NEBOSH National General Certificate

Exam Hints & Tips

Now you've committed yourself to taking the NEBOSH Certificate, you've probably wondered what you've got yourself into! Hopefully the following hints & tips will help you to get the maximum marks possible.

Tips for the Written Papers

First Things First!

Start by reading the exam paper all the way through. You should find at least one question that you are confident about answering. The pages in your answer book are numbered according to the question you are answering, so it doesn't matter in which order you do the questions, as long as you put your answer on the corresponding page of the answer book. It's a good idea to start with the question you're happiest about, as this gets your brain working and gives you confidence. Work through a couple of 'easier' questions & then tackle some of the harder ones. Just make sure you attempt them all!

Clock Watch!

You must keep your eye on the time. You are allowed 2 hours for each paper. There are 11 questions on each paper, and you are expected to answer every one. Question 1 is worth 20 marks, and you should allocate about 25 minutes for your answer. Questions 2-11 are worth 8 marks each, and therefore you have to answer 10 questions in 90 minutes. If you allow 8 minutes for each question, you will have a small cushion at the end to check over your paper, or to finish any last bits.

Please remember: -

It is better to provide an answer to every question than to do 9 or 10 of them well!

Statistically, candidates score the most marks for the information they give at the beginning of their answers. You will get very few extra marks for a long, rambling answer. It's also worth remembering that for any question you fail to attempt, your score will be ZERO!

So, answer every question, even if you're not over-confident. If you have reached the time limit (25 minutes for Q1 & 8 minutes for each of the others)MOVE ON! You do not want to end up wasting time perfecting one answer if it means you run out of time to attempt all the questions.

Answer the Question!

We all know the sorts of questions we would like to be on the paper - trouble is, they're not always there! You need to:

·        READ THE QUESTION

Get an idea of what the question is asking. This is especially important on Q1, which is often a part question. It is very easy to start rushing in to the answer, only to find when you get to part (ii) that you're writing similar things. NEBOSH do not ask you to give the same information twice in one question, so if this is happening, you're going wrong.

·        READ IT AGAIN, BEFORE YOU START WRITING!

This will give you an idea of the depth of answer required, denoted by the action verb (e.g. outline, describe, state, list etc). It also focuses your mind on actually answering. It is a good idea to highlight the important words in the question, either by underlining them or by using a highlighter pen. Again, this clarifies what you are being asked and allows you to think about what your answer should be.

·        Once you've started your answer, check the question to make sure you're answering what you've been asked.

If I had £1 for every student who'd gone off at a tangent in their answer to a NEBOSH question, I'd be a very rich Man!! You will do this at some point, but it's a good idea to make sure it happens in the classroom rather than in the exam! Simply by checking that you are answering the question, whilst you are doing it can save an awful lot of time & heartache. If you check halfway through, it does give you time to salvage something if you've gone wrong.

Specific Types of Question

Some types of question come up again & again. On the Management paper you are often asked to "Outline the factors to consider when……..". This type of question requires you to think about the situation you have been given, and take an overview. They do not usually ask you to fix it! i.e. you do not have to outline a series of control measures. This is a very common mistake in approaching this type of question.

E.g. If you were asked to outline the factors to consider before forklift trucks are to be introduced to a new warehouse, you would outline factors such as

·        The need for separating FLT movements from pedestrians;

·        The need for the introduction of speed limits;

·        Whether high visibility clothing would be required;

·        The condition of the floors and terrain

·        The type of FLT to be introduced e.g. the appropriate fuel supply

·        The loads to be carried etc.

You should turn this list into an outline by adding the reason for each consideration you mention e.g. The condition of the floors and terrain would be an important consideration, as floors containing potholes or steep slopes can result in overturning of fork lift trucks.

It is tempting to try to fix the situation by giving answers such as: -

When FLTs are to be introduced into the workplace, it is essential that they do not come in to contact with pedestrians. In order to prevent this, dedicated traffic routes should be introduced, with speed limits. Any pedestrians who enter the area in which the FLTs are moving should wear appropriate PPE, such as high-visibility vests. In a warehouse, you should make sure that if the ventilation is poor, the FLTs are battery-powered. The floors should be free from potholes, as this can cause overturning of the FLT……………

These are in fact control measures to reduce the risks from FLTs operating in a new warehouse - but that's not actually what the question asked you for!!

Hazards questions are usually a bit more straightforward, requiring either hazard identification or control measures.

When you've finished!

You should have a few minutes spare to check through your answers. Yes, I know it's boring, but you may think of something you've missed or see a glaring error. It's easier to pick up the odd extra mark by filling in gaps in questions which require you to list or identify, so if you've missed any out, now's the time to check what you've written and see if you've missed anything obvious.

FAQs

What if I'm running out of time?

If you find yourself with only minutes to spare to the end of the exam, & you still have a question to do, complete it as a list. This at least gives you the chance to get some marks, rather than leaving it blank and scoring zero. The extra marks you pick up here could make the difference between referral/ pass; pass/credit, or even credit/distinction!

How can I improve my chances of passing?

·        Revise as you go - you cannot leave it until the last minute, as there is far too much information to take in. Also you need to ensure that you understand what you've been taught/have read. If you are having problems, you will be able to clarify them with your tutor in plenty of time.

·        Practice past questions - You can obtain past question papers and Examiners' Reports from the NEBOSH website www.nebosh.org. You should aim to practise answering questions and then check your answer against the Examiners' comments. There are often repeated questions on exams, so having practised a good selection may help with any repeated questions on your exam.

·        Don't panic! - Panic will just make it harder to answer the questions. It can be tempting when you read the exam paper to panic if you think you can't do some of the questions. Just breathe deeply, read the question paper again & start with a question you are reasonably happy with.

  GOOD LUCK!

Ian Driver NEBOSH Tutor