CII R0 Diploma · R05
CII R05 Exam Guide — Financial Protection (2025/26)
R05 is the shortest CII R0 paper but carries a 70% pass mark, so accuracy matters. It covers life assurance, critical illness, income protection, long-term care and business protection. The syllabus is narrower than R02 or R04, which makes it ideal to pair with R03 or R04 in the same study cycle. Most failures come from over-confidence and missing the underwriting and trust nuances.
Format
50 standalone multiple-choice questions
Duration
1 hour
Pass mark
70%
Study hours
30–40 hours
R05 syllabus breakdown
| Syllabus area | Weight | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Life assurance | ~25% | Term, whole-of-life, family income benefit and conversion options. |
| Critical illness cover | ~15% | ABI definitions, severity-based payouts and survival periods. |
| Income protection | ~15% | Own/any/suited occupation, deferred periods and indexation. |
| Long-term care | ~10% | Means-testing, immediate needs annuities and local authority funding. |
| Business protection | ~15% | Key person, shareholder and relevant life policies. |
| Underwriting and trusts | ~20% | Risk loading, MED rules, trust structures and IHT planning. |
Recommended R05 study plan
- 1
Week 1
Life assurance products and conversion options.
- 2
Week 2
CIC definitions and IP occupation classes — make a comparison table.
- 3
Week 3
Long-term care funding and business protection structures.
- 4
Week 4
Underwriting, taxation and trust structures for protection.
- 5
Week 5
Two timed mocks plus targeted revision of weak areas.
R05 exam tips
- Learn the difference between own, any and suited occupation cover word-perfect.
- Relevant life policies are individual, not group — and are very tax-efficient.
- Writing protection in trust keeps proceeds outside the estate for IHT.
- Do not assume CIC pays out on diagnosis — most policies require a survival period (typically 14 days).
Common R05 mistakes
- Confusing key person and shareholder protection structures.
- Forgetting that IP benefits are paid tax-free to the individual.
- Mixing up MED (Medical Examination & Disclosure) with consumer duty rules.
- Underestimating the LTC funding section — it appears in most papers.
Key topics covered in R05
Related R05 topics across the R0 syllabus
CII R0 modules overlap heavily. Use these cross-links to follow a topic from one paper into the next — exactly how the CII tests them in practice.
IHT, trusts and the estate (R03)
R05 protection-in-trust structures rely on the R03 IHT rules to keep proceeds outside the estate.
Pension death benefits as protection (R04)
R04 death benefits often replace standalone life cover — both papers must be considered together.
Suitability and Consumer Duty (R01)
R05 protection recommendations are tested against R01 suitability and fair-value rules.
Protection planning in case studies (R06)
R06 fact-finds almost always include a protection shortfall that needs an R05-style recommendation.
R05 exam FAQs
Why is R05 only 30–40 hours of study?
R05 has the narrowest syllabus of the R0 suite. With focused study and timed mocks, most candidates reach exam-ready in 4–5 weeks.
Can I take R05 with R03 or R04?
Yes. R05 is commonly paired with R03 or R04 because it is shorter and conceptually different, reducing study fatigue.