SIA Security Officer Practice Test 2026

To get an SIA security guard licence you need the Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Officer in the Private Security Industry. Its two main knowledge exams are multiple-choice, and you need 70% in each. This practice covers both: the shared industry principles and the security officer unit, including conflict management.

  • Beveiliger
  • Verenigd Koninkrijk
  • 139 vragen
  • Gecontroleerd op 10 oktober 2026

Kort antwoord

Het officiële examen heeft 132 vragen. Geslaagd: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions). Tijdslimiet: 200 minuten. Afgenomen door: Security Industry Authority (SIA); exams set and marked by SIA-approved awarding organisations. Minimumleeftijd: 18. Oefen hier gratis met 139 vragen, elk met het antwoord en een uitleg. Gecontroleerd aan de hand van officiële bronnen op 10 oktober 2026.

Lees dit voordat je gaat oefenenBegin met de SIA Security Officer Study Guide: notities in begrijpelijke taal, schema’s en de getallen die je moet onthouden.
  1. Vraag 1 van 25

    What are "assignment instructions"?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 2 van 25

    Which is a typical duty of a security officer?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 3 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 4 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 5 van 25

    What is the main purpose of access control?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 6 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 7 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 8 van 25

    What is "tailgating" in access control?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 9 van 25

    Why should visitors sign in and out?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 10 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 11 van 25

    Keys to a secure area should be:
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 12 van 25

    What does "egress" mean?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 13 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 14 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 15 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 16 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 17 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 18 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 19 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 20 van 25

    What is the main purpose of a security patrol?
    12
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 21 van 25

    Why should patrol routes and times be varied?
    Toon antwoord

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

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

  22. Vraag 22 van 25

    Which check is part of a typical internal patrol?
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 23 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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. Vraag 24 van 25

    How do electronic patrol checkpoints help security?
    Toon antwoord

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

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

  25. Vraag 25 van 25

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

    Antwoord: 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.

Wat je moet weten voor het examen

  • The Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry exam has 72 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes. The pass mark is 70%.
  • The Principles of Working as a Security Officer exam has 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, pass mark 70%, plus practical assessments of searching and using communication devices.
  • The Application of Conflict Management unit has a 20-question exam (30 minutes, 70%) and a practical scenario.
  • Before training you need a first aid or emergency first aid certificate that is valid for at least another 12 months.
  • The course must last at least 5 days, or 4 days if up to 8 hours of self-study is used.
  • All assessment is in English and/or Welsh. In Scotland the equivalent qualification is at SCQF Level 6.

Veelgestelde vragen

How many questions are in the SIA security officer exams?

The two main knowledge exams have 72 and 60 multiple-choice questions. There is also a 20-question conflict management exam, plus practical assessments.

What is the pass mark for the SIA security officer exams?

70% in each multiple-choice exam. The practical assessments must be passed in full.

Do I need a first aid certificate for SIA security officer training?

Yes. You need a valid first aid or emergency first aid certificate before you start, and it must be valid for at least another 12 months.

How long does an SIA security guard licence last?

A front-line SIA licence lasts 3 years. You must be 18 or over to apply.

I am renewing my licence. Do I need the full course?

If you are renewing, or held a licence in the last 3 years, you take the refresher qualification instead. Check the SIA's training page for your situation.

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