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ESO Education & Training NW Ltd

Door Supervisor Mock Test

These free practice tests from ESO Training NW give you a taste of what you will cover on the course before you book, and help you prepare for and check your progress during the Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry. Our SIA licence-linked qualifications are awarded by Laser Trident (Laser Learning Awards), an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation. They are not the real exams, and the questions are not taken from any awarding organisation's exam papers. They are based on the SIA's published learning outcomes and general UK law and good practice (England and Wales). Your real exams are set by your awarding organisation, and your trainer will tell you what to expect. The full 40-question test has been reviewed by ESO's trainers.

Written for England and Wales. Some laws differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Last reviewed: 26 September 2026.

Full mock test – all four units

Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry

1. Which organisation regulates the private security industry in the UK?

2. What is the main difference between criminal law and civil law?

3. In England and Wales, a member of the public (including a security operative) can generally make a citizen's arrest for which type of offence?

4. You have made a citizen's arrest. What should you do next?

5. When is it lawful for a security operative to use force?

6. Which three elements must be present for a fire to start and keep burning?

7. Which type of fire extinguisher is generally the most suitable for a fire involving electrical equipment?

8. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is one legal duty of employees?

9. What does RIDDOR relate to?

10. What is the highest level in the UK national terrorism threat level system?

11. You find an unattended bag. The 'HOT' principles help you decide whether it could be suspicious. What does HOT stand for?

12. Which of these is NOT part of the '4 Cs' approach to a suspicious item?

13. Late in the evening you notice a young woman on her own outside the venue. She is very drunk, upset and has lost her friends. What is the best course of action?

14. A friend asks you to send them CCTV footage from your workplace of an argument they were involved in. What should you do?

15. Which of the following makes a good incident record or notebook entry?

16. Under the Equality Act 2010, which of these is NOT a protected characteristic?

Principles of Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry

17. Under the Licensing Act 2003 (England and Wales), which of these is NOT one of the four licensing objectives?

18. A customer at the bar is clearly drunk and asks to be served. What does the law say?

19. Which of these best describes an 'offensive weapon'?

20. Being searched is a condition of entry at your venue. A customer refuses to be searched. What should you do?

21. You find what appears to be a controlled drug during a search. What is good practice?

22. Which law divides controlled drugs into Class A, B and C?

23. After a serious assault inside the venue, the victim has been taken to hospital. What should you do about the area where it happened?

24. Which of these is generally the most reliable form of proof of age to accept at the door?

25. Why do door supervisors use clickers or counters at the entrance?

26. Who is the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)?

Application of Conflict Management in the Private Security Industry

27. What does the 'attitude and behaviour cycle' describe?

28. In conflict management, what does showing empathy mean?

29. Which of these is most likely to TRIGGER an angry reaction from a customer who has been refused entry?

30. Which body language is most likely to help calm a tense situation?

31. Which of these could be a warning sign that someone is about to become physically aggressive?

32. What is meant by a 'win-win' approach to resolving conflict?

33. When you feel threatened, your body releases adrenaline (the 'fight or flight' response). Which effect is this likely to have?

34. Why is it important to reflect on a conflict incident afterwards?

Application of Physical Intervention Skills in the Private Security Industry

35. When should a door supervisor use physical intervention?

36. Which of these increases the risk of positional asphyxia during a restraint?

37. While you are holding someone, they say they can't breathe. What should you do?

38. What type of techniques does the SIA physical intervention unit for door supervisors focus on?

39. After a physical intervention, what is good practice?

40. Why is continuous communication important during a physical intervention?

40 questions. Answer them, then press “Check my answers”.

Unit 1: Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry

Shared 'foundation' exam, taken on the Door Supervisor, Security Officer and CCTV courses. 24 questions.

1. Which organisation regulates the private security industry in the UK?

2. What is the main difference between criminal law and civil law?

3. In England and Wales, a member of the public (including a security operative) can generally make a citizen's arrest for which type of offence?

4. You have made a citizen's arrest. What should you do next?

5. When is it lawful for a security operative to use force?

6. Which three elements must be present for a fire to start and keep burning?

7. Which type of fire extinguisher is generally the most suitable for a fire involving electrical equipment?

8. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is one legal duty of employees?

9. What does RIDDOR relate to?

10. What is the highest level in the UK national terrorism threat level system?

11. You find an unattended bag. The 'HOT' principles help you decide whether it could be suspicious. What does HOT stand for?

12. Which of these is NOT part of the '4 Cs' approach to a suspicious item?

13. Late in the evening you notice a young woman on her own outside the venue. She is very drunk, upset and has lost her friends. What is the best course of action?

14. A friend asks you to send them CCTV footage from your workplace of an argument they were involved in. What should you do?

15. Which of the following makes a good incident record or notebook entry?

16. Under the Equality Act 2010, which of these is NOT a protected characteristic?

17. Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, which of these is a criminal offence?

18. While working in a front-line licensed role, where should your SIA licence normally be?

19. What does the counter-terrorism awareness programme 'ACT' stand for?

20. The 'Run, Hide, Tell' advice is designed for which situation?

21. Which of these could be a sign of hostile reconnaissance (someone planning an attack)?

22. You see a 15-year-old in the company of much older adults who are giving them alcohol and seem to control what they do. What could this indicate?

23. The fire alarm sounds and the venue must be evacuated. What should security staff do?

24. Using the phonetic alphabet, how would you say the letters 'S' and 'D' on a radio?

24 questions. Answer them, then press “Mark my test”.

Unit 2: Principles of Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry

Door Supervisor specialist unit. 24 questions.

1. Under the Licensing Act 2003 (England and Wales), which of these is NOT one of the four licensing objectives?

2. A customer at the bar is clearly drunk and asks to be served. What does the law say?

3. Which of these best describes an 'offensive weapon'?

4. Being searched is a condition of entry at your venue. A customer refuses to be searched. What should you do?

5. You find what appears to be a controlled drug during a search. What is good practice?

6. Which law divides controlled drugs into Class A, B and C?

7. After a serious assault inside the venue, the victim has been taken to hospital. What should you do about the area where it happened?

8. Which of these is generally the most reliable form of proof of age to accept at the door?

9. Why do door supervisors use clickers or counters at the entrance?

10. Who is the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS)?

11. In England and Wales, who issues premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003?

12. Your venue runs a 'Challenge 25' policy. A customer looks about 21. What should you do?

13. An adult buys a drink at the bar and hands it to their 16-year-old friend. What is this?

14. Who has the power to enter licensed premises to check that the licence is being complied with?

15. Who should search a customer at the door?

16. Which of these could be signs that someone has taken drugs?

17. You ask a customer to leave. Which approach is most likely to keep everyone safe?

18. Which of these is a warning sign of dangerous crowding?

19. A woman approaches the bar and says she would like to 'Ask for Angela'. What does this usually mean?

20. A customer suddenly seems far more drunk than the amount they've had would explain and is confused and unsteady. What should you consider?

21. A drunk customer refuses to leave when you ask them to. Under the Licensing Act 2003, what is this?

22. A door supervisor refuses entry to a group because of their race. What is this?

23. You suspect a customer is dealing drugs inside the venue. What is good practice?

24. At closing time, which measure helps people leave the venue safely?

24 questions. Answer them, then press “Mark my test”.

Unit 3: Application of Conflict Management in the Private Security Industry

Shared unit, taken on both the Door Supervisor and Security Officer courses. 20 questions.

1. What does the 'attitude and behaviour cycle' describe?

2. In conflict management, what does showing empathy mean?

3. Which of these is most likely to TRIGGER an angry reaction from a customer who has been refused entry?

4. Which body language is most likely to help calm a tense situation?

5. Which of these could be a warning sign that someone is about to become physically aggressive?

6. What is meant by a 'win-win' approach to resolving conflict?

7. When you feel threatened, your body releases adrenaline (the 'fight or flight' response). Which effect is this likely to have?

8. Why is it important to reflect on a conflict incident afterwards?

9. Which three elements make up how a message is communicated face to face?

10. Which of these is an example of active listening?

11. Which of these is an open question?

12. What is the 'reactionary gap'?

13. What is a dynamic risk assessment?

14. Which phrase is most likely to help calm an angry customer?

15. Which of these are barriers to effective communication at a venue entrance?

16. Which of these best describes assertive behaviour?

17. A customer has a genuine complaint about being overcharged and is getting angry. What is the best approach?

18. Why should you keep an exit route available when dealing with conflict?

19. Several door supervisors are dealing with one upset customer. What is good practice?

20. After a stressful incident, which of these could be a sign that you need support?

20 questions. Answer them, then press “Mark my test”.

Unit 4: Application of Physical Intervention Skills in the Private Security Industry

Theory questions only; the practical skills are assessed in person. 21 questions.

1. When should a door supervisor use physical intervention?

2. Which of these increases the risk of positional asphyxia during a restraint?

3. While you are holding someone, they say they can't breathe. What should you do?

4. What type of techniques does the SIA physical intervention unit for door supervisors focus on?

5. After a physical intervention, what is good practice?

6. Why is continuous communication important during a physical intervention?

7. Which law allows a person to use reasonable force in the prevention of crime, or in making or helping with a lawful arrest?

8. What does section 117 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) cover?

9. Under common law, when can a person use force in self-defence?

10. What does 'proportionate' force mean?

11. Which of these increases the risk of serious harm during a restraint?

12. While someone is being held, which of these is a 'red flag' that needs immediate action?

13. A person is extremely agitated, sweating heavily, very strong and doesn't seem to feel pain. How should this be treated?

14. A person ends up on the ground during an intervention. What should staff do?

15. What is the main purpose of an escorting technique?

16. What is the main aim of a disengagement technique?

17. Before using physical intervention, which environmental hazard should you take into account?

18. Once a person is under control, what should happen to the level of restraint?

19. Which people are at greater risk of injury from physical intervention?

20. Which type of hold should never be used because of the risk of serious injury or death?

21. Why should you only use physical intervention techniques you have been trained in?

21 questions. Answer them, then press “Mark my test”.

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These are the topics you will cover on the course, taught face to face by ESO in Bootle.

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