Prepare for the 50-question CII R04 assessment with focused 2025/26 coverage of pension taxation, regulation, DB and DC schemes, benefit options, State provision and applied retirement advice.
Built around the current published CII syllabus and official assessment requirements. Exams Academy is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with the CII.
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Which R04 term is described by this statement? The standard pension annual allowance for 2025/26 is £60,000 and tests total pension input, including employer contributions and defined-benefit accrual.
R04 connects pension tax rules with scheme structure, consumer protection and suitable retirement advice. Candidates need to distinguish defined-benefit and defined-contribution risk, apply contribution and benefit limits, compare secure and flexible income, and use State provision inside a client's retirement plan.
This course organises all ten study chapters into detailed summaries, 128 active-recall flashcards, a 112-item searchable reference sheet and five timed mock exams. The AI tutor is grounded in the R04 material so you can clarify scheme features, limits, benefit choices and suitability factors inside the learning platform.
The official assessment contains 39 standard-format questions and 11 multiple-response questions in 60 minutes. Every full mock follows the exact 5/10/4/7/6/9/4/5 question allocation across the eight learning outcomes. Combination questions preserve all-and-only multiple-response reasoning while supporting reliable scoring.
The course applies the published annual-allowance example correction, the FOS figures examinable from 1 July 2026 and the corrected capped-drawdown examination-guide answer. Use the chapter tools to secure the rules and distinctions, then complete each 50-question mock under timed conditions and review every explanation.
| Assessment | 50 multiple-choice questions: 39 standard format and 11 multiple-response format |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Standard Pass Mark | 65% |
| Level | CII Level 4 |
| Recommended Study Time | 50 hours |
| CII Credits | 10 |
| 2025 Published Pass Rate | 70.15% |
| Feature | Exams Academy | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Access Period | Lifetime Access | One-time enrollment with no recurring fee |
| Practice Exams | Unlimited Retakes | |
| Study Support | Instant 24/7 AI Tutor | Self-service AI support; live instructor support is not included |
| Cost | $189 (One-Time) | One-time payment with no recurring subscription |
Build pension judgement and timing with five 50-question practice exams.
Ask questions against the course material whenever a pension rule or benefit choice needs clarification.
Strengthen recall with 128 flashcards and a 112-item reference sheet.
Turn a broad pensions syllabus into structured, outcome-weighted revision.
Use the same question bank in two different ways: build understanding with instant feedback, then switch to a realistic simulation when you are ready.
Choose an answer, see immediately whether it is right or wrong, and read the explanation before moving on.
Work against the official-style timer without revealing answers, then review your score and every explanation after submission.
Government policy, demographic and social change, employer influences, incentives, risks and the main forms of pension provision.
Contribution relief, annual allowance, carry-forward, tapering, MPAA, lump-sum allowances, benefit taxation, death benefits and overseas schemes.
Regulators, guidance and dispute bodies, protection schemes, workplace duties, divorce, employment law and bankruptcy.
Benefit design, funding, trustees, leavers, retirement, ill health, death, transfers, transfer advice and public-sector schemes.
Occupational and personal DC, stakeholder pensions, SIPPs, SSASs, investment, leaver benefits and transfer analysis.
Small benefits, scheme pensions, annuities, drawdown, UFPLS, phased retirement, tax, sequencing risk and sustainable income.
New State Pension, qualifying years, transitional rules, State Pension age, uprating, deferral and Pension Credit.
Cash flow, risk, accumulation, decumulation, secure and flexible income, tax planning, other assets and ongoing review.
Preparation centre
Use these connected guides for the syllabus, exam format, booking and revision strategy.
R04 is a 60-minute examination with 50 questions: 39 standard-format questions and 11 multiple-response questions. The standard pass mark is 65%.
The course uses the official 2025/26 R04 study text and syllabus for examinations from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026, including the published updates examinable in that window.
R04 covers pension-planning context, HMRC rules, law and regulation, DB and DC schemes, drawing benefits, State provision and the application of retirement-planning advice.
Yes. The course applies the corrected annual-allowance carry-forward example, the FOS limits examinable from 1 July 2026 and the corrected capped-drawdown examination-guide answer.
Combination questions present several statements and ask you to choose the option containing all and only the correct statements. This preserves the official reasoning skill while allowing one reliably scored answer.
CII lists 50 notional learning hours for R04. Your preparation time will depend on prior pensions knowledge and your performance in timed practice.
The course is organised around the official R04 study text, syllabus, examination guide, indicative content and current published unit updates. Exams Academy is an independent education provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CII.
You receive lifetime access to the current course content with no recurring subscription fee.
No. Results depend on the candidate's study and exam performance. The platform provides structured revision and timed practice to help identify and close knowledge gaps.
Yes! Test your knowledge and see our AI tutor explanations with the free CII R04: Pensions and Retirement Planning Sample Paper. It contains 15 questions from one named topic and is not a full mock exam or overall readiness assessment.
Review the CII syllabus efficiently with structured study notes, active practice, flashcards and an AI tutor available when you need it.
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