CITB SMSTS Mock Test

By the CITB Practice Test Team. Checked against citb.co.uk and legislation.gov.uk, 31 October 2026.

A CITB SMSTS mock test is a timed practice paper built to CITB's 2026 SMSTS exam rules: 25 questions worth 32 marks, 26 marks (81%) to pass, in 35 minutes.

SMSTS is CITB's five-day Site Safety Plus course for site managers, and it ends with a 35-minute exam. Seven of its 25 questions are worth two marks each, and all seven come from CITB's focus areas: working at height, vehicles and pedestrians, manual handling, asbestos, dust, noise and vibration. Our mock gives you seven tick-two questions on those areas, with a worked explanation for every answer. Every question is written for practice, and we do not run or sell courses. Supervising rather than managing? Try the CITB SSSTS Mock Test.

Is there a free CITB SMSTS mock test?

Yes. The free CITB SMSTS mock test below gives you 25 questions in 35 minutes, set out like CITB's SMSTS exam: 18 questions with one right answer and 7 tick-two questions on the focus areas.

Free timed mock

CITB SMSTS Mock Test (timed)

questions: 25; questions
minutes: 35; minutes
to pass (81%): 21; to pass (81%)

Ready when you are

Find a quiet 35 minutes. The clock starts when you press start, and you see your score the moment you submit.

Timed like the SMSTS exam: 35 minutes, with every answer revealed at the end.
18 questions with one right answer and 7 tick-two questions, one on each focus area. A fresh set every attempt.
We score every question as 1 mark. A tick-two question needs both right answers for its mark.
The 81% pass mark is CITB's 26 out of 32 marks. Scored at 1 mark a question, it means 21 out of 25 here.
Every answer comes with a worked explanation.

At the end you see your score, your marks by module and focus area, and a worked explanation for every answer.
For a tick-two question, tick both right answers to get the mark. On CITB's paper these questions are worth two marks each, and some are short written answers that the trainer marks. CITB does not publish its marking scheme, so use your mock score as a guide only.
Every question is written for practice. None is a real or past CITB question. Why we never use CITB papers: CITB Site Safety Plus Mock Tests.

SMSTS sample questions with worked explanations

Here are 10 SMSTS practice questions from across the course, each with the answer and a worked explanation. Two are tick-two questions on the focus areas.

Sample question 1 · Legal and management

Your project is notifiable under CDM 2015. Who must notify HSE, and how?

The principal contractor, by posting a paper F10
The client, using the online F10 formCorrect answer
The principal designer, by sending an email to HSE
The site manager, by letter to the local HSE office

Why B: Regulation 6(2) of CDM 2015 puts the duty on the client to give written notice to HSE as soon as practicable before the construction phase begins. HSE now takes notifications only through the online F10 and no longer accepts paper forms, email or post.

Sample question 2 · Legal and management

Which of these injuries to a worker is a specified injury under RIDDOR 2013?

A broken finger diagnosed by a doctor
A suspected broken arm the worker diagnosed themselves
A broken wrist diagnosed by a doctorCorrect answer
Fainting after feeling unwell at work

Why C: Regulation 4(1)(a) of RIDDOR 2013 makes any bone fracture diagnosed by a registered medical practitioner a specified injury, except fractures to fingers, thumbs or toes. HSE also says self-diagnosed suspected fractures and fainting from feeling unwell are not reportable.

Sample question 3 · Health and welfare

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, who must ensure that welfare facilities complying with Schedule 2 are provided throughout the construction phase?

The principal designer
The principal contractorCorrect answer
The building control body
The permanent works designer

Why B: CDM 2015 regulation 13(4)(c) puts this duty on the principal contractor, and HSE adds that it applies from the start of the project until it finishes. The principal designer's duties cover the pre-construction phase, not the provision of site welfare.

Sample question 4 · Health and welfare

According to HSE, how often must the dutyholder review the asbestos management plan for a building?

Every 3 years, or sooner if necessary
Every 5 years, or sooner if necessary
Only when the building changes to a new owner
Every 12 months, or sooner if necessaryCorrect answer

Why D: HSE guidance on the duty to manage says the dutyholder must put the asbestos management plan into action, monitor it and review it every 12 months or sooner if necessary. Three years is the interval for repeat medical examinations under notifiable non-licensed work, not the plan review.

Sample question 5 · Focus area: vehicles and pedestrians

Which two devices does HSE guidance list for overcoming blind spots from a driver's seat?

Tick two answers.

Reversing alarms
CCTV camerasCorrect answer
Flashing amber beacons
Convex mirrorsCorrect answer
Horn signals

Why B and D: HSG144 says to fit CCTV, convex mirrors, Fresnel lenses and similar aids to overcome restricted visibility at the sides and rear of vehicles, and radar proximity devices to show objects near the vehicle. Reversing alarms, beacons and horns warn people but do not let the driver see more.

Sample question 6 · General safety

Props installed to support a floor during a refurbishment are wanted elsewhere on site to hold up a wall. What does CDM 2015 regulation 19 say about temporary supports?

They may be reused anywhere, provided they look in good condition
They may be reused, provided the gang has used them safely before
They may be moved as soon as the floor appears to be stable
They may only be used for the purpose they were designed and installed forCorrect answer

Why D: Regulation 19(2) of CDM 2015 says any buttress, temporary support or temporary structure must be designed, installed and maintained to withstand foreseeable loads, and used only for the purposes for which it was designed and installed. Good visual condition does not show the props can take the loads from a different use.

Sample question 7 · Environment

Which list shows the waste hierarchy in order, from most to least preferred?

Recycling, prevention, preparing for re-use, other recovery, disposal
Prevention, recycling, preparing for re-use, disposal, other recovery
Prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery, disposalCorrect answer
Preparing for re-use, prevention, other recovery, recycling, disposal

Why C: The waste hierarchy puts prevention first, then preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery (for example energy recovery) and finally disposal. Energy recovery counts as other recovery, a separate step below recycling, and disposal is always the last choice.

Sample question 8 · High risk activities

After heavy overnight rain, the competent person inspects a supported trench and is not satisfied that it is safe. What does CDM 2015 require?

Work may continue if operatives stay close to the access ladder
Work may continue until the end of the shift if the defect is recorded
No construction work in the excavation until the matter is put rightCorrect answer
Work may continue once the client has been told about the defect

Why C: Under regulation 22(5) of CDM 2015, where the person inspecting is not satisfied, construction work must not be carried out in the excavation until the matter has been satisfactorily remedied. Writing the defect down is part of reporting, but it does not make the trench safe to work in.

Sample question 9 · High risk activities

The utility plans for your site show no services along the line of a new drain. What should you do before digging?

Dig with the excavator, as the plans show the route is clear
Dig with the excavator, with a second person watching the bucket closely
Get written confirmation from the utility, then dig by machine
Survey the site, as plans alone are not enough to locate servicesCorrect answer

Why D: HSE's HSG47 says plans alone are not sufficient to identify and locate services before starting work; they are the basis for a site survey. HSG47 also says to assume underground services are present unless shown otherwise. Having someone watch the bucket helps, but it does not replace locating services first.

Sample question 10 · Focus area: working at height

Work is needed on a fragile roof. Which two options does HSE prefer, because nobody has to stand on the roof?

Tick two answers.

Work from a suitable platform underneath the roofCorrect answer
Walk along the line of the purlins, which carry the load
Use a MEWP so people work from the basket, not the roofCorrect answer
Lay a single scaffold board across the sheets to walk on
Rely on harnesses alone as the first choice of protection

Why A and C: HSE's work at height FAQ puts working from underneath on a suitable platform, or from a MEWP basket, ahead of going onto a fragile roof. If access cannot be avoided, edge protection and staging come next. HSE warns not to trust any sheeted roof, including the purlins, to bear a person's weight.

What is the CITB SMSTS course?

SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) is CITB's five-day Site Safety Plus course for site managers, covering health and safety law, CDM 2015, risk assessments, site set-up, managing hazards, occupational health and environmental issues.

The course lasts at least 37 hours 30 minutes. It usually runs on five days in a row, but CITB also allows day release, one or two days a week for up to five weeks. There are no formal entry requirements, but CITB says you "should hold, or be about to hold, the role of a site manager". You also need written and spoken English good enough for site management work. CITB recommends the two-day SSSTS course if you have no health and safety management experience. CITB says SMSTS "is endorsed by Build UK as the standard training for all construction managers". A remote course takes at most 12 delegates. SMSTS is not the CITB HS&E test. For that test, use the CITB Practice Test.

The course ends with one exam.

How is the CITB SMSTS exam set and marked?

The SMSTS exam has 25 questions chosen by CITB: 18 one-mark multiple-choice questions and 7 two-mark multi-response or short written questions, 32 marks in all, with 26 (81%) needed in 35 minutes.

Rule	SMSTS exam
Questions	25, selected by CITB, covering all aspects of the course
Marks	18 questions at 1 mark and 7 at 2 marks: 32 marks
Pass mark	26 out of 32 (81%)
Time	35 minutes, under exam conditions
Open book	GE700 (Construction site safety, the comprehensive guide) and the XA6 delegate workbook, for the last 15 minutes only
When	At the end of the course

Checked against CITB scheme rules Appendix G (version 03.04, February 2026), 31 October 2026.

A pass mark of 26 out of 32 means you can drop six marks, which is only three two-mark questions. Pass marks quoted elsewhere as 80% or "20 out of 25" do not match CITB's rules.

What are the seven SMSTS focus areas?

The seven SMSTS focus areas are working at height, vehicles and pedestrians, manual handling, asbestos, dust, noise and vibration, and all seven two-mark questions are set on them.

CITB says the focus areas "are founded on construction ill health, injury and fatality statistics".

Focus area	Main law to know
Working at height	Work at Height Regulations 2005
Vehicles and pedestrians	Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Manual handling	Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Asbestos	Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
Dust	Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Noise	Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
Vibration	Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Every paper in our mock has one tick-two question from each focus area.

What does the SMSTS exam cover?

The SMSTS exam covers the whole course, which CITB sets out in four modules: legal and management, health and welfare, general safety, and high risk activities.

Module	What it covers (CITB learning outcomes, shortened)
1 Legal and management	Health and safety law, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, CDM 2015, management systems, risk assessments and method statements, induction and training, communication, leadership and worker engagement, inspection and audit, statutory forms and registers, accidents
2 Health and welfare	Managing health, welfare facilities, stress and mental health, drugs and alcohol, COSHH, lead, asbestos, dust and fumes, noise, vibration, manual handling
3 General safety	Site organisation, fire and dangerous substances, electrical safety, temporary works, work equipment and hand tools, mobile work equipment, lifting operations, mobile workers and driver safety
4 High risk activities	Work at height, access equipment, scaffolding, fall arrest and suspension equipment, excavations, underground and overhead services, confined spaces

CITB's SMSTS course page also lists environmental issues. CITB does not publish how many questions come from each module. Our mock draws 6 questions from module 1, 4 each from modules 2 and 3, 3 from module 4 and 1 on the environment, plus the 7 focus-area questions. That split is our design.

Passing the exam is one of three things you need.

What else must you pass on the SMSTS course?

To pass SMSTS you must complete all four core exercises, pass the trainer review and pass the exam, and if you fail the trainer review you cannot sit the exam.

Complete all four core exercises.
Pass the trainer review, a pass or fail based on your work in the core exercises and how you take part in the course.
Pass the end-of-course exam.

Some trainers start the course with CITB's "What do you know?" paper to check your level. Our mock practises the exam only. The exercises and the review happen on your course.

What happens if you fail the SMSTS exam?

If you score 23, 24 or 25 out of 32, you can re-sit the SMSTS exam once without repeating the course; if you fail the re-sit, you take SMSTS again.

The re-sit is open only to those scores, and only if you completed the four core exercises and passed the trainer review.
You can re-sit on the same day, if you agree and have time to prepare. If not, you sit it on the final day of another course or at a standalone sitting, within the window your training provider gives you.
The re-sit uses a dedicated re-sit paper, never the one you failed.
Fail the re-sit, by scoring under 26 out of 32, and you must take the SMSTS course again.

Before a re-sit, run a full mock and practise the focus area where you dropped marks.

How is the SMSTS-R refresher exam different?

SMSTS-R is a two-day refresher with the same 25-question, 32-mark exam and the same 26-mark pass, but only GE700 is allowed in the last 15 minutes and there is no trainer review.

Rule	SMSTS	SMSTS-R
Length	5 days, at least 37 h 30	2 days, at least 15 h
Who can attend	No formal entry requirements; site managers or people about to become one	People who passed SMSTS or a later refresher and hold a valid SMSTS certificate
Exam	18 one-mark and 7 two-mark questions, 32 marks, 26 to pass, 35 min	The same
Open book, last 15 min	GE700 and XA6	GE700 only
Trainer review	Yes	None
Fail the re-sit	Take SMSTS again	Take SMSTS-R again

Checked against CITB scheme rules Appendix G and Appendix H (version 02.05, February 2026), 31 October 2026.

If your certificate lapses before you take the refresher, you must take the full SMSTS again. Site Safety Plus certificates last five years. The SMSTS-R paper has the same format, so the mock above works for refresher practice too.

CITB SMSTS FAQs

Is the SMSTS exam difficult?

The SMSTS exam asks for 26 of 32 marks (81%), so you can drop only six marks, and you may open GE700 and XA6 only for the last 15 minutes. A timed mock shows which focus area costs you marks.

How many people fail the SMSTS exam?

CITB does not publish an SMSTS pass rate that we have been able to verify, so we do not quote one. Your own mock scores are the better guide.