00-18:00 – exam week 2
  • Unit D9: Servicing and Correcting Faults in a Striking Clock Movement:
    Thursday 16 May 09:00 – 18:00 and Friday 17 May 09:00 – 18:00
  • Unit D11: Theory of Complex Clocks & their Repair, Restoration and Conservation:
    Wednesday 15 May 14:00-16:30
  • Unit D15: Servicing and Correcting Faults in a Manual Winding Watch Movement:
    Tuesday 14 May 09:00 – 17:00/Thursday 16 May 09:00 – 17:00
  • Unit D16: Servicing and Correcting Faults in an Automatic Watch:
    Tuesday 14 May 09:00 – 18:00/Thursday 16 May 09:00 – 18:00
  • Unit D18: Theory of Complex Watches & their Repair, Restoration and Conservation:
    Wednesday 15 May 14:00-16:30
  • Unit D20: Servicing and Correcting Faults in a Chronograph Movement:
    Thursday 16 May 09:00-18:00 and Friday 17 May 09:00-18:00

The practical test piece exams do not take place at examination centres and must be delivered to Upton Hall at the time stated below:

  • Unit D2: from Wednesday 29 May 9:00 to Thursday 13 June 13:00
  • Unit D5: from Wednesday 22 May 09:00 to Thursday 13 June 13:00
  • Unit D12: from Wednesday 22 May 09:00 to Thursday 13 June 13:00
  • Records of Repair, Portfolios – Submitted any time during the year. The deadline for 2024 awards is 28 June

Short Courses

All students should consider attending BHI short courses relevant to the examination they intend to enter and should register their interest with education@bhi.co.uk 01636 817604. It is important that students understand the level of skills and requirements to be in a better place to pass the examination. Courses available subject to demand (minimum 3 students) and any restrictions in place at the time. See Short Courses page for information and updates.

 

Overseas Students

If you live overseas, you can sit some, but not all, of the units in your country of residence. The units you must sit in the UK are D9, D11, D16, D18 and D20. Special procedures must be in place for overseas examinations, for example regarding invigilation. Please see the Examinations Guide for more information.


Gaining an Accredited Award

Gaining a BHI/EAL qualification will undoubtedly enhance your ability to gain employment as a clock or watchmaker.

We have been setting standards for British horologists for over 160 years and our exams are all accredited in the UK by the regulatory body Ofqual. Our awarding body, EAL, is the UK’s leading industry specialist awarding organisation. EAL is part of Semta – the Science, Engineering, Manufacturing and Technologies Alliance – which is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for engineering skills for the future of the UK’s most advanced sectors.

There are 20 individual BHI exam units that, according to the various combinations in which they can be taken, will lead to one or more of the following awards:

  • Diploma in Clock and Watch Servicing (Level 3)
  • Diploma in the Servicing and Repair of Clocks/Watches (Level 4)
  • Diploma in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks/Watches (Level 5)

For further information please download the Examinations Guide.


You can register for one or more of the diploma levels (3, 4 or 5, see above).

There is an element of progression in the levels. You are, however, are free to pursue as many as three levels at any given moment. You do not have to complete Level 3 before you start Level 4 and/or 5. For example, if you have the required knowledge and skills, you may omit Level 3 and start with Level 4.


You are not limited in the number of exam units you can enter in any one year.

There are five different types of units, depending on the manner in which they are assessed:

  • Written paper (including Technical Drawing)
  • Servicing test
  • Making a practical test piece
  • Completing a record of repairs
  • Assembling a portfolio of work.

Reasonable Adjustments

We make every effort to assist candidates with particular assessment requirements or special needs. Please send us the required supportive information at the time of application.


Help With Exam Preparation

The BHI Distance Learning Courses help prepare you for these exams. You will also find more information in our Examinations Guide. For the higher exam units, you will need a copy of the Examinations Handbook, which is included in the Combined Intermediate/Final Grade.

The BHI is here to support you with advice and opportunities for training with our short courses and DLC tutor feedback option – for advice please email education@bhi.co.uk


Examinations 2024

Download the Examinations Entry Form 2024 (UK)

Download Exam Form 2024 (UK)

Download the Examinations Entry Form 2024 (OVERSEAS)

Download Exam Form 2024 (OVERSEAS)

Examinations Guide

Download the Examinations Guide

Examinations Results Booklet 2023

Download the Examinations Results Booklet 2023

If you have any questions please email: education@bhi.co.uk

Call +44 (0)1636 817604

 

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