2025 CII Exam Pass Rates: What Do They Tell Us?

The latest published CII pass rates for 2025 show a mixed but encouraging picture for candidates preparing for exams across Financial Planning, Advanced Financial Planning, Mortgage Advice and related qualifications.

For the Diploma in Financial Planning, the core R0 exams remain broadly steady, with an average pass rate of 71%. The strongest results were seen in R05 at 81%, R01 at 73%, and R06 at 71%, while R03 remains one of the more challenging papers at 60%. This continues to highlight the importance of focused revision and plenty of question practice, especially for the more technical units.

At Advanced Diploma level, the average pass rate currently stands at 59%, reflecting the higher level of challenge. AF5 performed strongly at 76%, while AF1 at 46% remains a demanding exam for many candidates. Candidates preparing for Advanced Diploma papers should allow plenty of time for case study practice, exam technique and structured written answers.

Some specialist papers saw particularly high pass rates, including J05 at 93%, J10 at 91%, ER1 at 93%, and CF8 at 88%. These figures are encouraging, but candidates should still treat each exam with care, as pass rates can vary from year to year.

Compared with 2024, the overall message remains familiar: well-prepared candidates continue to perform strongly, but the more technical and advanced papers require disciplined study, regular practice, and a clear understanding of how marks are awarded.

You can also view previous CII pass rate results on our website here

Whether candidates are sitting an R0 paper, moving on to AF exams, or preparing for a specialist qualification, the 2025 pass rates are a useful reminder that success is very achievable with the right preparation plan
 

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