Putting Sustainable Design at the Heart of the IStructE Chartered Membership Exam
Sustainable design is no longer an optional skill for structural engineers — it is a core professional responsibility. Reflecting this shift, the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) has introduced major updates to its Chartered Membership Exam, embedding sustainability into every stage of assessment.
These changes, launched in January 2024, reshape how candidates demonstrate design thinking, material efficiency, carbon awareness, and communication skills. If you are preparing for the exam, understanding these updates is essential.
This article breaks down the new exam structure, explains what has changed, and highlights how sustainability now drives the marking criteria.
Why the Exam Changed: A Push Toward Sustainable Engineering
The Institution began reviewing its assessment criteria in 2019, forming two specialist task groups to evaluate the Professional Review Interview (PRI) and the membership exams. After extensive consultation with panels, committees, and young members, the Board approved the new criteria in July 2021.
The goal was clear: Ensure future Chartered Engineers can design responsibly, minimise material use, understand embodied carbon, and communicate sustainable choices effectively.
The updated IPD Regulations launched in April 2023, and the new exam content followed in January 2024 — marking a significant evolution in how professional competence is assessed.
What’s New in the Chartered Membership Exam?
The exam still consists of two main sections, but sustainability now sits at the centre of both.
🌱 Section 1a — Sustainable Scheme Design (40 marks)
This is where the biggest shift has occurred.
Candidates must now:
Present two distinct, viable, and sustainable schemes
Prioritise minimal material use (“build less” and “build clever”)
Demonstrate functional framing, load paths, stability, and serviceability
Consider reuse of existing structural elements when the question allows
Critically appraise both schemes using sustainability as a key criterion
A crucial clarification from the document:
“The specification of lower‑carbon materials on schemes with excess material use will not be considered to achieve the sustainability requirement.”
In other words, you cannot compensate for inefficient design by simply choosing greener materials. Material efficiency comes first.
✉️ Section 1b — Communicating Sustainable Changes to the Client (10 marks)
This part now tests your ability to:
Critically evaluate the brief
Suggest changes that reduce material usage
Stay within the boundaries set by the question
Communicate professionally (email format is now acceptable)
Explain environmental, cost, and programme implications clearly
The focus is on reducing upfront carbon, not merely switching to lower‑carbon materials.
Section 2 — Detailed Design, Carbon Calculations & Construction
Once you select your preferred scheme, Section 2 assesses your ability to deliver it.
📐 Section 2c — Design Calculations + A1–A3 Carbon Calculations (22 marks)
This is another major update.
Candidates must now include:
Full design calculations for principal elements
Approximate A1–A3 embodied carbon calculations
Straightforward mass × embodied carbon factor (ECF) methodology
The Institution recommends using industry‑average ECF values and provides guidance in its How to Calculate Embodied Carbon document.
To support candidates, IStructE also offers a free online course: Embodied Carbon Basics — highly recommended for exam preparation.
Two additional marks have been added to this section to reflect the extra carbon‑calculation requirement.
🗺️ Section 2d — Drawings (20 marks)
No changes here. Candidates must still produce:
General arrangement drawings
Plans, sections, elevations
Critical details for estimating purposes
Clarity, accuracy, and buildability remain essential.
🏗️ Section 2e — Method Statement (8 marks)
This section has been simplified:
No construction programme required
Two marks removed
Candidates must still demonstrate practical construction knowledge
Must address health and safety
Should reflect the chosen scheme
Should be concise and activity‑focused
⭐ Preparing for the Exam? Attend the Structure Pedia IStructE Chartered Membership Preparation Programme
With sustainability now embedded throughout the exam, candidates must prepare differently — with deeper design reasoning, clearer communication, and stronger carbon literacy.
If you want structured, high‑level guidance aligned with the new 2024 criteria, consider joining the:
Structure Pedia – IStructE Chartered Membership Exam Preparation Programme
This programme is designed specifically for the updated exam format and includes:
Full breakdown of the new sustainability‑driven marking criteria
Live walkthroughs of Section 1a scheme design and sustainability appraisal
Guidance on A1–A3 carbon calculations
Realistic mock questions based on the new exam style
Professional communication training for Section 1b
Drawing and method‑statement workshops
Access to critiqued scripts and high‑quality examples
Direct support from a Chartered Senior Bridge Engineer (MIStructE)
If you’re aiming to pass under the new criteria, this course gives you the clarity, structure, and confidence needed to perform at Chartered level.
Final Thoughts: Sustainability Is Now Non‑Negotiable
The 2024 exam changes reflect a broader industry transformation. Structural engineers must now demonstrate:
Material efficiency
Carbon literacy
Reuse‑first thinking
Clear communication
Practical construction knowledge
For candidates, this means preparing differently — with sustainability embedded into every design decision.
For the profession, it signals a future where responsible engineering is the standard, not the exception.
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