IOSH Managing Safely exam-day guide
IOSH Managing Safely · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Most providers ask for photographic identification (e.g. passport or photocard driving licence) at the assessment. Confirm with your provider which forms of ID they accept and whether a digital copy is acceptable.
Joining instructions and confirmation email
Check venue address, arrival time, room number, parking or transport details, and any access instructions. Print or download a copy in case of poor signal on the day.
Confirmation of assessment format
Ask your provider in advance whether the multi-format test is being sat on paper or online, and whether the practical risk assessment project is submitted electronically, in hard copy, or completed in the session. The format varies between providers and delivery methods.
Two pens (black or blue) plus a pencil and eraser
Even for an online test, a pen is useful for rough notes if permitted. Check whether rough paper is allowed and whether it must be handed in.
A watch or small timer
Phones are normally not permitted at your desk, so a wristwatch helps you pace yourself across the questions. Confirm whether a watch is permitted in your venue.
Water and a light snack
Check the venue's rules on drinks at the desk. Avoid heavy meals or too much caffeine immediately before the test.
Clarify what reference material, if any, is allowed
Many providers run the written assessment as closed book, but rules on notes and course material can differ by provider and by sitting. Confirm the position in writing beforehand.
Details of your practical risk assessment project
Know your submission deadline, the required format, and how it will be uploaded or handed in. Keep a personal copy of anything you submit.
Any approved access arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, larger print, or other adjustments, these normally have to be requested and agreed with the provider well before the assessment date. Confirm what has been approved for you.
Travel and parking plan
Plan to arrive with time to spare - aim for 20-30 minutes early - and note alternative routes or public transport options in case of disruption.
Plan the day
Confirm your booking, venue, start time, ID requirements and assessment format with your provider. Re-read the assessment guidance or candidate rules you were sent and note anything you need to ask about.
Review your course notes on the topics you are least confident about, but stop learning new material at this stage. Rehearse the structure of a short-answer response: state the point, then explain it in one or two sentences.
Check the practical project requirements one final time - the scenario, the hazard identification, the risk rating method, the control measures, and the actions and responsibilities section. Make sure it is your own work.
Plan your journey, check travel times, and sort out parking, tickets or childcare. Protect the evening before the assessment from late commitments.
Pack your bag: ID, joining instructions, pens and pencil, watch, water. Lay out clothes and confirm what time you need to leave.
Do a final light review of key frameworks and definitions using your own summary notes - no cramming of new topics. Then stop and get a normal night's sleep.
Eat breakfast, avoid rushing, and leave with a buffer. Re-read your joining instructions for room or login details.
Arrive early, switch your phone off and stow it as instructed, present your ID, and listen carefully to the invigilator's briefing, including how to submit your paper or test.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and marks available. Use the time budget in the paper or on-screen timer to allocate roughly a minute per question, leaving time to check back.
Answer the multiple-choice questions first and flag anything uncertain. For short-answer questions, use the marks available as a guide to how many distinct points are needed, and write in clear, short sentences or bullet points.
If you are stuck, move on and return later. Use any remaining time to check that every question has an answer and that your name and candidate details are completed correctly.
Hand in or submit exactly as instructed, keep any submission receipt, and confirm with your provider when results are expected and how the practical project will be marked.
Rules to check
Bring the identification your provider has specified. You may not be admitted to the assessment without it - confirm the accepted forms and whether a digital copy is acceptable.
Switch off phones, smart watches, and any other devices and store them away from your desk unless your provider has told you otherwise. Using them during the assessment may be treated as malpractice.
Unless your provider confirms in writing that the assessment is open book, assume it is closed book. Do not bring notes, textbooks, or unauthorised material to your desk.
All work must be your own. Talking, copying, or sharing answers during the test - and submitting a practical project that is not your own work - can result in the assessment being voided.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and wait for the invigilator. Check with your provider in advance how breaks, toilet visits, and any medical needs are handled.
The Managing Safely assessment normally has two parts: the multi-format test and the practical risk assessment project. Both generally need to be completed satisfactorily - confirm the exact pass criteria and marking with your provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
Do not assume you can retake the assessment on the same day or at short notice. Ask your provider about resit arrangements, fees, and any time limits before you sit.
If something goes wrong on the day - illness, a technical failure during an online test, or a disruption in the room - tell the invigilator or provider immediately and follow it up in writing, as this is usually the only way to request special consideration.