NEBOSH NGC exam-day guide
NEBOSH NGC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm your exam format and venue arrangements with your provider
NEBOSH assessment logistics (paper vs online, invigilation, permitted materials) are set by your course provider and NEBOSH. Do not assume; check your joining instructions or booking confirmation and, if anything is unclear, confirm with the provider.
Photo identification
Bring the ID specified in your joining instructions (commonly a passport or photocard driving licence). Accepted ID types and name-matching rules vary, so confirm with the provider which documents are acceptable.
Your booking/admission confirmation
Have your candidate number, booking reference, and session time to hand. For remote exams this often doubles as your access credential; confirm the exact requirement with the provider.
Pen, pencil, eraser and a clear pencil case
Bring spares. For paper-based papers use dark ink for written answers; keep correction fluid out unless your instructions explicitly allow it.
A simple, non-programmable watch or a clock you can see
You need to pace yourself across the paper. Many venues display a clock, but do not rely on it. Phone use as a timekeeper is usually restricted during the exam.
Permitted reference material only if your instructions allow it
Most NEBOSH written papers are closed-book. Do not bring notes, textbooks, or annotated summaries unless your joining instructions explicitly permit them; confirm with the provider.
Water in a clear, label-free bottle and any permitted medication
Keep it simple and transparent. If you need medication, food, or an adjusted break, arrange access arrangements in advance with the provider rather than on the day.
A plan for arriving early
Aim to be at the venue or logged in well before the start time stated in your instructions, allowing for travel delays, security checks, or a tech check. The exact arrival window is set by your provider.
Remote-exam setup checked in advance (if applicable)
If sitting online, test your device, camera, microphone, browser, and internet connection beforehand, and find a quiet, private, well-lit room. Platform and room rules are provider-specific; confirm with the provider.
A revision sheet of command words and the action-verb hierarchy
Know how to 'identify', 'outline', 'describe', and 'explain' differ, since marks depend on depth. Use this only for pre-exam revision, not inside the exam unless permitted.
A one-page personal prompt list for exam technique
For example: read the whole paper, allocate time per mark, answer the question asked, use the scenario, and leave space to add points later. Revise from it beforehand; do not carry it in unless allowed.
Confirm any access arrangements or special considerations
If you have a disability, medical need, or circumstances affecting performance, arrangements and evidence deadlines are provider-specific. Confirm with the provider as early as possible, not on exam day.
Plan the day
Switch from learning new content to active recall and exam technique. Work through past-paper-style questions under timed conditions, then mark against the command words: did you 'outline' where asked, or drift into 'explain'? Build a short list of weak topics and revise only those. Confirm logistics: venue or platform, start time, ID, and what is permitted. Protect sleep; do not plan an all-night session.
Do light consolidation only: command words, the structure of a typical paper, and your personal prompt list. Pack your bag or test your remote setup. Check travel or connection arrangements and set two alarms. Avoid cramming new material, and stop revising early enough to sleep properly.
Eat something and arrive early. Re-read only your prompt list, not whole textbooks. At the venue, follow invigilator instructions; online, complete any identity or room check as directed. Once seated or logged in, read the front-page instructions and note the total time and mark allocation before you start writing.
Read the whole paper or all questions before writing. Note the marks per question and convert them into minutes, keeping a reserve for checking. Decide your order, usually easiest first to bank marks, and flag any question you will return to. Identify the scenario details you can reuse across answers.
Answer the question actually asked, matching depth to the command word. Use numbered or bulleted points, one idea per line, since markers reward distinct valid points. Apply answers to the scenario where one is given, and use correct technical terminology. Watch the clock at each milestone; if time runs short, write brief bullet points for remaining questions rather than leaving blanks. Leave a few minutes to check you have answered every required question and numbered them correctly.
Stop writing when instructed and follow invigilator or platform close-down instructions exactly. Do not discuss paper content with other candidates in a way that could breach confidentiality rules. Note any follow-up dates or results-release information from your provider.
Rules to check
Bring and present the identification specified in your joining instructions; if your name or documents do not match the booking, raise it with the provider before exam day, as invigilators generally cannot admit candidates who fail ID checks.
Follow all invigilator or remote-proctor instructions. Unauthorised materials, phones, smart watches, or notes are typically not permitted in the exam room or within camera view; if you are unsure whether an item is allowed, confirm with the provider in advance and leave it outside.
Arrive or log in by the stated time. Late-admission and extra-time policies are set by the provider and awarding body, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming you will be admitted or given time back.
Raise your hand or use the approved channel if you need to leave the room, feel unwell, or have a technical problem. Do not simply walk out or troubleshoot a remote exam alone; follow the instructions you were given.
Answer in the format and language the paper requires, and show your working or reasoning where marks depend on it. Number your answers clearly so the marker can match responses to questions.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not share or reproduce paper content afterwards in breach of the confidentiality terms you agreed to.
Marks are awarded for valid, relevant points matched to the command word, not for length. Writing everything you know about a topic without answering the question wastes time and earns little.
If illness or another serious circumstance affects your performance, tell the invigilator or provider as soon as possible and ask about special consideration; deadlines and evidence requirements are provider-specific, so confirm with the provider.