R05 Top Tips for Success

The R05 exam covers all areas of financial protection. While this can seem straightforward compared to other areas of financial planning, it still requires significant knowledge and understanding to achieve a pass.

Our ‘Top Tips for Success’ will help you maximise your study time and improve your chances of passing on the first attempt.

About the R05 exam

• 50 multiple-choice questions
• 1 hour duration
• Nominal pass mark: 70%
• Recommended study time: 50 hours
• Previous pass rates available here

Exam insights

1. “It is easy to pass because it does not overlap with other exams”
Not true. Financial protection covers a wide range of products including long-term care and state benefits, which can appear in the exam.

2. “All sections of the syllabus are examined equally”
Incorrect. Chapters 4–11 account for 38 out of 50 questions (76%), making them the most important to focus on.

3. “I need detailed knowledge of every State benefit”
Not necessary. There are usually no more than three questions on state benefits.

4. “I need in-depth knowledge of long-term care”
Only three questions typically come from this chapter. A broad understanding of the main issues is sufficient.

5. “Never guess if unsure”
False. There is no negative marking, so always attempt an answer.

Study time

The CII recommends 50 hours of study. Quality matters more than quantity — plan your time, mix study techniques, work in short sessions, and keep yourself motivated with breaks and rewards.

Our Learning to Learn courses provide strategies to improve time management, study skills, and exam performance.

Do

• Use practice questions before, during, and after study sessions
• Practise under exam conditions with CII exam guides or mocks
• Answer as many practice questions as possible to build confidence
• Focus on syllabus areas with the highest weighting
• Read each question carefully — the wording often contains clues

Do not

• Leave questions unanswered — guessing gives you a chance to score
• Spend more than 1 minute per question — move on and return later

Practice questions

The R05 Gap Analysis and Assessment Tool includes 300 practice questions with the same weightings as the exam. Options include:

• 25-question or 50-question tests
• Revision style — see answers after each question
• Exam style — see results at the end

Questions are selected at random and will not repeat until you have worked through the full bank. Feedback shows your total score, marks per learning outcome, and explanations for incorrect answers with references to the online course.

Find out more in our training directory.