SIA Security Officer Practice Test 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   What are "assignment instructions"?

   • AThe manufacturer's guide for a two-way radio
   • BThe SIA's national rules that every officer must follow when applying for a licence
   • CWritten instructions for the duties at one particular site
   • DA set of questions asked at a job interview
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Written instructions for the duties at one particular site

   Assignment instructions set out duties at a particular site, such as patrol times, access rules, contacts and emergency procedures.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which is a typical duty of a security officer?

   • AControlling access to a site and patrolling to deter and detect problems
   • BIssuing parking fines on public roads nearby
   • CProsecuting offenders in the magistrates' court after making an arrest on site
   • DStopping and searching people in the street
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Controlling access to a site and patrolling to deter and detect problems

   Security officers protect people, property and premises by being visible, controlling access, patrolling and reporting.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Who should a security officer usually contact first when unsure how to deal with a situation on site?

   • AA friend who used to work in security
   • BTheir supervisor or control room, as the instructions say
   • CNo one; they should decide alone and act quickly to show initiative
   • DA customer who happens to be nearby
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Their supervisor or control room, as the instructions say

   Assignment instructions give the chain of command and contacts. Asking for advice is better than making a risky guess.

4. Question 4 of 25

   Why should a security officer read the assignment instructions at the start of a new assignment?

   • ABecause the SIA needs a signed copy of them before it will renew the officer's licence
   • BOnly to learn where the staff room and toilets are
   • CSo they know the site's procedures, hazards and contacts before they need them
   • DTo find out the client's profits
   Show answer

   Answer: C. So they know the site's procedures, hazards and contacts before they need them

   Knowing the procedures in advance helps the officer act quickly and correctly in an emergency.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is the main purpose of access control?

   • ATo check that staff arrive on time
   • BTo stop fire exits being used by anyone, even during an emergency evacuation
   • CTo make sure only authorised people and vehicles enter a site or area
   • DTo count customers for marketing
   Show answer

   Answer: C. To make sure only authorised people and vehicles enter a site or area

   Access control protects people and property by keeping unauthorised people out.

6. Question 6 of 25

   A visitor arrives without an appointment and asks to go to the third floor. What should the security officer do?

   • AGive them a spare staff pass so they can move freely
   • BLet them go up because they look smart and confident
   • CConfirm who they are, check with the host and issue a pass if approved
   • DRefuse entry straight away, because visitors must always book in advance
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Confirm who they are, check with the host and issue a pass if approved

   Visitor procedures confirm identity and reason for the visit and make sure the host knows they are coming.

7. Question 7 of 25

   When checking a photo ID card, what should the officer look for?

   • AThat the name sounds like one on the visitor list
   • BThat the photo matches, it is in date and it has not been altered
   • CThat the card is the right colour for the building and has a company logo
   • DThat the person seems friendly and confident
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   Answer: B. That the photo matches, it is in date and it has not been altered

   Check the photo, expiry date and signs of tampering. A pass that does not match the holder should not be accepted.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What is "tailgating" in access control?

   • ADriving too close to the vehicle in front when entering or leaving the site car park
   • BParking in a disabled bay
   • CWalking around the outside of a building on patrol
   • DFollowing an authorised person through a controlled door without using your own pass
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Following an authorised person through a controlled door without using your own pass

   Tailgating lets unauthorised people into secure areas. Officers should challenge it politely and follow procedure.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Why should visitors sign in and out?

   • ASo security knows who is on site and can account for everyone in an emergency
   • BBecause every visitor must hold an SIA licence
   • CTo collect contact details so the client can send visitors marketing offers later
   • DTo slow visitors down so staff have time to prepare
   Show answer

   Answer: A. So security knows who is on site and can account for everyone in an emergency

   A signing-in register shows who is in the building, which is vital during an evacuation.

10. Question 10 of 25

    A delivery driver arrives at the gate. What should the security officer check?

    • ANothing, because the delivery company is responsible for its own drivers
    • BOnly that the driver is polite and in uniform
    • CThat the driver holds an SIA licence
    • DThat the delivery is expected and matches the paperwork
    Show answer

    Answer: D. That the delivery is expected and matches the paperwork

    Checking that deliveries are expected and match the paperwork helps prevent theft and unauthorised entry.

11. Question 11 of 25

    Keys to a secure area should be:

    • ASigned out and back in using a key register
    • BCopied so that each officer has a personal set to keep
    • CLeft in the door for convenience
    • DGiven to anyone who asks politely
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Signed out and back in using a key register

    A key register shows who has each key and when, so missing keys are noticed quickly.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What does "egress" mean?

    • AA visitor's pass
    • BA type of alarm
    • CThe way into a site or building
    • DThe way out of a site or building
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The way out of a site or building

    Access is the way in and egress is the way out. Officers may control both.

13. Question 13 of 25

    On what basis can a security officer search a person entering a site?

    • AOnly with a warrant from a magistrate
    • BOnly after the person has been arrested by the officer
    • CWhenever the officer suspects anything, with no consent needed
    • DWith the person's consent, often as a condition of entry
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    Answer: D. With the person's consent, often as a condition of entry

    Security officers have no general legal power to search. Searches rely on consent, usually as a condition of entry.

14. Question 14 of 25

    A person refuses to be searched when searching is a condition of entry. What should the officer do?

    • ALet them in without a search to avoid an argument, but keep watching them closely
    • BHold them at the door until the police arrive
    • CPolitely explain the policy and, if they still refuse, refuse entry and record it
    • DSearch them anyway, using force if needed
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Politely explain the policy and, if they still refuse, refuse entry and record it

    Without consent the officer cannot search. The person can be refused entry, in line with the site policy.

15. Question 15 of 25

    When possible, who should carry out a search of a person?

    • AAny available officer, regardless of the person's sex or wishes
    • BAn officer of the same sex as the person being searched
    • CThe person's friend
    • DA customer who volunteers
    Show answer

    Answer: B. An officer of the same sex as the person being searched

    Same-sex searching helps protect dignity and reduces the risk of complaints. Follow the site's search policy.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Why should searches be carried out in view of CCTV or with a witness present?

    • ATo protect both the person searched and the officer from false allegations
    • BBecause the law says a police officer or council officer must watch every search
    • CTo make the search take longer
    • DSo the search can be posted online
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To protect both the person searched and the officer from false allegations

    A witness or CCTV gives an independent record of how the search was carried out.

17. Question 17 of 25

    During a bag search, what should the officer ask the person to do?

    • ALeave the bag with the officer overnight
    • BHand over their phone so the officer can unlock and check it
    • CRemove their clothing
    • DOpen the bag and move items themselves where possible
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Open the bag and move items themselves where possible

    Asking the person to handle their own items reduces the risk of injury from sharp objects and of allegations of theft or damage.

18. Question 18 of 25

    During a search, an officer finds an item that is not allowed on site. What should they do?

    • AThrow it in a bin without telling anyone
    • BFollow the site policy, such as refusing entry or storing it, and record it
    • CHand it back and let the person in anyway
    • DKeep the item yourself until the end of the shift, then give it back to the owner
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Follow the site policy, such as refusing entry or storing it, and record it

    Assignment instructions say how to deal with prohibited items. Illegal items may need to be handed to the police.

19. Question 19 of 25

    What should an officer do before searching a vehicle leaving a site?

    • ABreak into the boot
    • BAsk the driver for consent and follow the vehicle search procedure
    • CSearch it only if the driver is not watching
    • DLet the driver search the vehicle alone, with no one watching, and sign a form
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Ask the driver for consent and follow the vehicle search procedure

    Vehicle searches, like person searches, depend on consent and the site's procedure. Records should be kept.

20. Question 20 of 25

    What is the main purpose of a security patrol?

    • ATo deter crime and detect hazards, security risks and anything unusual
    • BTo check how hard the client's staff are working and report anyone who is idle
    • CTo fill the time between breaks during a shift
    • DTo look for people the officer can arrest
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To deter crime and detect hazards, security risks and anything unusual

    Patrols make security visible and let officers find and report problems early.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Why should patrol routes and times be varied?

    • ASo the officer can skip some checkpoints
    • BBecause a fixed route is against the law
    • CTo make each patrol shorter so more of the site can be covered in a shift
    • DSo criminals cannot predict where the officer will be
    Show answer

    Answer: D. So criminals cannot predict where the officer will be

    A predictable routine helps criminals plan. Varying patrols makes them more effective.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Which check is part of a typical internal patrol?

    • ACounting the money left in the tills
    • BMoving furniture into empty rooms
    • CReading staff emails left open on screens to check for security risks
    • DMaking sure fire exits are clear and fire doors are closed
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Making sure fire exits are clear and fire doors are closed

    Patrols check fire exits, doors, windows, alarms, lights and hazards such as spills.

23. Question 23 of 25

    On patrol you find a fire exit blocked by boxes. What should you do?

    • ALeave it, because stock is not your job
    • BWait for a fire inspector to find it
    • CLock the fire exit so no one trips over the boxes, and tell the manager later
    • DClear it if it is safe to do so, and report and record it
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Clear it if it is safe to do so, and report and record it

    Blocked fire exits put lives at risk. Make it safe if you can and report it so the cause can be fixed.

24. Question 24 of 25

    How do electronic patrol checkpoints help security?

    • AThey replace the need for officers to write incident reports
    • BThey call the police automatically
    • CThey record when and where an officer patrolled
    • DThey open all the doors on site
    Show answer

    Answer: C. They record when and where an officer patrolled

    Checkpoint systems give a record that patrols took place, which helps supervisors and clients.

25. Question 25 of 25

    You find signs of a break-in while on patrol. What should you do?

    • AStay outside, call the police and control room, and watch safely
    • BCarry on with your patrol and report it in the log at the end of your shift
    • CGo in alone quickly to catch the intruder
    • DTidy up the scene so it looks normal again
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Stay outside, call the police and control room, and watch safely

    An intruder may still be inside. Your safety comes first, and the scene may hold evidence.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions)