Mark adjustments following Awarding

All our assessments undergo a range of quality checks before learners sit them. However, even with these processes, the level of challenge between sittings will vary when an assessment is unique, such as a scenario-based assessment. To monitor the level of challenge in each assessment we follow the Awarding process, and this is where we set the pass mark.

Following NEBOSH policy and standard practice in educational assessment, the pass mark for any scenario-based assessment is not determined until the point of Awarding, which is after Examiners have marked learners’ submissions. This is why we state that the pass mark is provisional in each qualification's syllabus:

  • For EMC1, FSC1, NG1 and IG1 the provisional pass mark is 45 out of 100;
  • For CN1 and CI1 the provisional pass mark is 90 out of 200;
  • For DN1 and DI1 the provisional pass mark across the two papers is 150 out of 300;
  • For DN2 and DI2 the provisional pass mark is 87 out of 175; and
  • For DN3 and DI3 the provisional pass mark is 87 out of 175.

The variation in the level of challenge between sittings is corrected using industry-recognised statistical methods and expert judgement.  If an assessment is found to be more challenging, the pass mark will be set lower than the provisional, and for an assessment found to be less challenging, the pass mark will be set higher than the provisional. To achieve this, an adjustment is made to a learners raw mark before the final results are declared. Using this method, marks are added to learners' raw mark for a more challenging paper or subtracted from learners’ raw mark for a less challenging paper.

The Awarding process we use is recognised by our Regulators and we are subject to audits from them, at their request.

Any adjustment, whether up or down, is necessary as part of the Awarding process to ensure fairness, so that learners sitting their assessment at different points in time do not receive either an unfair advantage or disadvantage.

Further information on how we set the pass mark can be found below.

 

How is the mark adjustment calculated?

Any changes made during the Awarding process will directly affect the learner’s final mark.
Due to the way NEBOSH’s awarding system operates, these adjustments are converted to a percentage mark and applied as follows:

  • If the pass mark is increased, the learner’s final mark will be reduced.
  • If the pass mark is decreased, the learner’s final mark will be increased.

For example:

DN/DI: If the pass mark for a DN/DI2 question paper is agreed at 51%, a mark adjustment of -1% is applied to all learners’ raw marks awarded by the Examiner. If the pass standard for question paper agreed at 49%, a mark adjustment of +1% is applied to all learners’ raw marks awarded by the Examiner.

NG/IG: If the pass standard for a question paper is agreed at 50% a mark adjustment of -5% is applied to all learners’ raw marks awarded by the Examiner. If the pass standard for a question paper is agreed at 40 a mark adjustment of +5% is applied to all learners’ raw marks awarded by the Examiner.

 

The table shows the provisional pass mark before the Awarding process and the final pass marks for each unit following the Awarding process. For ease, we have also documented the adjustment that has been made to a learner’s raw mark and percentage mark.

Unit

Exam Date

Provisional Pass Mark Percentage

Pass mark percentage after Awarding

Mark adjustment applied (raw mark adjustment)

Cohort Special Consideration  (if applied)

DN2/DI2

May 2025

50%

51%

-1% (-3 marks)

 

NG1/IG1

June 2025

45%

39%

+6% (+6marks)

 

CN1/CI1

April 2025

45%

46%

-1% (-2 mark)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please note: The adjustment will be applied to the learner’s raw mark, post marking, which is published in the Unit Result Notification (URN). The mark breakdown will show the marks awarded by the Examiner prior to the adjustment being applied. This is why the marks in the Unit Result Notification and the mark breakdown may be different. In addition to this, if a learner has been awarded a Special Consideration, these will not appear on the mark breakdown as these marks are awarded after the Examiner marking process has taken place. You can find out more about this here; Special Considerations.