R04 Toolkit

R04 Pensions and retirement planning

Pension and retirement planning is a compulsory unit in the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. This unit develops an understanding of the wider context for retirement planning, including pensions law and regulations.

The R04 exam is one hour long and there are 50 questions to answer. 39 standard multiple-choice questions, and 11 multi-response questions. The R04 exam syllabus and learning outcomes show the weighting of these 50 questions. But you need to know a bit about so many different pension areas.

The BTS approach to passing R04

The BTS resources provide a structured study path through the R04 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 R04 study plan.

The BTS R04 study guide is a complete replacement for the examining body textbook.

How is the BTS R04 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.

This BTS R04 study guide is not a shortened version. If you are hoping for a 50 pages document that tells you everything you need to know to pass the exam, this is not for you (and no such document exists). What the BTS guide does contain is some brilliant ways of explaining the key pension concepts so you learn ‘bit by bit’. 

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 R04 syllabus and practise the required exam techniques through the use of:

  • example questions with explained answers
  • short-answer and multi-response questions to practise on
  • activities that test and embed learning
  • end of chapter summaries highlighting key learning points
  • a full specimen exam with explained answers

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 R04 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R04 unit.

BTS study plans show you how to:

  • break your unit of study down into manageable chunks
  • consider how much time to put into each learning outcome, based on their weightings
  • think about what additional resources you might need to support your learning

To view the full BTS study plan for R04, 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.

Attending a remote workshop can help consolidate the key knowledge required for an exam pass.

What is the BTS R04 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 R04 syllabus. With a subject as complex as R04 you need a facilitator that knows their stuff. BTS facilitators love pensions as a subject and are skilled at bringing key subjects to life through examples, visuals and exam style practice questions. Painting pictures is absolutely essential with pensions as your subject matter to ensure candidates both understand and can apply key concepts to exam style examples. 

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.

R04 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 pension rules!

What makes the R04 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 R04 candidates in our student-led forums. Login to your BTS account and head over to the Careers Zone to access our forums.

Our R04 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R04 unit.

BTS study plans show you how to:

  • break your unit of study down into manageable chunks
  • consider how much time to put into each learning outcome, based on their weightings
  • think about what additional resources you might need to support your learning

To view the full BTS study plan for R04, 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.

You set your own pace. The e-Learning allows you to focus on the things you find challenging.

What is the BTS R04 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:

  • Self-paced learning in your own time
  • Available 24/7 during subscription period
  • Instant feedback so you can track your progress for each learning outcome
  • Revisit areas as many times as you need
  • Use it on your PC or mobile, so you can learn ‘on the go’

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:

  • introduction videos that tee up the learning and give you a roadmap to work along
  • interactive exercises and activities to break complex subjects down to individual steps
  • exam-standard questions throughout to check your key exam knowledge
  • a 50 question specimen exam at the end of the module, marked by your device with feedback given on each answer

Our R04 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R04 unit.

BTS study plans show you how to:

  • break your unit of study down into manageable chunks
  • consider how much time to put into each learning outcome, based on their weightings
  • think about what additional resources you might need to support your learning

To view the full BTS study plan for R04, 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 BTS Study Buddy provides a digital way of practising for the CII R04 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 R04 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 R04 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 R04 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 R04 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.

  • You can sit a full exam paper in either timed or untimed conditions, and/or you can ask the app to show you questions relating one learning outcome at a time.
  • You can flag questions that you are unsure of and return to them when you have finished the rest of the paper, replicating the CII exam experience.
  • Your attempts can be saved so you can review your progress and identify the learning outcomes you need to revisit.

Our R04 study plan has been designed to encourage and support your planning as you work through the R04 unit.

BTS study plans show you how to:

  • break your unit of study down into manageable chunks
  • consider how much time to put into each learning outcome, based on their weightings
  • think about what additional resources you might need to support your learning

To view the full BTS study plan for R04, 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.

R04 Study Plans

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Student Forums

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What our customers say

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BTS R04 Learner Journeys

Click on the profiles below to find out how recent BTS candidates achieved their R04 success:

Insights, help and advice for R04

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.

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