UK · SIA door supervisor licence
SIA door supervisor exams: questions, time and pass marks for each unit
Four separate exams: 72, 50, 20 and 30 questions. 70% to pass each, except physical intervention at 80%.
The SIA door supervisor qualification has four multiple-choice exams: 72 questions in 110 minutes, 50 in 75 minutes, 20 in 30 minutes and 30 in 45 minutes [1]. The pass mark is 70% for the first three and 80% for physical intervention, and each exam must be passed on its own [2]. Below: the answers you need per unit and the rounding trap in Unit 1.
The four SIA door supervisor exams
The Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors has four units, each with its own multiple-choice exam. Pearson lists the live onscreen tests as follows [1], with the pass marks from the qualification specification [2]:
| Exam | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry | 72 | 110 min | 70% | 51 of 72 |
| Unit 2: Principles of Working as a Door Supervisor | 50 | 75 min | 70% | 35 of 50 |
| Unit 3: Application of Conflict Management | 20 | 30 min | 70% | 14 of 20 |
| Unit 4: Application of Physical Intervention Skills | 30 | 45 min | 80% | 24 of 30 |
| Total | 172 | 260 min |
Each exam is passed or failed on its own: a strong score in one unit does not make up for a weak one in another [2]. Units 2, 3 and 4 also have a practical assessment marked at 100%, and Unit 1 an evidential statement [2].
The trap: Unit 1 at exactly 50 out of 72. Pearson's specification writes "70% (50/72)", but 50 out of 72 is 69.4%. Aim for 51 so that you are clear of the line whichever way the mark is rounded, and better still for 55 or more on mock exams.
Unit 4 is the hardest bar: 80%
Physical intervention is the only exam at 80%: 24 out of 30, so 6 mistakes at most [2]. Its questions turn on legal implications, risk factors such as ground restraint, and what you must do after an intervention, where the "instinctive" answer is often wrong [3].
Practise in the real format. The book follows the course unit by unit and gives 344 practice questions with explanations in two full mock exam sets of 72, 50, 20 and 30 questions: Pass the SIA Door Supervisor Exams.
Time per question
| Exam | Seconds per question |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 92 |
| Unit 2 | 90 |
| Unit 3 | 90 |
| Unit 4 | 90 |
Unit 2 is the tightest, at 90 seconds a question. Time is rarely what fails candidates; misreading a scenario question is.
Renewing a licence: the top-up and refresher
Door supervisors renewing a licence take a shorter top-up or refresher qualification instead. Pearson's refresher has two exams: 35 questions in 55 minutes at 71% (25 of 35) on working as a door supervisor, and the same 30-question physical intervention exam at 80% [4].
Frequently asked questions
How many exams are there for the SIA door supervisor licence?
Four multiple-choice exams, one per unit: 72 questions (110 minutes), 50 questions (75 minutes), 20 questions (30 minutes) and 30 questions (45 minutes), plus practical assessments.
What is the pass mark for the SIA door supervisor exams?
70% for Units 1, 2 and 3 and 80% for Unit 4, physical intervention. Each exam must be passed separately.
How many questions do I need right in the SIA Unit 1 exam?
Pearson's specification writes 70% (50/72); 50 out of 72 is 69.4%, so aim for at least 51 to be safe.
What is the pass mark for SIA physical intervention?
80%: 24 correct answers out of 30, in 45 minutes.
Is the SIA refresher exam different?
Yes. Pearson's refresher has a 35-question exam in 55 minutes at 71% (25 of 35) and the 30-question physical intervention exam at 80%.
The book
Pass the SIA Door Supervisor Exams
The UK door supervisor licence course unit by unit, with 344 original practice questions and explanations in two full mock exam sets in the real format: 72, 50, 20 and 30 questions.
Ebook. Also on other Apple Books and Google Play Books stores.
Sources
- Pearson, « Door supervision » onscreen tests (questions and duration per test), consulted 11 November 2026.
- Pearson, « BTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry », specification, Issue 2, September 2023 (assessment and pass marks), consulted 11 November 2026.
- Pearson, sample assessment materials, Door Supervisors Top Up, July 2021, consulted 11 November 2026.
- Pearson, « BTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors (Refresher) », specification, Issue 2, November 2025, consulted 11 November 2026.
Figures checked on 11 November 2026. Independent guide: not produced or approved by the Security Industry Authority, Pearson or Highfield. Other awarding bodies may use a different exam format: check with your training provider.