WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IN CR EXAMS?
Here is the reality about CIPS CR exams, most CIPS students don’t fail because they didn’t study.
They fail because they don’t know how to turn what they studied into marks.
The cycle usually goes something like this;
- You take your time to finish the syllabus.
- You are certain that you’ve understood the concepts, and may be you have.
- You walk into the exam feeling “somewhat ready” and then…
Then the results come out and it’s not what you were expecting
You were expecting a pass but, well, you have failed your CIPS CR exams!
The reasons isn’t because you didn’t know the content.
But because your answers didn’t match what the examiner was looking for.
Here’s the hard truth:
CIPS CR exams don’t reward knowledge, they reward application.
WHAT IS A CIPS CR EXAM?
Constructed response exams or CR exams are the kind of exams that require you to actually construct your answers
This is unlike the objective response exam where you select the answer from a series of choices
These exams start in CIPS LEVEL 4 all the way to CIPS LEVEL 6
You specifically meet them in the following modules:
- CIPS level 4 – l4m1 and l4m8
- CIPS level 5 – l5m1 and l5m4
- CIPS level 6 – l6m1, l6m2, l6m3 and l6m4
CIPS CR exam example questions
Here is an example of what the questions look like in this type of exam;
Question:
Evaluate how Porter’s Five Forces model can be applied to assess an organisation’s competitive position and strengthen competitive advantage through its supply chain strategy.
[25 marks]
WATCH NOW: here is a video on porter’s five forces
WHERE MOST STUDENTS GO WRONG IN THIS EXAM
Here are the common mistakes students make when dealing with CIPS CR exams
- They write everything they know rather than actually answering the question
- They ignore exam command words like “explain” or “evaluate”
- They give generic textbook definitions
- Their answer lacks structure, just long paragraphs with no direction
- They fail to link the answer to real world application or scenario given in the question
In simple terms:
You’re giving information… but the examiner is looking for arguments.
HOW TO FIX THIS
First of all you need to keep practicing this way you can build up on your skills to write answers. Make sure you write at least 3 constructed response exam answer a week
And yes you can get practice questions in my CIPS LEVEL 4 MEMBERS ONLY CLUB if you are in that level
Here is a method you can apply to make your points strong
Just use the following style…
POINT – EXPLAIN – APPLY (PEA Method)
- Point: Directly answer the question
- Explain: Show understanding (why/how it matters)
- Apply : Link it to the case study or a real business example
This will help you turn average looking points into distinction level answers
Here a practical example;
Question: Explain one benefit of supplier relationship management.
What a weak answer looks like:
“Supplier relationship management helps improve communication with suppliers.”
Here is a strong point based on the PEA style:
Point: One benefit of supplier relationship management is improved collaboration.
Explain: This enables better coordination of activities such as forecasting and inventory planning, reducing inefficiencies.
Apply: For example, a manufacturing firm working closely with key suppliers can share demand forecasts, ensuring materials arrive on time and avoiding production delays.
Putting it together….
One benefit of supplier relationship management is improved collaboration. This is important because it enables better coordination of activities such as forecasting and inventory planning, reducing inefficiencies. For example, a manufacturing firm that works closely with key suppliers can share demand forecasts, ensuring materials arrive on time and avoiding production delays.
And you just repeat this to get the full 25 marks
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you don’t structure your answers…
If you don’t apply your knowledge…
You will keep getting the same result, in this case a fail, no matter how much you study.
Just a quick reminder
This is exactly what I help students do in my revision programs:
- Practice real exam questions
- Get detailed feedback on your answers
- Learn how to structure responses that actually score marks
NEXT READ: CIPS CR Questions Explained (How to Structure 25-Mark Answers)
If you’re serious about passing your next exam, just click here to chat with me
Warmest regards,
Moses
Chat with me on WhatsApp +254 716 965 504