Date of issue: Ref: APC/CA/Mar06

Factsheet 03 Preparing your Critical Analysis

What is the critical analysis? The critical analysis forms part of your APC pre assessment submission and is forwarded to the RICS for assessment prior to the date of assessment. Your critical analysis is a report of a project on which you have been involved and should give the assessors evidence of your professional ability and technical competence. Choosing a Critical Analysis topic You should choose a project or process where you have had an active involvement and also where you have been part of a problem solving or innovative process. Pick a project where you feel you can confidently discuss the options considered and problems encountered and/or solved throughout the project. You dont need to have made any key decisions yourself, but you must be able to show an understanding of the challenges faced and the reasoning and/or processes used to reach decisions on key issues. The project does not need to be complex or of high value, but you should be able to discuss the challenges and objectives of the project and demonstrate an active involvement, as well as your learning and understanding of these areas. Format of the critical analysis Your critical analysis should follow the format recommended by the RICS (see Report Format and Headings panel in this document). Careful consideration of the content is necessary to demonstrate that you have understood the project and the processes followed to reach decisions. You should cover key project issues and the options considered when deciding the methods and processes used in the control and delivery of the project. It is important to be able to give reasons for decisions taken and why other options may have been rejected. Also, you must demonstrate your ability to challenge and apply your learning from the project. A well structured, well presented and visually interesting report creates a good first impression with your assessors. Make sure you take time to ensure your submission fully meets the criteria the RICS have outlined. Dont worry! o o o o Tips o o o o o o You should be able to show evidence of your ability to work competently and apply core, mandatory and optional knowledge and skills relevant to the quantity surveying profession Make sure you take care to reflect your professional approach in the report, format the document correctly with appropriate indexing, page numbering and explanation of terms used Demonstrate your ability to think logically and laterally If a picture or diagram will provide a useful visual reference, include one or two Assessors like to read interesting reports, so make yours stand out, present it well and proof read it properly Remember, if you put it in the report you must be prepared to answer questions on it, so make sure you are comfortable (and truthful) with the level of responsibility you had on the project and how it is evidenced in the report You are not expected to have run or managed a project for your critical analysis Your involvement in the project does not have to be continuous nor do you have to have been involved from the start If the project is unfinished when you write your report you can provide a prognosis of the outcomes You are not expected to be an expert in every area, but you are expected to meet a satisfactory level of competence

Report headings:
Key Issues dont include too many as you will need to go into detail to ensure full critical appraisal of the options Options show more than one possible solution or process for each key issue Reasons for rejection of certain options demonstrate your consideration of the options Proposed solutions and reasons for choices made show how any why you reached your proposed solution. Consider client care, commercial and contractual aspects, technical aspects and professional conduct/ethics Critical appraisal of outcomes and reflective analysis show what lessons you have learned, what went wrong and what went right and why

Report format:
Must be word processed Must be a maximum of 3000 words Should include photographs and plans (no larger then A4 when folded) Must be signed and dated by you, your supervisor and your counsellor