The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is piloting a new form of assessment for the R06 Financial Planning Practice unit which would see written examinations replaced by coursework.
The professional body said the pilot was in response to its ‘shaping the future together’ consultation, which gave members an opportunity to give feedback on the body’s services.
The change would see a move from exams to assignments based on client case studies for the R06 unit, the chartered body said in an announcement today (January 16).
"Our R06 unit currently uses on-screen written exams available four times per year,” said Gill White, the CII’s chief customer officer.
“We are piloting a flexible, client-focused coursework assignment assessment, designed to fit in with contemporary working practice.
“This means learners with commitments that prevent attendance of exams on the fixed dates will not face a barrier to completion of the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.”
White added that the assessment is designed to meet the same syllabus learning outcomes and assessment criteria as the current R06 exam and meets the Level 4 qualification descriptors set out by education regulators.
The assessment criteria includes a requirement for analysis and justified recommendations, which he said are appropriate to assess in longer responses such as case-study-based assignments.
"We worked with practitioners within the profession, advisory groups and the PFS board to discuss how these skills are demonstrated in a professional context to design the coursework assessment approach and tasks,” he said.
The CII will conduct a review later this year once the pilot is completed and feedback from candidates has been received.
The chartered body will then decide during 2023 whether assessment for the R06 Financial Planning Practice unit will switch from written examinations to coursework and the timetable for any changes.
ruby.hinchliffe@ft.com
