CITB Mock Test

What is the CITB?

The CITB (Construction Industry Training Body) is a regulatory body, focused on improving working standards within the construction industry. It was established in July 1964 following the introduction of the government’s Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order. This piece of legislation ensured that the construction industry would be supported by a dedicated training board – the CITB.

The CITB is categorised as an executive, non-departmental public body. Although funded by the government’s Department for Education, the CITB has full control over budget spending. The CITB also has the freedom to determine its own operational objectives, and pursue policies it believes to be most beneficial. In effect, government ministers trust the organisation’s senior leadership team to regulate the construction industry without interference. However, as the CITB is a registered public body, it is ultimately accountable to Parliament and its representatives.

As the parent organization of the CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme), the CITB is an important sponsor of the CSCS card programme. CSCS cards play a key role in the construction industry. These cards are used to identify different types of construction workers, highlighting their varying skill sets, technical expertise, and experience levels. Given their importance, most construction companies mandate that all employees own an appropriate CSCS card.

In this article, we’ll discuss how the CITB’s activities support various stakeholders within the construction industry. Whether its workers, senior leadership teams, private learning providers, or awarding bodies, the CITB is committed to helping anyone involved in the UK’s second most lucrative commercial sector. As part of this review, we’ll provide detailed information about the CSCS test (otherwise referred to as the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test), and the CITB card checker.

Key objectives

The CITB has created a considerable number of initiatives and programmes, designed to help deliver its main purpose:

To support the construction industry to have a skilled, competent, and inclusive workforce, now and in the future.

As part of its mission statement, the CITB also intends to achieve the following objectives:

• Inform and enable the right people into construction
• Develop a training and skills system to meet future needs
• Support the industry to train and develop its workforce

As construction companies benefit considerably from these activities, they are required to pay a statutory levy to the CITB. The government enforces this levy, which helps to fund the CITB’s operational costs.

Testing approach

Since its inception over six decades ago, the CITB has been accountable for producing testing criteria for industry-based assessments. Given its status and influence, any assessment validated by the CITB is seen as a legitimate measure of an individual’s capabilities. Therefore, trade associations, construction companies, and professional bodies all accept CITB-endorsed certification when vetting their respective applicants.

Always eager to drive standards, enhance health & safety awareness, and ensure workers are up to speed with the latest practices and techniques, the CITB routinely reviews the content covered in assessments. This ensures that candidates study relevant information when preparing for tests, and more importantly carry these learnings into workplace environments. By setting challenging testing criteria and demanding candidates have a strong grasp of the subject matter, the quality of work conducted throughout the construction sector naturally improves.

The CSCS test

Although the CITB facilitates a broad range of assessments, it’s perhaps best known for its coordination of the CSCS test. The CSCS test is designed to assess a candidate’s level of health and safety knowledge.  There are three different types of CSCS test. In ascending order of difficulty level, these are the operatives, specialists, and managers & professionals (otherwise referred to as ‘MAPs’) tests.

To acquire any CSCS card, you’ll need to pass a CSCS test. As already alluded to, the vast majority of employers will expect you to be in possession of a CSCS card. Therefore, this assessment is of fundamental importance to your career in the construction industry.

The specific CSCS test you will sit is dependent on the CSCS card you are applying for. We’ve provided a general overview of the types of workers that apply for each card programme. However, please note there is some crossover here, with certain individuals within a specific job role applying for an alternate card programme to what is referenced below.

• Operatives test: Red (trainees), Green (labourers), and Blue (skilled workers) CSCS card applicants.
• Specialists test: Gold (supervisor/advanced craft) CSCS card applicants.
• Managers and Professionals test: White (advanced trainees), Black (managers) CSCS card applicants.

Additional information

See below for further details about each CSCS test:

Operatives test:

This assessment focuses on five key construction-related themes: working environment, occupational health, safety, high-risk activities, and specialists activities. It includes a mixture of theoretical questions and behavioural case studies. As it’s pitched at trainees and general members of the workforce, this is the easiest of the three CSCS tests.

Specialists test:

The specialists test consists of twelve different modules. Each module focuses on a specific discipline or trade within the construction industry, and is linked to a particular type of CSCS card. For example, if you’re planning to become a qualified Suspended Access Equipment Installer and therefore targeting an advanced craft gold card, you would sit the Working at Height module of the specialists test. The full list of specialist modules is provided below (test codes in brackets):

• Supervisory (SUP)
• Lifts and escalators (LAEE)
• Plumbing (JIB-PLUM)
• Tunnelling (TUNN)
• Working at Height (WAH)
• HVACR: Ductwork (DUCT)
• HVACR: Heating and Plumbing services (HAPS)
• HVACR: Pipefitting and Welding (PFW)
• HVACR: Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning (RAAC)
• HVACE: Service and Facilities Maintenance (SAF)
• Demolition (DEM)
• Highway Works (HIW)

When sitting any module of the specialists test, you’ll also need to answer questions relating to the five key areas referenced in the operatives test commentary.

Managers and professionals test (MAPs):

This is the most challenging out of the three CSCS tests. If you’re a current or prospective site manager and, therefore, applying for a black CSCS card, you’ll need to sit this examination. As well as covering all the topics included in the operatives test and a selection of themes from the specialists test, it also poses questions relating to several complex disciplines. If you’re planning to sit this assessment, you’ll be expected to know about the role and function of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations. Furthermore, you must show an understanding of the qualities that make an effective leader. You’ll also need to answer a set of advanced questions relating to Demolition and Highway Works, two areas of expertise that are also featured in the specialists test.

Sitting your assessment

All three CSCS tests present questions in multiple-choice format. Each assessment consists of 50 questions, and give candidates 45 minutes to provide their answers.

To pass the operatives and specialists tests, you’ll need to answer 45 (90%) of questions correctly. The manager and professionals test has a slightly more demanding threshold, with candidates required to register at least 46 (92%) correct answers to successfully navigate this assessment.

The qualifying requirements for all CSCS cards demand that you pass a relevant CSCS test within the two preceding the date of your application. This rule also applies when you renew your membership to your chosen card programme. As referenced in the previous section, this is to ensure that construction workers study the latest guidance, and are therefore equipped to continue performing tasks in a safe and compliant manner.

Training courses and learning resources

As part of its pledge to upskill workers, the CITB has developed numerous training courses and learning resources. It also offers its own apprenticeship scheme.

Training courses focus on a variety of disciplines, trades, and skill sets, and therefore appeal to a vast and diverse audience. This includes health and safety awareness modules, business leadership workshops, and technical coaching sessions. A considerable number of these courses are available online. Therefore, if you don’t have time to travel to a learning facility due to personal commitments, you’ll be able to conduct your training remotely.

As well as producing their own training courses, the CITB also advertises programmes being delivered by other certified learning providers. In this way, the CITB acts as a one-stop shop for your learning requirements. Head to the CITB’s courses & qualifications page to access a complete list of training schemes.

Useful aids and resources

If you’re preparing for some sort of assessment or just want to brush up on your technical knowledge, you may want to check out the CITB’s online shop. Here, you’ll find an extensive suite of learning materials. These include textbooks (paperback and digital), DVDs, PC downloads, and other training literature.

If you’re revising for the CSCS test, we would advise you to purchase either the CITB’s GT100 (operatives and specialists) or GT200 (managers and professionals) textbook. These resources contain absolutely every piece of information that may potentially be covered in your CSCS tests.

The CITB has also created an application designed specifically to support your preparation for the CSCS test. The ‘CITB testing app’ offers you the opportunity to conduct mock tests, enabling you to practice answering the types of questions you’ll be asked in the real exam. As you can do this directly through your smartphone, you’ll be able to assess your knowledge whilst on the move. The app is priced at £6.99 and is available to download via the Apple App and Google Play stores.

Therefore, whether you’re a visual, auditory, reader/writer, or kinaesthetic learner, you should be able to find a learning tool that works perfectly for you. As all listed materials have been produced and endorsed by the CITB, you can trust that their content is both useful and accurate.

The CITB Card Checker

The CITB’s card checker platform allows you to review the status of your current CSCS card membership. You’ll be able to check the expiry date of your card, re-visit the tests and assessments you’ve passed, and access a list of your construction-related qualifications. As it serves as a live record of your accomplishments, the CITB card checker is an extremely useful tool.

When using this platform, you’ll need to search for your profile by entering some personal details. Firstly, you’ll need to enter either your surname, date of birth, or unique learner number. Then, input either your individual CITB Test ID/CSCS registration number or National Insurance Number before hitting the ‘search’ button.

If your profile doesn’t appear via the search function, you should contact the CITB to report the issue. However, please ensure you’ve accurately inputted all relevant personal details before reaching out. To access support, send an e-mail to ctdservices@citb.co.uk

Current access to qualification records

Once you earn any certification or qualification, confirmation should be instantly uploaded to your CITB card checker page. This automated process relies on data being transferred from CSCS and NOCN (National Open College Network – an alternate skills certification scheme) systems to the CITB platform. Unfortunately, there is currently a delay in the transfer of this data due to technical issues. Therefore, you may not be able to see your latest academic/vocational achievements upon visiting your CITB card checker profile. As a temporary measure, the CITB has posted links on its card checker search page, enabling you to access this information.

The CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) and CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) facilitate their own skills card programmes. Although these programmes are intimately linked to the wider CSCS framework, cards for scaffolders and plant operatives are issued directly by the CISRS and CPCS, respectively. Therefore, the CITB has set up a dedicated link for CISRS and CPCS card members. A separate link for CSCS card holders is also available. Please note that these links are exclusively for checking confirmation of recent qualifications.

For queries relating to stolen/lost/damaged cards, new card applications, and the progress of ongoing card application, you should contact the relevant certification scheme directly. We’ve provided contact details below:

• CSCS: 0344 994 4777 or (customerservices@cscs.co.uk)
• CISRS: 0300 999 1177 or cisrs@jobcards.org)
• CPCS: 0300 999 1177 (option 1) or cpcs@jobcards.org