Personal taxation is one of the six core units that make up the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. It accounts for 10 of the 100 credits that are needed, which may lead you to think that it is easier than the R0s that are worth 20 credits. It’s not! Many BTS candidates say that they find the personal taxation a real challenge.
The aim of this unit is to ensure candidates understand the UK taxation system and can analyse different financial advice scenarios and apply relevant knowledge during the advice process.
The R03 exam is one hour long and there are 50 questions to answer. 39 standard multiple-choice questions (MCQ), and 11 multi-response questions.
The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the R03 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 R03 study plan.
The BTS R03 study guide is a complete replacement for the examining body textbook.
How is the BTS R03 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 BTS R03 study guide takes the wide syllabus of different subjects, and structures them in a logical order. The guide is written in an easier to understand format and to keep you going there’s a thread of BTS humour weaved throughout.
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 R03 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 R03 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R03 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R03, 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.
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.
Attending a remote workshop can help consolidate the key knowledge required for an exam pass.
What is the BTS R03 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 R03 workshop will focus on the four Learning Outcomes for R03. Because of the format of the learning outcomes and the topics covered, we will be breaking the syllabus down into the various chapters: Income Tax, CGT, Direct Investments, Indirect Investments, IHT, Stamp duties, and Trusts.
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.
R03 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 those calculations!
What makes the R03 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 R03 candidates in our student-led forums. Login to your BTS account and head over to the Careers Zone to access our forums.
Our R03 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R03 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R03, 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.
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.
You set your own pace. The e-Learning allows you to focus on the things you find challenging.
What is the BTS R03 e-Learning like?
The BTS e-Learning is an amazing tool. It’s interactive, engaging and packed full of activities. It covers the core topics 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 R03 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R03 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R03, 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.
After failing the R03 with only 50% on the first attempt using only the CII textbook I was feeling really disheartened. I took some advice from some of my peers who were also on the St James’s Place Academy to try switching to BTS for my study material. I purchased the R03 e-Learning module which I found really simplified the CII learning outcomes and within 2 weeks from my first attempt I achieved a 94% pass!!
The BTS Study Buddy provides a digital way of practising for the CII R03 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 R03 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 R03 questions available for purchase – each giving you 200 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 R03 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 R03 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 R03 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R03 unit.
BTS study plans show you how to:
To view the full BTS study plan for R03, 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.
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.
I’m pleased to say I sat my R03 exam yesterday for the first time & passed! I followed Luiza’s podcast with Sam Oakes & articles written for likes of Professional Paraplanner & via these it’s clear that R03 is the toughest exam – BTS is not wrong! I’ve never felt so much exam time pressure! I did run out of time with two questions unanswered, but surprised I scored the highest mark (86%) in this exam out of R01, R02 & R04. I followed Jeff Scholes strategy in approaching R03 questions & it worked a treat.
Below, you will find a range of recent articles providing insights, help and advice for this unit, 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.