Lesson 4.4
APC Accelerator™ — Lesson 4.4 · Summary of Experience (Fillable Form)
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APC Accelerator™ — Lesson 4.4

Summary of Experience — Fillable Form

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Knight Khonje FRICS  |  Knight Khonje APC Advisory
Lesson 4.4 · Fillable Drafting Form
APC Accelerator™  Â·  QS and Construction Pathway
How to use this form: Type your draft entries directly into the boxes below. Your work is saved automatically in this browser as you type, so you can close the page and return later on the same device to carry on. To keep a copy, click Download my answers (a text file of everything you have written) or Save / Print to PDF and choose "Save as PDF" as the printer. Tip: complete your Level 3 entries first.
Lesson 4.4 · Drafting Form
Summary of Experience Drafting Template
Complete the self-assessment question at the end of each entry before moving to the next. Upload your Level 3 draft entries for review via the Lesson 4.4 upload link when ready.
Architecture reminder — use this for every entry

1. Context — project, role, professional challenge (1–2 sentences).  2. The Problem or Decision — what specifically needed to be addressed or advised on.  3. Options and Reasoning — what you considered and why you recommended what you did.  4. Outcome — what changed as a result of your advice.

Level 3 Core Competencies

Commercial Management of Construction
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Your entry must demonstrate that you assessed a commercial situation, identified the options available to the client, gave professional advice based on your judgement, and took responsibility for the outcome. If your entry describes commercial management activity without demonstrating advice, it is Level 2 at best.
Your entry
Self-assessment Does this entry describe advice you gave — or tasks you performed? Is the professional reasoning visible? Is there a specific outcome that confirms the quality of the judgement? If not, revise before uploading.
Contract Practice
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Assessors will probe your depth of NEC and JCT knowledge. Choose an example that demonstrates a contractual decision point — not just competent administration. Your dual contractor/consultant experience is an asset here: use it.
Your entry
Self-assessment Would a contractor QS write this same entry? If yes, it may not be demonstrating the professional adviser perspective. Revise to show that you were advising — not just administering.
Procurement and Tendering
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: The entry must show that procurement was a professional decision — that you developed a strategy, evaluated options, made a recommendation, and advised the client. Process administration is Level 2. Strategic recommendation with reasoning is Level 3.
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry show what evaluation criteria you set and why? Does it show that you recommended a specific outcome and explained the reasoning? If the entry only describes the process, add the professional decision layer.
Design Economics and Cost Planning
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Go beyond preparing cost plans — show that you advised the client on design and cost decisions. Demonstrate a cost-driven design review, a whole-life or design-option comparison, and a recommendation that influenced the design. Reasoned advice that changed an outcome is Level 3; producing a competent cost plan alone is Level 2.
Model example — Level 3

"On a ÂŁ25m high-rise residential refurbishment programme, the RIBA Stage 2 cost plan exceeded the client's funding envelope by approximately ÂŁ3.2m. I led a cost-driven design review, comparing the specified unitised curtain walling against a render-and-masonry hybrid on a whole-life basis. I advised the client that the hybrid reduced capital cost by around ÂŁ2.6m while lowering the projected 30-year maintenance liability, and recommended reallocating part of the saving to fire-safety upgrades that carried a higher risk priority. The design team adopted the recommendation and the scheme returned to budget without compromising the client's investment objectives."

Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry show that your cost advice influenced a design or investment decision — or does it only describe a cost plan you produced?
Quantification and Costing of Construction Works
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Naming the measurement standard is Level 2. At Level 3 you must show that you advised on how the works were measured or costed — for example, where the measurement approach affected risk allocation, cost certainty, or the client's commercial position. Name the standard (e.g. NRM2, CESMM4) and show the judgement you applied. Your HS2 bill-production experience is strong material.
Model example — Level 3

"On an HS2 enabling-works package, I was responsible for the bills of quantities measured under CESMM4. I identified that the draft measurement allocated significant temporary-works risk to admeasurement, exposing the client to open-ended cost. I advised the client to measure the earthworks and temporary support elements on a defined-quantity basis supported by a clear risk register, rather than provisional quantities, and prepared a comparison demonstrating the cost-certainty benefit. The revised approach reduced the client's risk exposure on the package by an estimated ÂŁ1.8m and was adopted as the standard measurement basis for subsequent packages."

Your entry
Self-assessment Have you named the measurement standard and shown that you advised on the approach — not just that you produced a bill competently?
Project Finance
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Reporting cashflow is Level 2. At Level 3, show that your financial analysis led to advice that changed a client decision — funding strategy, payment mechanism, drawdown profile, or a cost-management intervention. Frame the entry around the recommendation and its financial consequence.
Model example — Level 3

"On a phased infrastructure programme, the client's cashflow forecast showed a funding shortfall in Year 2 driven by front-loaded contractor payment profiles. I analysed the payment mechanism and advised the client to renegotiate to milestone-based payments aligned to verified progress, and to introduce a forecast-to-complete reporting discipline. I recommended a revised drawdown schedule that deferred around ÂŁ4m of expenditure into the funded period without delaying the works. The client adopted the strategy, avoided an emergency funding request to its board, and the programme proceeded on its original timeline."

Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry show that your financial analysis led to a recommendation that changed a decision — not just that you produced reports?
Construction Technology and Environmental Services
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200–250 words
At Level 3: Demonstrate that your understanding of construction methods, materials, or building systems was the basis for professional advice on cost, risk, or buildability — not just awareness. Show the technical option you assessed, the recommendation you made, and the commercial outcome that followed.
Model example — Level 3

"On a high-rise residential remediation scheme, the original specification proposed a full façade replacement. Drawing on my understanding of the cladding build-up and the building's ventilation strategy, I advised the client that a targeted replacement of the non-compliant insulation and cavity barriers — retaining the compliant outer leaf — would achieve regulatory compliance at materially lower cost and disruption. I prepared a cost-and-risk comparison of the two approaches and recommended the targeted solution subject to fire-engineer sign-off. The client accepted the advice, saving approximately £1.9m and reducing the programme by four months while meeting Building Safety Act requirements."

Your entry
Self-assessment Did your technical understanding form the basis of a recommendation on cost, risk, or buildability — or does the entry only show awareness?

Level 2 Core Competencies

Contract Administration
Level 2 — Practical ApplicationApprox. 150–200 words
At Level 2: Pre and post-contract duties, certification, valuations, final accounts. Name the contract form used. Show that your administration was professional and competent — final accounts agreed, valuations certified accurately, contractual obligations met.
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry distinguish between routine administration (Level 2) and professional advice (which should appear in your Contract Practice Level 3 entry instead)?

Optional Competencies

Optional competency selections to be confirmed at Week 1 Diagnostic Session.

Optional Competency 1
Level 2
Competency name
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry demonstrate practical application of this competency in a context where you exercised professional judgement?
Optional Competency 2
Level 2
Competency name
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry demonstrate practical application?

Mandatory Competencies

Health and Safety
Level 2Approx. 150 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Specific project example? CDM 2015 referenced in context? Professional advice or action demonstrated?
Sustainability
Level 2Approx. 150 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry show that sustainability considerations influenced a professional decision — not just that you are aware they exist?
Inclusive Environments
Level 1Approx. 100 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Knowledge and professional engagement demonstrated? Project-specific link included?
Diversity, Inclusion and Teamworking
Level 1Approx. 100 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry reflect genuine professional engagement — not a generic statement about the importance of diversity?
Conduct Rules, Ethics and Professional Practice
Level 3 — Reasoned AdviceApprox. 200 words
At Level 3: Awareness of the RICS Rules of Conduct is Level 1–2. At Level 3, demonstrate that you applied them to a real ethical decision — identifying the issue, exercising professional judgement, and advising or acting in line with your obligations even under pressure. Assessors value a genuine dilemma resolved with integrity.
Model example — Level 3

"During a final-account negotiation, I identified that a contractor's claim included costs I believed had already been recovered under an earlier compensation event. The client's project lead pressed me to certify the full sum to preserve the relationship. Applying the RICS Rules of Conduct — in particular the duty to act with integrity and not to mislead — I advised the client in writing that certifying a sum I could not substantiate would breach my professional obligations, and recommended an independent reconciliation of the two claims. The reconciliation confirmed a £160,000 duplication. I advised a without-prejudice approach to resolve it, protecting the client's funds and the professional relationship."

Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry show you applying the RICS Rules of Conduct to resolve a real dilemma with reasoned advice — not just that you are aware they exist?
Client Care
Level 2Approx. 100–150 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Is there a specific client situation described — not a general statement about always putting clients first?
Communication and Negotiation
Level 2Approx. 100–150 words
Dual experience note: Your experience on both contractor and consultant sides gives you strong negotiation material. An example that shows you understood both parties' positions and reached a commercially sound outcome is more compelling than a standard negotiation example.
Your entry
Self-assessment Does the entry describe a negotiation outcome — not just the fact that you negotiate as part of your role?
Data Management
Level 1Approx. 75–100 words
Your entry
Self-assessment Level 1 only — knowledge and understanding is sufficient. Keep this entry concise.
Before you leave this page: your work auto-saves in this browser, but download or Save/Print to PDF to keep a permanent copy — then upload your Level 3 entries via the Lesson 4.4 upload link for review.