SMSTS Pass Mark and Exam Format
The SMSTS pass mark is 26 out of 32, which is 81%. The same mark applies to the SMSTS-R refresher exam. Practise against 26 out of 32 in a timed SMSTS mock test.
Sources: CITB Site Safety Plus scheme rules, Appendix G version 03.04 (SMSTS) and Appendix H version 02.05 (SMSTS-R), February 2026. Checked 25 October 2026. SMSTS Mock Test is an independent practice site. It is not run by CITB, and our mocks contain no real CITB questions.
What is the SMSTS pass mark?
The SMSTS pass mark is 26 out of 32 marks (81%). The paper has 25 questions: 18 worth one mark and 7 worth two. Source: CITB Appendix G, version 03.04, February 2026.
You need 26 of the 32 marks, so you can drop no more than six. The total is 32 because 7 of the 25 questions carry two marks each: the 18 one-mark questions give 18 marks, and the 7 two-mark questions give 14.
On the real paper: "The examination pass mark is 81% (26 out of 32)." CITB scheme rules, Appendix G, version 03.04.
You may see other figures online, such as "20 out of 25", "80%" or "16 out of 20". None of them is the SMSTS rule.
How many questions are on the SMSTS exam?
The SMSTS exam has 25 questions worth 32 marks. 18 of the 25 are multiple choice.
| Part | Questions | Marks each | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-mark | 18 | 1 | Multiple choice |
| Two-mark | 7 | 2 | Multi-response or short written answer, all on the seven focus areas |
| Total | 25 | 32 marks in all |
The seven focus areas are:
- working at height
- vehicles and pedestrians
- manual handling
- asbestos
- dust
- noise
- vibration
CITB selects the 25 questions, covering all aspects of the course. See worked examples of each type in our SMSTS test questions and answers.
How long is the SMSTS exam, and when can you use the books?
The SMSTS exam lasts 35 minutes. You may use GE700 and the XA6 workbook only in the last 15 minutes. On the SMSTS-R refresher exam, only GE700 is allowed.
That leaves the first 20 minutes closed book. The exam must be finished within the 35 minutes under examination conditions. CITB's quality rules, updated in May 2026, allow electronic copies of the publications to be used for the open-book part.
What else do you need to pass SMSTS?
To pass SMSTS you must do three things:
- Complete all four core exercises.
- Pass the trainer review.
- Pass the end-of-course exam.
If you fail the trainer review, you are not allowed to sit the exam. SMSTS-R has no trainer review: you pass the refresher by passing the exam.
What happens if you score 23, 24 or 25?
A score of 23, 24 or 25 out of 32 earns one re-sit. You can re-sit only once, and only if you have passed the core exercises and the trainer review. The same band applies to SMSTS-R.
You can re-sit on the same day, on the final day of another course, or at a standalone course within 30 days, and you do not have to redo the whole course. The re-sit uses a different, dedicated re-sit paper, and your training provider may charge for it.
The 30-day window is CITB's scheme rule. CITB's own course booking pages word the window differently, so check your provider's joining instructions. A re-sit is offered only at 23, 24 or 25 out of 32.
A re-sit paper is a different paper, so practise on fresh papers in our SMSTS mock test.
What happens if you fail the SMSTS re-sit?
If you fail the SMSTS re-sit, you take the full SMSTS course again. If you fail the SMSTS-R re-sit, you take the SMSTS-R course again. You do not have to go back to the full SMSTS course.
Does the SMSTS exam have safety-critical questions?
No. CITB's SMSTS rules (Appendix G, version 03.04) list no safety-critical or must-pass questions. Four safety-critical questions belonged to the old SSSTS paper, which is a different course.
What is the SMSTS pass rate?
CITB does not publish an SMSTS pass rate. Any pass rate you see online is a training provider's or a website's own figure.
Is the SMSTS exam hard?
The tight margin is what makes the SMSTS exam hard: 26 out of 32 leaves room for six lost marks, the same as three two-mark questions. Three things catch people out:
- The two-mark questions. The seven focus-area questions carry 14 of the 32 marks, and each one asks for more than one correct point.
- The clock. You have 35 minutes for 25 questions.
- The books. GE700 and the XA6 workbook open only for the last 15 minutes, so you need to know where to look before the day.
A timed mock shows you which questions cost you marks, so you know what to revise.