Construction personnel take the Construction Industry Training Board Health, Safety and Environment test to qualify for a CSCS card. Depending on your trade role, you will take the Operatives, Specialists, or Managers and Professionals test. This page provides free practice questions written with artificial intelligence tools, breakdown of test administration, and review materials to help you prepare before sitting your examination at an official testing centre. Practice with the free Construction Industry Training Board practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
Interactive Construction Industry Training Board resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
The CITB has 50 questions, takes about 45 minutes and costs £23.50[1] (Construction Industry Training Board, verified Oct 27, 2026).
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 50 questions[1] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Time limit | 45 minutes[1] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Managers and Professionals) | 90% (45 of 50 correct)[2] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Operatives) | 90% (45 of 50 correct)[3] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Passing score (Specialists) | 90% (45 of 50 correct)[8] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Exam fee | £23.50 per test[1] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 2 years[4] | cscs.uk.com · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery | Pearson Professional Centres, Internet Test Centres (ITCs), or mobile testing[5] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Operatives, Specialists, or Managers and Professionals based on trade role and CSCS card[1] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Score release | Immediate written score report upon completion[6] | Construction Industry Training Board · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to Construction Industry Training Board, “Each of the Heath, safety and environment tests last for 45 minutes and contain 50 questions.”[1]
The Construction Industry Training Board Health, Safety and Environment test examines knowledge of workplace safety standards required to apply for a CSCS card. Candidates take the Operatives, Specialists, or Managers and Professionals test depending on their trade role. You can check the official CSCS card finder to confirm the exact test required for your card category.
Testing takes place at Pearson Professional Centres, Internet Test Centres, or mobile testing units. You can book an appointment with Pearson online, by phone, or directly through your local Internet Test Centre. Taking the test costs £23.50 per test.
Each test consists of 50 questions and has a time limit of 45 minutes. The pass mark is 90% (45 of 50 correct) for the Operatives test, the Specialists test, and the Managers and Professionals test. Candidates receive an immediate written score report upon completion. This report provides confirmation of a pass or fail result and highlights subject areas of weakness where questions were not answered correctly. A passing result remains valid for 2 years when applying for a CSCS card.
The content areas below are copied from the official CITB content outline published by Construction Industry Training Board. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| High risk activities[3] | CITB Working at Height Review controls for working at height, excavations, and high hazard construction operations. |
| Occupational health[3] | CITB Health and Safety Study prevention of occupational diseases, physical health hazards, and exposure to toxic substances. |
| Safety[3] | CITB Health, Safety, and Environmental Man... Focus on general accident prevention, personal protective equipment, and site safety signage. |
| Specialist[3] | CITB Electrical and Mechanical Services Practise specific technical controls and trade regulations relevant to specialist construction activities. |
| Working environment[3] | CITB Site Communication and Documentation Review emergency procedures, reporting protocols, and environmental waste management rules on site. |
Prepare for the CITB - Construction Industry Training Board exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: What is the purpose of a toe board on a scaffold platform?
Answer: B. To prevent tools, materials, and debris from falling off the platform and striking workers below
Explanation:
Option B is correct because a toe board acts as a solid physical barrier at the base of a scaffold deck to keep loose hand tools, building supplies, and discarded rubble from being knocked over the side. Option A is incorrect because guardrails, rather than toe boards, keep personnel from falling off edges. Option C is incorrect because platforms are work areas, and personnel should never sit with legs dangling from scaffold edges. Option D is incorrect because visual boundary markers do not stop falling items. The core rule is that scaffold edge protection requires toe boards along working platforms to eliminate falling object hazards for anyone passing or working underneath.
Question: What is the purpose of a thorough examination of lifting equipment?
Answer: A. To verify the equipment is safe, identifying defects before they cause failure
Explanation:
Option A is correct because thorough examinations are detailed systematic inspections conducted by competent persons to assess structural integrity and locate mechanical deterioration before equipment fails under load. Option B is incorrect because general cleaning is routine housekeeping rather than a safety assessment. Option C is incorrect because applying paint does not confirm mechanical soundness and can conceal cracks or corrosion. Option D is incorrect because measuring physical dimensions does not verify operational safety or component strength. The standard rule is that lifting equipment requires periodic thorough examinations by competent assessors to identify hidden defects, verify safe working capacity, and prevent catastrophic failures on site.
Question: What does a variation order (VO) represent in construction contract documentation?
Answer: A. A change to the agreed scope of work or contract terms
Explanation:
Option A is correct because a variation order formally documents and approves changes to the original agreed contract scope, design specifications, or delivery terms. Option B is incorrect because overtime requests belong to payroll or site labor records rather than contract alteration documents. Option C is incorrect because material delivery schedules are logistical planning tools, not contractual change notices. Option D is incorrect because quality inspection findings are recorded on testing reports or quality assurance forms. The fundamental rule in construction contract management is that any alteration affecting the contracted deliverables, schedule, or pricing requires a formal variation order to maintain clear legal and operational agreement among all parties.
Begin your revision by confirming the correct test type through the official CSCS card finder so that your preparation aligns with your job role. Use our practice sets to review questions across core safety domains, identifying topics where your answers fall short of the required standard.
Practice answering question sets under timed conditions to get used to the pace of 50 questions in 45 minutes. Because passing requires achieving 90% (45 of 50 correct), aim for consistent accuracy on safety regulations, hazard identification, and working procedures. When a question is answered incorrectly, review the underlying health and safety reason before proceeding.
Combine these practice tests with official revision publications from the Construction Industry Training Board. In the period leading up to your booking, take full practice runs without pauses to develop familiarity with the test format and ensure steady time management on test day.
The test costs £23.50 per test. You pay this fee when booking your appointment through Pearson online or by phone, or directly with an Internet Test Centre. Booking through official channels ensures you pay only the standard testing fee set by the Construction Industry Training Board.
The pass mark is 90% (45 of 50 correct). This passing standard applies to the Operatives test, the Specialists test, and the Managers and Professionals test. You must achieve at least this mark during your 45 minutes test session to receive a passing grade.
A passing test result remains valid for 2 years. To apply for a CSCS card, you must have passed the appropriate level of the CITB Health, safety and environment test within the last 2 years or hold an approved alternative qualification recognized by CSCS.
The test contains 50 questions and has a time limit of 45 minutes. This format applies across each of the test types, allowing candidates to practice managing their available time while reviewing scenarios and selecting the correct health and safety answers.
Candidates receive an immediate written score report upon completion of the test. Regardless of whether you pass or fail, the score report confirms your result and indicates specific subject areas of weakness where questions were not answered correctly during the exam.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.