Courses Available Online, Virtually and Classroom
Fully Certified NEBOSH, IOSH, IEMA Accredited
7-Day Customer Service
Jim Anderson CMIOSH, MIIRSM, AIEMA

Studying a NEBOSH Course

February 2018

Are you planning to study a NEBOSH qualification? If the prospect of dedicating time and brainpower effectively is keeping you awake at night, read on for valuable and reassuring study techniques for studying for your NEBOSH qualification.

Plan your Studying

Planning your study time in advance is essential and proven to be a very effective strategy for your NEBOSH course. For the NEBOSH Certificate a total of 108 hours is recommended (60 hours of tuition and 48 hours of private study). This indicates how much additional studying you need to do in order to pass the exams and be better equipped to use your knowledge back in the workplace. Don’t leave all your revision to the night before. This is ineffective and unreliable; you will only retain it in your short-term memory.

Dependent on your method of study i.e. online or classroom and the date of your exams will determine the intensity of your study time; you can plan the number of study hours a week in line with the recommended study hours of the NEBOSH course and the exam dates. For online learning, if you want to complete the course and exams within 6 months you will need to devote approx. 5 hours a week of study. However, allow for some flexibility in your study plan to fit in with other commitments.

Set some regular study time aside; 20 to 60 minutes study sessions are effective but follow what works best for you.

Set yourself realistic study goals. Use your selected NEBOSH course syllabus and learning outcomes as a guide. Exam questions set are to assess the learning outcomes so this should be a perfect guide for your study plan. Look at the NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus to get a feel for the course. Work through the syllabus and your materials systematically.

How do I Revise?

If revising for exams feels like a distant and unsettling memory, start afresh with a new mind set for studying and revising for your NEBOSH qualification. Revising needs to be an active task: understanding content, being able to apply it to different scenarios and finding ways of remembering it.

Create memory or flash cards to promote active recall of a topic using associated key words and phrases. Physically adding memory cards to your home or office will help reinforce the topic. If you prefer to listen to help remember the content, why not make audio recordings of topics using an app on your phone or computer? You can listen in the car or on the go; mixing up how you revise can be refreshing and motivating.

Summarise topics into into several bullet points or key words. If it helps, draw mind maps, diagrams linking key words or phrases together and then test yourself, or get someone else to. Repeated testing is a very effective revision technique and it helps you to be more engaged and stop your mind from wondering!

Practise Makes Perfect

Getting to know NEBOSH exam questions and how you are expected to answer them is fundamental to passing the exams. Throughout the course, make sure you familiarise yourself with typical exam questions and expected answers. Your course provider should be setting regular questions on each topic for you to practise as you learn new concepts.

Having a go at exam questions after elements/topics of the course and set the timer. This will help you prepare properly under exam conditions and improve your technique such as reading the question properly, answer planning and writing an answer in the timeframe. Practising questions will also consolidate your learning. Poor timing is always a commented on in the NEBOSH Examiners’ Reports so time yourself when doing exam questions. Review the NEBOSH Examiners’ reports for your course to get some invaluable advice based on past student papers.

Study Support

It’s always beneficial to share your learning, revising and exam techniques with other NEBOSH students. Use discussion forums your course provider should offer to ask questions and pick up tips. Find out if there are any webinars to prepare for exams and assignments that you can participate in. Use your course tutors on online or classroom courses for guidance and feedback throughout your studying.

Try not to be overwhelmed when you start studying. Break your studying down into sizeable chunks and build on your learning following the guidance. Be positive, proactive and organised and you will succeed.

To view our full range of NEBOSH courses, click the button below.

Related Blogs

  • Choosing The Right Health, Safety and Environmental Training Course For You Image
    Toby Howell AIEMA BA PGDip

    Choosing The Right Health, Safety and Environmental Training Course For You

    Thinking about entering into the rewarding world of health and safety? This blog will outline everything you need to know and consider before jumping in!
    15.09.23
  • What Jobs Can I Get With the NEBOSH International General Certificate? Image
    Toby Howell AIEMA BA PGDip

    What Jobs Can I Get With the NEBOSH International General Certificate?

    Discover how the NEBOSH International General Certificate can dramatically increase your employability with Astutis blog. Read more here. 
    13.09.23
  • Safety and Wellness Programmes: The Link to Stress and Work Productivity in the Workplace Image
    Tom Lea BScHons, GradIOSH, AIEMA

    Safety and Wellness Programmes: The Link to Stress and Work Productivity in the Workplace

    Effective wellness and safety programmes can yield significant results, reduce stress and increase productivity in the workplace. Why do so many businesses still fail to acknowledge the importance of them?
    01.09.23
  • What are NEBOSH Closing Interviews Image
    Toby Howell AIEMA BA PGDip

    What are NEBOSH Closing Interviews

    Understand what NEBOSH exam closing interviews are and what is required to ensure you pass your exams with this Astutis blog. 
    25.08.23
  • Remote Work Safety: 5 Best Practices to Teach Your Employees Image
    Toby Howell AIEMA BA PGDip

    Remote Work Safety: 5 Best Practices to Teach Your Employees

    Understanding how to work productively at home is crucial in the modern working environment. Here are our tips!
    21.08.23
  • The Risks and Effects on Health of Asbestos Exposure Image
    Ruth Williams DipCAM FCIM

    The Risks and Effects on Health of Asbestos Exposure

    Take a deep dive into the risks associated with exposure to asbestos and how it can effect long-term health problems. Find out more here. 
    17.08.23
Section Curve
Case Studies

Real Life Stories

Find out how learners look back on their training with Astutis. Our case studies give our learners, both individual and corporate, a platform to share their Astutis experience. Discover how training with Astutis has helped past learners and delegates make the world a safer place, one course at a time.
More Image
Bottom Curve
What People Say

Hear What Our Learners Have To Say

We're always there for our customers. 98% of our learners rated their overall experience as good or outstanding. We will always pride ourselves on our customer service. But don’t take our word for it, here is what our customers have to say
  • "The "Managing Safely" course typically covers various topics such as risk assessment, hazard identification, accident investigation, legal responsibilities, and implementing control measures. It aims to enhance my understanding of health and safety management systems and empower me to create a safer working environment. By completing the course last week , I gained valuable insights into best practices for managing safety in the workplace, which can benefit both me and my organization."

    14.09.2023
  • "Perfect training: The "Managing Safely" course with Astutis seems to have provided me with valuable knowledge and skills for improving health and safety management in the workplace."

    14.09.2023
  • "Tutor new subject well and help in any way he could so we understand the different sections"

    Tracey
    17.08.2023
  • "Interesting and informative"

    Tracey
    17.08.2023
  • "There was no need to use the customer service as the course instructions were clear"

    14.08.2023
  • "It was a good course, as I had not completed an exam for such a long time I found this challenging, it would have been helpful that there was more focus on how to structure the answers"

    14.08.2023
  • "The course was good overall. Online classes can be difficult and I much prefer the classroom experience but due to circumstances and availability online was the option chosen. FSC1 was very good with lots of interaction. But no forward planning or discussion was given to FSC2. Because of a lot of experience in the fire industry and risk assessments I carried on without giving the question enough scrutiny which meant a refer and a costly resit. 5 minutes of discussion and forward planning for FSC2 would have avoided that. All that said I’m aware I took it too lightly."

    Peter
    10.08.2023
  • "A good online course, with good interaction. Be positive and be part of it. Some people sit quietly by that wouldn’t happen in a classroom. Ask questions and understand, everything is there for you."

    Peter
    10.08.2023
  • "Great learning experience! Astutis was there every step of the way!"

    Michelle
    18.07.2023
  • "Actually purchased through my company - they selected a great partner"

    Michelle
    18.07.2023