FREE SSSTS Refresher Course Preparation, Study Guide and Revision Notes App
9 September 2024
RISK's award winning CITB Personal Learning Zone provides an online study hub worth over £100 to delegates who book CITB SSSTS Refresher courses. It means you can get started on your SMSTS Refresher course the minute you book.
Why are the CITB SSSTS 1 day courses becoming more difficult to pass?
The CITB has introduced a more challenging exam structure for these courses. This includes a higher pass mark, a two-part exam with mandatory safety-critical questions that must be answered correctly and reduced flexibility for resits. Score below 70% and you will need to re-sit the whole course. Score anything between 70% - 79% and you will be able to re-sit the exam that day (a different examination paper).
Why it’s more difficult to pass the SSSTS Refresher course?
If it's been five years since you obtained your SSSTS qualification, you might discover that passing the SSSTS Refresher is more challenging than the initial SSSTS certification. The alterations in exam structure and the transition to online course delivery are posing a potential threat to experienced site supervisors, jeopardising the validity of their SSSTS credentials.
Elevated Industry Standards
To reduce accidents and comply with regulatory requirements, the construction industry consistently enhances its safety standards. Consequently, SSSTS course content is updated to reflect the latest safety practices, regulations and industry expectations, increasing exam difficulty.
Expanded SSSTS Curriculum
The SSSTS 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 SSSTS Refresher
The pass marks for the SSSTS 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.
SSSTS Refresher Exam is demanding exam, but you can make things so much easier for yourself if you have a good preparation plan. Past SSSTS 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 pass mark for the exam is 80%.
- Pass Mark – was 70% to achieve successful completion, Pass Mark is now 80%
- Exams – consist of 25 questions 4 of which are Safety Critical questions and the four MUST be answered correctly
- Safety Critical Questions - are always based around the following subjects:
- Asbestos
- Respiratory Hazards
- Manual Handling
- Work at Height
- The final part of the exam consists of 3 written questions which attracts more marks (either 2 or 3 marks each).
- The examination lasts for 30 minutes.
- During the examination the first 20 minutes are undertaken with no reference material. However, for the last 10 minutes delegates are allowed to use the GE706 & GT700 and structured notes.
- If delegates do not achieve 80% but score above 70% they qualify for an immediate re-sit. (This is a different examination paper).
- Delegates scoring less than 70% would be required to book another SSSTS course.
There are usually four 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.
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.
SSSTS 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 SSSTS Refresher course learning experience. There’s a lot to take in, this portal provides a ‘pre-course study pack and answers’ plus access to exam style questions. It provides access to your 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.
