I Sat the New CeMAP 1 (FSRE) Exam — Here’s What You Need to Know (2025-26 Edition)

I did it — I sat the brand-new FSRE exam (and passed) this week so I could give you the inside scoop on what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what to expect if you’re taking it soon.

Two papers. 40 questions each. One hour per paper. You’ll face 80 questions total, and yes, the interface now comes with a giant tax table pinned to the side (you can move it, but it resets every time).

Paper 1

It felt comfortably familiar if you’ve already studied CeMAP 1.No big surprises — though a few niche details crept in, like the German Stock Exchange name and the correct term for when beneficiaries change a will after death.

Case Studies — The Main Change

You’ll get 25 standalone questions, then 15 case-study questions (3 mini case studies, 5 questions each).These are short and very doable — most can be answered without reading the full scenario.

Tricky Questions

• A calculation on income protection cover (remember: there’s a % cap, not full income).

• And one on professional clients — whether they’re Per Se, Elective, or both.

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Expect some questions that test your recall of the exact textbook phrasing.

Paper 2 — A Little Tougher

It was more about precision and less about understanding. I finished it faster, but I left knowing I’d guessed a few.

Remember

The content hasn’t changed, just the layout and phrasing.

Case studies are short.

You don’t need to panic if you missed the old CeMAP 1 deadline — this isn’t a totally new exam.

Over the next week, I’ll be recording a full FSRE support series, bite-sized videos, worked examples, and detailed question breakdowns, so you can go into your exam knowing exactly what to expect. You'll find some on the Youtube channel and all of it in the E-Learning Platform.

👉 Remember try the 12-hour free FSRE e-learning trial here: https://learning.futureinfinance.co.uk/courses/cemap1