BCIN 2024 Exam Changes What Changed in the New Format
The BCIN exam is still about using the Ontario Building Code accurately. The format around that task has changed.
The updated BCIN exams now align with the 2024 Ontario Building Code, replacing the older exam base that used the 2012 Ontario Building Code. The exam also has fewer questions, while the passing requirement remains the same. For many candidates, the biggest practical shift is not just what changed, but how those changes affect preparation.
A shorter exam does not automatically mean an easier exam. The candidates who benefit most will be the ones who can search the Code quickly, recognize where requirements are likely to appear, and avoid wasting time flipping through unrelated sections.
The exam now uses the 2024 Ontario Building Code
The most important change is the Code edition.
Older BCIN exams were based on the 2012 Ontario Building Code. The updated exams are now based on the 2024 Ontario Building Code.
That matters because exam preparation should now be tied to the current Code edition. Relying only on old notes, old tabs, or old practice questions can create confusion if references have shifted or wording has changed. Even when a concept feels familiar, the exam expects candidates to work from the correct Code.
This does not mean every skill from the previous exam becomes useless. The core skill remains the same: find the right part of the Code and apply it correctly. What changes is the source material candidates should use while studying.
A practical study plan should start with the 2024 Code in the same format the candidate expects to use most often. Some people learn faster with a physical copy because they remember where things sit on the page. Others prefer digital access because search tools can help locate key terms faster.
Both approaches can work. The risk comes from switching formats too late. A candidate who studies only from a digital version may feel slower with a printed volume. A candidate who studies only from a physical copy may not know how to search digital text well.
The best approach is to practise with the format that will be allowed and available on exam day.
The number of questions has changed
One of the clearest format changes is the question count.
Previously, the exam contained 75 questions. The updated exam contains 70 questions.
Previous format | Updated format |
Based on the 2012 Ontario Building Code | Based on the 2024 Ontario Building Code |
75 questions | 70 questions |
Open book | Open book |
Passing requirement unchanged | Passing requirement unchanged |
Five fewer questions may not sound like a major difference, but it can affect pacing. With fewer questions, candidates may have slightly more time available per question, depending on the exam time limit and format.
That extra time should not be treated as spare time. It should be used to check references, confirm wording, and avoid guessing when the Code can answer the question.
A shorter exam can also make each question feel more important. Since there are fewer total questions, candidates should still manage time carefully. Spending too long on one difficult question can create pressure later.
A useful pacing method is simple:
Answer the straightforward questions first.
Mark difficult questions for review.
Return to the marked questions with the remaining time.
Use the Code to confirm, not to wander.
The exam rewards efficient Code use. Reading long sections from start to finish during the exam is rarely a good use of time. The goal is to locate the right clause, sentence, table, appendix note, or definition quickly enough to apply it.
The passing mark has not changed
The passing requirement remains unchanged. Candidates still need to meet the same required passing score.
That detail is easy to overlook because the exam format has changed in other ways. A new Code edition and a lower question count do not lower the standard. Candidates still need enough correct answers to pass.
This is why preparation should focus on accuracy, not just speed.
Speed matters because exam time is limited. Accuracy matters because the purpose of the BCIN exam is to test whether candidates can work with the Ontario Building Code in a competent way. Guessing based on memory alone is risky, especially when the exam is open book.
A strong answer usually comes from three steps:
Identify what the question is really asking.
Find the relevant Code section.
Match the wording of the Code to the answer choices.
Many mistakes happen in the first step. A question may look like it is asking about one topic, but a small detail can shift the answer. For example, a question may depend on building type, occupancy, construction requirements, definitions, or a specific condition in a table.
Because the passing mark has not changed, candidates should not rely on the shorter format as a safety net. The better mindset is to treat the new format as a more focused version of the same challenge.
The exam is still open book
BCIN exams continue to be open-book examinations. That is good news, but open book does not mean easy.
An open-book exam tests a different skill from a closed-book exam. Candidates do not need to memorize every Code requirement. They do need to know how the Code is organized and how to find the right material under pressure.
The key change is that candidates may now have more options for accessing the Building Code during the exam, depending on the permitted exam format. Some candidates may work with a physical version. Others may use a digital version. In some cases, the allowed resources may depend on the exam provider’s rules.
Before exam day, candidates should confirm what is permitted. That includes whether a digital Code is allowed, whether notes or tabs are allowed, and what kinds of markings can be used in a physical copy.
Digital access can make searching faster
Digital access can help because candidates may be able to use search tools such as `Ctrl + F` to find terms and references.
This can save time, especially when searching for exact words. A digital search can help locate:
Definitions
Specific phrases
Table titles
Section headings
Repeated technical terms
The weakness of digital search is that it depends on knowing what to search. If a candidate searches the wrong word, they may miss the correct section. The Code may use a term that differs from everyday language, or a question may describe a concept without using the exact Code wording.
For example, a candidate who searches a casual phrase may not find the proper Code reference. A better strategy is to learn the Code’s terminology while studying. That way, digital search becomes faster and more accurate.
Physical copies still work well with good preparation
A printed Building Code can also be effective. Many candidates like the physical format because tabs, highlighting, and page memory help them move quickly.
A well-prepared physical Code may include:
Tabs for major Parts and Divisions
Highlighting for frequently used definitions
Notes that point to related clauses, if permitted
Clear markings for tables that appear often in practice
The danger is over-marking. Too many highlights or sticky notes can make the book harder to use. If every page looks important, nothing stands out.
A printed Code should help navigation. It should not become a scrapbook of every possible exam topic.
Is the new BCIN exam easier
The new BCIN exam should not be treated as easy.
It has fewer questions, and improved access to the Ontario Building Code may make the exam more manageable. Still, those changes do not remove the need to understand how the Code works.
The main advantage goes to candidates who can move through the Code efficiently. That includes knowing where to look for definitions, how to use tables, how to connect a question to the right Part, and how to avoid being distracted by similar but incorrect sections.
The new format may feel easier for candidates who:
Study from the 2024 Ontario Building Code
Practise finding answers quickly
Know common Code terms
Use tabs or digital search well
Read questions carefully before searching
It may feel harder for candidates who rely on old materials, try to memorize instead of navigate, or assume open book means the answer will be easy to find.
The best way to think about the updated exam is this: the source material has changed, the number of questions has changed, but the core skill has not. The exam still measures whether a candidate can use the Ontario Building Code correctly.
How to prepare for the updated format
Preparation should match the new exam reality. That means using the 2024 Ontario Building Code from the start and building search habits that work under time pressure.
Start with the correct Code edition
Use the 2024 Ontario Building Code for study. If old practice questions are part of your preparation, treat them carefully. They may still help with reading style and topic recognition, but answers should be checked against the current Code.
Do not assume an old reference still points to the same place. Even when the general concept remains familiar, the exam is now aligned with the new edition.
Learn the structure before the details
Many candidates jump straight into practice questions. Practice is useful, but it works better after learning the Code’s layout.
Spend time understanding:
How the Code is divided
Where definitions are located
How tables are named and used
Which Parts apply to the exam category
How general rules and exceptions are written
Once the structure feels familiar, questions become easier to classify. Instead of searching randomly, candidates can narrow the search area before opening the book or typing a term.
Practise with a timer
Because the exam has 70 questions, pacing still matters. Timed practice helps build realistic habits.
A good practice session should include more than just answering questions. It should include tracking how long it takes to find the Code reference. If a question takes too long, review why.
Common causes include:
Searching with the wrong term
Misreading the question
Looking in the wrong Part
Missing a definition
Not recognizing a table reference
Fixing these habits matters more than simply completing more practice questions.
Build a personal search system
Whether using digital or physical materials, candidates need a search system.
For digital study, build a list of Code terms that appear often. Practise searching exact terms. If one term does not work, try related Code language.
For physical study, build clean tabs and use them consistently. Avoid adding so many tabs that they become hard to scan. The goal is fast movement, not decoration.
The best system is the one a candidate can use calmly during the exam.
What this means for candidates now
The updated BCIN exam format brings four main takeaways.
The exam now uses the 2024 Ontario Building Code. The question count has dropped from 75 to 70. The passing requirement remains the same. The exam is still open book, with physical or digital access depending on what the exam format permits.
That combination creates both opportunity and risk. Fewer questions and better search options can help prepared candidates. At the same time, old study habits may cause problems if they are tied too closely to the 2012 Code or to slow navigation.
The strongest preparation is practical. Use the current Code. Practise under time limits. Learn the structure. Build a reliable way to find references.
The new format does not reward memorizing every rule. It rewards knowing where and how to find the correct Building Code reference quickly.
Comments