About the exam
UK DGSA Exam structure
An independent guide to the current UK DGSA Core, All Classes and Road, Rail or Inland Waterways written examinations, preserving every route inside one slug.
Issuer and path
UK Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser Study Guide is administered through Department for Transport. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
Core
0 scored + 0 pretest
75 minutes. Written questions requiring concise answers, working and regulatory references where requested. Pass mark: 65%.
All Classes
0 scored + 0 pretest
105 minutes. Written questions covering all 9 UN dangerous-goods classes; current live question count is not published. Pass mark: 65%.
Road
0 scored + 0 pretest
105 minutes. One case study plus a range of written questions based principally on ADR and UK road-carriage provisions. Pass mark: 65%.
Rail
0 scored + 0 pretest
105 minutes. One case study plus a range of written questions based principally on RID and UK rail-carriage provisions. Pass mark: 65%.
Inland Waterways
0 scored + 0 pretest
105 minutes. One case study plus a range of written questions based principally on ADN and UK inland-waterway provisions. Pass mark: 65%.
Book the exact paper combination you need
Core and All Classes are mandatory. Add each required transport mode, remember that Rail and Inland Waterways run concurrently on an exam day, and use the current booking confirmation for permitted materials and venue instructions.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Group 1 - Classification and Identification | 0 | 41 | 10 | Strong |
| Core Group 2 - Containment and Communication | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Core Group 3 - Exemptions, Duties and Governance | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| All Classes Group 1 - Classification and Identification | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| All Classes Group 2 - Class-specific Controls | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| All Classes Group 3 - Training and Legal Framework | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Road Group 1 - Equipment, Marking and Documents | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Road Group 2 - Thresholds and Load Operations | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Road Group 3 - Operations and Response | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Rail Group 1 - Equipment, Marking and Documents | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Rail Group 2 - Thresholds and Load Operations | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Rail Group 3 - Operations and Response | 0 | 40 | 10 | Strong |
| Inland Waterways Group 1 - Goods and Containment | 0 | 30 | 10 | Strong |
| Inland Waterways Group 2 - Thresholds and Cargo Operations | 0 | 30 | 10 | Strong |
| Inland Waterways Group 3 - Vessel Operations and Response | 0 | 30 | 10 | Strong |
| Inland Waterways Group 4 - Vessel Construction and Stability | 0 | 30 | 10 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for the current DGSA examinations
Learn where rules live, practise applying them to complete facts, show the decision path and give precise references when the paper requests them.
Define the paper route
Prepare Core and All Classes plus only the transport modes the intended certificate needs.
Navigate before memorising
Learn the structure of ADR, RID or ADN and the linked UK texts so the right provision can be found efficiently.
Resolve the legal status
Classify the goods, identify the consignment and establish exemptions or concessions before applying controls.
Apply the mode controls
Connect equipment, communication, documents, cargo operations, security and emergency response to the chosen mode.
Write a markable answer
State the decision, show the necessary working and supply the precise reference where requested.
Classification Principles and Precedence
Apply the UN classification structure, packing groups and precedence rules when more than one hazard is present.
Key rules
Rule 1
UN classes
Exam cue: Identify every relevant hazard, determine its class and severity, then apply the published precedence procedure.
Rule 2
Packing groups
Exam cue: Record the exact part, chapter, section and subsection that supports each classification step.
Rule 3
Hazard precedence
Exam cue: Establish the goods, mode, containment and quantity, then follow the exact regulatory path and record the reference.
Common traps
Selecting the most obvious hazard before checking subsidiary hazards and precedence.
Prevention: Do not infer a current live item count from a sample booklet or apply a rule from the wrong transport mode.
Memory anchors
What is the core aim in Classification Principles and Precedence?
Apply the UN classification structure, packing groups and precedence rules when more than one hazard is present.
What is a dependable method for Classification Principles and Precedence?
Identify every relevant hazard, determine its class and severity, then apply the published precedence procedure.
How should the regulatory reference be checked for Classification Principles and Precedence?
Record the exact part, chapter, section and subsection that supports each classification step.
What common error should be avoided in Classification Principles and Precedence?
Selecting the most obvious hazard before checking subsidiary hazards and precedence.
What makes a DGSA answer complete for Classification Principles and Precedence?
State the conclusion, show the relevant decision steps, and provide the precise regulatory reference when requested.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
A liquid meets criteria for two hazard classes. What must be resolved before assigning its primary class?
Why is a packing group assigned to some dangerous goods?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
DVSA Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser exams
Current official entry point for the syllabus, written-answer guidance and Core, All Classes and Road sample booklets.
DVSA DGSA exam syllabus
The 2 June 2026 paper durations, pass marks, qualification scope, topic groups and permitted study texts.
How to answer DGSA exam questions
Current DVSA expectations for regulatory references, shown working and complete written answers.
Book a DGSA exam
Current in-person booking, paper selection, venue, scheduling, result and certificate guidance.
DfT Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers
Current appointment, duties, annual reporting, certificate scope, validity and renewal guidance.
CDG 2009 as amended
The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.
ADR 2025
UNECE source for the current road-carriage agreement linked by the DVSA syllabus.
RID 2025
OTIF English text of the current regulations for international carriage of dangerous goods by rail.
ADN 2025
UNECE source for the current inland-waterway agreement linked by the DVSA syllabus.
Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List
DVSA official publishing-partner page for the 2025 EAC List used with ADR/RID 2025.
Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions
Legally binding UK derogations, transitional provisions and exceptions referenced by the syllabus.
FAQ
Common UK DGSA questions
Which papers are required for a first UK DGSA certificate?
Pass Core, All Classes and at least one mode paper: Road, Rail or Inland Waterways. All three must be passed within 12 months of the first examination.
Do I need to sit all three mode papers?
No. One mode is sufficient for initial qualification. Additional mode papers extend the transport scope recorded on the certificate. Rail and Inland Waterways are scheduled at the same time on an exam day, so they cannot both be taken in that sitting.
Are there separate current papers for individual dangerous-goods classes?
The current DVSA booking and syllabus pages list one mandatory All Classes paper rather than separate Class 1, Class 2 or Class 7 examination bookings. All Classes means the syllabus can assess the full 9-class range.
How long is each examination?
Core is 1 hour 15 minutes. All Classes, Road, Rail and Inland Waterways are each 1 hour 45 minutes. The three mode papers each include one case study and a range of questions.
How many questions are in the current papers?
The current syllabus does not state live counts. Its 2 June 2026 update specifically removed the Core and All Classes question totals, so sample-booklet counts and mark totals are not presented here as current live structure.
Are DGSA papers multiple choice?
No universal multiple-choice format is claimed. Current guidance describes written answers, regulatory references and shown working, while mode papers use a case study plus other questions.
Is the examination open book?
It is an open-reference written assessment within controlled rules. The syllabus says candidates may bring printed copies of the applicable ADR, RID or ADN text, CDG 2009 as amended, the Dangerous Goods Emergency Action Code List and Approved Derogations and Transitional Provisions. Follow the booking confirmation for permitted editions and room rules.
How precise must a regulatory reference be?
When a reference is requested, DVSA guidance expects the relevant part, chapter, section and subsection and, where applicable, a packing-instruction number. CDG references use the relevant regulation, schedule, paragraph and subparagraph.
How should the case study be handled?
Read the selected case study as a whole and answer its parts in the full context of the narrative. The official sample instructions warn against treating each part as a stand-alone question.
Does a DGSA certificate replace an ADR driver certificate?
No. DGSA certification concerns the adviser who monitors and advises an undertaking. ADR driver training and certification concern drivers carrying dangerous goods and use a different modular assessment route.
Why is a full DGSA mock disabled?
The product framework cannot faithfully enforce the candidate's Core + All Classes + chosen-mode route, long written responses, source-reference boxes, shown working and contextual case-study marking. Current live question counts are also unpublished.
How is the certificate renewed?
A certificate is valid for 5 years. Current DfT guidance says the relevant mandatory examinations must be passed during the final year of validity to renew it.