The NEBOSH General Certificate is a tough qualification to achieve. Here are five tips to boost your chances of success:
Don’t underestimate the challenge
The NEBOSH Certificate used to require a closed-book exam, which many found intimidating. Now, the exam is open book, taken at home, with access to all your course materials and the internet. You even have 24 hours to complete it. Sounds easy, right? Wrong!
Don’t think an open-book exam means you can slack off. You still need to study hard. The exam questions are designed to test your understanding, not just your memory. They focus on applying concepts to complex scenarios. If you’re not well-prepared, you’ll struggle. Remember, having resources available won’t help if you can’t use them effectively.
The NEBOSH Certificate is demanding, but not impossible—just don’t underestimate it!
Plan Your Work, Then Work Your Plan
Given the challenge, you must dedicate enough time to cover the extensive syllabus. At least 100 hours of study is recommended. If you plan to take the exam in 12 weeks, aim for about 8.5 hours of study each week.
Decide your schedule: maybe a couple of hours daily or longer sessions on weekends. Mark it on your calendar to avoid conflicts. Once you have a plan, stick to it. Consistent study will pay off in the long run.
Take Breaks
On exam day, take regular breaks. Research shows concentration wanes after 25-30 minutes. Plan your day with intervals, like the Pomodoro Technique—25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break. This method helps maintain focus and makes time seem to pass faster.
Structure your day to include longer breaks and a good night’s sleep before the final review. Effective break management can significantly boost your performance.
Adapt Your Approach
Open-book exams test your ability to analyse and apply information, not just recall facts. You need to show a deeper understanding and critical thinking. This requires different study techniques and writing skills.
Develop critical writing skills by forming opinions and backing them up with evidence. Assess the relevance of information and integrate it into your answers. Practice this approach to succeed in the NEBOSH exam.
Use the Full Word Count Allowance
You have a word limit of 3000, with a 10% leeway. Aim to use the full allowance. If a question is worth 10 points, make 10 points in your answer, writing about 100-110 words.
If you’re struggling, take a break or move to another question and return later. Don’t give up. Completing the required word count is crucial. Think of it like a race—don’t stop at 2000 meters if the finish line is at 3000. Keep writing to ensure you maximise your score.
Remember, you won’t earn marks for unwritten words. Give it your best shot and fill in those paragraphs to pass the exam.
