FAQs

NEBOSH has a responsibility to our learners and to the wider community, to ensure that the standard of our qualifications is set appropriately and maintained over time. Our assessments are designed to measure whether a learner has met the requirements of a particular qualification. They are awarded on a pass / refer basis and are criterion-referenced. This means that everyone who takes an assessment and demonstrates that they meet the required standard are awarded a pass.

The pass mark for each individual assessment is the minimum number of marks that a learner must achieve in order to meet the qualification standard. Each assessment has its own pass mark. For some assessments, for example the General Certificate practical assessment, the pass mark is set and remains unchanged as the assessment is the same for all learners at all sittings. For other assessments, for example the General Certificate open book examination, a different assessment is set for each sitting and the pass mark is set through a formal process known as awarding.

Awarding is undertaken to ensure fairness to all learners and its overall aim is to ensure that standards are maintained over time. A provisional pass mark is set and is then confirmed or adjusted following a robust, evidence-based process involving a review of:

• statistics showing how each question and each assessment have performed;
• a review of learner scripts, including those that score within a range of marks above and below the proposed pass mark;
• feedback from Examiners; and
• standards from previous sittings.

This process ensures that the final pass mark is an accurate reflection of the standard of assessment and that all learners are treated fairly.

During awarding, the impacts of any unforeseen item performance issue, or slight differences between assessment versions are taken into account so that these can be considered in setting the pass mark. This ensures no disadvantage is caused to any learner. For these reasons, the pass mark may vary from one paper to another. Usually the pass marks will fall within a range of a few marks but in occasional circumstances, it may be necessary to set a pass mark outside the range.

As well as being fair to learners the awarding process also means our qualifications will continue to be valued by potential employers and other stakeholders.

Related Questions

How is my overall qualification mark and grade calculated?

Examiners' reports provide feedback on past assessments and can be used by learners preparing to complete a NEBOSH assessment. 

Typically, these reports will include the questions used in the papers, the strengths and weaknesses of candidate responses, and examples of good and more limited responses. Where appropriate, they will provide examples of what Examiners were expecting and guidance on examination technique.

For some of our newer assessments, a new style of document has been produced for new specifications/assessment units. These Learner Feedback documents provide feedback for learners for each new assessment unit but will not be produced for every sitting.

Our latest Examiners' reports and Learner Feedback documents can be found here: NEBOSH Examiners' Reports and Learner Feedback.

If you would like any further information please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Enquiry Team; Contact us.

Related questions

How can I gain feedback on my performance to assist with future improvement?

Our Live Chat is available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (UK time) and will automatically load when an operative is available to take your query - there's no need to refresh the page. 

If all lines are busy the live chat option will be temporarily unavailable.

Visit our Contact Us page for other ways to get in touch.

Yes, it is possible to move to a new Learning Partner. 

Provide your new Learning Partner with your Learner Number and let them know that you have achieved or partially completed NEBOSH qualifications before. This will help prevent the creation of a duplicate learner record. 

The new qualifications have been designed to cover what a learner actually needs to know.  So general health and safety content is covered in the National or International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.  Whereas the specialist qualifications (Construction and Fire Certificates) contain content that is relevant to the discipline. 

NEBOSH stands for the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health.

We are an independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety and environmental practice and management.

Visit our Where to Study to section find a NEBOSH course near you. You can search for courses, Learning Partners and examinations based on location and your chosen course or qualification.

If you are unable to locate a learning partner in a location near to you, many NEBOSH Learning Partners deliver our qualifications by distance and elearning. These Learning Partners can also be found by searching in the Where to Study section of our website.

All NEBOSH Diploma holders can join the NEBOSH Alumni for free. It’s a fantastic way to access exclusive events, technical information and network with other Alumni members.

If you have received an email inviting you to join, you will be able to register automatically now on the NEBOSH Alumni website. You will need your learner number without the leading zeros and your email address at the time of registering. 

If you are a diploma holder and would like to join but have not received an invitation, maybe because your email address has changed since you completed your studies, we can arrange this for you. Please email [email protected] supplying your name, date of birth, learner number and the NEBOSH qualifications you hold so we can verify your eligibility and register you.

NEBOSH qualifications are some of the most respected and sought after qualifications for employers in the health and safety sector.

As an awarding body we do not provide career advice or recruitment support. However, if you search for NEBOSH on any popular job site and you will find a range of health and safety jobs which list a NEBOSH qualification as a role requirement.

The SHP4Jobs website has an option to filter your health and safety job search by the NEBOSH qualification required.