CITB Specialists Practice Test

CITB Specialists Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 22, 2026 against CITB (Construction Industry Training Board); tests delivered by Pearson VUE. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

What the CITB Specialists is and how it works

According to CITB (Construction Industry Training Board); tests delivered by Pearson VUE, “Each of the Heath, safety and environment tests last for 45 minutes and contain 50 questions.”^[1]

The Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) Specialist tests are run by CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) and delivered by Pearson VUE. CSCS uses them as a card requirement. A Specialist test is required for the Gold Supervisor card, and for Blue Skilled Worker and Gold Advanced Craft cards in certain occupations. Which test you need depends on your occupation and the card you are applying for, so check the CSCS card finder before you book.

Format and scoring. Each Specialist test has 50 questions and lasts 45 minutes. The pass mark is 90%, so you need at least 45 correct answers. You get a written score report whether you pass or fail. It also shows the subject areas where you were weak, which helps if you need a re-sit.

Booking and cost. The test costs £23.50. You can book with Pearson online or by phone, or directly with a local Internet Test Centre. Tests are taken at Pearson Professional Centres, Internet Test Centres or through mobile testing. To cancel and get a full refund, do it online at least 72 hours before your test.

Retakes and validity. If you fail, you must wait 48 hours before a re-sit. To apply for a CSCS card, your pass must be from within the last 2 years. Rules can change, so confirm the details on the CITB and CSCS websites before test day.

CITB Specialists content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official CITB Specialists content outline published by CITB (Construction Industry Training Board); tests delivered by Pearson VUE. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through CITB Specialists questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the purpose of a 'permit to dig' system used by specialist groundwork contractors?

1. To obtain planning permission for the excavation
2. To formally confirm that underground services have been located and marked, safe digging methods agreed, and specific precautions are in place before digging begins
3. To allow the use of mechanical excavation equipment
4. To confirm the soil type before excavation

Answer: B. To formally confirm that underground services have been located and marked, safe digging methods agreed, and specific precautions are in place before digging begins

Explanation:

B is correct. A permit to dig is a safety control. It confirms that service drawings have been checked, detection equipment has been used, services are marked on the ground and a safe digging method is agreed, including hand-dig zones. The supervisor signs it, and it must be reviewed if conditions change.

A is wrong because planning permission is a separate legal process run by the local authority and has nothing to do with site safety. C is wrong because the permit does not authorise machinery. It often limits machine digging near services. D is wrong because soil type matters for excavation support, but that is not what the permit is for.

Rule to remember: no digging starts until services are located and marked, the method is agreed and the permit is signed.

Example 2

Question: What is the minimum width of a scaffold working platform for specialist construction work where materials need to be stored on the platform?

1. 600mm (3 boards)
2. 800mm (4 boards)
3. A minimum of 5 boards wide (1.07m) to allow safe passage while materials are stored
4. Any width as long as guardrails are fitted

Answer: C. A minimum of 5 boards wide (1.07m) to allow safe passage while materials are stored

Explanation:

C is correct. When materials are stored on a scaffold platform, people still need a clear way past them. The platform must leave at least 600mm of clear passage alongside the materials, which in practice means at least 5 boards (about 1.07m) or wider.

A is wrong because a 600mm platform (3 boards) only gives room to walk. Once materials are stacked on it, there is no clear passage left. B is wrong because 800mm (4 boards) still leaves too little clear width beside stored materials. D is wrong because guardrails stop falls from the edge but do nothing about trip hazards or blocked access on the platform itself.

Rule to remember: platform width depends on how the platform will be used. If you add stored materials, you need a wider platform, and the scaffold design should allow for that.

Example 3

Question: What is a 'design check category' in relation to specialist temporary works under BS 5975?

1. A quality grading for scaffold tubes
2. A classification (1, 2, or 3) that determines the level of independent design checking required based on the complexity and risk of the temporary works
3. A fire rating for temporary structures
4. A cost category for budgeting purposes

Answer: B. A classification (1, 2, or 3) that determines the level of independent design checking required based on the complexity and risk of the temporary works

Explanation:

B is correct. Under BS 5975, temporary works are given a design check category based on how complex and risky they are. The higher the category, the more independent the check of the design has to be. Category 1 is checked by another member of the design team. Category 2 is checked by someone not involved in the design. Category 3, for the most complex or highest-risk works, is checked by an independent organisation.

A is wrong because tube quality is a material specification, not a design check. C is wrong because fire performance is assessed separately. D is wrong because the categories are about risk, not budgets.

Rule to remember: the riskier and more complex the temporary works, the further away from the original designer the checker must be.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Use the CITB revision resources for the Specialist test that matches your occupation. Read the relevant sections before you practise, so you are learning the content and not just memorising answers.

Take a baseline test. Do the free CITB Specialists practice test without notes. Note which topics you got wrong, not just your total.

Work through the topic sets. Go to the sets for your weakest areas first, such as excavation and groundwork, temporary works and scaffolding or CDM Regulations. For every wrong answer, read the explanation and work out why each of the other options is wrong.

Practise under real conditions. The pass mark is 90%, which means 45 of 50 correct, so there is little room for error. Time yourself to 45 minutes and keep practising until you score above the pass mark on sets you have not seen recently.

Before test day. Check your booking details and test centre. If you need to change your date, do it at least 72 hours before. If you do not pass, use the weak areas shown on your score report to plan your revision before the re-sit.