Purpose of Supporting Documents

The ICE outlines the purpose of appendices as follows:

• Demonstrating Competence: The documents must provide clear evidence of your engineering decisions and problem-solving skills.

• Justifying Decisions: Include calculations, sketches, and other evidence to show how you arrived at key decisions.

Guidelines for Appendices

Submission Limits:

• A3 Documents: Maximum of three sides

• A4 Documents: Maximum of 12 sides

• Total file size: 15 MB

Ensure your submission adheres strictly to these guidelines, as exceptions are rarely granted. Avoid oversized drawings and photographs that are difficult to read when printed on A4 paper.

Best Practices for Effective Supporting Documents

1. Relevance is Key:

• Only include documents that directly support your role and contribution.

• Discard anything that does not strengthen your narrative.

2. Use of Hyperlinks and Annotations:

• Link appendices to relevant sections in your report using hyperlinks.

• Annotate documents to explain their purpose and highlight key details.

3. Include a Variety of Evidence:

• Analyses: Include both technical and commercial calculations but explain assumptions and how the results were used. Avoid overwhelming reviewers with lengthy software printouts—focus on what the calculations mean and how they informed your decisions.

• Cost Data: Provide examples like activity schedules or cost estimates, but show how you adjusted rates or applied insights rather than copying values from previous work.

• Illustrations: Use annotated sketches and diagrams to reduce word count and improve clarity. Avoid only contract-level drawings with high-levels of detail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Submitting Irrelevant Documents:
If a document does not demonstrate your competence or contribute to your story, leave it out. Reviewers are not interested in unrelated materials.

2. Overloading with Calculations:
Avoid including repetitive or unnecessary calculations. Instead, focus on showing your understanding of why certain values or methods were used and how they contributed to the final solution.

3. Including Poorly Chosen Photos:
Photographs should illustrate key aspects of your project. Avoid irrelevant or cluttered images that could distract reviewers or prompt unnecessary questions.

Types of Documents to Include:

1. Analyses and Calculations:

• Explain the purpose of your calculations and the assumptions made.

• If using software, describe how you validated the results.

Key Questions to Address:

• What assumptions did you make, and why were they valid?

• How did you ensure the results were realistic?

• Why did you choose a particular calculation method?

2. Cost Data:

• Provide detailed cost breakdowns that show an understanding of rates and cost coverage, rather than copying pre-set rates.

• Examples may include estimates for variations, claims, or design cost breakdowns.

3. Drawings and Sketches:

• Use simple, annotated sketches to convey key information without overwhelming reviewers.

• Avoid large, contract-level drawings—simplify and highlight relevant details.

Tips for Strong Supporting Documents:

• Integrate Visuals: Include diagrams and images within the report where possible to save words and improve clarity.

• Highlight Your Contribution: Explain how you influenced or led decisions reflected in the documents.

• Keep It Concise: Ensure appendices are clear, relevant, and easy to read. Use A4-friendly formatting.

Photograph Requirement:

Include a recent photograph of yourself on the cover page to help reviewers identify you. Avoid heavily styled or outdated photos—opt for a clear, professional image.

Key Takeaways:

Your supporting documents are not just evidence—they are part of your narrative. They should reinforce your competence, provide context for your decisions, and help reviewers understand your role. Avoid unnecessary complexity and focus on documents that enhance your story.

How We Can Help:
Our review services ensure your supporting documents align seamlessly with your report and highlight your strengths. From document selection to annotation advice, we guide you in presenting a professional and polished submission.

Take the next step toward a standout submission—book your session today!