This exam can be sat throughout the year, 7 days a week.
This study plan is based on 80 hours of study time over a 12-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.
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 M81 forum.
There is no avoiding a thorough study of the syllabus. M81 focuses on developing the skills, professionalism and regulatory awareness required for brokers to act in the best interests of their clients when arranging suitable and cost-effective insurance solutions within the UK framework. It explores the broker’s day today dealings with clients and insurers, emphasising ethical practice, compliance, and the importance of meeting both client and regulatory expectations to build trusted, long term professional relationships.
Candidates are expected to apply this knowledge in practical brokerage scenarios, including negotiating and placing risks, working with insurers, wholesale brokers and the Lloyd’s market, and adapting their approach for smaller clients and complex global programmes. The unit also considers the wider services brokers provide, such as claims support and risk management advice, enabling a complete, client centred service.
Having an exam date booked can help to focus your study goals.
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.
You may take more or less time than this depending on your prior knowledge and experience, and work/study/home commitments.
The M81 exam has 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQ). The pass mark is 65% so you need to get 33 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 LO1or LO3.
This M81 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 M81 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.
What is the aim of this guide?
As you read each chapter of the guide you will gradually work through the M81 syllabus and practise the necessary exam question answering techniques, using:
What is the aim of a workshop?
If this is your first Diploma level module, we recommend you attend our ‘Introduction to your Diploma in Insurance’ workshop so you know what to expect from Diploma level exams and can gain some useful hints and tips on approaching your study.
For the M81 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 with specific focus on those learning outcomes with the heaviest weighting of questions in the exam:
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 M81 questions available for purchase – each giving you 50 questions to practice on.
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:
