Phase 6 · Prepare for the review
The Professional Review
The three parts of the review, how they fit together, and what the reviewers are doing.
Who this is for:Candidates at any stage
The review is a presentation, an interview and a written Communication Task. Two peer reviewers must both be satisfied, on the day, that you have met every attribute at the required level.
How the review is run
Institution of Civil Engineers
- It comprises a presentation to your reviewers, an interview with them, and a written Communication Task invigilated by ICE staff.
- It is held online via MS Teams unless you have been allocated an in-person review. ICE runs both: online offers flexibility and carbon savings, and in-person reviews are part of reviewer training and development and are vital to the integrity of the programme.
- You indicate a preference when applying, but ICE may allocate you to the other format depending on the reviewers you are matched with.
- To be successful, both reviewers must be satisfied on the day that you have met all attributes at the required level.
- There may be an observer; you will be told on the day. They take no part in your review.
- A third reviewer may attend where the subject matter of your application needs specialist knowledge.
- All mobile devices must be switched off before the interview starts, and recording the interview is prohibited.
- Your reviewers should not be connected to you or your employer. If you know one, or think there may be a conflict of interest, tell ICE immediately.
- Reviewers
- 2peer reviewers who must both agreeA third reviewer may attend where specialist knowledge is needed, and an observer may be present but takes no part.
- Presentation length
- 15minutesRun over and your reviewers may stop you so the interview can proceed.
- Presentation and interview together — IEng level
- 60minutes maximum
- Presentation and interview together — CEng level
- 75minutes maximum
- Communication Task — IEng level
- 60minutesTwo questions set, one answered. The response is a straightforward document such as a technical memo or note.
- Communication Task — CEng level
- 90minutesTwo questions set, each a scenario paired with a response format. One is answered.
- Notice of your review date
- 4weeks, approximatelyThe notification letter names your reviewers and gives the timing of your Communication Task. Never contact reviewers directly.
From Incorporated and Chartered Professional Review Guidance, Institution of Civil Engineers.
What reviewers are actually doing
They are not trying to catch you out, and they are not testing whether you know everything. They have read your report before the day — they pre-assess it — and they arrive with a fairly clear idea of which attributes are well evidenced and which are not.
The interview is where they fill the gaps. ICE says it directly: if you have not demonstrated sufficient evidence of meeting a particular attribute in your report, your reviewers will pose specific questions to try to draw out your knowledge and experience in that area.
Two things follow from this. First, the thin part of your report is where the questioning will concentrate — so it is worth knowing which part that is. Second, the questions are an opportunity rather than an attack: a reviewer probing your commercial evidence is trying to find something they can accept.
The pre-assessment
Your reviewers assess your report before the review. If they agree it is not of a satisfactory standard, your review is deferred, the Professional Reviews team tells you why and what to do next, and the review is rearranged once you have addressed the comments.
This is worth knowing for two reasons. It is a real quality gate — a weak report does not simply get a hard interview. And it is another reason to give your lead sponsor enough time to criticise the draft properly.
The shape of the day
Before
Notification letter, about four weeks ahead
Date, time, reviewer names, and the timing of your Communication Task. Check for conflicts of interest immediately.
First 15 minutes
Your presentation
An aspect of your report, expanded. Reviewers may stop you if you run over so the interview can proceed.
The balance of the time
The interview
Presentation and interview together last a maximum of 60 minutes at IPR/IIPR and 75 minutes at CPR/CIPR.
After the interview
The Communication Task
At the time given in your notification letter, invigilated by ICE staff. 60 minutes at IEng level, 90 at CEng, then 15 minutes to upload.
Within six weeks
Your result, by email
Both reviewers must have been satisfied in every attribute area.
Related pages and tools
- PresentationChoosing what to expand on, structuring it, and the mistake almost every candidate makes first time.
- InterviewHow reviewers question, how to answer without waffling, and what to do when you do not know.
- Communication TaskWhat it is at each level, the rules that govern it, how it is marked, and how to prepare for it.
- Mock reviewRun a practice sequence of questions and follow-ups, in coaching mode or under timed conditions.
- Review dayWhat to prepare, what to bring, what is prohibited, and how the day runs online and in person.
- ResultsWhen the result arrives, what a successful outcome means, and what to do with reviewers' comments if it is not.