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J10 Study Plan

The J10 Securities Discretionary Investment Management unit will develop your knowledge and understanding of the role of the Discretionary Investment Manager, and the ability to analyse and apply financial information and portfolio management skills.

Exam sitting:

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

Suggested J10 Study Plan

This study plan is based on 70 hours of study time over an 8 week period. The CII recommendation is 80 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 J10 forum.

ASAP
Weeks 1 - 8

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

There is no avoiding a thorough study of the syllabus. There are 15 learning outcomes in the J10 syllabus. The first 13 learning outcomes account for Section A of the J10 paper,  with 70 multiple choice questions.

Learning outcomes 14 & 15 are based on four case studies, each with five questions, making up section B of the paper. There is nothing new to learn for these learning outcomes, it is more about being able to apply your knowledge from all the previous learning outcomes to case study scenarios.

Start by working through the BTS study guide covering the full exam syllabus and guidance on the necessary exam question answering techniques.

Weeks 1 - 8
Week 4 onwards

Revise key knowledge

Use the exam style

questions in your study guide concentrating on the heaviest-weighted learning outcomes. Practise as many exam-standard questions as you can before the real thing. It is good practice to start attempting past paper 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. 

Week 4 onwards
Have you booked your exam?

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

Have you booked your exam?
Sit your exam - Good luck!
Sit your exam - Good luck!

Suggested study hours by J10 Learning Outcome

LO1: Understand how to establish and meet a client’s investment objective.

4hrs

LO2: Understand the behaviour, performance, risk profile and correlation of key investment types.

8hrs

LO3: Understand the role of the investment manager.

6hrs

LO4: Understand discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

4hrs

LO5: Understand investment fund objectives and approaches.

2hrs

LO6: Understand the fundamentals of economics applicable to investment management.

4hrs

LO7: Understand how investment returns are related to investment risk.

7hrs

LO8: Understand the principles and limitations of modern portfolio theory.

7hrs

LO9: Understand indices and performance measuremen.

11hrs

LO10: Understand data and regression.

2hrs

LO11: Understand the principles of basic financial mathematics.

2hrs

LO12: Understand accounts and their interpretation.

6hrs

LO13: Understand information sources and disclosure obligations and bias thereof.

2hrs

LO14 & LO15: Apply the principles of performance measurement and portfolio theory and analyse, interpret and compare financial information and financial ratios.

15hrs

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.

J10 question weighting by Learning Outcome

The J10 exam lasts for two hours.  The paper is split in two sections: Sections A and B.

Section A consists of 70 multiple choice questions. 

Section B consists of 4 case studies, each followed by 5 multiple response questions.

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 LO5 is less of a concern than scoring less than 50% on LO9.

J10 Question Distribution

The BTS approach to passing J10

This J12 study plan has been designed by the team at BTS. Our highly-qualified and experienced team sit the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Level 4 and Level 6 exams annually. This helps to ensure that the materials we produce are as up to date and ‘exam style’ as possible for our customers. 

The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the J10 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. Study Buddy app / desktop is designed to be used to practise exam-standard questions, little and often from the mid-way point in your study plan.

J10

Study

Work through the BTS study guide

What is the aim of this guide?
As you read each chapter of the guide you will gradually work through the J10 syllabus and practise the necessary exam question answering techniques, using:

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

Exam Sitting

Exam bookings are made directly with the CII.

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

There is an option to purchase ‘assessment only’ which means just the exam sitting. This allows candidates to purchase study materials elsewhere, e.g. BTS.

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

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