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IF3 Study Plan

The IF3 (Insurance Underwriting Process) module provides knowledge and understanding of the role of underwriting, including identification, assessment and acceptance of risk, rating, and relevant financial factors.

Exam sitting:

This exam can be sat throughout the year, 7 days a week. 

Suggested IF3 Study Plan

This study plan is based on 60 hours of study time over an 8-week period. The CII recommendation is 60 hours of study time; however, this is only an indication of how long you will need. You may take more or less time than this depending on your prior knowledge and experience, and work/study/home commitments. 

ASAP

Our student-led forums are a space for you to chat to other candidates about all things study and exam.  

Click on the ‘BTS Forums’ in the menu on the left and check out the IF3 forum. 

ASAP
Weeks 1 - 8

Self-study period - Starting at least 8 weeks prior to the exam

A thorough study of the syllabus is essential, as this module requires candidates to develop a strong understanding of the insurance underwriting process, including risk assessment, rating, policy wordings, renewals, cancellations, personal and commercial insurances, support services, pricing, and exposure management. 

Weeks 1 - 8
Have you booked your exam?

Having an exam date booked can help to focus your study goals. 

Have you booked your exam?
Weeks 4-8

Practise exam questions - Little and often

Practise as many exam-standard questions as you can before the real thing. It is good practice to start attempting mock exam questions when you are around two-thirds of the way through the study guide. Use them to review your weaker areas and target your study. 

Make sure to use questions that match the standard of the exam, like those in the BTS Study Buddy app. 

Weeks 4-8
Sit your exam - Good luck!
Sit your exam - Good luck!

Suggested study hours by IF3 Learning Outcome

On average, BTS students who achieved a first time pass spent 107 hrs on this unit.

LO1: Understand the material circumstances relating to the insurance underwriting process.

4hrs

LO2: Understand underwriting procedures relating to the insurance underwriting process.

12hrs

LO3: Understand insurance policies in relation to the insurance underwriting process.

8hrs

LO4: Understand renewals and cancellation in relation to the insurance underwriting process.

2.5hrs

LO5: Understand personal insurances in relation to the insurance underwriting process.

2.5hrs

LO6: Understand commercial insurances in relation to the insurance underwriting process.

2.5hrs

LO7: Understand the main ‘support’ type insurance services available.

1.5hrs

LO8: Understand underwriting considerations in relation to the insurance underwriting process.

10.5hrs

LO9: Understand the principles and practices of pricing.

8hrs

LO10: Understand pricing factors within the context of the insurance underwriting process.

4hrs

LO11: Understand managing exposure within the context of the insurance underwriting process.

4.5hrs

How much study time will I need?

You may take more or less time than this depending on your prior knowledge and experience, and work/study/home commitments. 

IF3 question weighting by Learning Outcome

The IF3 exam has 75 questions. The pass mark is 70% so you need to get 53 correct answers to pass. 

Some learning outcomes have more questions than others. Spend your study time wisely by targeting the heaviest weighted ones. 

If you do have a deferred success on this exam, have a look at your exam feedback to see where you dropped the most marks. For example, scoring less than 50% on LO7 is less of a concern than scoring less than 50% on LO2 or LO8. 

IF3 Question Distribution

The BTS approach to passing IF3

This IF3 study plan has been designed by the team at BTS. Our team of highly qualified and experienced professionals take the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Level 3, Level 4, and Level 6 exams each year. This ensures that the materials we create are always current and closely aligned with the latest exam formats for our customers. 

The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the IF3 syllabus, covering both the technical knowledge and exam technique required to achieve a pass.  

Below you will find an overview of the BTS recommended study plan with details of how the BTS materials can be used to support your learning. You don’t need to use every element, but we recommend starting by working through the BTS study guide. The Study Buddy app is designed to be used to practise exam-standard questions, little and often from the mid-way point in your study plan. 

Study

Work through the BTS study guide (coming soon!)

What is the aim of this guide?
As you read each chapter of the guide you will gradually work through the IF3 syllabus and practise the necessary exam question answering techniques, using: 

Available in a choice of printed or digital format from the BTS shop.

Train

Attend a BTS workshop

What is the aim of a workshop?

For the IF3 module, you will work with an experienced BTS Associate over a series of 4 2-hour technical workshops to consolidate your understanding of all subject areas for the module including the key subject areas for the module, including specific focus on those learning outcomes with the heaviest weighting of questions in the exam:

Practise

Practise exam-standard questions using the Study Buddy app (coming soon!)

You should aim to complete at least 2/3 of your wider study before attempting mock papers. 

What is the aim of the app?

The BTS Study Buddy app replicates the CII exam standard as closely as possible. There are four volumes of IF3 questions available for purchase – each giving you 75 questions to practice on.

Available to download from the Apple and Google app stores.

Exam Sitting

Exam bookings are made directly with the CII.

Before booking an exam, candidates must purchase the unit from the CII website.

Information and guidance on booking and sitting your exam can be found in our Exam FAQs:

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