Phase 4 + Phase 6 Exams June 2026

Electrical Exam Burnout (19th June 2026)

Exam Week has just ended for electrical apprentices all over Ireland, and shock and dismay have resulted in burnout for many apprentices and staff in our colleges because of the dysfunction of the exam system being experienced there this year.

Apprentices have been questioned on course material that was never taught in class, and new exam questions have appeared for the first time this June that have never been asked before.

For example, "American Electrical Symbols" have been questioned this year for the first time, without prior notice, and they were not mentioned in classes around the country.

Other more complex questions have been asked that are more likely to be seen on Electrical Engineering exams rather than Electrical Apprenticeship exams were on the paper.

Some lecturers are incensed by the development as they see themselves under scrutiny by higher management for not being up to date with the new changes and for not teaching the new material in class; in other words, they are guilty of not being mind readers.

Our closest college, The Atlantic Technological University, issued a statement in response to the furore, stating:

"Dear Student,

Due to the large number of emails received about the Electrical Apprenticeship.

If any of the learning outcomes were not addressed by your lecturers during your off-the-job training at ATU, then this will be considered when your assessment papers are being corrected. "

I see this as an admission of guilt and an attempt to find a way out of a bad situation. I applaud the very quick response by ATU to close the stable door after the horse has bolted, but nevertheless they are attempting to prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.

I would urge all apprentices who found themselves in this situation to email the college and make a formal complaint specifying the questions that they could not answer because the course material was not covered in class.

There needs to be a student liaison officer in each college and SOLAS Training Centres to look after these blunders and other blunders that apprentices have to put up with daily as they try to navigate their education and careers.

I have spoken to some of these victims, and they are back at work already and unable to represent themselves or to articulate their complaint adequately to save their exam; they just want to keep their heads down and hope for the best.

We seem to half do everything in this country, then we wonder why so many young people emigrate as soon as they graduate.

They have no voice in this country; they are not appreciated here; there is only one way out: emigration.

Tony Grant, June 2026 (theweepaper.ie and on fb page)

Note message from ATU

 

Electrical Failure June 2026 (6th July)

Electrical Apprentices who sat their exams in June 2026 complain that they were examined on material in the exams that they did not cover in class.

As a result, there was a 70% failure rate in one college that I know of, and as apprentices from other colleges are telling me about the same problem, I must assume the results are the same throughout the country.

I contacted Marian Harkin TD and Minister with responsibility for skills, and she is investigating the issue, saying there seems to be an anomaly here.

I am urging all affected apprentices to request a review of their exam paper and record the questions on the paper so that we can substantiate their complaint.

Some lecturers have admitted they did not cover the material in class, and one lecturer said adjustments would be made when marking the exams; this did not happen.

Apprentices who emailed the colleges for a review of their paper are being told to wait until the academic staff return in September and have it out with them. Earlier, the same college in Cork said non-academic staff, in work at present, will facilitate this in two weeks' time upon request.

Come September, the academic staff will have a new batch of apprentices to teach and will have no time to clean up this mess and they may refuse to deal with it as it may be outside their remit to do so.

Also, apprentices are back at work, and some may be out of the country by then.

In the past, this problem occurred at the post-primary level, where sudden changes were made to exams. The problem was solved at the assessment level by adjusting the exam marks to maintain the percentage pass and fail levels of the previous year.

It is acknowledged that the changes in themselves were not wrong, but they should have been introduced gradually so as to give everybody in the system time to adjust to the changes.

The Electrical Union has abandoned their apprentices a long time ago, and no alternative system has been put in place to represent apprentices of all skills, as they navigate their way through their apprenticeship.

We need an Ombudsman for Apprentices to deal with the rights of all apprenticeship skills in the country.

Apprentices are back fending for themselves as they did back in the 1950's. It is the survival of the fittest out there, only now we have a nice new word for it, "neo-liberalism"

Neo-liberalism is the rot within that will destroy our values and our way of life as we know it.

It gives cover to those with economic power to treat others with less power like sheep.

Tony Grant, July 2026 (theweepaper.ie and on fb page)

Cork's 96 FM with PJ on 9th July 2026 (13 minutes)

What Is Going On With Electrical Apprentice Failure Rates? - Cork's 96fm Opinion Line | Acast

 

Cork's 96 FM with PJ on 16th July 2026 (9 minutes)

Worried Electrical Apprentices Get Some Answers At Last From Michael Collins TD - Cork's 96fm Opinion Line | Acast

 

Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins TD has called on the Government to establish an independent Apprenticeship Ombudsman to protect the rights of apprentices following the latest examination failures and administrative issues affecting apprenticeship students.

Deputy Collins said while he welcomed the intervention of Minister Marian Harkin in responding to the recent concerns, apprentices should not have to depend on ministerial intervention every time something goes wrong.

"Minister Marian Harkin's engagement on these issues is welcome, but we cannot continue relying solely on the Minister of the day to resolve problems as they arise. Apprentices deserve an independent advocate whose sole responsibility is to protect their rights, investigate complaints fairly and hold the system to account."

The Cork South-West TD said the latest reports of examination errors have once again highlighted weaknesses in the apprenticeship system and the lack of an independent mechanism for apprentices to seek redress.

"Whether it is mistakes in the administration of exams, delays in training, inconsistent communication or other failings, apprentices are too often left with nowhere to turn. They deserve the same protections and independent oversight that exist elsewhere in our public services."

Deputy Collins said an independent Apprenticeship Ombudsman would investigate complaints, identify recurring problems and make recommendations to improve the system, while giving apprentices confidence that their concerns would be heard impartially.

"Our apprentices are vital to Ireland's future workforce. They should never be left wondering whether administrative mistakes or systemic failures will delay their careers or jeopardise their qualifications."

Deputy Collins called on the Government to establish an independent Apprenticeship Ombudsman without delay.

"An Ombudsman would not replace the role of Government or the Minister. It would strengthen the system by ensuring apprentices always have an independent voice standing up for their rights. That is a protection they deserve."

@followers C103 Cork The Southern Star Cork's Red FM

 

Urgent Action required by apprentices effected by this issue:

(1) email your college and ask for a date to REVIEW your exam paper.

(2) Bring a notepad to record the questions and marks that you got for each question.

(3) You are allowed to bring a witness but not a mobile into the room.

(4) Collect evidence to verify that material that you were questioned on was not taught in the class during your 11 week course.

(5) You now have the evidence to APPEAL the assessment of your paper. (after consultation with others)

(6) Contact the Minister with responsibility for Skills and ask her to implement a nation wide fix for the problem by applying the percentage pass rate for previous years and so prevent all this hassel for apprentices all over the country having to appeal the assessment to fix a problem not of their making.

marian.harkin@oireachtas.ie

SOLAS Response 15th July 2026

Electrical Apprentice Phase 4 and Phase 6 Exams:

Updates and Support Measures for Apprentices

SOLAS/15.07.2026

SOLAS is aware of concerns raised regarding the high failure rate of apprentices in recent Phase 4 and Phase 6 electrical theory assessments. Ministers Harkin and Lawless have been actively engaging with SOLAS, the relevant higher education institutions, and other stakeholders to assess the issues raised. Throughout these discussions, ensuring fairness, maintaining the integrity of the assessment process and supporting the welfare of apprentices have been the priority.

As part of quality improvement processes, new assessments were introduced for phases 4 and 6 of the electrical apprenticeship in term 3, 2026. These assessments have been developed and quality assured through established academic processes and are designed to assess the required learning outcomes. While the Phase 4 and Phase 6 theory papers were aligned to the course curriculum, we are examining if changes in question style and format without samples of new format examination papers may have had an impact on assessment preparation for some apprentices.

In response SOLAS is taking the following steps:

• SOLAS is commissioning an independent review of Phase 4 and Phase 6 theory assessment papers and the related marking schemes and model answers to inform next steps.  The aim is to have this concluded by the end of July.

• SOLAS will also work with higher education institutions to provide additional supports to apprentices to prepare them for repeat examination opportunities in September, supported by additional revision measures.  No exam fees will be incurred by apprentices for this repeat exam.

• SOLAS will be in contact with impacted apprentices with further details on the arrangements on or before Friday 24th July 2026.

• SOLAS have setup a hotline for Electrical Apprentices who have any query regarding their exam results. Apprentices can contact SOLAS either by emailing apprenticeship@solas.ie or by phoning 1800 794 487.

We would like to assure any apprentices impacted that SOLAS and the Higher Education Institutes are fully committed to supporting and working with them to progress their apprenticeship.

Note: Some Phase 4 and Phase 6 apprentices in Cork have been back in the college to review their exam papers.

They have reported that they were treated in a friendly and courteous manner by the administrative staff.

22nd July Irish Examiner

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41883634.html

 

24th July Deadline:

When you have completed the above actions, it is now important to read the SOLAS response to the pressure being put on them by the above actions and we all need to wait until 24th July Deadline for their action plan to fix the issue.

They have already indicated that it will not be the fix we asked for but we will have to wait to see what they are offering as a solution.

It is important that every apprentice effected by this issue stays engaged and continues to find a solution that you all deserve.

24th July: Communication from SOLAS

Dear Apprentice,

I am writing to provide you with an update regarding the recent June 2026 Phase 4 and Phase 6 Electrical theory assessments (T1 and T2).

Following the higher than expected failure rate of apprentices in the new Phase 4 and Phase 6 Electrical theory assessments (T1 and T2), SOLAS issued the statement attached to this email on the 15th July 2026.

An independent review of the Phase 4 and Phase 6 theory assessment papers and the related marking schemes and model answers is underway and will be completed by Friday, 31st July 2026 and the outcome of the review will be communicated on Tuesday, 4th August 2026.

In the meantime, the following arrangements are being put in place for apprentices that received a referral in the June 2026 assessments for electrical Theory 1 or electrical Theory 2:

1. Assessment Attempt

   A referral grade from the June 2026 sitting will not be counted as an assessment attempt.

2. Repeat Assessments for Apprentices

   Additional repeat assessment opportunities will be held on 15^th September 2026 for

   electrical Theory 1 and 16^th September 2026 for electrical Theory 2. A further option will be available in November 2026; the exact date will be confirmed as soon as possible.

   The higher education institutions will be in contact directly to provide information about assessment preparation workshops that will be run in September 2026. A sample assessment paper will be made available.

3. Waiver of Fee for Repeat Assessments

There will be no fee to sit a repeat assessment in September or November.

What happens next

Further communications will issue on Tuesday, 4^th August 2026 setting out the outcome of the independent review. Information on the repeat assessment opportunities will also be provided at the same time along with a registration link which will be sent to you by your provider.

The above approach is only available to those learners who sat Phase 4 & 6 Electrical assessments in June 2026 and who received a referral result. All other apprentices who need to complete repeat assessments from previous terms should do so using the normal repeats process.

Further Information

Please contact your training provider if you have questions on:

• Registration arrangements

• Revision class dates and locations

• Assessment venue information

• Assessment schedules and instructions

• Reasonable accommodations

For any additional queries, please contact:

SOLAS Support Line: 1800 794 487

Email: apprenticeship@solas.ie

We recognise that this has been a challenging time for some apprentices and thank you for your patience and engagement. SOLAS and the Higher Education Institutions remain committed to supporting apprentices in progressing their apprenticeship.

Finally, we kindly ask that you please acknowledge receipt of this email.

Yours sincerely,

SOLAS

 

4th August 2026: Quote from above: "Further communications will issue....etc. by your provider.

(very important that you pay attention to this message above)

4th August 2026 message to Apprentices:

Dear Apprentice,

We are writing to provide an important update on the June 2026 Phase 4 and Phase 6 Electrical theory assessments, following concerns raised by apprentices about the fairness of the new assessment papers introduced in June.

As outlined in our communication of 24 July 2026, SOLAS commissioned an independent review in response to the higher-than-expected failure rate in the new Phase 4 and Phase 6 Electrical theory assessments. The review focused on the content of the four new assessment papers, the related marking schemes and the model answers.

The independent review found that the assessment content reflected the approved curriculum. However, it also identified a number of issues with the assessments which may have impacted on the ability of an apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge fully and fairly in the Phase 4 Theory 1 and Phase 6 Theory 1 assessment papers.

In response to these findings, SOLAS has decided to apply a post-marking adjustment to the June 2026 results for Phase 4 Theory 1 and Phase 6 Theory 1. This is a statistical intervention in recognition of the impact of the changes to the assessment papers in the pilot assessments in June 2026.

Following the review, it has been decided that no post-marking adjustments are required for the Phase 4 Theory 2 or Phase 6 Theory 2 results.

What happens next?

A further communication will issue later this week setting out the overall approach to the post-marking adjustment and what the impact is on the assessment results. We will then write to each apprentice individually with details of the original mark awarded, the post-marking adjustment applied and the final assessment result. You should expect to receive this communication by email by Friday 14 th August 2026.

The adjusted results will also be shared with your apprenticeship training provider, your employer and QQI, in line with the normal arrangements for assessment results.

The post-marking adjustments are expected to result in additional apprentices passing the relevant assessment paper. However, not all apprentices who received a referral will now pass. If you do not reach a pass grade following the adjustment, repeat assessment opportunities and related supports will be available as set out below.

Repeat assessment opportunities

Additional repeat assessment opportunities will be held on 15 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 1 and 16 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 2.

A further repeat assessment opportunity will be available in November 2026. The exact date will be confirmed as soon as possible. As noted in our previous communication, there will be no fee to sit a repeat assessment and the referral grade from the June 2026 sitting will not be counted as an assessment attempt.

Higher education institutions will contact apprentices directly with information about assessment preparation workshops that will run in September 2026.

Resits for those that passed the June assessments

An apprentice that passed the June Phase 4 Theory 1 and Phase 6 Theory 1 assessment papers may wish to re-sit one of these assessment papers to seek to achieve a better outcome than their June results (e.g. move from a Merit to a Distinction). It is open to an apprentice to re-sit either assessment paper and, on this occasion, the apprentice can benefit from the best result achieved in either June or the September / November resits. Details of how to register for these repeat assessments will be sent to you in the coming days.

As outlined above, there will be no fee to sit a repeat assessment and the referral grade from the June 2026 sitting will not be counted as an assessment attempt.

Who to contact

Please contact your training provider if you have questions about:

registration arrangements

revision class dates and locations

assessment venue information

assessment schedules and instructions

reasonable accommodations.

For additional queries, please contact:

SOLAS Support Line: 1800 794 487

Email: apprenticeship@solas.ie

We understand that this has been a difficult and unsettling period for apprentices affected by these assessments, particularly for those who felt the papers did not give them a fair opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

We are grateful for your patience while the ndependent review and related actions have been progressed. SOLAS and the higher education institutions remain committed to supporting you through the next steps and to helping you continue to progress in your apprenticeship.

Yours sincerely,

SOLAS

7th August 2026: Further communication from SOLAS

Dear Apprentice,

As previously communicated, a post marking adjustment (PMA) is being made to assessment results for T1 Electrical Assessments for Phase 4 & 6.

The purpose of the PMA is to recognise the impact that the changes to the papers may have had on assessment outcomes in June 2026.

The PMA is being made across all assessment scores on a sliding scale, giving higher percentage boosts to lower scores and smaller boosts to top scores.

Impact of the PMA on June 2026 referral assessment results:

The PMA means that any apprentice who achieved an assessment result between 40% and 49% in the June assessment will now achieve a Pass result.

SOLAS will write to each apprentice individually with details of the original mark awarded, the PMA applied and the final assessment result. You should expect to receive this communication by email by Friday 14th August 2026.

The adjusted results will also be shared with your apprenticeship training provider, your employer and QQI, in line with the normal arrangements for assessment results.

The PMA is not open to appeal.

If you do not reach a pass grade following the application of the PMA (i.e. your June assessment result is between 0% and 39%), repeat assessment opportunities and related supports will be available as set out below.

Repeat assessment opportunities

Additional repeat assessment opportunities will be held on 15 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 1 and 16 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 2 for Phases 4 & 6.

A further repeat assessment opportunity will be available in November 2026. The exact date will be confirmed as soon as possible. As noted in our previous communication, there will be no fee to sit a repeat assessment and the referral grade from the June 2026 sitting will not be counted as an assessment attempt.

Higher education institutions will contact apprentices directly with information about assessment preparation workshops that will run in September 2026.

Who to contact

For queries relating to the Post Marking Adjustment please contact:

SOLAS Support Line: 1800 794 487

Email: apprenticeship@solas.ie

Please contact your training provider if you have questions about:

registration arrangements

revision class dates and locations

assessment venue information

assessment schedules and instructions

reasonable accommodations.

SOLAS and the higher education institutions remain committed to supporting you through the next steps and to helping you continue to progress in your apprenticeship.

Yours sincerely,

SOLAS

My Comment:

These two statements are contradictory, and even if they are not, "every official decision can be appealed", and they know that. It shows a lack of respect for apprentices and the rest of us. Do they think that we are not aware of this?

This could end up in The District Court if they are not careful.

13th August: My Comments

Apprentices who acrieved 40% in T1 exams for P4 & P6 will, I believe will get a pass tomorrow.

This is the persentage correction that they have decided to apply to correct the problems with the June 2026 exams. A 10% correction.

A 10% correction is not good enough to make up for what happened, normally there is a 30% failure rate, in June, there was a 70% failure rate, that leaves a gap of 40%, Therefore a 40% correction should be applied to make a fair correction.

All apprentices achieving 10% or more should now get a pass tomorrow.

(approximate percentage figures applied in the apsence of Solas publishing their statistics)

I suggest that any apprentice who gets a fail on Friday 14th August should email them and inform them of this and they should ask Solas to be more transparent with their figures, they have the data and they should make it available to apprentices if they want to preserve the integrity of the exams.

14th August 2026:

Individual apprentice results will be communicated to each apprentice for their reviewed results for the June 2026 exams.

(make sure you get yours)

Friday 14th August: Communication from SOLAS:

Dear (Apprentice Name)

Apprenticeship Number: 123456

We are writing to inform you of the Post-Marking Adjustment applied to the assessment results of the June 2026 Electrical Phase 4 and Phase 6 Theory 1 assessments.

As previously communicated, SOLAS commissioned an independent review of these assessment papers. As a result, SOLAS has applied a Post-Marking Adjustment (PMA) to the results of the Phase 4 and Phase 6 Theory 1 assessments.

The adjustment is not the same for every apprentice. It has been applied using a recognised statistical method designed to ensure that results were adjusted fairly and consistently across all apprentices that sat these assessments.

This means that apprentices remained in the same position compared with others who sat the assessment, while the overall results were adjusted to reflect the findings of the review.

Your results are shown below:

Assessment	Original Result	Final Result following PMA	Final Result
T1 Theory	21%	33%	Referral

What does this mean for me?

The Final Result following the PMA shown above is now your result for this assessment.

If your revised result changes your outcome (ie. changed from Fail to Pass), the revised outcome is listed under Final Outcome.

If your mark changed but your overall outcome remained the same, your final adjusted mark has still become your official result for this assessment.

You will receive a letter by post confirming your revised result. Your adjusted result will be shared with your apprenticeship training provider, QQI and your employer in line with the normal arrangements for the issuing of apprenticeship assessment results.

Please note that the PMA is only being applied to the Theory 1 assessment results and not the Theory 2 assessment results.

Repeat Assessment Opportunities

Additional repeat assessment opportunities for Electrical Phase 4 and Phase 6 Theory 1 and Theory 2 assessments are being made available as follows:

15 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 1 for both Phase 4 & 6

16 September 2026 for Electrical Theory 2 for both Phase 4 & 6

Registration arrangements vary by training provider. Please use the relevant registration link or contact details below to register for a repeat assessment on or before Friday 21 August 2026.

A further repeat assessment opportunity will also be available in November 2026. The exact date will be confirmed as soon as possible. There will be no fee to sit a repeat assessment.

Assessment Preparation Workshops

Higher education institutions are making arrangements for assessment preparation workshops that will run in September 2026. You should contact higher education institutions directly if you wish to partake in these. Whilst not compulsory we strongly recommend attending these workshops.

Further Information

We recognise that this has been a difficult and uncertain period for many apprentices affected by these assessments. We thank you for your patience while the independent review and related actions were completed. SOLAS and the apprenticeship training providers remain committed to supporting you in progressing your apprenticeship journey.

If you have questions regarding:

• registration arrangements;

• revision class dates and locations;

• assessment venues;

• assessment schedules and instructions; or

• reasonable accommodations,

please contact your apprenticeship training provider.

For all other queries, please contact:

SOLAS Support Line: 1800 794 487
Email: apprenticeship@solas.ie

Yours sincerely,

SOLAS

Friday 21st August 2026: Final day to register for repeats.

25th August: Communication from one college to individual apprentice.

They don't have all the answers yet as the academic staff are not back until 1st September.

Workshop will be on week commencing 7th September (to be confirmed)

The aim of the preperation class will be to go through the June paper and to deal with the changes to the exam format.

My Comment: This proves the extent of the breakdown in communication between the higher management, academic staff and apprentices.

They have not apoligised for the debacle and they have not done enough (10% does not make up for the damage that was done to the exams in June) to make amends.

26th August 2026: Email to apprentices on information about time and location of workshops in September and Sample Papers. (Apprentice tells me they are the June 2026 exam papers?)

It also states:

"Candiditates are responsible for ensuring that they are adequately prepared across the full curriculum."

Up to now this was the responsibility of the academic staff. They were responsible for the preperation and delivery of each lesson and the curriculum.

My Comments:

I intepret this statement to meant that SOLAS are NOT responsible for what happened with the June 2026 Exams, it was up to apprentices to ensure that the curriculum was fully covered not SOLAS or the academic staff.

They were not responsible for any of it.

It was all the apprentices fault. (suckers)

1st September 2026: Academic staff return to colleges.

7th September: Face to Face supports start for apprentices repeating exams.

15th September: T1 Repeats

16th September: T2 Repeats

? November: Repeats (Date to be decided)

 

Story is ongoing, so

Please keep me updated on WhatsApp (0862379704) and on tonygrant.sparks@gmail.com so that I can continue to update this story as it progresses.