The National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety, otherwise known as NEBOSH, are a globally recognised provider of qualifications for health and safety professionals. They provide a wide range of qualifications, from one-day awareness courses to degree-level diplomas.
Some of the most popular and widely-recognised courses from NEBOSH are their Certificate-level qualifications, including courses like the NEBOSH General Certificate and the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate. One of the ways these courses are assessed is using an examination known as a Scenario Based Assessment, which for many learners are a change from the traditional in-person exams that they may be used to.
Read on to find out more about what to expect from a NEBOSH Scenario Based assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Scenario Based Assessment?
A Scenario Based Assessment (sometimes also referred to as an Open Book Examination or OBE) is an exam that presents the learner with a detailed hypothetical scenario and asks them to answer questions based the information provided in the scenario. For example, they may describe a bakery where a worker has recently slipped and injured themselves. The scenario would describe the everyday activities that took place at the bakery, health and safety procedures that were in place, details about the incident, and the consequences that came from it. The learner might then be asked to comment on the health and safety culture in the bakery, based on information provided to them in the scenario. The exams are designed to test not only what you know but how you can apply your knowledge to your role as a health and safety professional.
These assessments are taken online – learners receive a unique login to NEBOSH’s assessment platform, and on the day of the assessment (set by NEBOSH) they download the assessment documents, fill in their answers in the provided document, and reupload the answer sheet to the NEBOSH platform before the deadline. Exams can be taken at home, the office, or another suitable location.
Which NEBOSH courses have Scenario Based Assessments?
The following NEBOSH qualifications use Scenario Based Assessments for their examination:
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- NEBOSH International General Certificate
- NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety
- NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction
- NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate
- NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals
Do I have to do the exam and the risk assessment at the same time?
The following certificate level qualifications have two different assessments that must both be passed to achieve the qualification:
- NEBOSH National General Certificate
- NEBOSH International General Certificate
- NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety
- NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate
They are all assessed using an examination and a practical risk assessment of the learner’s workplace or other suitable location. While both assessments must be completed, they are independent of each other and can be taken separately. Many learners choose to submit both assessments within the same sitting for ease, but some may choose to only focus on one assessment at a time. If you receive a Refer for one assessment and a Pass for the other, the learner only needs to retake the Referred assessment.
What resources can I use for my assessment?
All Scenario Based Assessments are ‘open book’. This means that you are encouraged to use information from your text books, study notes, the internet, health and safety regulations and other resources to help you answer the questions. Make sure to record which resources you reference in your answers and include them in the provided resources section at the end of your answer document.
Can I use AI to help write my assessment?
No. All work submitted to NEBOSH is screened for potential plagiarism, collusion, and use of AI. All work submitted for an assessment must be the learner’s own and using AI to partly or wholly answer any question during an examination (even if used to check grammar or complete equations) is considered malpractice by NEBOSH and will be investigated as such. Consequences for breaching NEBOSH’s Malpractice Policy include the assessment being voided and a potential ban from any future NEBOSH qualifications, therefore we strongly advise against the use of ChatGPT, OpenAI, or any other AI services for any reason.
What happens on the day of a NEBOSH exam?
All exams take place on a date set by NEBOSH. Learners receive an email from NEBOSH in the weeks before the exam, containing their individual logon for the NEBOSH examination platform.
On the morning of the exam, the assessment documents – a question paper, an answer template, and any supporting materials such as building plans – will be available to download from 11am.
The learner will then complete the answer booklet and make sure they upload it back on the assessment platform before the deadline.
The exams for the NEBOSH General, Fire, and Environmental Certificates are active for 24 hours – all submissions must be uploaded before 11am the following day. The NEBOSH Construction Certificate is active for 48 hours, and NEBOSH Diploma examinations vary according to the unit.
Is there a word limit?
Each assessment will have a recommended word count on the first page of the question paper as a guide. You will not be penalised for going over this word count, but we recommend making sure you have at least one point for every mark available for that answer to avoid . For example, if an answer is worth five marks, make sure your answer contains five distinct points.
What is a closing interview?
A closing interview is a short 15-minute interview with a tutor, which takes place over Zoom in the weeks following the exam. It is not marked and will not affect your final grade, it is a part of NEBOSH’s Malpractice Policy to ensure that the learner completed the assessment themselves.
Find out more about closing interviews by reading our NEBOSH Closing Interview FAQs here.
Who marks a NEBOSH assessment?
All assessments are marked by NEBOSH examiners – these are tutors who have all been certified by NEBOSH to teach the same assessment that they are marking. Learning Partners (such as ACT) are not part of the marking process.
When will I receive my results?
Results are emailed directly to learners from NEBOSH within 50 working days of the assessment date.
Do I get feedback for my assessment paper?
NEBOSH do not provide feedback for exam papers – learners should contact their training provider to find out what support is on offer. As part of their exam package, all ACT learners who are unsuccessful in their assessment receive written feedback from a certified tutor on their submission. The tutor will provide feedback on exam technique and suggest areas for the learner to improve on for their next assessment.
Learners also have the option to purchase a 1-to-1 session with the tutor to discuss their submission in further detail.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you have any further questions about the NEBOSH assessment process, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Advice team on actsales@actassociates.co.uk or 01384 447915.
All information contained above is correct as of September 2025, please refer to the NEBOSH website for the most recent information regarding assessments.
