The Security Guard qualification has three multiple-choice exams, one for each unit, and all three must be passed along with the practical assessments. This guide gives you the exact format of each paper, what it covers and how to prepare, taken from the current Highfield specification for the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry, the SIA licence-linked qualification we deliver in Hayes.
The three papers at a glance
| Paper | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Principles of working in the private security industry | 72 | 110 minutes | 70% | 51 of 72 |
| Unit 2: Principles of working as a security officer | 60 | 90 minutes | 70% | 42 of 60 |
| Unit 3: Application of conflict management | 20 | 30 minutes | 70% | 14 of 20 |
Each paper is externally set and marked by the awarding body and graded pass or fail. There is no averaging: every paper has to clear its own pass mark. Every question is multiple choice with a single correct answer and there is no negative marking, so answer everything.
The timings work out at about 90 seconds per question on every paper. That is comfortable if you keep moving and flag anything you are unsure of to revisit at the end.
Unit 1: the shared industry paper
Unit 1 is identical across the Security Guard, Door Supervisor and CCTV qualifications, which is why holding one of those lets you shorten another course later. It covers the private security industry and its regulation, the SIA and licensing, your legal responsibilities, health and safety at work, fire procedures, emergencies and emergency procedures, communication and customer service, record keeping and reports, terror threats and what an operative does during one, keeping vulnerable people safe, and post-incident management.
A large part of this unit is delivered by your Highfield e-learning before Day 1. The exam expects you to know, for example, what the Private Security Industry Act does, what the SIA can and cannot do, what a licence permits, the main pieces of legislation that affect you at work, the fire triangle and the right extinguisher for the fire, how to raise the alarm, what belongs in an incident report and how to respond to a suspected attack.
Unit 2: the security officer paper
Sixty questions on the job: patrolling and what you are looking for, access and egress control, dealing with visitors and contractors, searching people, property and vehicles and your right to do so, the equipment and technology you use, alarms and alarm response, reporting and record keeping, dealing with incidents and crime scenes, drugs awareness, and the practical side of keeping yourself and others safe on site. The questions are scenario-based and ask what you should do and in which order. If you have patrolled before, resist answering from habit; answer from the procedure you were taught.
Unit 3: the conflict management paper
Twenty questions on the principles behind the scenario you also do on the course: why conflict arises, how to assess and reduce risk, the escalation cycle and how to interrupt it, communication that de-escalates, problem solving, working with colleagues and what happens after an incident. With only twenty questions, each one carries five per cent, so this is the paper to revise properly even though it is the shortest.
How the exams are run
- Each paper is sat after its unit has been delivered, under exam conditions with a clock in view.
- The trainer who taught you that unit cannot invigilate it or be in the room while you sit it.
- We run the papers digitally and mark them on the day, so you leave knowing whether you have passed. Certificates follow once Highfield has processed the course.
- Reasonable adjustments, such as extra time for a diagnosed condition, are possible under the awarding body's policy but must be arranged before the exam, so tell us when you book.
How to revise
- Complete the e-learning as study, not as a box to tick. It is most of Unit 1 and a good part of Unit 2.
- Use the mock exams by unit. Our free SIA mock exams are sorted by course and unit. Sit them timed and mark them honestly.
- Learn the one-right-answer facts. Which Act, which authority, how many years a licence lasts, what order to do things in.
- Ask on the course. If a topic has not landed, say so during the session, not after the paper.
- Rest before the Unit 1 paper. It is nearly two hours long, and most wrong answers in the last twenty questions are from tired reading.
If you do not pass first time
You resit only the paper you missed. On courses that include the ASA Exam Warranty, your next two attempts at that exam are covered at no extra cost, provided you attended, took part and book the retake promptly. Spend the time in between on the mocks for that unit.
Ready to practise? Start with the mock exams. Then read how the Security Guard practical assessments work, because the papers are only half of each unit. Course dates and current prices are on the calendar.
FAQ
How many exams are on the Security Guard course?
Three multiple-choice papers: 72, 60 and 20 questions. Each unit also has a practical assessment.
What is the pass mark for the Security Guard exams?
70 per cent on every paper.
Is the Security Guard exam easier than the Door Supervisor exam?
Unit 1 and Unit 3 are the same papers. The difference is that Security Guard has a 60-question security officer paper instead of the Door Supervisor's 50-question door paper, and no physical intervention paper.
Can I sit the exams online?
No. Licence-linked exams are sat in the training centre under invigilation.
Ready to book your course?
Current prices and dates are on our calendar. Everything about A Security Academy, the SIA-approved training centre in Hayes, West London, is on the home page.