How to Pass NEBOSH Exam in 2024? A Complete Guide

Are you planning to take the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) certification exam? If you are, you mustknow that it is crucial to know How to Pass NEBOSH Exam – not merely pass, but successfully clear the exam. 

According to the NEBOSH site, more than 50,000 people take a NEBOSH qualification exam every year. But what's thrilling is that passing the test with excellent grades is not everyone's cup of tea. Many Candidates struggle due to a lack of knowledge about preparing for the exam correctly. Get ready to pass the NEBOSH Exam with our expert tips and guidance. Our This blog will provide you with a comprehensive guide on "How to Pass NEBOSH Exam" NEBOSH Exam all you need to know about passing the exam with flying colours.  

Table of Contents 

1) How to Pass NEBOSH Exam ? Important tips 

   a) Attend a NEBOSH Certification revision course 

   b) Make proper use of the resources available 

   c) Condense your notes as the date approaches 

   d) Know about the exam structure 

   e) Understand what the examiner is expecting 

2) What to do on the day of the NEBOSH Exam? 

3) Important things to keep in mind 

4) Is NEBOSH hard to pass ?

5) Conclusion 

How to Pass NEBOSH Exam? Important tips 

Preparing for the NEBOSH Certification exam can be overwhelming. So, it’s always better to seek assistance and advice that can benefit you during your preparation journey. This blog will give you all the assistance you need to know on How to Pass NEBOSH Exam in first attempt. Here are a few tips to help you pass your NEBOSH Certification exam with high grades: 

Attend a NEBOSH Certification revision course 

Today, many accredited institutes offer certification courses to prospective candidates. They also provide crash courses that can help candidates understand the topic in detail within a short span of time. These courses offer candidates the following: 

1) One-on-one doubt-clearing sessions 

2) A chance to become part of discussion groups 

3) Practice exam questions 

4) Performance feedback 

Make proper use of the resources available 

Apart from the regular exam notes, you can also use other resources available online and offline. These resources include YouTube videos, online study boards, study guides, etc. They are beneficial in providing an easy and clear understanding of all NEBOSH topics in one go. Using these resources properly, you can access the following: 

1) Topic-wise pointers 

2) Scenario-based questions 

3) Frequently asked questions and answers 

4) NEBOSH terminologies (important from the exam point of view) and much more 

Condense your notes as the date approaches 

Although abundant resources are available online and offline, notes made by hand will always benefit you. Highlighting essential points and marking areas where you want to pay more attention in your handwritten notes can prove helpful while revising your syllabus. 

At the same time, it's important to keep in mind that as the exam date approaches, you should start narrowing down the notes into pointers and revision cards. This way, even a day or two before the exam, you will have all the essential points ready, which will help you recall everything easily. 

Willing to improve health and safety protocols at your workplace? Register for our Nebosh Courses today! 

Know about the exam structure 

One of the essential tricks to know about How to Pass NEBOSH Exam is understanding the exam pattern and structure. The exam pattern can reveal a lot about how you should practice questions.  

For example, if a candidate knows the exam duration, they can practice for mock papers accordingly. Further, if they are aware of the marking system in the exam, it can save them from wasting their time on topics that are of low weightage or are difficult to understand. Here’s the structure of the NEBOSH exam: 

The NEBOSH Exam is divided into three units, where the theory exams are provided in an open-book format.The units of the exam are explained as follow: 

1) NGC1 (open book exam): The NGC1 covers the syllabus comprising four elements focusing on legal requirements and the safety management system. It’s recommended to spend two hours on this exam and complete a word count of 3,000 words. You are allowed to go 10% below and above the count. 

2) NGC2 (risk assessment): You are required to complete the risk assessment of your own workplace using a template provided by NEBOSH. NEBOSH also provides an example of risk assessment that allows you to look at the marking scheme. The NEBOSH risk assessment is further divided into four parts that you are required complete within three hours.

3) Closing interview: After submitting the NGC1 exam, a closing interview meeting is scheduled. It can be completed online via Zoom, Google Meet, WhatsApp, etc. The interview meeting validates the candidate’s identity and whether the work submitted is theirs.

Understand what the examiner is expecting 

Briefly looking at past years’ question papers can give you an idea of what kind of questions have been asked repeatedly and what the examiner expects from you. It includes the framework of the answers, using important terminologies, visual appeal of the answers, and much more. Therefore, it is vital to keep the following in mind: 

Use bullet points to make the answers easily readable and understandable. 

Use common abbreviations in answers, such as HSWA, HSE, RIDDOR, ILO, to ease the examiner’s reading efforts. 

Apply command words like define, describe, explain, comment, outline, etc., to showcase confidence in the answers. Organise answers in a visually appealing format. Writing long paragraphs will lead to chaos, so it is better to create the pointers for focal areas initially and follow along.

Organisation is key

It must be kept in mind that studying for a NEBOSH exam can be quite hectic. This is why it is always a good idea to organise your workload while you prepare to sit for the NEBOSH Exam. 

A good start to your preparation for the NEBOSH exam would be to create a list of all the areas that you feel are your weakest. By taking this approach, you will identify and have a much clearer and coherent idea of what you should focus on more. You can work through the list from top to bottom and cover every necessary area. 

Focus your study 

You must ensure that your preparation is focused on your weakest points. Though 40 hours of self-study is recommended, you can study for as long as you think will help you gain optimal preparation for the NEBOSH exam. 

Passing the NEBOSH Exam 

While the NEBOSH exam can be challenging, it certainly is not impossible to pass. Putting the right efforts in while self-studying and being tested in exam environments will benefit you while taking the NEBOSH exam. Once sitting to complete the NGC1 assessment paper or the NGC2 risk assessment, make sure you have a nice, quite place free from disturbances.  

What to do on the day of the NEBOSH Exam? 

Even after preparing and planning for weeks and months, you may feel nervous on the day of the exam, which may result in poor performance. But knowing the correct tricks and getting valuable last-minute tips can save you from this dilemma. So, here are some tips on how to stay focused and what to do on the day of the NEBOSH Exam: 

1) Take a brief look at your notes: It is normal to feel nervous on the exam day, but you can eliminate the exam blues by quickly reviewing your notes. Remember to only look at the pointers and not the entire page. Also, refer to the notes you made by hand and avoid relying on videos or study guides as they may make you more nervous.

2) Keep your eye on the prize: Everyone wants to pass the exam on the first attempt and avoid the need for resitting it. Keep this in mind and prioritise your tasks accordingly. 

3) Read the questions carefully: Once the question paper is available on the screen, read each question carefully and mark the necessary information provided. The keywords in the questions can give you hints to formulate answers. 

4) Trace the marks: Keep an eye on the marks distribution across the questions to get an idea of how much time you should allocate to each question. Spend more time on questions that have higher marks. 

5) Answer questions in any order: You can answer the questions in any order, which is beneficial because you can start with the questions you are confident with. This will leave you with enough time to plan the remaining questions carefully. 

6) Allocate your words wisely: Keep in mind that the exam has an overall limit of 3000 words (10% plus or minus). Therefore, it is essential to plan where to allocate more words and where not to. Questions that carry more marks should be allocated a bigger word count. 

7) Avoid copying: Since it is an open-book exam, candidates may be tempted to copy and paste paragraphs from reference materials or web pages. However, even if you want to borrow a concept from the reference material, you should paraphrase it in your own words. You can use word-for-word phrases only as quotations, with clear references at the bottom of the answer. 

8) Don’t get stuck on one question: There may be times when you get stuck on one question and doubt yourself. However, don't get anxious. The simple trick is to move on to the next question that you can answer confidently.

Learn about the role and responsibilities of relevant health and safety parties with our NEBOSH Award In Health And Safety At Work course. 

Important things to keep in mind 

Now that you read our study tips and tricks to prepare for the NEBOSH Exam, it is time to pay attention to certain practices that you must follow in the preparation journey. Here are some things and practices that should help you know how to Pass the NEBOSH exam:

1) Plan your studies:  The most crucial practice in your preparation journey is planning your studies. Plan your day so that you attend your classes, study by yourself, practice questions, and still have time for leisure activities. 

2) Revise the subjects you aren’t confident with: It might be tempting to revise the topics you enjoy most and easily understand, but remember not to neglect the topics that you struggle with. Focusing on your weaknesses will improve your overall performance in the exam. 

3) Always be prepared: You can ease the pressure by being well-prepared. This includes equipping yourself with sufficient stationery, a watch, and any other items required for the exam. Being prepared with these essentials beforehand can help you have a clearer idea on How to Pass NEBOSH exam. 

4) Keep practising: Regularly taking mock exams and practising questions by yourself will help enhance your knowledge and instil confidence in answering questions accurately. 

5) Stay up to date: Stay informed about developments occurring in the safety community. This practice will help you stand out from your peers by incorporating appropriate examples and current issues in your exam answers. 

6) Create a study group: If learning in groups interests you, consider forming a study group. It can provide valuable feedback on your knowledge and where you stand among your peers. 

7) Be confident: Above all, be confident. Confidence is the key to passing your NEBOSH Exam with flying colours.

Willing to improve health and safety protocols at your workplace? Register for our Nebosh Courses today! 

Is NEBOSH hard to pass? 

Although passing the NEBOSH exam is certainly not a cakewalk, it is not an impossible task either. With proper self-studying and preparation, passing the NEBOSH Exam even on your first attempt – is certainly a doable task.  

During the exam,  it is key to take it slow and not rush through the questions. Read the questions carefully, and make sure you do not miss or misinterpret any questions. Remember, the exam is not a race and there is no bonus prize for finishing first.  

Make sure to familiarise yourself with the study material, and remember to access different types of information during the open book exam. Good luck! 

Know the exam process and strategise to clear your exams with our blog Nebosh question paper

Conclusion 

How to pass the NEBOSH exam is one of the important questions that every aspiring health and safety professional asks. The simple answer to this question is that you can pass NEBOSH with the help of appropriately planned studies, seeking assistance and self-confidence. Religiously adhering to these practices can result in the successful completion of NEBOSH Certification. Hope this blog answered all your queries on How to Pass NEBOSH exam! 

Learn about the fundamentals of well-being. Register for our NEBOSH Working With Wellbeing Training course now!