CSCS test (CITB Health, Safety and Environment test)
Most construction workers in the UK need a CSCS card to get onto site, and most cards need a pass in the CITB health, safety and environment (HS&E) test, often called the CSCS test. This page explains the operatives test, the level most people take, and lets you practise with free original questions.
Practise with free CSCS test questionsTake a timed mock test
Practise for the CSCS test
How the test works
- Pass mark90% (45 of 50)
- Fee£23.50 per test
- 50 multiple-choice questions
- 45 minutes
- On a computer at a Pearson VUE test centre
- Voiceover in 14 languages for the operatives test; the on-screen text is in English
Which test you need
CITB runs three levels: operatives (for most labourer, trainee, apprentice and skilled-worker cards), specialist tests for supervisors and some trades, and a test for managers and professionals. Check the card you are applying for on the CSCS website to see which level it needs.
What the operatives test covers
- Working environment: legal duties, site rules, welfare, signs, emergencies and waste
- Occupational health: noise, vibration, dust, asbestos, hazardous substances and manual handling
- Safety: personal protective equipment, work equipment, electricity and site transport
- High risk activities: work at height, excavations, confined spaces and lifting
- Specialist activities: demolition, roadworks, plant and permits to work
Booking and on the day
You book the test through CITB, online or by phone, and take it at a test centre. Bring signed photo ID and arrive early. You get a written pass or fail result with the areas where you were weak.
If you fail
You can book again, but not within 48 hours of a failed test, and you pay the fee each time.
From test to card
A CSCS card application needs a test passed within the last 2 years, plus the qualification your card type requires. The card itself costs £36; you apply through CSCS.
How to prepare
CITB sells official revision material. Our practice questions are written by FreeExamPath from UK health and safety law and HSE guidance: they are not CITB questions, and FreeExamPath is not affiliated with CITB or CSCS.
Official information
- CITB: HS&E test for operatives
- CITB: about the HS&E test
- CSCS website
Questions about the CSCS test
How many questions are in the CSCS test and what is the pass mark?
The CITB HS&E test for operatives has 50 questions in 45 minutes. You need 45 correct answers (90%) to pass.
How much does the test cost?
The test costs £23.50. The CSCS card itself is a separate application and costs £36.
How long is a pass valid?
A pass is valid for 2 years for a CSCS card application.
What if I fail?
You can book again, but not until 48 hours after your last attempt.
Can I take the test in another language?
The test is in English, with a voiceover available in 14 languages.
Official sources (5)
- HS&E test for operatives — CITB, checked 18 October 2026
- About the health, safety and environment (HS&E) test — CITB, checked 18 October 2026
- CSCS: Construction Skills Certification Scheme — CSCS, checked 18 October 2026
- HS&E standard test booking terms and conditions (April 2026, V17) — CITB, checked 18 October 2026
- Applying for cards — CSCS, checked 18 October 2026