Take a free CSCS Operatives mock test built to match the real CITB Health, Safety & Environment test: 50 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark of 45. You’ll face 12 behavioural case studies and 38 knowledge questions across all 16 test topics, with an explanation for every answer. Sit it under timed conditions, check your weak areas, then go into the real test knowing what to expect.
Topics Covered in This Mock Test
Questions are drawn from the 16 CITB knowledge areas, grouped into five sections:
Legal and management
- General responsibilities – your legal duties as a worker, what employers must provide, risk assessments and method statements, site inductions and the right to refuse unsafe work.
- Accident reporting and recording – the accident book, near misses, what must be reported under RIDDOR and why reporting matters even when no one is hurt.
Health and welfare
- Health and welfare – minimum welfare facilities, hygiene on site, skin conditions such as dermatitis, Weil’s disease, and sun and heat exposure.
- First aid and emergency procedures – who the first aiders are, what to do if someone is injured, when to call 999 and what a non-first-aider should and shouldn’t do.
- Personal protective equipment – hard hats, eye protection, gloves, boots, hi-vis and respiratory protection, who provides it, and when to inspect or replace it.
- Dust and fumes – silica, wood dust, diesel fumes and welding fumes, controlling dust at source, water suppression, on-tool extraction and choosing the right mask.
- Noise and vibration – exposure action values, hearing protection zones, hand-arm vibration syndrome and how to reduce exposure through job rotation and tool choice.
- Hazardous substances – COSHH assessments, safety data sheets, hazard symbols, safe storage, and asbestos awareness including what to do if you find suspected asbestos.
- Manual handling – assessing the load, correct lifting technique, team lifts and when to use trolleys, hoists or other mechanical aids.
General safety
- Safety signs – the four sign types (prohibition, warning, mandatory, safe condition), their colours and shapes, and fire equipment signs.
- Fire prevention and control – the fire triangle, extinguisher types and colour codes, hot work permits, fire watches, evacuation routes and assembly points.
- Electrical safety, tools and equipment – 110V equipment, RCDs, damaged cables, overhead power lines, underground cables and the correct use of hand and power tools.
- Site transport safety and lifting operations – pedestrian routes, reversing vehicles, vehicle marshals, riding on plant, and who plans and supervises lifting operations.
High risk activities
- Working at height – the hierarchy of controls, ladders and stepladders, scaffolds and mobile towers, MEWPs, fragile roofs, edge protection and fall arrest equipment.
- Excavations and confined spaces – locating underground services, trench support, keeping spoil away from the edge, and the dangers and permit requirements of confined spaces.
Environment
- Environmental awareness and waste control – the waste hierarchy, segregating hazardous waste, fuel spills, protecting drains and watercourses, concrete washout and protected wildlife.
Booking the Test and What to Expect on the Day
Booking – Book through the CITB website or by phone. Tests are taken at Pearson VUE test centres across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so there will usually be one within reach. Slots in busy areas can fill up, so book once you’re consistently passing practice tests.
Cost – The fee is currently £22.50 per attempt. Check the CITB site for the latest price.
ID – Bring two forms of identification, at least one with a photo, such as a passport, photocard driving licence or biometric residence permit. Without the correct ID you won’t be allowed to sit the test and you’ll lose your fee.
Language – Voiceover is available in several languages and the test can be taken in Welsh. Choose this when booking.
During the test – The test is on a computer. You can flag any question and return to it before submitting. There are 50 questions in 45 minutes, so you have under a minute per question, but most people finish with time to spare.
Results – Your score is shown on screen immediately and you receive a printed result before leaving. A pass is valid for two years when applying for a CSCS card.
If you don’t pass – You can rebook straight away. There’s no waiting period and no limit on attempts, but you pay the fee each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the Operatives test to renew my CSCS card?
Yes. You must have passed the HS&E test within the two years before you apply for renewal, even if you passed it when you first got your card. If your card has expired, you’ll need a fresh pass before you can reapply.
Can I take the CSCS Operatives test online at home?
No. The test is only taken in person at a Pearson VUE test centre under supervision. Any website offering the official test online is not genuine. Online mock tests like this one are for practice only.
What are the behavioural case study questions?
These are 12 questions at the start of the test based on short site scenarios, such as spotting a hazard or being asked to do something unsafe. You’re asked what you should do. The correct answer is always the safest, most responsible option, usually stopping work, reporting the problem or following site rules.
Which CSCS cards require the Operatives test?
The Green Labourer card, most Blue Skilled Worker and Gold Advanced Craft cards, and Red Trainee and Apprentice cards. If your job involves managing or supervising, or you’re in certain specialist trades, you’ll need the Managers & Professionals or a Specialists test instead.
What revision material should I use alongside mock tests?
CITB publishes the official HS&E test revision book, app and DVD, which contain the actual question bank. Use those to learn the content, then use mock tests like this one to practise under timed conditions and find your weak topics.