R01 Financial services, regulations and ethics is a core unit for the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. For many candidates, this is the first exam that they attempt in their Diploma journey.
This unit requires candidates to demonstrate a broad understanding of the financial services industry, with a focus on regulation, legislation, and the Code of Ethics.
The CII R01 exam is two hours long and there are 100 questions to answer. There are 87 standard multiple-choice questions and 13 multi-response questions.
The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the R01 syllabus, covering both the technical knowledge and exam technique required to achieve a pass.
We follow a simple model based on our proven STEP approach to planning your study: Study | Train | e-Learn | Practise
Below you will find an overview of the BTS approach with details of how the BTS materials can be used to support your learning. You don’t need to use every element of the STEP approach, 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.
Working through our study guide is the essential first step in your R01 study plan.
The BTS R01 study guide is a complete replacement for the examining body textbook.
How is the BTS R01 study guide different?
Our study guides have been designed with learners in mind.
We bring the subject matter to life by building up the key knowledge areas with you, using charts and visuals to paint pictures, making the syllabus as interesting as possible.
It’s packed full of exam-relevant content, activities, exam style end of chapter questions plus a whole specimen exam.
The guide is written in an easier to understand format and to keep you going there’s a thread of BTS humour weaved throughout.
Available in a choice of printed or digital format.
Mind not made up? Order a free sample to try before you buy.
The key to exam success is not just reading and learning technical information parrot fashion.
Think of your BTS study guide as the first step on your very own revision track.
You’ll be able to check your progress throughout, using activities, practice questions and end of chapter tests.
As you work through each chapter, you will gradually cover the full R01 syllabus and practise the required exam techniques through the use of:
You don’t need to purchase the examining body version of the text book – you can opt to sit the exam stand-alone by selecting ‘assessment only’ on the CII website and then order a BTS Study Guide instead.
Our R01 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R01 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R01, you will need to create a free account on the BTS website. When you login you will have access to our Careers Zone, packed full of information and guidance to support your studies including study plans for every exam we support and online student-led forums so you can chat to others on the same journey.
Absolutely buzzing to say that I’ve finally managed to complete both CF6 & R01 giving me a Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice. A big thank you to Luiza Todd FPFS CFP & Jeff Scholes DipPFS from Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd for all the advice and material provided to help get this R01 exam ticked off.
I passed my R01 yesterday with 77 & it definitely wouldn’t have been achievable or that comfortable without BTS! The Study Guide & the Study Buddy App transformed my learning after attempting to go through the CII textbook (wouldn’t wish that to anyone as a learning method!!). In the end I felt so confident leading up to the exam that the week before I felt like I barely did any revision, which was a strange feeling – but testament to how BTS prepared me for it!
Attending a remote workshop can help consolidate the key knowledge required for an exam pass.
What is the BTS R01 workshop like?
Our workshop consists of two fun-packed days led by a BTS trainer, plus the company of other candidates in the same position as you.
The workshop concentrates on honing your understanding and application of the heaviest-weighted learning outcomes in the R01 syllabus. You won’t be surprised to hear that they all involve the word ‘regulation’.
You will also spend time developing your question answering techniques and exam strategy. The CII are renowned for their ‘interesting’ use of language, so part of the road to an exam pass is getting used to this.
R01 workshop dates are added to the events calendar throughout the year. If you can’t see a date that works for you, get in touch to ask about more options.
The workshop is ideal either for some last minute exam revision, or if you are at the start of your studies and perhaps struggling a bit with all that regulation!
What makes the R01 workshop so useful?
A workshop is a live event where you can benefit not just from the BTS trainer but also from working alongside others studying for the same exam. Discussions within the group can help to reassure you and improve your understanding of key exam areas. You’ll get out of your day as much as you put in (and more!).
After the workshop you will have 120-days access to a set of digital revision materials which include slides from the workshop, practice tests, technical revision sheets and a specimen exam with explained answers, so you continue your learning after the event.
You’ll also be able to continue your conversations with your fellow R01 candidates in our student-led forums. Login to your BTS account and head over to the Careers Zone to access our forums.
Our R01 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R01 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R01, you will need to create a free account on the BTS website. When you login you will have access to our Careers Zone, packed full of information and guidance to support your studies including study plans for every exam we support and online student-led forums so you can chat to others on the same journey.
I enjoyed the R01 workshop because all the learners could interact in the workshop – and we could jump in and ask questions at any point. The BTS R01 Workshop was valuable because it gave a wholesome overview of R01 over the two days and it was not too packed with lots of information and each section became more clarified. Many thanks again!
I took my RO1 exam Tuesday and scored 85%. Just wanted to say that I found the workshop very helpful, going through the tougher sections from the BTS book and the exam questions were similar to those on the BTS Study Buddy App which I had made good use of.
Making the impossible, possible! I’d like to show my appreciation for the two day course Luiza, you helped me remember things that were scattered here there & everywhere. There isn’t another RO exam I’d take without undertaking one of your courses. Great value & something I’d highly recommend if you’re taking the RO1. Luiza gives great strategy advice for when all else fails & is brilliant at creating mind maps. Highly recommend! Thanks for all of your help, I really am chuffed to have passed off the back of the course!
The BTS R01 Workshop was beneficial to me before taking my exam as the instructor gave important exam tips on how to tackle the hard questions & not be overwhelmed by the exam style. It also made R01 clearer by laying it out in a visual way which helped me to remember key information. Many thanks again!
You set your own pace. The e-Learning allows you to focus on the things you find challenging.
What is the BTS R01 e-Learning like?
The BTS e-Learning is an amazing tool. It’s interactive, engaging and packed full of activities. It covers the heaviest-weighted learning outcomes on the syllabus, making it an ideal revision tool.
Each learning outcome we cover will deepen your understanding of key exam concepts, and as a result can really help to get you that all important exam pass.
Key features of BTS e-Learning include:
Some candidates choose to use our e-Learning as an alternative to attending a workshop, some will utilise both a workshop and e-Learning.
It can be used to supplement your study as you work through your BTS guide, or as a revision experience at the end of your self-study, covering the most tested learning outcomes on the exam.
As you work through the course you will find:
Our R01 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R01 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R01, you will need to create a free account on the BTS website. When you login you will have access to our Careers Zone, packed full of information and guidance to support your studies including study plans for every exam we support and online student-led forums so you can chat to others on the same journey.
I enjoyed the R01 workshop because all the learners could interact in the workshop – and we could jump in and ask questions at any point. The BTS R01 Workshop was valuable because it gave a wholesome overview of R01 over the two days and it was not too packed with lots of information and each section became more clarified. Many thanks again!
I took my RO1 exam Tuesday and scored 85%. Just wanted to say that I found the workshop very helpful, going through the tougher sections from the BTS book and the exam questions were similar to those on the BTS Study Buddy App which I had made good use of.
Absolutely buzzing to say that I’ve finally managed to complete both CF6 & R01 giving me a Level 3 Certificate in Mortgage Advice. A big thank you to Luiza Todd FPFS CFP & Jeff Scholes DipPFS from Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd for all the advice and material provided to help get this R01 exam ticked off.
Making the impossible, possible! I’d like to show my appreciation for the two day course Luiza, you helped me remember things that were scattered here there & everywhere. There isn’t another RO exam I’d take without undertaking one of your courses. Great value & something I’d highly recommend if you’re taking the RO1. Luiza gives great strategy advice for when all else fails & is brilliant at creating mind maps. Highly recommend! Thanks for all of your help, I really am chuffed to have passed off the back of the course!
The BTS R01 Workshop was beneficial to me before taking my exam as the instructor gave important exam tips on how to tackle the hard questions & not be overwhelmed by the exam style. It also made R01 clearer by laying it out in a visual way which helped me to remember key information. Many thanks again!
I passed my R01 yesterday with 77 & it definitely wouldn’t have been achievable or that comfortable without BTS! The Study Guide & the Study Buddy App transformed my learning after attempting to go through the CII textbook (wouldn’t wish that to anyone as a learning method!!). In the end I felt so confident leading up to the exam that the week before I felt like I barely did any revision, which was a strange feeling – but testament to how BTS prepared me for it!
The BTS Study Buddy provides a digital way of practising for the CII R01 exam. Accessible via the web on your desktop or via the app on your mobile device (available from the Apple and Google stores).
A common comment we hear from candidates (not ours!) is their actual exam questions were harder than the ones they had practiced on. BTS Study Buddy questions are likely to be much closer to your actual exam ones. Why?
BTS designers sit the R01 exam every year to make sure the Study Buddy questions are as close to the real thing as possible. This means including grids and tables, extracts of calendars and some right dodgy wording, just like the real exam!
Every question includes an explanation of the correct answer, so you can learn even when you get the answer wrong.
There are two volumes of R01 questions available for purchase – each giving you 400 questions to practice on. There is no difference in difficulty between the two volumes, just twice as many questions to practise on!
Each volume purchased is accessible for a 120-day subscription.
Once you have the base R01 knowledge in your grey cells the BTS mantra is ‘practise, practise, practise’, in the run up to your exam sitting.
How can BTS Study Buddy help you pass your R01 exam?
The exam-style questions are designed to supplement our study guides and to help you to identify any knowledge gaps.
Good use of BTS Study Buddy and the feedback, will help you to target your final revision, giving the best chance of exam success.
Our R01 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R01 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R01, you will need to create a free account on the BTS website. When you login you will have access to our Careers Zone, packed full of information and guidance to support your studies including study plans for every exam we support and online student-led forums so you can chat to others on the same journey.
I’m pleased to say I sat my R03 exam yesterday for the first time & passed! Your Study Buddy App helped me the most, I downloaded both volumes and it’s the best thing out there. I wouldn’t have got the mark I did if it wasn’t for practising the exam style questions on the Study Buddy App.
Special shout out to Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd for their amazing study guide. Seriously if you want to finish R05 in record time with a high mark get their book and run through the Study Buddy app exams.
I’m over the moon to have passed the Financial Protection (R05) exam this morning. I can’t thank Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd enough for the great Study Buddy app. This was definitely a massive help for this achievement.
I am so pleased to share that I passed R04 over the weekend! I could not recommend enough the Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd Study Guide, Workshop and Study Buddy app! They give you all the information & the tools you need to know to pass R04 in a way that is actually memorable and easy to digest! Now on to R06 and the last push to become Diploma qualified!
So pleased to have passed my R04 exam this morning first time with 82%. A huge thank you to Luiza Todd FPFS CFP and Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd who provided a fantastic two-day R04 Workshop as well as their Study Guides and Study Buddy app. Their resources made a huge difference to my revision, and overall understanding. One more to go until I’m qualified!
Thrilled to pass another RO exam with help from BTS. I’ve used their Study Buddy app for every exam. I just did the RO4 exam & questions were parallel to the exam – this resource is a must! I also purchased the Study Planner for this exam. When reading the CII study text my head was all over the place, the study planner explained things simply, I only had to read things once to understand. I’ve done two courses for RO1 & RO3, which really helped too. Now on to RO6 my last exam! Thank you BTS I couldn’t have done it without you!
So pleased to say I am now halfway through my CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning exams. Having completed R01, R02 & now R03, next I will focus on R04 Pensions & Retirement Planning. The Study Buddy app from Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd was a big help in passing R03. It’s great to have both the answers and explanations for practice questions, especially for those that include calculations!
Absolutely delighted to have passed R03 earlier this afternoon following many, many hours of remote studying as an independent student. A big thank you to Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd for their learning resources, specifically their Study Buddy app which I found a huge help in preparing for the exam.
Happy to have passed R03 today, before R06 next month. Again, thanks to Bespoke Training Solutions Ltd for their great study materials and R0 Study Buddy App – can’t recommend them enough!
The most important aspect for me when it comes to learning is that the study is engaging & really knowing what areas to focus on, & these are elements BTS have got down to a T. For my R03 prep, I used their Study Guide, Study Buddy App question bank & Workshop, by the time of my R03 exam – I was more than ready. I never expected the R03 workshop on tax to be fun but it really was! A huge thank you to BTS! It would have been easy to drown in the R03 textbook, miss key tips, techniques & areas to focus on without them.
Below, you will find a range of recent articles providing insights, help and advice relating to the R01 exam, we hope you find these useful. Remember if you have any questions on your journey feel free to get in touch with the BTS support team.
