Free notes
Shall, should, may — and what they cost youWhat's the difference between shall and should?
Free from the notes: Sparky’s video on it, the section word for word as members see it, and a PDF to keep.
The question at the end: What's the difference between shall and should? The answer is in the notes below.
The notes
Exactly as they are on the site.
Near the front of the book, on the "Notes on the plan of the 18th Edition" page, there's a small table that decides a surprising number of exam answers. The book is written like a legal document and the verbs are doing real work.
| Word | Meaning | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| shall | Requirement | You must do it. No discretion. |
| should | Recommendation | Good practice. Not compulsory. (Sometimes the book spells out "recommendation" instead.) |
| may | Permission | You're allowed to. You don't have to. |
| can | Possibility / capability | It is possible — a statement of fact, not an instruction. |
BS 7671 · Notes on the plan of the 18th Edition · shall / should / may / can
Free section from Sparky Study Notes. The full Level 3 notes, 1,463 practice questions and the video lessons: sparkystudynotes.co.uk
Test yourself on it
The tests are in the members’ area. Get one wrong and it shows you why, and where to revise.
Get new notes and exam tips from Sparky
About one email a fortnight. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy noticeThat was one section. There are 583.
Sparky Study Notes is the whole Level 3 syllabus written up like this: the explanation, the worked example, and where it is in your book. With a video lesson for every part and a practice paper for every exam.
- 583sections of written notes
- 35video lessons
- 1,463practice questions
- 146diagrams, redrawn
- 18th Edition
- Building Regs
- PAT
- Fundamental Inspection & Testing
- Initial Verification
- Periodic Inspection & Testing