Short answer: the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test checks basic health, safety and environmental awareness for people who work on UK construction sites. CITB runs it. For the Operatives route, CITB states 50 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes, and a 90% pass mark, which is at least 45 correct answers out of 50.
Who takes it
Many workers take the test as part of getting a CSCS card. CSCS is a separate organisation that issues the cards, and its requirements decide which test you need. CSCS guidance says an appropriate CITB HS&E test taken within the previous two years, or an approved alternative, is generally required. Check the current rules on the official CSCS pages before you book anything.
The three test types
- Operatives
- Specialist (Operatives topics plus material for a chosen specialist area)
- Managers and Professionals
This site covers the Operatives route only.
The five public topic areas
CITB publishes five knowledge-area labels for the Operatives test: working environment, occupational health, safety, high-risk activities, and specialist. Our original practice questions are written to those public labels. We do not use CITB’s protected test content.
Where practice fits
A practice test cannot tell you your official result. What it can do is show which topics you find hard, and whether you can answer under time pressure. The free questions on this site give ten items with a reason for every answer, and the format page sets out the official numbers next to what this site does.
Read next: CITB HS&E test practice, free practice questions, and the site safety glossary.
Official sources
This article is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB.