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United Kingdom · Theory test

CPCS theory test questions

NOCN Group publishes the CPCS theory test questions for each category of the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) on its own site, free to download. It doesn’t publish the answers: those stay confidential to accredited centres, and NOCN expects you to research them. The question lists sit with each category’s other revision documents, such as the practical test specification and any chart used in the test.

  • FreeDownloading the question lists, says NOCN
  • Not publishedOfficial answers to the questions
  • One per categoryTheory question list, as a PDF
Open NOCN’s revision documents

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Where can you find the CPCS theory test questions?

  1. Open NOCN’s Revision Support Documents page.
  2. Choose your category, for example A17 Telescopic Handler.
  3. Under Theory Tests, download the question list and any chart that goes with it, such as a lifting capacity chart.
  4. Print it if you’d rather revise on paper.

The same category page has the practical test specification, the On-Site Assessment and, for some categories, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) training standard, so you can see the whole technical test before you book.

What the questions cover

NOCN’s Scheme Booklet for Operators says every category’s theory test asks about:

  • health and safety for that category and its working environment
  • the operator’s roles and responsibilities
  • pre-start checks
  • using the operator’s manual
  • preparing, operating and shutting down that type of plant
The pass mark and how the test is run →

Why NOCN doesn’t publish the answers

NOCN says the official answers are confidential and restricted to accredited centres, and that CPCS keeps reviewing and updating its questions. It also says it has no involvement with, and can’t confirm, answers sold on auction sites or anywhere else.

The paper used in your test is a controlled document, so the tester can’t give you a copy. You can still ask the centre to see the mark you got for each question.

Where NOCN says to research the answers

Many of the questions come from publicly available sources, NOCN says, and it suggests these:

  • the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), whose leaflets and codes of practice are free
  • best practice guidance from contractors and federations, such as the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA)
  • manufacturers’ technical details and operators’ manuals
  • government information on driving plant on the highway
  • a CPCS Accredited Centre’s training on the topics the questions cover
CPCS training courses →

Categories with their own revision page

NOCN has a revision page for each of these categories. Some pages hold more documents than others.

  • A02 Crawler Crane over 10 tonnes
  • A04 Tower Crane
  • A05 Dragline
  • A06 Concrete Pump, Truck Mounted Boom
  • A09 Forward Tipping Dumper
  • A10 Excavator 180 below 5 tonnes
  • A12 Excavator 180 above 5 tonnes
  • A14 Rough Terrain Forklift, Masted
  • A15 Forklift Side-Loader
  • A16 Industrial Forklift Truck
  • A17 Telescopic Handler
  • A18 Reach Truck
  • A19 Grader
  • A20 Hoist
  • A21 Wheeled Loading Shovel
  • A22 Tracked Loading Shovel
  • A23 Skid Steer Loader
  • A24 Motorised Scraper
  • A25 MEWP Scissor
  • A26 MEWP Boom
  • A27 MEWP Mast Climber
  • A30 Piling Rig, Tripod
  • A31 Ride on Roller
  • A32 Soil/Landfill Compactor
  • A33 Agricultural Tractor
  • A34 Crawler Tractor/Dozer
  • A35 Crawler Tractor/Side Boom
  • A36 Lorry Loader
  • A37 Trencher
  • A39 Skip Handler
  • A40 Slinger/Signaller
  • A41 Loader/Compressor
  • A42 Crusher
  • A43 Screener
  • A44 Trailer Mounted Boom, Concrete Pump
  • A45 Piling Rig, Driven below 20 tonnes
  • A46 Piling Rig, Driven above 20 tonnes
  • A47 Piling Rig, Bored below 20 tonnes
  • A48 Piling Rig, Bored above 20 tonnes
  • A49 Loader/Securer, non STGO
  • A50 Loader/Securer
  • A51 Multi Service Vehicle
  • A56 Dump Truck, Articulated Chassis
  • A57 Dump Truck, Rigid Chassis
  • A58 Excavator 360 below 10 tonnes
  • A59 Excavator 360 above 10 tonnes
  • A60 Mobile Crane
  • A61 Appointed Person, Lifting Operations
  • A62 Crane/Lifting Operations Supervisor
  • A64 Overhead Travelling Crane
  • A66 Compact Crane
  • A67 Tunnel Locomotive
  • A68 Plant Driving
  • A71 Soil Stabiliser
  • A72 Static Concrete Placing Boom
  • A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller
  • A74 Piling Rig Attendant
  • A75 Conveying Pump
  • A77 Telescopic Handler 360 slew
  • A78 Vacuum Excavator
  • D90 Demolition Plant
  • D91 Demolition Plant Pedestrian Operated
  • D92 Demolition Skid Steer Tool Carrier

MEWP is a Mobile Elevating Work Platform, and STGO the Special Types General Order for abnormal loads. Four categories have a page of their own here with their endorsements and test times.

A17 Telescopic Handler →A58 and A59 360 Excavators →A09 and A56 Dumpers →A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller →
Sources: NOCN and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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