Tips for Answering Questions on a CII Short-Answer Exam

Taking the jump from the CII multiple-choice exams to the CII short-answer question exams can be a challenge. Here, we talk about exam technique and how to give yourself the best chance of passing your exam.

Just to remind you, the short-answer papers are:

• Unit J02 – Trusts
• Unit J05 – Pension income options
• Unit J07 – Supervision in a regulated environment
• and (for one last time in the autumn): Unit J03 – The tax and legal aspects of business

Tips for Answering the Questions

The first thing future candidates should note is the number of marks available, which will be shown against each question.

Where a question has four marks available, then the examiner will usually be looking for four answers.  If you can think of a couple of extra points over the marks available, then do of course include these, but anyone that writes anything much longer than this is simply wasting valuable exam time and may mean they don’t have enough time to answer the last couple of questions.

For example, in the J03 paper in March 2021, the Examiner in their report stated that ‘the level of complexity required in an answer can usually be determined from the number of marks on offer, and the marks available for part (a) did not require such an in-depth answer’.  This suggests candidates were simply giving too much information – so make sure that’s not you!

The good news is though that the CII operates positive marking – marks will not be deducted for wrong answers and certainly not for bad spelling!

Candidates should also remember, as well, that bullet points are perfectly acceptable to use in these exams; it allows answers to be written succinctly so saves time and will also make the examiner’s job much easier as well. Although, any calculation question will always state ‘show all your workings’; some candidates still don’t do this, which is a great pity as it will mean that some marks will not be able to be awarded.

Answer the question being asked

Another important thing to do is read the question very carefully.  This sounds obvious, but it’s surprising the number of candidates who don’t do this and therefore provide a completely different answer to the question being asked.  Read it slowly at least twice.  Ask yourself what is it that is being tested here.

Again, looking at the same March J03 paper, the report noted that ‘some candidates misread this question part and assumed that a loan was taken out to pay the partnership, rather than her loaning the partnership her own money’.  Do make sure you do not misread the question!

Also in some of the JO questions, considering the facts of the case study may be required, as noted by the J05 Examiner comments following the October 2019 exam:  ‘most candidates performed poorly as they answered this question generically rather than considering the client’s circumstances, for example, that her health is excellent’.  Where necessary, always relate your answers to the case study.

Quick Wins

It may also be worth considering that some of the short-answer exams do seem to follow the chapters, so candidates could choose to skip to the questions they might feel more comfortable with to gain quick wins and leave some of the others to the end.

Additional Study

Some words of wisdom were given in the J02 paper sat in March 2021 – the Examiner stated: ‘candidates that study for the J02 Trusts examination should not take it lightly and assume that their “working knowledge” will be sufficient to enable them to pass this examination. It is strongly recommended that candidates study past Examination Guides and read the Examiner’s Comments in preparation for sitting this examination. It is important to identify areas of the syllabus which require further study. In addition, a thorough reading of the J02 study text for this examination is also strongly recommended. If candidates undertake the above recommendations, they should have a good chance of gaining a pass in this examination’

Always have a go

Finally, never leave a question blank – you may think you don’t know enough about the subject being tested, but have a go; you might surprise yourself once you start writing and any answer is better than no answer as at least there is the chance to earn some marks.

Good luck to anyone sitting a future J0 paper, in particular those sitting the very last J03 exam.

Grab the resources you need!

If you’re studying for your CII AF1 exam, and you’re wanting to feel confident on exam day, you’ll need to prepare as much as possible. Grab our free taster to try out one of Brand Financial Training’s resources for yourself.  Click the link to download the AF1 calculation workbook taster now!

Alternatively, you can download the taster for J05 or J07 if either of those exams is causing you some worry.

Information in this article is correct as at July 2021.