FREE SMSTS Refresher Course Preparation, Study Guide and Revision Notes App
26 August 2024
RISK's award winning CITB Personal Learning Zone provides an online study hub worth over £100 to delegates who book CITB SMSTS Refresher courses. It means you can get started on your SMSTS Refresher course the minute you book.
Why are the CITB SMSTS 2 day Refresher courses becoming more difficult to pass?
The CITB has introduced a more challenging exam structure for the SMSTS course, which means if you’re taking a Refresher a lot has changed. For starters a higher pass mark is needed, it’s now a two-part exam with mandatory safety-critical questions that must be answered correctly and reduced flexibility for re-sits. Scoring below 72% now requires retaking the entire course. A score above 72% but below 81% allows for an immediate re-sit of the exam.
Why it’s more difficult to pass the SMSTS Refresher course?
Elevated Industry Standards
To reduce accidents and comply with regulatory requirements, the construction industry consistently enhances its safety standards. Consequently, SMSTS Refresher course content is updated to reflect the latest safety practices, regulations and industry expectations, increasing exam difficulty.
Expanded Curriculum
The SMSTS Refresher course now covers a broader range of topics in greater depth, including updated legislation, best practices in health and safety management, risk assessment techniques and incident investigation procedures.
Higher Pass Criteria for SMSTS Refresher
The pass marks for the SMSTS Refresher courses have been raised to certify only those with a comprehensive understanding of health and safety practices, ensuring a high standard of knowledge and competency among participants.
SMSTS Refresher Exam is demanding - especially when you only allowed a day and a half to study, but you can make things so much easier for yourself if you have a good preparation plan. Past SMSTS Refresher exam questions are not available and course providers are forbidden from sharing them under the Site Safety Plus Scheme Rules set by the Construction Industry Training Board.
The SMSTS Refresher exam paper is made up of 18 multiple-choice questions and seven, short written questions. The SMSTS Exam lasts for 35 minutes (20 mins books closed in the last 15 mins you can use your GE700). During which time you will need to answer 18 multiple choice questions worth 1 mark each plus 7 short answer multi-format written questions worth 2 marks each. (The 2 mark questions need to contain both elements of the answer to receive the 2 marks. NOTE - if you only answer one part successfully zero points will be awarded.) The seven short written questions all relate to the seven Health & Safety focus areas.
There are usually five safety-critical questions. These questions are designed to assess candidates' understanding of key safety principles and their ability to apply them in various construction site management scenarios. These questions are crucial as they help ensure that those who pass the exam have a solid grasp of safety procedures and can effectively manage safety on construction sites. Get one wrong and you will fail.
The pass mark for the exam is 81%.
Your course tutor will mark your exam submissions. If you score between 23 and 25 marks (72% to 80%) you will be offered a re-sit which can be taken FOC on the day. If you fail the re-sit you will need to attend another SMSTS Refresher Course, (unless your 5 years has expired and then you’ll need to sit the whole 5 days SMSTS course) and take an alternative exam at an additional cost.
Practical Focus
There is an increasing emphasis on the practical application of knowledge rather than just theoretical understanding. Exams and assessments now include more scenario-based questions that require candidates to demonstrate how they would handle real-life situations on-site.
Technological Integration
As the construction industry adopts new technologies and methodologies, the courses have incorporated content on new tools, software, and modern construction techniques, adding complexity to the material.
Stringent Assessment
Assessment methods have become more rigorous, often including a mix of written exams, practical assessments and continuous evaluation throughout the course. This multi-faceted approach ensures a thorough evaluation of a candidate's abilities.
Continuous Improvement
CITB continuously updates and enhances their courses based on feedback from past participants and industry trends. This iterative process often leads to the inclusion of more challenging content and assessment criteria to better prepare candidates for real-world challenges.
By making these courses more demanding, CITB aims to ensure that those who pass are well-prepared to manage and supervise construction sites safely and effectively, contributing to a safer working environment in the industry.
SMSTS has changed a lot in the last 5 years – so the Refresher is tough!
The RISK Personal Learning Zone portal is designed to enhance your SMSTS Refresher course learning experience. This portal provides a ‘pre-course study pack and answers’ plus access to exam style questions. It provides access to your SMSTS Refresher course framework and structured notes for each day, plus revision questions. Its purpose is to help embed the knowledge so you are fluent in the language and key points required to pass the exam.