CSCS SLG Roadworks
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ExploreAbout this exam
The CSCS SLG Roadworks test is a specialist-level health, safety and environment assessment for people who work on or alongside the highway - roadworks operatives, street works teams, reinstatement crews and the supervisors who set out and maintain traffic management. It sits above the general operatives test: instead of only asking about site hazards in the abstract, it tests the decisions you make on a live carriageway, where the consequences of getting signing, lighting and guarding wrong are measured in seconds.
The question set is built around a handful of themes: the legal framework and who holds which duty; personal protective equipment and safe systems of work; signing, lighting and guarding of roadworks; traffic management and site layout; excavation, underground services and reinstatement; and plant, equipment and working safely near moving traffic. Expect scenario-style questions rather than pure recall - a described situation, four options, one best answer.
Preparation works best in layers: learn the terminology and the statutory duties first, then the layout and signing conventions, then practise judgement questions until the 'obviously safe' answer stops being obvious. Confirm the current test format, booking process, fee and result validity with the official CSCS scheme and your awarding body before you book - those details change, and this page does not set them.
What you'll study
About CSCS SLG Roadworks preparation
Is this the same as the standard CSCS operatives test?
No. The operatives test covers general site safety for everyone. The roadworks specialist test goes further into highway-specific work: traffic management layouts, signing and guarding, excavation and underground services. If your role involves the carriageway, the specialist test is the one that matches the job.
How many questions are on the test and how long do I get?
We deliberately do not quote a figure here, because question counts and time limits are revised and an out-of-date number is worse than none. The official CSCS scheme publishes the current test specification, duration and structure. Check its website, or the test centre's, immediately before you book.
What score do I need to pass?
The pass mark is set by the awarding body and can differ between test versions. It is not a fixed percentage you can safely memorise from a training provider's slide. Confirm the current requirement on the official scheme site when you book, and treat any number you see on a forum as unverified.
How difficult is it really?
Most candidates who work on roadworks find the safety and layout content familiar; the difficulty is in the wording. Questions often offer several defensible-sounding answers and ask for the best one. People who fail usually did not misjudge the hazard - they answered for their own site's habits rather than the published standard.
What are the most common failure modes?
Three recur. First, confusing roles and responsibilities - assuming the supervisor holds a duty that legally sits with the client or contractor. Second, guessing at signing and guarding dimensions and spacing instead of knowing them. Third, reading the question too fast and picking the first plausible option rather than the safest one.
If I fail, how soon can I retake it?
Retake rules and any waiting period are set by the scheme and by the test centre's availability, so confirm them with the official body rather than relying on second-hand accounts. In practice the constraint is usually booking slots, so reserve a date before you sit the first attempt if your card depends on it.
What should I study first?
Start with duties and terminology, because they underpin everything else - you cannot answer a traffic management question well if you are unsure who is responsible for what. Then move to signing, lighting and guarding layouts, then excavation and services. Finish with timed practice questions so you rehearse the reading speed as well as the content.
Does this page or the practice material make me eligible for a card?
No. This is independent study material. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or issued by the CSCS scheme or any awarding body, and passing practice questions proves nothing to anyone. Card eligibility, accepted test results and any additional requirements come solely from the official scheme.
Can I take the test online or do I have to attend a centre?
Delivery options vary by provider and have changed in recent years, so check the current arrangements with the official scheme before assuming either way. If you must travel to a centre, book early and arrive with the identification the scheme specifies - being turned away for missing ID is a wasted booking, not a failed test.
How long is my result valid for?
Result validity is set by the scheme and affects when you must retest to keep a card current, so do not guess at it. The official CSCS site states the period that applies to your test type. Diarise the expiry as soon as you pass, because a lapsed result is a common and entirely avoidable problem.