CDM Exam Info

Some important things to know about the exam:

  1. You will be given 40 randomly selected multiple choice questions.
  2. Most questions have several answer options to choose from.
  3. Depending on the style of the question some will be looking for more than one correct answer e.g. “Which of the following should be the best means of securing co-operation? Select all which you believe to be correct.
  4. Some questions will be looking for the only correct answer e.g. “Of the following which is the correct full title of the document required for construction site safety planning?”.
  5. Overall the exam has two related pass marks, in relation to both positive marks and negative marks.
  6. Every question has a fixed mark associated with it of 3, 5 or 8 marks.  (So a “5-mark” question will give you “+5” marks if answered completely correctly.  The same “5-mark” question will give you “-5” marks if answered completely incorrectly.)
  7. Questions answered partly right, or partly wrong, will be awarded part (positive or negative) scores.
  8. There is no indication given of the mark-value for when you see the question text, all questions are important.
  9. The percentage pass marks (+80% and -20%) always apply to all papers so the percentages are calculated on the basis of your randomly generated questions.
  10. Most questions are concerned about the CDM Regulations 2015, the duties, liabilities and relationships with duty holders.
  11. You may also get approximately one or two questions on other health and safety hazards or regulations relating to construction.
  12. The exam is “open book” so you can make reference to information sources.
  13. Always read the questions and answers carefully.
  14. You can skip questions, but remember to go back to them before you submit.
  15. Sometimes if you cannot always see the right answer or answers a helpful technique can be to work the other way trying, by elimination, to identify wrong answers to focus on likely correct answers.
  16. Prepare in advance and choose a convenient time when you can work at the exam in peace and quiet, without any disturbances.
  17. The exam is available online 24 hours a day.