R01 Top Tips for success: Overview

If you are studying for the R01 exam you will know that the study text contains a lot of technical information about the structure of the financial services industry and the regulation of those that work within it, along with some complex legal concepts and many principles and rules to remember.

Our ‘Top Tips for Success’ aims to help you get the best out of your study time and improve your chances of passing this regulation unit first time.

View the R01 online course
View the R01 Gap Analysis assessment tool

R01 exam details

• The assessment is 100 questions.
• Most (87) questions are multiple choice.
• Other questions (13) are multiple response.
• Two hours are allowed for this exam.
• The nominal pass mark is 65%.
• Previous pass rates can be viewed here.
• The recommended number of study hours is 60.

Breaking down the exam

1. Spend no more than one minute on each question to complete 100 in two hours.
2. This leaves around 20 minutes to review uncertain answers.
3. Multiple response questions require all correct answers to score a mark.
4. They will generally take slightly longer than multiple choice questions.
5. Almost one third of all questions are from Chapter 5 (29 questions).
6. Chapter 2 includes around 12 multiple choice questions.
7. Chapter 7 includes 5 multiple choice and 8 multiple response questions (13 total).
8. Other chapters have between 2 and 9 questions each.

Study time

The CII recommends a minimum of 60 hours of study to prepare for the R01 exam. You may find you need slightly less if you have prior knowledge of the syllabus, but it still requires significant preparation.

Key to success is having a plan and sticking to it. Introduce variety in your study methods to keep it engaging. Study in short sessions with breaks, and reward progress to stay motivated.

The Learning to Learn package, provided free with every purchase, includes valuable advice and strategies to help you maximise your study effectiveness.

While R01 is not the hardest of the R0 exams, it is not the easiest either. Some questions are knowledge-based, while others test understanding and application. A firm grasp of both the rules and wider issues will improve your chances of passing first time.

Do

• Use practice questions throughout your study to identify weak areas.
• Allow extra time for Chapters 2, 5 and 7, which make up over half the exam.
• Learn the statutory objectives of the FCA and the main principles of the FCA and PRA, including their approach to supervision and enforcement.
• Familiarise yourself with question formats using the CII Exam Guide or mock exams.
• Practise regularly to build confidence and improve recall.

Do not

• Waste time learning lengthy calculations, as these are not common in R01.
• Leave questions unanswered — guess if necessary to improve your score chances.
• Spend more than one minute on any question to allow review time at the end.

Practice questions

The R01 Gap Analysis and Assessment Tool provides 300 practice questions with weightings matching the R01 exam structure.

You can take 25- or 50-question tests in ‘revision style’ (showing answers after each question) or ‘exam style’ (results shown at the end). Questions are randomised and non-repeating until the full set has been covered.

End-of-test results show total marks, performance by Learning Outcome, and explanations for incorrect answers, with references to the relevant online course content.

Find out more about the R01 Course, Gap Analysis and Assessment package in our training directory.