CSCS card · CITB HS&E test · Mock test
CSCS mock test 2026: how the CITB HS&E test works and how to practise
Independent app. CSCS Card Quiz is an independent, unofficial app. It isn’t affiliated with CITB or CSCS. Book the test only with CITB.
The CITB health, safety and environment (HS&E) test has 50 questions and lasts 45 minutes. To pass you need at least 45 correct answers (90%). It costs £23.50 and you book it with CITB. There are three versions: Operatives, Specialists, and Managers and Professionals.
Practise timed 50-question mocks: download CSCS Card Quiz free.
How the CSCS (HS&E) test works
People call it “the CSCS test”, but the test belongs to CITB (the Construction Industry Training Board). CSCS (the Construction Skills Certification Scheme) issues the cards. You need a pass in the right HS&E test before you can apply for most CSCS cards. The test runs at Pearson VUE test centres.
| Questions | 50 |
|---|---|
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 90%: at least 45 of 50 (Operatives, Specialist and MAP) |
| Fee | £23.50 (since 1 April 2026) |
| Booking | CITB, online through Pearson VUE or by phone on 0344 994 4488 |
| Result | written pass/fail confirmation and a score report that shows your weak areas |
| After a fail | no re-sit within 48 hours |
Sources: CITB, About the HS&E test, Operatives test, CITB booking terms and conditions (PDF), CSCS, CITB price changes.
Operatives, Specialists or Managers and Professionals: which one you need
| Test | Who it’s for | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Operatives | most people starting on site | 5 core knowledge areas |
| Specialist | supervisors and specialist trades, for example demolition, plumbing, highway works, work at height, lifts and escalators, and tunnelling | the 5 core areas plus questions on the chosen specialist topic |
| Managers and Professionals (MAP) | managers and professionals | sections A to E (updated June 2023) |
Not sure? The CSCS card finder tells you which card and which test fit your job. Check it before you book: a test for the wrong card won’t help your application.
The pass mark: 45 out of 50
CITB sets the pass mark at 90% for the Operatives, Specialist and MAP tests: at least 45 correct answers out of 50.
Our calculation from the CITB rules: with 45 of 50 you can get 5 questions wrong. With 45 minutes for 50 questions you have 54 seconds per question. There’s no time to rush, but there’s no room for a weak topic either.
What the test covers
The Operatives test covers five core knowledge areas:
- Working environment
- Occupational health
- Safety
- High risk activities
- Specialist
The MAP test was updated in June 2023. It has five sections: A Legal and management; B Occupational health, wellbeing and welfare; C General safety; D High risk activities; E Environment.
The Specialist tests mix the five core Operatives areas with questions on your specialist topic.
What a question tests, in our own words: you read a short site situation, for example a scaffold without a tag or a spill of an unknown liquid, and pick the safe action. Learn the rules behind the answers, not just the answers. CITB’s GT100 publication contains all the content of the Operatives test as questions and answers.
CSCS mock test strategy
Our advice, not an official rule:
- Practise by area first. Work through each of the five areas until you rarely miss a question.
- Then do full timed mocks. 50 questions in 45 minutes, without checking answers mid-test.
- Review every wrong answer by area. One weak area can eat your 5-mistake margin.
- Aim above the line. Book the real test when you score comfortably above 45 on several timed mocks in a row.
More detail: how many CSCS mock tests to do, and when.
Practise timed 50-question mocks: download CSCS Card Quiz free.
How to book (only via CITB)
- Fee: £23.50. You can also pay with a CITB test voucher, but vouchers only work at Pearson Professional Centres.
- Online: through the CITB booking page (Pearson VUE).
- By phone: 0344 994 4488, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm.
- Reschedule or cancel: free online up to 72 hours before the test. By phone, a reschedule costs £5 and a cancellation £10. No changes inside 72 hours. No refund if you paid with a voucher.
CSCS doesn’t book tests. Book with CITB directly.
On the day
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before your test starts. CITB doesn’t refund late arrivals.
- Bring your booking confirmation and ID with your photo and signature that meets the CITB ID Policy. No valid ID means no test and no refund.
- Phones, keys, bags and watches go in a locker.
- You get written confirmation of your result. Keep the score report safe: you need it for your card application.
Sources: CITB, Booking your HS&E test, booking terms and conditions (sections 5, 6, 10, 11).
If you fail
You can’t re-sit within 48 hours of a fail (CITB terms, section 10.2). Your score report shows the areas where you didn’t answer every question correctly. Revise those areas, do a few more timed mocks, then rebook. Each attempt costs £23.50.
After you pass: getting your CSCS card
- You need a pass in the right HS&E test from the last two years (or an approved alternative).
- Have the CITB test ID number from the top of your pass certificate ready.
- The card application costs £36. Apprentice cards are free.
- Apply online with CSCS.
- A first Labourer card is valid for two years. Labourers also need the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment or an accepted alternative.
Sources: CSCS, Applying for cards, CSCS Labourer card.
More on cards: applying for a CSCS operative card and the CSCS Black Card for managers.
Languages and support
The questions on screen stay in English. When you book, you can add a voiceover so you hear the questions and answers in one of 14 languages: English, Welsh, Bulgarian, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian or Spanish. A British Sign Language video is also available.
Through the CITB adjustments team you can also ask for a translator (if there’s no voiceover for your language), a reader or a reader-recorder. CITB pays the interpreter for your first test only. See CITB, Support for the HS&E test.
How to practise: an honest comparison
| Option | Price | Official? | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| CITB demo test (Operatives, Specialist) and MAP sample test | free | yes | the look of the real test and its question styles; not scored |
| CITB GT100 (book or digital) | see the CITB shop | yes | all Operatives test content as questions and answers |
| Official CITB HS&E test app | see the app stores | yes | revision and a test simulation; voiceover languages |
| Free mock test websites | usually free | no | browser mocks; check they use 45/50 and the current content |
| CSCS Card Quiz | free download, in-app purchases | no | timed 50-question mocks, study mode, bookmarks, statistics, offline |
Official revision materials: CITB, Prepare for the test.
The CSCS Card Quiz app
“CSCS Card Quiz - Safety Test” is on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac (iOS 17 or later). The seller is Evgeny Goncharov.
What its App Store listing describes: timed mock exams of 50 questions in 45 minutes with instant scoring and feedback, a study mode with instant feedback, bookmarks for hard questions, progress and performance statistics, and offline use.
The download is free. Premium is an in-app purchase: monthly, yearly or lifetime. Prices are shown in the App Store.
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FAQ
How many questions are in the CSCS test?
50. Every CITB health, safety and environment test, whether Operatives, Specialists or Managers and Professionals, has 50 questions and lasts 45 minutes.
What is the pass mark for the CSCS test?
90%. You need at least 45 correct answers out of 50, so you can get 5 wrong. CITB uses the same pass mark for the Operatives, Specialist and Managers and Professionals tests.
How much does the CSCS test cost in 2026?
£23.50, paid to CITB when you book. The CSCS card itself is a separate £36 application.
Which CSCS test do I need?
It depends on your job and the card you need. There are three types: Operatives, Specialists, and Managers and Professionals (MAP). Use the CSCS card finder to check which one applies to you.
How do I book the CSCS test?
Book the HS&E test with CITB, online through Pearson VUE or by phone on 0344 994 4488. CSCS doesn’t book tests. You can reschedule or cancel free online up to 72 hours before the test.
Can I retake the CSCS test straight away if I fail?
No. CITB doesn’t let you re-sit within 48 hours of a fail. Your score report shows the areas where you dropped marks, so revise those first.
How long is a CSCS test pass valid?
To apply for a CSCS card, you must have passed the right HS&E test within the last two years.
What does the CSCS Operatives test cover?
Five core knowledge areas: working environment, occupational health, safety, high risk activities and a specialist section. CITB’s GT100 publication has all the content as questions and answers.
Is there a free official CSCS mock test?
CITB has a free demo test that shows the question styles for the Operatives and Specialist tests, and a 13-question sample test for the MAP test. The demo test isn’t scored. Full timed mocks come from the official CITB app, GT100 or third-party apps.
Can I take the CSCS test in my language?
The questions on screen stay in English, but you can book a voiceover in 14 languages, including Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Lithuanian and Spanish. If there’s no voiceover for your language, you can ask for a translator. CITB pays the interpreter for your first test only.
How much does a CSCS card cost?
£36 from CSCS, applied for online or in the My CSCS app. Apprentice cards are free. A first Labourer card is valid for two years.
Ready to practise?
Practise timed 50-question mocks: download CSCS Card Quiz free.
Verified on 17/10/2026 against CITB and CSCS. Independent app. Not affiliated with CITB or CSCS.
Evgeny Goncharov builds the app and is the App Store seller. He is building TechConcepts.
Sources: CITB, About the HS&E test, Operatives test, Specialist test, Managers and Professionals test, Support for the HS&E test, booking terms and conditions v17 (PDF), CSCS, Applying for cards, CSCS Labourer card, CSCS, CITB price changes.