AF5 Paper

Credit-Crunched

Hi Guys,

Anyone sat any of the CII AF5 papers yet?

I am looking to sit in October and looking for peoples views on the style, it appears to be an advance version if R06?

Cheers

dunstonh

All the AFs are a more advanced version of the R0x exams. Realistically, the R0x were a doddle compared to the J0x exams which give a better grounding for the AF exams in my opinion.

Before doing the AF exams, you may want to try a J0x first. i.e. if you were planning to do AF3, then doing J05 and J04 first would make AF3 less of a jump. R04 was extremely weak in comparison to J04 and J05. I use AF3/J04/5/R04 as an example as it is one I am used to and assuming it runs similar with the other topics. I could be wrong.

Aegis

dunstonh wrote: »

All the AFs are a more advanced version of the R0x exams. Realistically, the R0x were a doddle compared to the J0x exams which give a better grounding for the AF exams in my opinion.

Before doing the AF exams, you may want to try a J0x first. i.e. if you were planning to do AF3, then doing J05 and J04 first would make AF3 less of a jump. R04 was extremely weak in comparison to J04 and J05. I use AF3/J04/5/R04 as an example as it is one I am used to and assuming it runs similar with the other topics. I could be wrong.

They're getting rid of J04 soon, so it might not be the best bet to start that particular paper, as opportunities to resit in the event of failure will be very limited.

I found that J05 on its own with a little wider reading was adequate for AF3.


That said, the diploma version of AF5 is R06, a 3-hour written paper, not the multiple choice exams that the rest of the regulated diploma consists of. R06 is essentially a rebranded copy of the old J08 paper originally introduced as a 30 credit alternative to one of the business or pension papers that would usually be taken.

Personally I'll be taking the Certified Financial Planner qualification through the IFP to get an exemption to AF5. It strikes me as a much more worthwhile exercise, and the fact that it will get me Certified and Chartered rather than just one of the two makes it additionally appealing. Unfortunately it's also generally reported to be a lot harder, but I enjoy a challenge!

dunstonh

They're getting rid of J04 soon, so it might not be the best bet to start that particular paper, as opportunities to resit in the event of failure will be very limited.

I found that J05 on its own with a little wider reading was adequate for AF3.

I'm surprised J04 is going. Yes it has more overlap with R04 than J05 does. Although R04 is an embarrassment of an exam. If you take the pre RDR pension qualifications, then R04 is not a patch on any of them. J04 goes into so much more detail than R04. J05 topics are barely even covered in R04 beyond the basic.

It's as if they dumbed down the R01-R05 to get people through as the J0x exams required more knowledge than the R0x exams. That is why I think the jump from R0x to AFx is bigger than J0x to AFx.

I hope they plan to come out with more AF exams. At the moment, it involves taking exams in areas that you are not likely to be dealing with if you want chartered. Although saying that, I am not sure what other areas they could go into more detail. Maybe insurance.

I'm doing J11 next. I dont need the diploma points but seems a fairly decent subject to get a qualification in.

RRedin

Hi there!

If anyone is sitting the AF5 exam in October and wants to share the various exam solutions that are out there then let me know and I will set up an email group to do this.

I am doing a course on the 12th so I will have a comprehensive solution to share then.

I can't seem to find too many AF5 forums so hopefully people will see this.

Thanks!