Advanced Diploma in Retirement Provision qualifying examinations
The overall aim of the
Advanced Diploma examinations is to
provide the required professional knowledge, skills and understanding to undertake,
after sufficient experience, a position as a pensions specialist within a
self-administered scheme; a third party administrator; a life assurance
company; or the consulting and advisory services.
Module 101 is examined by a 2 hour examination. Each of the
200 or 300 level modules are examined by a three
hour examination. Entry for an examination is separate and distinct from
registration as a Student or enrolment for study material.
The objectives of the examinations
The examinations will be set to test the ability of
candidates to:
-
recall facts, terms and definitions;
-
demonstrate understanding of the syllabus content and concepts;
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apply the principles learnt to solve problems;
-
analyse facts and use them to make generalisations, predictions and
recommendations;
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draw conclusions from information provided;
-
communicate effectively in writing.
The form of the examinations
Each 200 or 300 Module syllabus will be examined by a three hour paper.
The syllabuses are arranged broadly in increasing order of difficulty and the
later Modules will be fully dependent upon a working knowledge of the earlier
Modules. Candidates are therefore recommended to attempt the Modules in
numerical order. However some Students, very new to pensions work, may find taking
Modules 203/204 before Module 202 "easier" as they may more closely mirror day
to day work and experience. It is suggested that at the first sitting the Student should
undertake one or two Modules and at later sittings no more than two or three
Modules.
The examination in each year are based on the syllabus published in the relevant
handbook. For example the 2009 examinations are based on the syllabus published
in the 2009 handbook. The 2009 handbook was published in June 2008 and the 2009
study material was published in September 2008.
Examination sessions
Examinations for all 100 and 200 Modules are offered each April and October.
Modules 301, 302, 304 and 305 are examined each April only and Module 303 each October only.
In 2008 only Module 303 will be offered in both April and October.
Examination entry form
Examination entries must be made on the examination entry
form for the current session. For the April examinations this form will be sent
to all registered Students with the November edition of PMI News. For Students
whose registration is incomplete at this stage the examination entry form will
be sent with the registration pack. For the October examinations this form will
be sent to all registered Students with the June edition of PMI News.
Forms can also be downloaded from this website.
Examination entry acknowledgements
All examination entries will be acknowledged. Students should check that they
have received an acknowledgement and that the details of modules entered and
examination centre are correct.
Examination regulations
It is a condition of acceptance of an examination entry that candidates
carefully read the examination regulations and agree to abide by them. The
examination regulations are attached to the examination entry form and further
instructions to candidates pertaining to the conduct of the examination are sent
with the admission permit. Copies for the current session can also be found
below.
 October 2008 Examination Regulations
April
2009 Examination Regulations
Withdrawal from examinations
Candidates who wish to withdraw from an examination must do so in writing.
Depending on the circumstances and timing of the withdrawal candidates may be
entitled to a partial refund of the examination entry fee.
Full details can be found in the regulations above.
Admission permits
Examination admission permits will be despatched to candidates approximately two
to three weeks before the examinations begin. These permits contain
full details of the location of the examination centre, the modules entered as
well as the candidate number. It is essential that the admission permit is taken
to the examination centre.
Photo identification and PMI examinations
All candidates for the Advanced Diploma examinations are required to
take
appropriate photo identification to the examination hall. Further details will
be sent to all candidates and can also be obtained from PMI House: Tel. 020 7392 7400, e-mail:
education@pensions-pmi.org.uk
Examination marking
Responsibility for the operation of the Institute's examinations is delegated by
Council to the Board of Examiners. The Board operates a rigorous marking process
with numerous safeguards to ensure the anonymity of candidates, the impartiality
of examiners, reliability, consistency, validity, objectivity and fairness.
The marking in
each module is undertaken by qualified Members of the Institute, under the
direction of a team of senior examiners led by a Principal Examiner who is a
member of the Board of Examiners. All scripts are independently double marked.
Examination results
Examination results for April examinations are issued in July and for October
examinations in December. The exact dates are published in advance on this
website and in PMI News.
Result notifications are sent directly to candidates by
first class post on the day of issue. A copy of the pass list is available on
this website on publication day which is usually the first working day after
results have been posted.
The Institute does not publish the pass mark for the
examinations. Pass rates are published in PMI News following each examination
session.
Examination grades
There is only one grade of pass (Grade P on the result notification). There are
two grades of fail:
| Grade S |
Fail within 5 marks of that required for a pass |
| Grade T |
Fail more than 5 marks below that required for a pass |
Certificates
Candidates who have obtained 850 + credits (including RPC and three 300 modules)
will be issued with a qualification certificate.
Candidates also receive a certificate for each module passed at a session.
Liability
In all circumstances, the PMI’s liability is limited to a
complete refund of the entry fee paid for the exam concerned.
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