- What the NEBOSH IGC Actually Tests
- Exam Format: Units, Question Types, and Timing
- Inside the Eleven Exam Domains
- How Domains Connect Across Assessment Units
- How NEBOSH IGC Questions Are Written
- Registration, Fees, and Exam Delivery
- Who Recognises the NEBOSH IGC and Why It Matters
- A Domain-Anchored Study Schedule
- Using Practice Tests Strategically
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The NEBOSH IGC spans eleven named domains, from workplace health and safety management foundations through to electricity and fire hazards.
- The qualification uses two assessed units: a written examination (NG1) and a practical workplace assessment (NG2).
- Questions demand applied reasoning - candidates must explain why and how, not just list facts.
- Domain 5 (Physical and Psychological Health) and Domain 7 (Chemical and Biological Agents) are among the most concept-dense areas requiring structured...
What the NEBOSH IGC Actually Tests
The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is not a tick-box compliance course. It is a rigorous professional qualification designed to develop candidates who can genuinely identify, assess, and control workplace risk across a wide range of environments - from manufacturing floors to office-based service industries, construction sites to logistics hubs.
The "International" in the title signals that the qualification is built around principles applicable globally, not tied to the legislation of a single country. This makes it particularly valuable for health and safety professionals working in multinational organisations or across multiple jurisdictions. Employers from the Middle East and Southeast Asia to sub-Saharan Africa and the UK recognise the credential as a baseline standard of competence.
What the NEBOSH IGC tests, at its core, is the ability to apply an eleven-domain body of knowledge to real workplace scenarios. Understanding the structure of those domains - and how they're examined - is the single most important piece of preparation a candidate can do before sitting the exam.
Exam Format: Units, Question Types, and Timing
The NEBOSH IGC is assessed across two units.
NG1: Management of International Health and Safety
This is the written examination unit. It covers the theoretical and applied knowledge across the majority of the eleven domains. The exam is taken under supervised conditions through an accredited NEBOSH Learning Partner. Candidates respond to a mix of question types that test both recall and application - particularly scenario-based questions that present a described workplace situation and ask the candidate to analyse, identify problems, or recommend controls.
NG2: Risk Assessment
This is the practical unit. Candidates complete a workplace-based risk assessment of a real environment - typically their own workplace or a suitable alternative. The output is a structured written document demonstrating the candidate's ability to identify hazards, evaluate risk, and propose proportionate controls. NG2 is submitted for examiner marking rather than sat under timed conditions.
| Unit | Format | Assessment Method | Key Skill Tested |
|---|---|---|---|
| NG1 | Written exam | Supervised, invigilated | Applied knowledge and reasoning across all domains |
| NG2 | Practical risk assessment | Submitted document | Hazard identification, risk evaluation, control selection |
Both units must be passed to achieve the full NEBOSH IGC. Units can be retaken individually if a candidate does not pass one of them, which makes understanding the distinct demands of each unit essential before beginning your preparation.
Inside the Eleven Exam Domains
The NEBOSH IGC syllabus is organised into eleven domains. NEBOSH does not publicly publish individual weightings for each domain, but the breadth and depth of each area is reflected in the syllabus documentation. Candidates who study the domains unevenly - focusing only on what feels familiar - consistently leave marks on the table in the examination.
Domain 1: Why We Should Manage Workplace Health and Safety
This foundational domain establishes the moral, legal, and financial rationale for health and safety management. Candidates must be able to articulate all three arguments fluently and apply them to scenario-based questions.
- Moral case: human cost of workplace injury and ill-health
- Legal case: international frameworks and employer duties
- Financial case: direct and indirect costs of incidents
Domain 2: How Health and Safety Management Systems Work
Covers the structure and operation of management systems, including the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and frameworks such as ISO 45001. Candidates are expected to understand how a functioning system looks in practice, not just in theory.
- Key elements of an effective H&S management system
- Roles, responsibilities, and organisational structures
- Policy, planning, and documentation
Domain 3: Managing Risk - Understanding People and Processes
This domain explores both the technical side of risk management (hazard identification, risk assessment, hierarchy of controls) and the human factors that influence safe behaviour at work.
- Risk assessment methodologies
- Human failure types and influencing factors
- Safe systems of work and permit-to-work systems
Domain 4: Health and Safety Monitoring and Measuring
Focuses on active and reactive monitoring, incident investigation, and the audit and review processes that close the loop in a management system. Candidates must distinguish between leading and lagging indicators and understand when each is appropriate.
- Active monitoring: inspections, tours, and sampling
- Reactive monitoring: accident and near-miss investigation
- Audit principles and review cycles
Domains 5-11: Specific Hazard Categories
The second half of the syllabus addresses specific hazard types. Each domain demands both conceptual understanding and knowledge of practical controls.
- Domain 5: Physical and Psychological Health - noise, vibration, radiation, stress, and mental health at work
- Domain 6: Musculoskeletal Health - manual handling, ergonomics, DSE risks
- Domain 7: Chemical and Biological Agents - COSHH-equivalent principles, exposure routes, health surveillance
- Domain 8: General Workplace Issues - welfare, housekeeping, slips, trips, falls, working at height
- Domain 9: Work Equipment - machinery safety, guarding, maintenance regimes
- Domain 10: Fire - fire triangle, detection, suppression, evacuation procedures
- Domain 11: Electricity - electrical hazards, safe isolation, competency requirements
For an in-depth look at one of the most frequently examined specific hazard domains, see the NEBOSH IGC Domain 8: General Workplace Issues Study Guide, which breaks down the key topics you must master for workplace environment hazards.
How Domains Connect Across Assessment Units
Although NEBOSH does not publish precise marks-per-domain figures, the relationship between domains and assessment units is clear from the syllabus. NG1 draws on all eleven domains, while NG2 - the practical risk assessment - is most directly connected to Domain 3 (risk assessment methodology) and whichever specific hazard domains are relevant to the chosen workplace.
This means a candidate completing their NG2 risk assessment in a manufacturing environment should pay particular attention to Domains 7, 9, and 11 alongside the foundational risk assessment process in Domain 3. A candidate using an office environment will find Domains 5, 6, and 8 most directly applicable to their NG2 submission.
How NEBOSH IGC Questions Are Written
Understanding NEBOSH's question style is not a peripheral concern - it is central to exam performance. NEBOSH IGC questions are predominantly scenario-based. A question will describe a workplace situation - perhaps a warehouse with inadequate lighting, or a factory where a worker has been injured by moving machinery - and then ask the candidate to respond using applied knowledge.
Command words govern what type of response is required. The most commonly encountered are:
- Identify: Name or list items without detailed explanation
- Outline: Give the main points with a brief explanation
- Describe: Provide a detailed account of the topic
- Explain: Give reasons for, or the significance of, something
- Assess / Evaluate: Make a judgement based on criteria drawn from the scenario
A critical and common error is treating "outline" and "describe" as interchangeable. An outline answer that goes into excessive detail wastes time. A describe answer that simply lists points without explanation loses marks. Recognising command words and calibrating response depth accordingly is a skill that must be practised, not assumed.
Key Takeaway
Each NEBOSH IGC answer should open by referencing the scenario. Examiners mark against model answers that include contextualised responses. Generic answers - even technically correct ones - score poorly on higher-mark questions that expect scenario application.
Registration, Fees, and Exam Delivery
The NEBOSH IGC is not sat directly through NEBOSH. Candidates register through an accredited NEBOSH Learning Partner - these are training organisations approved to deliver the qualification. The Learning Partner handles registration, course delivery (classroom, blended, or distance learning), and booking of the NG1 examination.
Fees vary by Learning Partner, delivery mode, and region. Candidates should expect to pay for course delivery, examination entry, and NG2 submission as separate or bundled costs depending on the provider. It is worth comparing several Learning Partners before committing, as prices and support quality differ meaningfully.
The NG1 examination is offered on a set schedule through Learning Partners, who must book examination windows with NEBOSH. Candidates studying via open learning have more flexibility over when they sit but should confirm examination dates early to avoid scheduling conflicts with work commitments.
Who Recognises the NEBOSH IGC and Why It Matters
The NEBOSH IGC is one of the most widely recognised health and safety qualifications for practitioners working at a generalist level. Employers across industries - construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, facilities management, logistics, healthcare, and public services - specify it in job postings for Health and Safety Officer, Safety Advisor, and HSE Coordinator roles.
For candidates already working in health and safety in a junior capacity, the IGC is frequently a requirement for progression. For those entering the field from another discipline, it provides a credible foundation that signals competence to employers who may not be equipped to distinguish between various health and safety credentials.
The qualification also forms a natural stepping stone toward more advanced NEBOSH qualifications, including the NEBOSH National or International Diploma, for those who wish to move into senior or specialist H&S roles.
A Domain-Anchored Study Schedule
Generic study schedules do not map onto a qualification with eleven distinct domains and two separate assessment units. The most effective preparation assigns dedicated time to domains in a sequence that builds on prior knowledge.
Domains 1 and 2: Foundations
- Master the moral, legal, and financial arguments in Domain 1 - these appear across many exam questions
- Understand the management system cycle (Domain 2) as a framework you'll apply to all later domains
- Use spaced repetition for key definitions and principles
Domains 3 and 4: Risk Process
- Domain 3's risk assessment methodology is the spine of NG2 - study it thoroughly
- Practice writing out hierarchy of controls in scenario contexts
- Domain 4: differentiate active vs. reactive monitoring with concrete examples
Domains 5, 6, and 7: Health Hazards
- Domain 5 is concept-dense - physical agents (noise, vibration, radiation) each have distinct control hierarchies
- Domain 6 manual handling: understand risk factors and assessment tools, not just the basic lift technique
- Domain 7: learn exposure routes, health effects, and control measures for chemical and biological agents
Domains 8, 9, 10, and 11: Specific Hazards
- Domain 8 covers a broad mix - work through slips/trips, working at height, and welfare requirements systematically
- Domain 9: focus on machine guarding types and their application
- Domains 10 and 11: fire triangle and electrical hazard controls are classic exam topics
Revision and Practice Testing
- Complete timed practice questions across all domains using our NEBOSH IGC practice tests
- Review command word responses - particularly for "explain" and "evaluate" questions
- Finalise and review NG2 draft before submission
Using Practice Tests Strategically
Practice testing is not just a confidence-building exercise - it is a diagnostic tool. When you answer a practice question incorrectly, it reveals a gap in either domain knowledge or exam technique. Both are fixable, but you need to know which problem you're dealing with.
If you answered incorrectly because you didn't know the content - the controls for Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome in Domain 5, for example, or the types of fire extinguisher and their appropriate uses in Domain 10 - return to the syllabus material for that specific area. If you understood the content but failed to address the command word correctly, focus your revision on practiced response structure.
Working through questions that mirror the NEBOSH IGC's scenario-based format is the most targeted preparation available. The practice test resources on this site are structured around the actual exam domains and question formats, making them directly applicable to both NG1 preparation and NG2 thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEBOSH recommends approximately 130 guided learning hours for the IGC. In practice, this typically translates to a study period of ten to fourteen weeks for candidates balancing preparation with full-time work. Candidates who space their revision across the eleven domains and include regular practice testing tend to be better prepared than those who study intensively in the final few weeks.
NEBOSH has expanded remote invigilation options, and some Learning Partners offer online-proctored examinations for NG1. Availability depends on your Learning Partner and location. Confirm the delivery options with your chosen provider before registering, as conditions and technical requirements vary.
NEBOSH does not publish domain-specific weightings, and all eleven domains are examinable. However, the foundational domains - particularly Domain 1 (moral, legal, financial arguments), Domain 3 (risk assessment and controls), and Domain 4 (monitoring and investigation) - underpin many scenario questions and are worth particularly thorough attention.
Candidates are expected to use a real workplace they can physically access. This is typically their own place of work, but it can be another suitable environment with appropriate permission. NEBOSH provides guidance on what constitutes an acceptable workplace for NG2 purposes. The environment should present a range of identifiable hazards across multiple categories to allow a substantive risk assessment.
The NEBOSH National General Certificate (NGC) is the UK-focused version of the qualification, grounded primarily in UK legislation. The International General Certificate (IGC) is designed for application in international contexts and is built around jurisdiction-neutral principles. For candidates working outside the UK or in multinational organisations, the IGC is generally the more appropriate and widely recognised choice.
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Test your knowledge across all eleven NEBOSH IGC domains with our scenario-based practice questions. Identify your gaps before exam day - not after.
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