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.
Resposta rápida
O exame oficial tem 132 perguntas. Para passar: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions). Tempo limite: 200 minutos. Entidade responsável: Security Industry Authority (SIA); exams set and marked by SIA-approved awarding organisations. Idade mínima: 18. Pratique aqui gratuitamente com 139 perguntas, cada uma com a resposta e uma explicação. Verificado com fontes oficiais em 10 de outubro de 2026.
-
Pergunta 1 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 2 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 3 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 4 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 5 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 6 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 7 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 8 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 9 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 10 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 11 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 12 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: D. The way out of a site or building
Access is the way in and egress is the way out. Officers may control both.
-
Pergunta 13 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 14 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 15 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 16 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 17 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 18 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 19 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 20 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: A. To deter crime and detect hazards, security risks and anything unusual
Patrols make security visible and let officers find and report problems early.
-
Pergunta 21 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: D. So criminals cannot predict where the officer will be
A predictable routine helps criminals plan. Varying patrols makes them more effective.
-
Pergunta 22 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 23 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
-
Pergunta 24 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: C. They record when and where an officer patrolled
Checkpoint systems give a record that patrols took place, which helps supervisors and clients.
-
Pergunta 25 de 25
Mostrar resposta
Resposta: 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.
Teclado: 1–4 para responder, Enter para a pergunta seguinte.
O exame real: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions)
O que saber antes do exame
- 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.
Perguntas frequentes
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.
Fontes
- GOV.UK: Check what training you need to get an SIA licence
- SIA: Requirements for awarding organisations and training centres delivering SIA licence to practice qualifications
- GOV.UK: Teaching SIA licence-linked training courses
- Private Security Industry Act 2001
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 24A