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How Hard is the IOSH Managing Safely Course? Course Difficulty, Level, and Tips for Success

December 2024

If you are thinking about doing a short health and safety course for team leaders, such as the IOSH Managing Safely, but you are worried about how hard it will be to pass, Astutis is here to assure you that you can do it! IOSH Managing Safely is a basic risk management course and is used by employers globally to get their managers and supervisors trained with the practical skills to make sure their teams are working safely and effectively.

Here are the answers to the most popular questions about how difficult IOSH Managing Safely really is and all the facts about the IOSH assessment.

What Level is the IOSH Managing Safely Course? Is It Suitable for Beginners?

Anyone can take and pass the IOSH Managing Safely course. The IOSH Managing Safely is a course suitable for team leaders, managers and supervisors. No prior knowledge of health and safety is required, but a good standard of English is recommended. The knowledge from the course can be applied to any sector making the course extremely useful and applicable to a variety of different industries.

Provided you put the right time and effort into learning your course materials, there is nothing stopping you from passing the IOSH Managing Safely course. It is essential that you dedicate time to studying. If you are an online learner leave yourself enough time to complete the course and assessments before your access to the course runs out!

If you're interested in the online training route, we have an article that further breaks down why the IOSH Managing Safely online course might work best for you.


How Difficult is the IOSH Managing Safely Course? What to Expect from the Exam and Assessments

One question we often get asked by those thinking about the IOSH Managing Safely course is, "How difficult are the IOSH course materials?" 

There are seven core IOSH Managing Safely modules which occupy the majority of the learners' time. At Astutis, our course offers a free bonus module that covers human factors in health and safety. The modules are as follows:

  1. Introducing Managing Risk
  2. Assessing Risk
  3. Controlling Risk
  4. Understanding Responsibilities
  5. Common Hazards
  6. Investigating Accidents and Incidents
  7. Measuring Performance
  8. Astutis Exclusive Bonus Module: Human Factors

Our online courses utilise learning checks at the end of each module to ensure our learners have absorbed the necessary information and have the best chance of passing their final assessments. They also serve as natural check-points so you can learn at your own pace whilst making steady progress. Our Learning Development team keeps each course optimised with a variety of different exercises tailored specifically for retaining information. Successfully completing these modules should take anywhere from 22-hours to three working days, depending on the chosen learning method. 


If you are a learner who prefers more vocational training with a tutor dictating the materials, we suggest the Virtual Classroom format. Learners will have a dedicated tutor taking them through the course with scheduled sessions that cover the materials in a collaborative and engaging fashion. The Online training format allows for complete flexibility and control in your learning. Learn when and how you want, with no restrictions.

Learners will need to account for the exam/assessment phase as well as the course materials, so let's cover that!

How to Pass the IOSH Managing Safely Exam: Effective Study Tips & Preparation Guide

The IOSH assessments are often at the forefront of learners' minds when they are concerned about the difficulty of health, and environmental training courses. For the IOSH Managing Safely course specifically, learners should consider the exams as more of an assessment made up of an online test and practical risk assessment project.

At the end of the course, there is a 45-minute multiple-choice test consisting of 30 questions. We advise that, as long as learners put effort into their revision and set aside time to learn the knowledge, they should not worry about passing the course. The multiple choice only covers topics covered in the course.

There is also a risk assessment project that you will carry out in your own workplace. This project must be completed within two weeks of sitting the written test.

For the risk assessment project, learners are required to carry out a risk assessment of a workplace of their choice. You need to identify four separate hazards from the categories covered in the IOSH Managing Safely syllabus: 

  • Mechanical
  • Physical
  • Chemical
  • Environmental
  • Biological
  • Organisational

For each of your identified hazards, you need to decide:

  • The likelihood of an event occurring
  • Who might be harmed
  • Control measures
  • Actions.

For more detailed advice on the risk assessment project, read our guidance on how to study effectively on the course and how to complete the Risk Assessment Project successfully.


Pass Marks for IOSH Managing Safely: What Score Do You Need to Pass?

In order to pass the IOSH Managing Safely and receive your certificate, you will need to pass both the multiple-choice knowledge test and the practical work-based risk assessment.

   Multiple-Choice Knowledge Test  Risk Assessment Practical 
 Minimum mark required 36/60 23/38
 Maximum mark obtainable 6060


Provided you have understood the concepts and examples in the course materials and you follow them in your test and practical risk assessment, there is no reason why you cannot join thousands of Astutis' learners and achieve well above 90%. If you can, try to create a study plan to give yourself a structured revision plan and peace of mind when the examination phases come around.  


Where and How Can I Take my IOSH Managing Safely Exam?

If you are enrolled on a classroom course, you will take the test in the classroom after the tutor has covered all of the course content. However, if you are an online or virtual learner, you will take the test online after you have completed all the modules of your course.

For more information regarding the IOSH Managing Safely exams, please view our Exam Hub.
 

When Will I Get My IOSH Managing Safely Exam Results? What to Expect After the Course

You will know if you have passed by receiving your certificate eight to ten weeks after completing the course and the workplace assessment. For those taking the test online, you will be notified of your mark immediately after you finish the multiple choice test.

If you're ready to take the next step and pass your IOSH Managing Safely assessments with flying colours, enrol on the course below. You can even access a course demo to get taste of how you will achieve your certificate with us.

 

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