CSCS SLG Roadworks exam-day guide
CSCS SLG Roadworks · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original photo ID
Bring an in-date original document (passport or driving licence) with the name exactly as it appears on your booking. Photocopies and screenshots are normally refused. Confirm with the provider which ID types they accept before travelling.
Booking confirmation / appointment letter
Printed or saved on your phone so you can quote your booking reference and candidate number at sign-in. Check the time, venue and any joining instructions again the day before.
Safe Pass card (or other stated prerequisite)
CSCS courses typically require a valid Safe Pass before assessment. Confirm with the provider whether your card must be produced on the day or was already verified at booking.
Safety boots
Sturdy boots with ankle support and good tread. The practical is usually run outdoors on a road or hardstanding and trainers will not be accepted.
Hi-vis clothing
A high-visibility vest or jacket in good, clean condition. Confirm with the provider if they specify a particular class or long-sleeved version.
Other PPE as specified
Typically hard hat, gloves and eye protection, but the exact list varies by provider and site. Check your joining instructions and bring everything listed - candidates without the required PPE may not be assessed.
Wet-weather and cold-weather gear
Waterproof jacket and trousers, plus layers. Outdoor practical sessions usually go ahead in rain, and being cold and wet makes the layout work harder and slower.
Pen and a small notebook
Useful for any written element, briefing notes or recording the assessor's instructions. Check whether the provider supplies answer materials.
Travel and arrival plan
Work out the route and parking in advance and aim to arrive well before the start time to allow for sign-in and PPE checks. Confirm with the provider what arrival buffer they expect.
Refresh your sign and layout knowledge
Re-read the sign sequence for your works type, cone spacing and taper lengths, the stop/go board procedure and lighting/guarding requirements. Know the order in which you would set the site out and take it down.
Notified access or medical needs
If you need adjustments for a disability, injury or medical condition, confirm with the provider as early as possible - ideally well before the exam day rather than on arrival.
Plan the day
Re-read your course notes on signing, lighting and guarding: sign sequences, cone spacings, taper lengths, pedestrian and vehicle guarding, and the stop/go board. Practise talking through a layout out loud, in the order you would physically build it.
Check your PPE is complete, clean and undamaged. Try on your boots and hi-vis; replace anything torn, cracked or missing now rather than on the morning.
Confirm your booking details with the provider: start time, venue, exact PPE list, accepted ID and any prerequisites. Note down who you spoke to.
Pack your bag: ID, booking confirmation, prerequisite card, full PPE, waterproofs, pen and notebook. Leave it by the door.
Check the route, traffic and weather forecast. Set two alarms. Eat properly and get a full night's sleep - the practical is physical and you will be on your feet.
Eat breakfast, dress in layers, and arrive with time to spare. Go to sign-in, present your ID and prerequisite documents, and listen to the safety briefing in full.
Put on all required PPE before entering the works area. If anything in the briefing is unclear, ask the assessor before the assessment starts, not during it.
Work in a safe, logical sequence: position yourself out of live traffic, set out and secure the site in the correct order, check your spacing and sign faces, then remove in the correct order. Narrate what you are doing if the assessor invites it.
Check your own work before saying you are finished - walk the layout, check sign alignment and visibility, cone spacing, lighting, and that pedestrians and vehicles are properly guarded.
Ask the assessor or provider when and how results are issued, and how to appeal or resit if needed. Confirm what they said in writing if you are unsure.
Rules to check
Bring original, in-date photo ID with the name matching your booking. If you change your name or your ID is expired, contact the provider before the exam day - confirm with the provider what alternatives they accept.
Full PPE as specified by the provider must be worn for the entire practical. Candidates who arrive without the required PPE may not be allowed to take part - confirm the exact list with the provider in advance.
Follow the assessor's instructions exactly. The practical is assessed against a set sequence and standard, so if an instruction is ambiguous, ask for clarification rather than guessing.
Treat the training area as a live worksite at all times: no horseplay, no stepping into the marked traffic lane unless instructed, and no moving plant or vehicles without authorisation.
Mobile phones should be silenced and put away during the assessment unless the provider says otherwise. Do not photograph or record the assessment area.
Safety-critical errors - for example creating an unsafe layout or putting yourself or others in the path of traffic - may result in the assessment being stopped. Confirm with the provider how such errors are handled and whether a resit is offered.
You may only leave the assessment area with the assessor's permission. Ask about break arrangements at the start of the day, and tell the assessor immediately if you feel unwell or injured.
Scoring and pass criteria are set by the awarding body and the provider. Ask the provider directly about pass marks, results timelines and resit policy rather than relying on hearsay from other candidates.