CII offers free exam re-sit after IHT question error

The CII is offering candidates who failed one of its exams a free re-sit after it contained a flawed question worth more than a tenth of the overall marks.

Individuals who sat the AF1 ‘Personal Tax and Trust Planning' exam in April can also ask for a review of their marks free of charge, although they only have until 30 July to do this.

The offer follows a question on inheritance tax (IHT) in the Advanced Diploma paper.

It omitted information relating to the death of the settlor, which was required to calculate the IHT payable on the transfers.

A number of advisers contacted IFAonline and Professional Adviser saying they were uncertain about the question and expressing their fears it would affect their chances of passing.

Some said they left the question out entirely while others said the faulty question, the first on the paper, affected their confidence for the rest of the exam.

The CII has written to candidates saying it has marked the question both for candidates who answered it according to the settlor dying within seven years of making the gift, and for those assuming the settlor died after seven years, plus any combination of these.

It says due consideration has been given to all candidates who sat the exam to ensure none have been disadvantaged as a result of the error. This included, if necessary, reducing the pass mark.

It adds it is reviewing its exam processes to establish how the error occurred and ensure it does not happen again.

Lisa Medley, an account manager at Canada Life, said after sitting the exam: "You automatically think you have misunderstood the question, not that the paper is to blame.

"I spent ages reading and re-reading it, thinking it doesn't make any sense. For me, it overshadowed the whole exam."

The CII yesterday announced it was introducing more detailed feedback for candidates sitting its exams, including identifying specific questions failed.