R0 focus exam prep: options when booking your exams

4 August 2021

In a new series for Professional Paraplanner, Bespoke Training Solutions’ Luiza Todd addresses common questions the firm has been asked over the years, whilst supporting R0 candidates through their regulated exams. Here she looks at options when booking a CII exam?

This is such a common question from first time R0 candidates. Some even mistakenly think they can book an exam sitting with a training provider like BTS.

The standard way to book a CII exam (known as an assessment entry), is via the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) itself. If you work for a company big enough and with the appetite to organise its own internal sittings, they may organise this for you, but in most cases, individuals need to book their own sitting directly with the CII. Exam sittings can currently be booked at certain test centres or via remote invigilation. Bookings can be made online or by phoning the CII. Unless there are special circumstances the easiest and quickest way to book an R0 exam sitting is online.

The CII website has several short videos to help candidates navigate the process of booking their exam. The two most relevant videos include:

  • Booking an exam via a test centre. This covers how to set up your booking, searching for and selecting your test centre and how to reschedule or cancel an exam booking.
  • Booking a remote invigilation exam. This covers how to set up your booking, searching and selecting the right time for you and how to reschedule or cancel an exam booking.

Both videos can be accessed via this link: https://www.cii.co.uk/learning/qualifications/assessment-information/before-the-exam/exam-booking-guidance/. The videos are well explained and guide candidates through the processes in an easy-to-follow fashion.

If you have chosen a remote invigilation exam, BTS would also recommend you view the CII website videos and information pages that explain how the remote system works, the IT checks that you must do prior to the exam and the process of the exam sitting itself. These can be accessed here: https://www.cii.co.uk/learning/qualifications/assessment-information/on-screen-written-exams-by-remote-invigilation/

When booking the exam, candidates are presented with a variety of options in terms of the enrolment and assessment packages available, which can cause some confusion. To help candidates make an informed choice, we have outlined the options here:

Enrolment plus

This is the first option on offer in the list on the exam booking page. Be aware that this package contains not just an exam entry but also the CII R0 study text and revision aids such as the RevisionMate banks of questions and answers. You do not have to purchase this full package if you wish to use alternative study materials.

Enrolment only

This option is next in the list order. Payment gets a candidate an exam entry plus the CII R0 study text. Again, you do not have to purchase this package if you wish to use study materials from another provider.

Assessment only

This is exactly as it sounds. Here a candidate is purely paying for an exam entry. This option can be used by candidates wishing to use other study materials rather than those on offer from the examining body, or candidates unfortunately having to resit an R0 exam.

Many R0 candidates have no idea that it is not mandatory to purchase the examining body study materials. Studying for and sitting the CII exams is a significant financial undertaking and it is important to choose your study materials carefully before investing in them. Examining body materials are not for all candidates. The study texts are more akin to technical manuals than learner guides and can be hard going if you don’t have a base knowledge in key concepts.

CII RevisionMate question standards vary – they can be easier than the actual exam (R01 is a classic example of this) or they can concentrate on rarely examined areas (R04 pensions questions are depressingly tough and can make even the brightest, most well-prepared student find their confidence takes a knock, the learning outcome 2 pension simplification section for example).

Our advice is to shop around for your R0 study materials before committing your hard-earned cash. Ask providers for samples to ‘try before you buy’ and check out reviews on social media. Most providers offer a range of options, depending on whether you learn best from printed, digital, or interactive materials, or a combination of all of these.

About Bespoke Training Solutions
Bespoke Training Solutions (BTS) have been supporting regulated exams for 17 years, specialising in R0 support with outstanding candidate tracked results and feedback. Resources include digital and printed study guides, group and 1:1 training, e-Learning modules and a mobile app of practise exam questions. Visit www.bespoketrainingsolutions.com to learn more on how BTS can help you on your regulated journey.

 

 

Professional Paraplanner