UK construction · CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
CITB test pass mark: 45 out of 50, questions and cost
You need 45 correct answers out of 50 in 45 minutes. Each sitting costs £23.50.
The CITB Health, Safety and Environment test has 50 questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 90%: 45 correct answers [1]. You can afford 5 mistakes. Each sitting costs £23.50, and after a fail you cannot resit within 48 hours [3].
CITB HS&E test format
| Item | Operatives test |
|---|---|
| Questions | 50 |
| Time | 45 minutes |
| Pass mark | 90%: at least 45 correct |
| Fee | £23.50 |
| Resit | not within 48 hours of a fail |
Sources: CITB test pages and booking terms [1][2][3]. The same 50 questions in 45 minutes and the same 90% pass mark apply to the Specialist and the Managers and Professionals tests [4][5].
What is the CITB test pass mark?
You need 45 correct answers out of 50, or 90% [1]. That leaves room for 5 mistakes at most.
| Correct answers | Wrong | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 out of 50 | 0 | 100% | Pass |
| 47 out of 50 | 3 | 94% | Pass |
| 45 out of 50 | 5 | 90% | Pass: the minimum |
| 44 out of 50 | 6 | 88% | Fail |
| 40 out of 50 | 10 | 80% | Fail |
With 45 minutes for 50 questions you have about 54 seconds each. The test mixes question styles, including behavioural case studies on how to act safely on site, which take longer to read than a one-line question [6].
The trap: treating it as a common-sense test. At 90%, five slips fail you, and the wrong answers are often the "practical" shortcut that site habits make look right. The official GT100 book holds all the content the Operatives test covers, so learn its answers, not your site's habits [1].
Revise all five areas, then test yourself under time. The book is a complete course for the Operatives test with 500 practice questions and 5 full mock tests: Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test.
The five knowledge areas of the Operatives test
- Working environment
- Occupational health
- Safety
- High risk activities
- Specialist
These are the five core areas listed by CITB for the Operatives test [1]. Specialist tests add questions on the chosen trade on top of the same core areas [4].
What a fail costs
Each sitting costs £23.50 [2][3]: £23.50 if you pass first time, £47.00 with one fail, £70.50 with two. You cannot resit within 48 hours, and a missed appointment is not refunded [3]. Arrive 15 minutes before the test start time [3].
The HS&E test and the CSCS card
The HS&E test is a key part of getting a construction industry scheme card [2]. For a CSCS Labourer card, CITB notes you need both a valid Operatives HS&E test and a separate health and safety awareness qualification [7]. Voiceovers are available in several languages, including Polish, Romanian, Portuguese and Spanish [8].
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the CITB test?
90%: at least 45 correct answers out of 50 for the Operatives test. The Specialist and Managers and Professionals tests use the same 90% pass mark.
How many questions are in the CITB HS&E test?
50 questions in 45 minutes, for every type of HS&E test.
How much does the CITB test cost?
£23.50 per sitting, paid again for each attempt.
How soon can I resit the CITB test?
Not within 48 hours of a failed test, according to the CITB booking terms.
What does the CITB Operatives test cover?
Five core areas: working environment, occupational health, safety, high risk activities and specialist.
The book
Pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test
Operatives edition: a complete course on the five core knowledge areas, 500 original practice questions with explanations and 5 full mock tests of 50 questions, for your CSCS card.
Ebook. Also on other Apple Books and Google Play Books stores.
Sources
- CITB, « Operatives test » (knowledge areas, pass mark, structure), consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « About the Health Safety and Environment HS&E test » (cost, types of test), consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « HS&E test booking terms and conditions », April 2026 (price, arrival, 48-hour resit rule), consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « Specialist test », consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « Managers and Professionals test », consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, earlier version of « About the HS&E test » (question styles, behavioural case studies), consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « eCourses » (Health and Safety Awareness and the CSCS Labourer card), consulted 10 November 2026.
- CITB, « Internet Test Centre Scheme Rules », version 2.1, April 2026 (voiceover languages), consulted 10 November 2026.
Figures checked on 10 November 2026. Independent guide: not produced or approved by CITB, CSCS or Pearson. Always check citb.co.uk before you book.