Lessons from the July 2025 CII R06 Exam: Key Insights from the Examiner’s Report

Looking at how examiners mark R06 can be just as valuable as revising the syllabus itself. The July 2025 report shines a light on common pitfalls and practical takeaways that can help candidates approach the exam with greater focus.

This article is correct as at 30 September 2025.

The latest examiner’s comments for the July 2025 sitting of R06 (Financial Planning Practice) provide some useful pointers for candidates preparing for future exams. As ever, the case study-based nature of R06 means success comes not only from technical knowledge but also from applying that knowledge directly to the clients’ circumstances. Below, we break down the key areas highlighted by the examiners and what candidates can learn from them.

1 – Weakness in Knowledge of Protection Products

The examiner noted that some candidates demonstrated a limited knowledge of standard protection products when tackling Case Study Two. This is concerning because protection is a cornerstone of financial planning, and most R06 exams have a question on term assurance, critical illness, income protection, or family income benefit.

Training tip: Candidates should ensure they revise not only the features of each protection product but also their benefits and potential drawbacks. Practising past case studies and actively linking products to client needs is essential for demonstrating application rather than learning. A simple table comparing life assurance, critical illness cover, income protection, and FIB – along with their uses – can help reinforce knowledge and prevent confusion in the exam.

2 – Overlooking Guaranteed Annuity Rates

A surprising number of candidates failed to recognise the significance of Adam’s guaranteed annuity rate (GAR) in his previous employer’s pension scheme. The examiner stressed that this could be a vital element of their retirement planning, but candidates missed the opportunity to show they understood how GARs can provide substantial value compared to current annuity rates.

Training tip: If the case study mentions a non-standard feature of an arrangement such as GARs it is highly likely it will be tested. Being able to explain how they work and the benefits and drawbacks is vital. Candidates should highlight all such areas in the case studies and revise around the subject in detail.

3 – Weak Analysis of Investment Suitability

One of the most disappointing findings was that many candidates failed to explain why Sanjeev and Kamini’s current investment holdings might be unsuitable for meeting their future needs. Instead of analysing the case study investments, candidates gave generic answers that did not relate back to the clients’ actual portfolio.

This highlights a recurring issue: in R06, marks are awarded for case-specific analysis, not for generic textbook answers.

Training tip: When preparing, candidates should practise tailoring their answers by studying the CII model answers in past exam guides. For example, in this question Sanjeev is a higher-rate taxpayer with a high attitude to risk (ATR) and has an OEIC fund with less than 35% equities. It was therefore important to highlight it does not match his high-risk ATR, he would pay 40% tax on interest above his £500 savings allowance, it does not use his dividend allowance of £500, and it is unsuitable for his long-term objectives. Always link points back to the clients.

4 – Not Stating Tax Rates

Candidates lost marks by not stating tax rates when evidencing how to improve tax efficiency.

Training Tip: Work out in advance if the clients are additional-rate, higher-rate, basic, or non-taxpayers. You can use the tax tables in the exam to confirm the rates of tax (and the tax allowances) – you don’t have to memorise the figures! So, in this question, Adam, an additional-rate taxpayer would benefit by transferring some of his OEIC (in a FTSE 100 fund) to his basic-rate taxpaying spouse. Your answers would need to state, ‘reduces dividend tax from 39.35% to 8.75%’. An answer just stating ‘reduces tax on dividends’ may not be enough. Also state their tax allowances, for example ‘uses both their dividend allowances of £500’.

Final Thoughts

The July 2025 examiner’s comments reinforce the need for candidates to:

• Go beyond surface-level knowledge of financial products, especially protection contracts.
• Read case studies carefully and tailor answers to the clients’ actual circumstances.
• Revise core product features thoroughly to avoid fundamental mistakes.

At R06 level, success comes down to demonstrating being in the mindset of giving the clients financial advice. Candidates who practise answering questions demonstrating both technical knowledge and how these apply directly to the clients in the fact find are more likely to secure the marks needed for a pass.

Grab the resources you need!

Want to boost your confidence for the CII R06 exam? Download our free taster case study analysis and see how Brand Financial Training’s resources can support your preparation.