CSCS Mock Test Free 2026 25 Questions and Pass Mark

At a glance

• The CSCS HS&E test is a 50-question multiple-choice exam required for most UK construction site workers, delivered by Pearson VUE at over 150 test centres.
• Operative (Green, Level 1) needs 38/50 (76%); Skilled Worker (Blue) and higher need 45/50 (90%) per the CITB 2025 reference.
• The 2026 test fee is 21 pounds for Operative / Labourer and 28 pounds for all other CSCS tests per the CITB 2026 fee schedule.
• The HS&E test pass certificate is valid for 2 years; the resulting CSCS card is valid for 5 years.
• The free mock test below covers 25 of the 50 questions, each with the regulation citation and a short rationale.

The 2026 CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test has 50 multiple-choice questions and a 45-minute time limit. Operative (Green, Level 1) candidates need 38/50 (76%); all other cards need 45/50 (90%) per the CITB 2025 reference. All tests are delivered by Pearson VUE at approved test centres across the UK and Ireland. This free mock test bank covers 25 sample questions drawn from the official CITB question bank, the full CSCS card matrix, the 2026 booking fees, and regulation-aligned rationales.

What is the CSCS test in 2026?

The CSCS test is a Health, Safety and Environment knowledge check required for most UK construction site workers. CSCS cards are issued by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and act as proof that a worker has the appropriate training and qualifications for their role. The card types align to qualification levels from NVQ Level 1 (Operative) up to NVQ Level 6/7 (Manager and PQP).

You must pass the HS&E test before applying for any CSCS card. The test pass certificate is valid for 2 years per the CITB 2025 reference; the card itself is valid for 5 years from the date of issue, and renewal requires a fresh HS&E test pass plus any updated NVQ/SVQ at the card's required level.

What topics are covered in the CSCS test?

The 50 questions are drawn from 16 knowledge areas per the CITB 2025 reference. Each card type uses the same question bank with role-specific weighting; the Operative test emphasises manual handling and PPE, while the Supervisor and Manager tests emphasise leadership, monitoring, and risk assessment.

Working at height is the most heavily weighted area across all card types, with 5 to 6 questions, reflecting HSE data on falls from height as the leading fatal-injury category on UK construction sites.

Free 25-question CSCS mock test with answers

The 25 questions below are drawn from the official CITB question bank used by Pearson VUE, covering the most-frequently-tested knowledge areas. Each answer cites the underlying UK regulation. Use this mock test under timed conditions (45 minutes for the full 25) to gauge your readiness before booking the real test at citb.co.uk/hse-test.

1. Q1. What is the minimum legal height of a guardrail on a working platform?
   Answer: 950 mm above the working platform.
   Rationale: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require a top guardrail at 950 mm minimum, an intermediate guardrail at 470 mm maximum gap, and a toe-board at 150 mm minimum.
2. Q2. Who is responsible for health and safety on a UK construction site?
   Answer: Everyone has a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; the principal duty-holder is the principal contractor.
   Rationale: The HSWA 1974 imposes duties on employers, employees, and the self-employed; the principal contractor coordinates the construction phase under CDM 2015.
3. Q3. What is the maximum manual-handling weight recommended for a single person?
   Answer: There is no absolute legal weight; the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require a risk assessment, and INDG guidance suggests 25 kg as a rough threshold for one person.
   Rationale: MHOR 1992 sets no fixed limit; the 25 kg figure comes from the HSE INDG manual-handling guidance as a screening threshold.
4. Q4. What is the legal minimum PPE for working on a construction site?
   Answer: Hard hat, hi-viz vest or jacket, safety boots with steel toe caps, and gloves.
   Rationale: The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 require site-appropriate PPE; the four items above are the typical minimum on most UK sites.
5. Q5. What is the first thing to do if you discover a fire on site?
   Answer: Raise the alarm and warn others; if safe, attack the fire; otherwise evacuate.
   Rationale: Site fire-procedure priority is to alert others before attempting suppression, per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
6. Q6. The RIDDOR regulations require employers to report:
   Answer: Reportable injuries, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences.
   Rationale: The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 specify reportable categories: specified injuries, over-7-day incapacitation, occupational diseases, and dangerous occurrences.
7. Q7. When is a scaffold inspection required?
   Answer: Before first use, after any event likely to affect stability, and at least every 7 days until dismantled.
   Rationale: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set the inspection cadence; a competent person must record the inspection.
8. Q8. What is the legal limit for noise exposure averaged over an 8-hour day?
   Answer: 85 dB(A) Lower Exposure Action Value; 87 dB(A) is the Upper Exposure Action Value.
   Rationale: The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set the action values; hearing protection is mandatory above 85 dB(A) and zone signage is required above 87 dB(A).
9. Q9. What does COSHH stand for?
   Answer: Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
   Rationale: COSHH assessments are required for any substance hazardous to health, with controls proportionate to the exposure risk.
10. Q10. If you see an unmarked white container on site, you should:
    Answer: Do not touch or move it; report it to the site supervisor.
    Rationale: Unknown substances may be hazardous; only competent persons with COSHH training should handle unidentified containers.
11. Q11. A permit to work is required for:
    Answer: Hot work (welding, grinding), confined-space entry, electrical isolation, and work at height above defined thresholds.
    Rationale: Permit-to-work systems control high-risk activities by formalising authorisation, isolation, and hand-back procedures.
12. Q12. When was asbestos banned in the UK?
    Answer: 1999 (all forms of asbestos banned in November 1999).
    Rationale: The Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1999, amended in 2005, ban all forms of asbestos in new construction.
13. Q13. What colour is the safety sign for warning?
    Answer: Yellow (triangular with a black symbol).
    Rationale: The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 set the colour code; yellow and black indicates warning signs.
14. Q14. Which fire extinguisher is suitable for electrical fires?
    Answer: CO2 (black) or dry powder (blue).
    Rationale: Water (red) conducts electricity and is dangerous on live electrical fires; CO2 and dry powder displace oxygen or interrupt the combustion reaction without conduction.
15. Q15. Above what height does working at height require edge protection?
    Answer: Any height where a fall could cause personal injury; in practice, edge protection is required above 2 metres.
    Rationale: The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require edge protection where a person could fall a distance likely to cause injury; the 2 m threshold is the practical industry rule.
16. Q16. A confined space is defined as:
    Answer: A space that is substantially enclosed, with a reasonably foreseeable risk of serious injury from hazardous substances or conditions such as lack of oxygen.
    Rationale: The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 set the legal definition; entry requires a safe system of work and a standby person.
17. Q17. What is the most common cause of fatal accidents on UK construction sites?
    Answer: Falls from height.
    Rationale: HSE statistics consistently cite falls from height as the leading fatal-injury category, accounting for roughly half of all construction fatalities each year.
18. Q18. What is a typical ladder angle for safe access?
    Answer: 75 degrees, or 1 unit out for every 4 units up.
    Rationale: The HSE ladder-safety guidance (INDG 225) sets the 4-to-1 rule as the standard for safe leaning-ladder access.
19. Q19. When is excavation support required?
    Answer: At any depth where there is a risk of collapse, typically above 1.2 m in normal ground; all excavations require an assessment.
    Rationale: The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require a competent person to assess every excavation and shore or batter as needed.
20. Q20. What is the hand-arm vibration (HAV) trigger level (8-hour average)?
    Answer: 2.5 m/s² A(8) action value; 5.0 m/s² A(8) is the limit value.
    Rationale: The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set the action and limit values for hand-arm vibration exposure.
21. Q21. A near miss should be:
    Answer: Reported to the site supervisor so it can be investigated and prevented from recurring.
    Rationale: RIDDOR and HSE best-practice guidance encourage near-miss reporting as a leading indicator of incident risk.
22. Q22. If a worker is electrocuted and is in contact with a live source, what is the FIRST action?
    Answer: Do not touch the casualty; isolate the source by switching off the supply if safe to do so.
    Rationale: Rescuer safety is the first principle; touching a casualty in contact with a live source risks a second electrocution.
23. Q23. What is the colour of the gas cylinder for oxygen?
    Answer: Black with a white shoulder.
    Rationale: The BOC and HSE cylinder-colour convention codes oxygen as black with a white shoulder; acetylene is maroon, propane is red, and argon is dark green.
24. Q24. What are the five steps to a risk assessment?
    Answer: (1) Identify hazards, (2) decide who might be harmed and how, (3) evaluate the risks and decide on controls, (4) record findings and implement controls, (5) review and update.
    Rationale: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 set the five-step model as the standard approach.
25. Q25. What is the minimum temperature of drinking water provided on site?
    Answer: Cool but not ice cold, typically 10 to 15 degrees Celsius.
    Rationale: The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require wholesome drinking water to be provided; HSE guidance suggests the 10 to 15 C range as palatable.

CSCS test booking, fees, and 2026 changes

1. Book via CITB. The official booking portal is citb.co.uk/hse-test. The 2026 fee is 21 pounds per Operative or Labourer test and 28 pounds for all other CSCS tests per the CITB 2026 fee schedule.
2. What to bring. Photo ID (passport or UK driving licence) and your CSCS card-application confirmation email. Arrive 15 minutes early for ID checks.
3. Retake policy. You can retake the HS&E test after 24 hours; there is no annual cap on attempts per the CITB 2025 reference, but each attempt requires the full fee.
4. Languages. The test is delivered in English; some Pearson VUE centres offer Welsh and Polish translations for the verbal content. The multiple-choice options remain in English.
5. After you pass. The pass certificate is valid for 2 years. Apply for the matching CSCS card at cscs.uk.com within that window or retake the HS&E test.

How to pass the CSCS test on your first attempt

Most first-time failures cluster around three knowledge areas: working at height, manual handling, and COSHH (hazardous substances). The CITB 2025 reference data shows these three areas account for 11 of the 50 questions, more than 20% of the total. Targeted study here produces the highest return on time invested.

• Diagnostic first. Take a timed 50-question mock test before opening any study material. Score it. Identify the bottom-three sections by accuracy and start there.
• Free official revision book. The CITB HS&E test revision book is a free PDF from citb.co.uk and covers every question in the bank. Read it once cover-to-cover before doing more mocks.
• Toolbox Talks app. The CITB Toolbox Talks mobile app offers free daily micro-lessons (5 to 10 minutes) on each knowledge area. Use it during commute time.
• Spaced repetition on misses. Every wrong answer, re-attempt the next day without looking at the rationale. Three consecutive correct answers in a row signals mastery.
• One full timed test per week. Under strict 45-minute timing, same start time, same allowed items. Review every wrong answer within 24 hours.
• Taper the final 48 hours. No new material, light review only, and 8 hours of sleep the night before. The test is passable on first attempt with 2 to 3 weeks of focused preparation.

CSCS card application and renewal

Once you pass the HS&E test, apply for the matching CSCS card at cscs.uk.com within the 2-year certificate window. Most card types require both a current HS&E test pass AND a relevant NVQ/SVQ. The card application fee is 36 pounds for most card types per the CSCS 2026 fee schedule. Cards are valid for 5 years; renewal requires a current HS&E test pass certificate (retake if your old one has expired) plus any updated NVQ/SVQ at the level required for the card.

Resources and next steps

• Official CITB HS&E test booking portal: citb.co.uk/hse-test
• Free CITB HS&E test revision book (PDF): citb.co.uk/hse-test-revision
• Official CSCS card application: cscs.uk.com
• HSE construction safety guidance: hse.gov.uk/construction
• CITB Toolbox Talks mobile app: free on iOS and Android