A two-week CITB practice plan works best when each day has one clear job: find your gaps early, revise by topic in the middle, and finish with timed papers and a calm last day. The plan below covers fourteen days. It is general advice for organising your practice, not an official CITB schedule, and you should adjust it to the time you really have.
Key takeaways
- A fourteen-day plan has three phases: a baseline and topic map, topic revision, then timed practice and review.
- The official Operatives test has 50 questions, a 45-minute limit and a 90% pass mark (at least 45 of 50), so your timed practice should copy that.
- Reviewing your mistakes is where most of the learning happens, so protect time for it every day.
- Keep one lighter day each week and a calm final day, rather than cramming until the last minute.
- Practice scores are not official results, and this site is independent and not affiliated with CSCS or CITB.
- Check the CITB Prepare for the test page for official guidance before you start.
Before day one
Start by reading the CITB page on preparing for the test. It is the official source for how CITB suggests you get ready, and it may point to material that is current in a way that a practice site cannot match. Check it again before you book, since arrangements can change.
Then fix three things.
- Your target. The official pass mark is 90%, which means at least 45 correct out of 50. Use that as your benchmark for timed papers.
- Your tools. You need a notebook or spreadsheet for a mistake log, access to practice questions, and the glossary for unfamiliar terms.
- Your times. Choose a regular slot and protect it. Short regular sessions are usually easier to keep up than rare long ones.
If you have more than two weeks, the four-week plan spreads the same ideas out. For general method, see the guide on how to practise for the CITB test.
The fourteen-day plan
Phase one: baseline and map (days 1 to 2)
Day 1: baseline. Do an untimed or lightly timed set of practice questions without looking anything up. The aim is to find out where you are, so do not worry about the score. Mark every question you guessed.
Day 2: review and topic map. Go through every wrong or unsure answer. For each, write the hazard, the control that should have been chosen and why the other options were weaker. Sort the mistakes by topic and rank the topics from weakest to strongest.
Phase two: topic revision (days 3 to 9)
Day 3: weakest topic. Read about your weakest topic and do a set of questions on it. Add new mistakes to your log.
Day 4: second weakest topic. Repeat the routine. Start the session with a few minutes of recalling what you learned yesterday without looking.
Day 5: third topic. Same routine, then a short mixed set to see whether earlier topics have stuck.
Day 6: mixed set and review. Do a mixed set of questions from several topics. Spend at least as long on the review as on the set.
Day 7: lighter day. Reread your mistake log and the rules you have written. Do not sit a full paper.
Day 8: weak topics again. Return to the two weakest topics from your updated log. Try questions you have not seen before, so you test understanding and not memory.
Day 9: mixed timed half-set. Do half a paper in half the time, then review thoroughly.
Phase three: timed practice and review (days 10 to 14)
Day 10: review and gap fill. Use the half-set results to choose one or two topics for a short revision block.
Day 11: full timed paper. Sit a full paper under test conditions: 50 questions in 45 minutes, nothing open, no pauses. Record the score and the time taken.
Day 12: full review. Go through every wrong and unsure answer from the paper. Update the log and write new rules.
Day 13: targeted revision. Revise the remaining weak topics. If your score on day 11 was below 45 out of 50, treat this day as a priority. Consider whether you need more time before booking.
Day 14: calm last day. Reread your rules and your most frequent mistakes. Stop at a sensible time. Check the CITB page for your booking details, and prepare what you need for the day.
Suggested daily time
These figures are suggestions only. They are not official and they are not required. If you have less time, shorten the sets but keep the review.
| Phase | Days | Suggested time per day | Main tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline and map | 1 to 2 | About 60 minutes | Baseline set, then review and topic ranking |
| Topic revision | 3 to 6, 8 | About 45 to 60 minutes | Read one topic, do a set, update mistake log |
| Lighter day | 7 | About 20 minutes | Reread log and rules |
| Timed half-set | 9 | About 45 minutes | Half paper, full review |
| Gap fill | 10 | About 30 minutes | Short revision on one or two topics |
| Full paper | 11 | About 45 minutes plus review | Timed paper under test conditions |
| Full review | 12 | About 45 minutes | Review every wrong and unsure answer |
| Targeted revision | 13 | About 45 minutes | Revise remaining weak topics |
| Calm last day | 14 | About 20 minutes | Reread rules, check booking details |
If you work long hours, you could split a session in two, but do the review while the questions are still fresh.
Daily routine that stays the same
Whatever the day's task, keep this short routine.
- Recall yesterday's rules without looking.
- Do the main task for the day.
- Review mistakes straight away.
- Add to your log and note any term to look up in the glossary.
A simple mistake log
| Date | Topic | Hazard | Control I should have chosen | Why I got it wrong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Keep it short. One line per mistake is enough, and the pattern across the log matters more than the detail.
When this plan does not fit
Fourteen days is a reasonable period for many people, but it does not suit everyone. If you work in a busy trade and have little free time, consider the four-week version. If you already know the material and only want a refresher, you could shorten the topic phase. Whichever you choose, keep the baseline, the review and at least one full timed paper.
Remember that a plan is a tool and not a promise. Following it does not guarantee a pass, and only CITB can give an official result.
Practice check
These two questions are original and written for this site. They are not from the official test.
Question 1. You find a patch of oil on a walkway that others are using. What is the best first response?
- A. Step over it and carry on
- B. Warn others and stop it causing harm, for example by blocking the area, then report or clean it as appropriate
- C. Assume the next person will deal with it
- D. Cover it with a loose sheet of cardboard
Answer: B. The hazard should be controlled straight away so no one slips, and then dealt with properly. Ignoring it, hoping someone else will act, or hiding it with something loose leaves the hazard in place and may make it worse.
Question 2. The fire alarm sounds while you are on site. What should you do?
- A. Finish your task first, then leave
- B. Collect all your belongings before moving
- C. Leave by the nearest safe route and go to the assembly point
- D. Wait to see whether the alarm stops
Answer: C. When the alarm sounds you should leave promptly by a safe route and report to the assembly point. Finishing a task, collecting belongings or waiting wastes time that may matter.
FAQ
Is two weeks enough to prepare for the CITB test?
It can be, depending on your starting point and how much time you can give each day. The official test has 50 questions in 45 minutes with a 90% pass mark, so you need to be consistent at that level. If your first timed papers fall well short, extending the plan is sensible.
How many hours a day should I practise?
There is no official figure. The table above suggests about an hour on most days, with lighter days around it, but treat that as a starting point. A shorter session with a proper review beats a long one without.
Should I take a full paper before the last day?
Yes, at least one full timed paper is useful, because it shows how you cope with 50 questions in 45 minutes. In this plan it comes on day 11, which leaves time to review and fix the gaps. Avoid a full paper on the last day, since a poor result could knock your confidence.
Is this plan an official CITB schedule?
No. It is general advice from an independent site that is not affiliated with CSCS or CITB. For official guidance, read the CITB page on preparing for the test.
Sources
Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.