Why Sitting AF5 Straight After R06 is a Smart Strategy

For candidates aiming to progress quickly through the CII qualifications, strategy matters. Tackling AF5 soon after R06 makes study more efficient and helps you move faster toward Chartered status. In this post, we’ll explore the key reasons this timing works so well.

This article is correct as at 14 October 2025.

At Brand Financial Training, one of the most common questions we hear from candidates is: “When should I take AF5?” Our answer is simple: if you’ve just passed R06 and feel confident enough, strike while the iron is hot.

The reason? The two exams share striking similarities in format, skills, and approach – meaning the work you’ve just put into R06 gives you an immediate advantage in AF5. Let’s break down why.

1 – Similar Exam Formats – But Different Client Information

Both R06 and AF5 are built around case study-style scenarios. In R06, you’re given two case studies in advance, and in AF5 you’re given a detailed fact-find in advance. While the information source differs, the underlying task is the same: apply your technical knowledge to a client’s specific circumstances.

In other words, if you’ve mastered the art of tailoring your answers to Mr & Mrs Z’s Case Study in R06, you’re already halfway to doing the same for Mr & Mrs X in AF5.

2 – Overlapping Skills and Knowledge

The skills tested in both exams are remarkably similar:

• Identifying missing information
• Understanding the importance of clients’ reviews (albeit AF5 is more product specific)
• Understanding key financial processes e.g. cashflow models
• Analysing the suitability of existing arrangements e.g., protection products, tax efficiency, pension planning, IHT planning
• Recommending strategies and justifying them.
• Linking technical knowledge directly to the clients’ needs.

If you’ve just come through R06, your ability to connect technical detail with client-specific scenarios is fresh and sharp, waiting another year or more before sitting AF5 (which is currently only available in February and September of each year), might mean that some of your knowledge and exam technique fades.

Think of it as a “two-for-one” study investment – the knowledge you’ve banked for R06 is immediately transferable to AF5. There are some higher levels of technical knowledge required for AF5, but these are almost always signposted within the fact-find which is released two weeks before the exam day. This gives you time to do some in-depth study on the more niche or advanced subject areas. Our Fact-Find Analysis will cover these technical details and will provide likely questions and model answers around each of the subjects.

In R06, the clients’ objectives are provided in the case study. In AF5, they won’t be explicitly stated, but they’re usually clear from the notes section within the fact-find. This means your revision strategy, focusing on how to help clients achieve their objectives, should remain the same.

3 – Building Exam Confidence

R06 gives candidates a strong foundation in handling applied, client-based questions. By sitting AF5 soon after, you carry that confidence straight into the next challenge. You’re already familiar with the examiner’s style, the structure of questions, and the expectation for answers to be client-specific rather than generic.

This reduces exam-day nerves and increases your chances of a first-time pass.

4 – A Quicker Route to Chartered Status

Finally, from a career progression standpoint, there’s a practical benefit. AF5 is a compulsory unit for anyone aiming for Chartered status. By sitting it straight after R06, you accelerate your journey and avoid unnecessary delays. Many candidates find it more motivating to “bundle” these applied exams together rather than face AF5 as a standalone hurdle later.

Final Thoughts

R06 and AF5 are two sides of the same coin. While the source material differs – case studies versus fact-finds – the approach, skills, and technical areas overlap significantly.

By sitting AF5 straight after R06, candidates can:

• Reuse much of their existing knowledge,
• Capitalise on fresh exam technique, and
• Reach their qualification goals more efficiently.

Our advice is clear: if you’ve just completed R06, and intend to start working your way to chartered, don’t stop. Keep your momentum and book AF5 next – your future self will thank you.

Grab the resources you need!

AF5 doesn’t have to be intimidating. With our free taster analysis, you’ll see how to turn technical knowledge into client-focused answers, understand what examiners expect, and gain a clearer sense of how to approach the exam with confidence.