Singapore CMFAS insurance exam FAQ
Papers · paths · pass marks · retakes · scope of the app
Which CMFAS papers do I need to sell life insurance in Singapore?
RES5 (Rules, Ethics and Skills for Financial Advisory Services), CM-LIP (Life Insurance and Investment-Linked Policies) and HI (Health Insurance). Investment-linked policies are covered inside CM-LIP, so there is no separate ILP paper. Confirm the exact set for your role with your principal and the Singapore College of Insurance.
Which CMFAS papers do general insurance agents in Singapore sit?
BCP (Basic Insurance Concepts and Principles) plus PGI (Personal General Insurance) for personal lines, ComGI (Commercial General Insurance) for commercial lines, or both — that is the Certificate in General Insurance the GIA Agents' Registration Board requires. RES5 is not part of it; it is added only where the role also involves financial advisory services. Your principal confirms which set applies to you.
What is RES5, and how does it relate to the old Module 5?
RES5 is the rules, ethics and skills module for financial advisory services under the CMFAS framework MAS restructured in October 2023. It is the paper that covers the Financial Advisers Act, the MAS Notices under it, conduct of business, disclosure, customer due diligence and dispute resolution. Older material referring to Module 5 describes the previous structure; the syllabus you sit today is the SCI study guide for RES5.
What did CM-LIP replace?
CM-LIP combines the former life insurance and investment-linked policy modules (Module 9 and Module 9A under the earlier structure) into one paper covering life products, participating and non-participating policies, investment-linked policies, the LIA codes, CPF-related schemes and claims.
How many questions are on each CMFAS insurance paper?
RES5 and CM-LIP are 150 questions each over 3 hours; HI, PGI and ComGI are 50 questions over 1 hour 15 minutes; BCP is 40 questions over 45 minutes. All are multiple choice and computer-based, taken at the Singapore College of Insurance.
What is the pass mark for the CMFAS insurance papers?
70% on most papers: 105 of 150 for CM-LIP, 35 of 50 for HI, PGI and ComGI, and 28 of 40 for BCP. RES5 is marked in two parts — 75% on Part I (110 questions) and 80% on Part II (40 questions), both required. Pass marks are set by the SCI and can change, so check the current study guide for the paper you are sitting.
Who administers the CMFAS insurance examinations?
The Singapore College of Insurance (SCI) administers the insurance modules under the Capital Markets and Financial Advisory Services examination framework of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Enrolment, fees, dates and results all go through the SCI.
Is there an official question bank for the CMFAS papers?
No. The SCI publishes a study guide for each module, which is the syllabus, but the examination items themselves are not released. Practice questions from any provider, including this app, are original material written to that syllabus.
Can I retake a CMFAS paper I did not pass?
Yes. Each module is booked and paid for separately, and a module that is not passed can be re-sat. Papers already passed do not need to be re-sat.
Do I sit the papers in a particular order?
The SCI does not require a fixed order within the insurance family. Many life candidates sit RES5 first because it is the regulatory paper, then CM-LIP and HI; general insurance candidates usually start with BCP. The order is yours to choose.
What happens after I pass all the papers for my path?
Your principal — the insurer, broker or licensed financial adviser that will appoint you — lodges a notification with MAS appointing you as a representative. You cannot act as a representative until that notification is in place, and you remain subject to continuing professional development requirements afterwards.
Does this app cover CM-CIS, CM-LIC, or the securities and futures modules?
No. It covers the six insurance papers only: RES5, CM-LIP, HI, BCP, PGI and ComGI. Collective investment scheme, securities, futures and private banking modules are outside its scope.
Does the app cover the real estate salesperson (RES) examinations?
No. Despite the similar acronym, the real estate salesperson examinations are administered under the Council for Estate Agencies, not the CMFAS framework, and are a different qualification altogether.
Can I buy just one paper in the app?
Yes. A single paper is S$9.98 a month, S$24.98 for three months or S$88.98 a year. The life path (RES5 + CM-LIP + HI) is S$16.98 / S$42.48 / S$124.98, the general insurance path (BCP + PGI + ComGI) S$14.98 / S$37.48 / S$109.98, and all six papers S$22.98 / S$57.90 / S$148.98. Every plan is a subscription that can be cancelled from your Apple ID settings at any time.
Is this app affiliated with the Singapore College of Insurance or MAS?
No. It is an independent study aid. Every question is original content written from the SCI study guides, the Financial Advisers Act, the Insurance Act and the MAS Notices under them, and each one names the provision or chapter it tests.
Independent study aid. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Singapore College of Insurance or the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Nothing here is financial or legal advice — verify against the current SCI study guide and MAS Notices before relying on any point for professional purposes.
© 2026 Sai Chun Christopher Tang. All rights reserved.