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100+ Free CITB SMSTS Practice Questions

Pass your CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CITB SMSTS Exam

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep

25

Exam Questions

CITB

80%

Passing Score

CITB

5 years

Certificate Validity

CITB

5 days

Course Length

CITB

Management

Level (above SSSTS)

CITB

The CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) is the management-level construction health and safety qualification for site managers, project managers and agents in the UK, and the natural step up from the supervisor-level SSSTS. The five-day course ends with a 25-question exam (20 multiple-choice plus 5 short-written, including 5 safety-critical questions), marked out of 35, requiring 80% to pass with all safety-critical questions correct; the first 20 minutes are closed-book. Content covers CDM 2015 duty holders, HASAWA management duties, risk assessment and method statements, working at height, excavations and confined spaces, occupational health, fire prevention, electrical safety, site set-up and welfare, and statutory inspections and notifications. The certificate is valid for 5 years. This free prep includes 100 research-based practice questions with explanations and an AI tutor.

Sample CITB SMSTS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CITB SMSTS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), who holds the overall duty to make suitable arrangements for managing a project and to ensure welfare facilities are provided?
A.The principal designer
B.The client
C.The CDM co-ordinator
D.The HSE inspector
Explanation: Under CDM 2015 the client carries the highest-level duty: they must make suitable arrangements for managing the project so it is carried out without risks to health or safety, including ensuring welfare facilities are provided. The client is the only duty holder present on every notifiable and non-notifiable project.
2On a project involving more than one contractor, which CDM 2015 duty holder is responsible for planning, managing and coordinating health and safety during the construction phase?
A.The principal designer
B.The client
C.The principal contractor
D.The designer
Explanation: Where more than one contractor is involved, the client must appoint a principal contractor in writing to plan, manage, monitor and coordinate health and safety during the construction phase, including preparing the construction phase plan. This is the central site-management duty an SMSTS holder typically operates under.
3Under CDM 2015, when must a principal designer be appointed by the client?
A.On every project regardless of size
B.Only when the project is notifiable to the HSE
C.When more than one contractor (or designer) is, or is likely to be, involved
D.Only on demolition projects
Explanation: CDM 2015 requires the client to appoint a principal designer in writing whenever more than one contractor is, or is likely to be, working on the project. The principal designer plans, manages and coordinates health and safety in the pre-construction phase. The trigger is multiple contractors/designers, not notifiability.
4A construction project is expected to last 45 working days with 25 workers on site at the same time. What is the correct action under CDM 2015?
A.No notification is needed because it is private work
B.Notify the HSE using form F10 before construction begins
C.Notify the local authority building control only
D.Send a RIDDOR report to the HSE
Explanation: A project is notifiable to the HSE if it will last longer than 30 working days AND have more than 20 workers simultaneously at any point, or exceed 500 person-days. This project meets the 30-day/20-worker test, so the F10 must be sent to the HSE before the construction phase starts. The client is responsible, though it can be delegated.
5Which document must the principal contractor draw up before the construction phase begins on a CDM 2015 project?
A.The health and safety file
B.The construction phase plan
C.The pre-construction information pack
D.The F10 notification
Explanation: The principal contractor must prepare a construction phase plan before setting up the site, recording the health and safety arrangements, site rules and specific measures for the work. On a single-contractor job the contractor prepares it. It is a live document reviewed and updated throughout the works.
6What is the primary purpose of the health and safety file required under CDM 2015?
A.To record daily site inductions
B.To provide information needed for the safe future maintenance, cleaning and eventual demolition of the structure
C.To list every worker's CSCS card number
D.To record near-miss reports during construction
Explanation: The health and safety file contains information for the client about the completed structure that anyone carrying out future construction, maintenance, cleaning or demolition will need to do that work safely. The principal designer compiles it and passes it to the client at handover.
7Under CDM 2015, what is a designer's main duty in relation to health and safety?
A.To supervise operatives carrying out the design
B.To eliminate foreseeable risks through design and, where that is not possible, reduce or control them
C.To notify the HSE of the project
D.To provide first-aid cover on site
Explanation: Designers must, when preparing or modifying designs, eliminate foreseeable risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable, and where risks cannot be eliminated, take steps to reduce or control them and provide information about remaining risks. This applies the 'general principles of prevention' at the design stage.
8Which Act is the primary piece of UK legislation placing general duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees at work?
A.The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
B.The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
C.The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
D.The Factories Act 1961
Explanation: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) is the primary 'umbrella' legislation. Section 2 places a general duty on employers towards their employees, and section 3 towards persons not in their employment, all qualified by 'so far as is reasonably practicable'. Most regulations are made under it.
9Under section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what duty is placed on every employee?
A.To carry out their own risk assessments for the company
B.To take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others affected by their acts or omissions, and to co-operate with the employer
C.To provide their own PPE at their own expense
D.To report directly to the HSE on safety matters
Explanation: Section 7 of HASAWA requires every employee to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions, and to co-operate with the employer so the employer can meet its own legal duties. This underpins behavioural-safety expectations on site.
10What does the phrase 'so far as is reasonably practicable' require a duty holder to do when deciding on control measures?
A.Spend whatever money is necessary regardless of the risk
B.Weigh the level of risk against the time, trouble, cost and effort needed to control it
C.Do only what is cheapest
D.Eliminate every conceivable risk without exception
Explanation: 'So far as is reasonably practicable' (SFAIRP) means the degree of risk is balanced against the time, trouble, cost and physical difficulty of taking measures to avoid it. Where there is a gross disproportion between the cost and the risk reduction, the duty holder need not take the measure — but they must act unless that disproportion exists.

About the CITB SMSTS Exam

The Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) is CITB's five-day, management-level health and safety course for construction site managers, project managers and agents. The end-of-course exam has 25 questions (20 multiple-choice and 5 short-written, including 5 safety-critical questions), is marked out of 35, and requires 80% to pass with all safety-critical questions correct. It is recognised in the CDM 2015 guidance as evidence of site-management competence.

Assessment

End-of-course exam of 25 questions (20 multiple-choice + 5 short-written, including 5 safety-critical questions), 30 minutes, marked out of 35; the first 20 minutes are closed-book, then candidates may refer to the GE700 and delegate workbook. This free practice bank focuses on the multiple-choice knowledge component with 100 selected-response items.

Time Limit

30 minutes

Passing Score

80% (28 of 35 marks), and all 5 safety-critical questions must be answered correctly

Exam Fee

Included in the SMSTS course fee (course typically £400-£650 GBP) (CITB (Construction Industry Training Board))

CITB SMSTS Exam Content Outline

15%

CDM 2015 Regulations & Duty Holders

CDM 2015 duty holders, pre-construction information, construction phase plan, health and safety file, and SMSTS competence

10%

HASAWA & Management Duties

HASAWA 1974, Management Regulations 1999, reasonably practicable, safety culture, monitoring and HSG65 Plan-Do-Check-Act

10%

Risk Assessment & Method Statements

Five steps of risk assessment, hierarchy of control, RAMS, permits to work, and worker consultation

12%

Working at Height

Work at Height Regulations 2005, scaffold 7-day inspections, guard rails, MEWPs, LOLER, ladders and fragile roofs

12%

Excavations & Confined Spaces

Preventing collapse (shoring/battering), buried services (HSG47), excavation inspections and the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

10%

Occupational Health

COSHH, silica, asbestos, noise and vibration action values, manual handling, cement burns and health surveillance

8%

Fire Prevention

Fire triangle, hot-works permits and fire watch, fire classes and extinguishers, LPG storage and HSG168

8%

Electrical Safety

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, 110V centre-tapped-to-earth, RCDs, safe isolation, overhead power lines and PUWER

8%

Site Set-up & Welfare

CDM Schedule 2 welfare, inductions, traffic management, site security, signage, first aid, lighting and PPE

7%

Statutory Inspections & Notifications

F10 notification, RIDDOR 2013 reporting, enforcement notices, Fee for Intervention and statutory examination records

How to Pass the CITB SMSTS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 80% (28 of 35 marks), and all 5 safety-critical questions must be answered correctly
  • Assessment: End-of-course exam of 25 questions (20 multiple-choice + 5 short-written, including 5 safety-critical questions), 30 minutes, marked out of 35; the first 20 minutes are closed-book, then candidates may refer to the GE700 and delegate workbook. This free practice bank focuses on the multiple-choice knowledge component with 100 selected-response items.
  • Time limit: 30 minutes
  • Exam fee: Included in the SMSTS course fee (course typically £400-£650 GBP)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CITB SMSTS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn the five CDM 2015 duty holders and exactly what each is responsible for — client, principal designer, principal contractor, designer and contractor questions are common
2Know the F10 notification triggers: more than 30 days and more than 20 workers at once, OR more than 500 person-days
3Memorise key inspection intervals: scaffolds before first use and every 7 days; excavations at the start of every shift
4Treat every safety-critical question seriously in practice — in the real exam you must get all 5 correct to pass, so do not guess on high-risk topics
5Remember the hierarchies: hierarchy of control (eliminate first, PPE last) and work at height (avoid, prevent, minimise)
6Complete all 100 practice questions and review every miss with the AI tutor before sitting the exam

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the SMSTS exam and how long is it?

The CITB SMSTS end-of-course exam has 25 questions in total: 20 multiple-choice and 5 short-written, including 5 safety-critical questions. It lasts 30 minutes and is marked out of 35. The first 20 minutes are closed-book, after which candidates may refer to their course textbooks.

What score do I need to pass the SMSTS exam?

You need 80% to pass (28 out of 35 marks), and you must answer all 5 safety-critical questions correctly. Getting a safety-critical question wrong means you fail even if your overall mark is above 80%, so balanced revision across every topic is essential.

What is the difference between SMSTS and SSSTS?

SMSTS is the management-level course for site managers, project managers and agents, while SSSTS is the supervisor-level course. SMSTS goes into greater depth on CDM 2015 duty holders, planning and managing the construction phase, and statutory duties expected of a manager rather than a supervisor.

How long is an SMSTS certificate valid?

The SMSTS certificate is valid for 5 years. To keep it current you must complete the 2-day SMSTS Refresher (SMSTS-R) course before it expires; otherwise you must retake the full 5-day course.

What topics does the SMSTS exam cover?

It covers CDM 2015 regulations and duty holders, the Health and Safety at Work Act and management duties, risk assessment and method statements, working at height, excavations and confined spaces, occupational health, fire prevention, electrical safety, site set-up and welfare, and statutory inspections and notifications.

Is this free SMSTS practice as good as paid prep?

Our 100 practice questions cover the same CDM 2015 and construction health and safety content as the SMSTS course, with a teaching explanation for every answer plus free daily AI tutor interactions. All content is free forever and updated for 2026. Note the official certificate can only be earned by attending an accredited CITB course.