Case study: Why a quick exam resit made all the difference for learner Shalini

At a time when the industry demands higher standards and ever-greater expertise, the Pensions Management Institute (PMI) is taking proactive steps to help develop pension professionals.  

Vanessa Jackson, the PMI’s Chief Learning Officer, and her team, have introduced several key initiatives, including the improvement of the qualification resit structure to make it more responsive and learner-focused. 

By introducing an additional exam sitting, the PMI has created a quicker and more adaptive system that meets the needs of learners. This change allows candidates to complete their exams and achieve their qualifications before the end of the year, rather than waiting until the traditional Spring or Autumn resit windows. 

Vanessa said:  

“The benefits are clear: learners can re-take exams while the material is still fresh in their minds, improving their chances of success and reinforcing knowledge retention. This approach demonstrates our commitment to encouraging learners to complete their qualifications within a realistic timeframe, supporting professional growth and raising standards across the sector. 

“Through these enhancements, the PMI continues to lead the way in equipping pension professionals with the skills and credentials they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving market.” 

Case Study: Why a Quick Resit Made All the Difference for Shalini 

Passing the PMI’s Retirement Provision Certificate (RPC) on the second attempt gave 25-year-old Shalini Tharmentharan from West London a confidence boost – and the chance to progress her career in pensions. Shalini shared her experiences with us to help motivate others to explore a career in pensions.  

When Shalini graduated with an economics degree in 2023, she was keen to find a role that connected to her studies and opened doors in the workplace. “I got into pensions because through LinkedIn, someone saw my CV and thought that would be a really good fit for pensions administration,” she explains. Today, she works as a Benefits Technician at SAUL Trustee Company, which administers the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London.

Completely new to pensions, Shalini saw the PMI’s Retirement Provision Certificate (RPC) as the perfect starting point. “The RPC exam especially is a good introduction for someone who’s completely new,” she says. “I missed doing exams. I actually missed learning and I think that’s what motivated me to do the RPC.” 

Her first attempt didn’t go to plan and she missed a pass by just two marks. “I think it was a lot of content and I didn’t give myself enough time to cover everything,” she admits. “I thought I would be fine just going through the learning materials, but you have to cover every single detail in the manual as well.”  

Resit Window Made the Difference 

Initially, Shalini expected to wait six months to resit – a prospect that worried her. “I was thinking within six months I might have to do everything again and I’ll probably forget most of the information,” she recalls. So when PMI announced a resit just two months later, it was a game-changer. “That was really good news that we could do it again so soon,” she says. “Compared to if I took it in six months, I would have forgotten most of the information and had to spend the exact same amount of time as before. But the two-month window was quite useful… it gave you a bit of a break from revising and also gave you the right amount of time to reset the exam so it’s still fresh in your mind.” 

Armed with better preparation and new techniques, Shalini approached the second attempt with confidence. “I was really confident in resitting it again. I was pretty sure that I’d pass this time round,” she says. And she did, scoring 85%. “It was really good news too. And I think I heard back quite quickly as well – within a week, which was good.” 

Confidence Through Qualifications  

For Shalini, the qualification has already made a difference. “Now when I’m sitting down in meetings, I actually understand the specific terminology,” she says. “It also demonstrates that I’m willing to progress in the position that I’m in right now.”  

Looking ahead, she’s planning more PMI exams: “It has really motivated me to keep learning and keep doing exams and consolidating my knowledge. 

“If you’re completely new to pensions and you’re just thinking how you can take the next step forward, I think the RPC is a good foundation to have. So I would say just give it a try. There's only so much training your workplace can provide you with, so having an organisation like PMI it gives you that extra sort of support.”