This exam can be sat throughout the year, 7 days a week.
This study plan is based on 60 hours of study time over an 8 week period. The CII recommendation is 50 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.
This unit has a wide syllabus full of rules, dates and policy, both current and historic. Candidates need to know and be able to apply pension rules as well as understand the implications for pension planning.
Start by working through the BTS study guide covering the full exam syllabus and guidance on the necessary exam question answering techniques.
BTS e-Learning modules cover the heaviest-weighted learning outcomes and are designed to supplement your self-study with an interactive online course format that can be worked through at your own pace. Some candidates use e-Learning as an alternative to attending a workshop, others use both.
With a subject as complex as R04 you need a facilitator that knows their stuff. Attending a BTS workshop will bring key subjects to life through examples, visuals and exam-style practice questions. Your trainer will cover notoriously difficult concepts in an easy-to understand fashion and bring subjects to life to ensure candidates both understand and can apply key concepts to exam style examples.
BTS workshops can be used as revision courses so they are ideally suited for the run up to your exam date. They can also be used at the start of your studies to help review the most heavily weighted learning outcomes. Attending a workshop early on in your studies can help with understanding the trickier parts of the syllabus.
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 R0 Study Buddy app.
This is one of the heavier-weighted learning outcomes on the syllabus with 10 multi-choice exam question on the paper.
This is one of the heavier-weighted learning outcomes on the syllabus with 7 multi-choice exam question on the paper.
This is one of the heavier-weighted learning outcomes on the syllabus with 5 multi-choice questions and 4 multi-response exam question on the paper. Multi-response questions often catch candidates out as you need to select all the correct answers for a list of possible responses.
This learning outcome has 5 multi-response questions on the paper.
You may take more or less time than this depending on your prior knowledge and experience, and work/study/home commitments.
The R04 exam has 50 questions on the paper, 39 standard questions and 11 multi-response. The pass mark is 65% so you need to get 65 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 LO3 is less of a concern than scoring less than 50% on LO2.
This R04 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.
This is a level 4 unit worth 10 credits, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it is any easier than the other R0s. Many BTS candidates say that they find the pensions exam harder than personal taxation or investments.
The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the R04 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. Then, whether you use the e-Learning module and / or a workshop is a personal preference. The R0 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 R04 syllabus and practise the necessary exam question answering techniques, using:
What is the aim of the e-Learning module?
The BTS R04 e-Learning module covers the heaviest-weighted learning outcomes on the syllabus, making it an ideal revision tool. You can dip in and out as and when you have some study time.
Use it to supplement your study as you work through your study guide, or as a full revision experience at the end of your self-study. The module covers:
What is the aim of a workshop?
You will work with an experienced BTS Associate over the two days to consolidate your understanding of the key subject areas for the unit, including:
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 R0 Study Buddy app replicates the CII exam standard as closely as possible. There are two volumes of R01 questions available for purchase – each giving you 400 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.
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:
