Everything you need to know about the CTEP™ exam
The Chartered Trust & Estate Planner exam is a 115-minute, 75-question online test across six estate-planning units — pass with 50%, no negative marking, and schedule at any of 300+ centres across India.
A single paper across three question tiers
The CTEP™ examination uses a tiered marking structure that rewards depth of understanding, not just recall. All 75 questions must be answered within 115 minutes.
| Question Type | Number of Questions | Marks per Question | Marks from This Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-mark questions | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| Two-mark questions | 30 | 2 | 60 |
| Four-mark questions | 15 | 4 | 60 |
| Total | 75 | — | 150 |
Because there is no negative marking, candidates are strongly advised to attempt every question. The 4-mark questions demand application-level knowledge — scenarios drawn from real estate-planning situations — and account for 40% of the total marks from only 15 questions. Strong preparation on Units 3, 4 and 5 is therefore particularly important.
The examination is multiple-choice. Results are typically available immediately after submission at the test centre.
How 150 marks are distributed across six units
Each unit maps directly to a domain of estate-planning practice. The weightages below are taken from the official CTEP™ examination pattern.
| Unit | Topic | Weight | 1-mark Qs | 2-mark Qs | 4-mark Qs | Total Qs | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Estate Planning | 7% | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 | Laws Affecting Estate Planning | 13% | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 19 |
| 3 | Personal & Intestate Succession Laws in India | 27% | 8 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 40 |
| 4 | Testamentary Succession | 21% | 3 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 31 |
| 5 | Trust Planning in India | 21% | 4 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 32 |
| 6 | International Estate Planning | 12% | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 18 |
| Total | 100% | 30 | 30 | 15 | 75 | 150 | |
Reading the weightages strategically
Units 3, 4 and 5 together account for 69% of the total marks. These three units cover the practical core of Indian estate planning — succession under the Hindu, Muslim and Indian Succession Acts; drafting and probating Wills; and the creation, taxation and administration of private, family, MWP Act and testamentary trusts. Candidates who master these units are well-positioned to pass. Unit 6 (International Estate Planning) is the next priority at 12%, reflecting the growing importance of NRI and cross-border estate work.
Review the full curriculum for the detailed topic list under each unit before scheduling your examination. See CTEP™ Curriculum for the complete syllabus breakdown.
Sit the exam when you are ready
Candidates may register for the CTEP™ examination 60 days after completing enrolment, giving adequate time to work through all six units before sitting the exam.
Complete your study
Work through all six units of on-demand video content. Most candidates complete the full programme in 3–6 months, depending on prior background and study time available.
Register for the exam (after 60 days)
Once 60 days have elapsed from the date of your programme enrolment, you become eligible to register for the CTEP™ examination. Contact AAFM India or register through the student portal.
Choose a centre and date
Select from over 300 examination centres across India — and many overseas testing centres — at a date and time that suits your schedule.
Pay the examination fee
The examination fee is Rs. 5,000 + GST per attempt. Rescheduling (if required) costs Rs. 1,000. Retain your payment confirmation.
Sit the exam and receive your result
The 115-minute paper is attempted at the test centre. Achieve 75/150 (50%) or above to pass and proceed to certification.
If you need to re-sit
Examination Fee
Rs. 5,000 + GST per examination attempt. Payable at the time of scheduling.
Rescheduling Fee
Rs. 1,000 if you need to change the date or centre after booking your exam slot.
Re-examination Fee
Rs. 5,000 + 18% GST per re-examination attempt if the first attempt is unsuccessful. There is no limit stated on the number of attempts within the validity period.
Candidates who do not pass on their first attempt are encouraged to revisit the units with lower scores, use the one-year programme access to revise the on-demand content, and re-register for the examination when they feel prepared. Because there is no negative marking, a methodical approach to every question on the re-sit is the single most effective strategy.
For the complete list of fees — programme registration, certification and renewal — see the CTEP™ Fees page. To begin your registration, visit the Registration Procedure page.
Explore every step of the CTEP™ journey
The Chartered Trust & Estate Planner pathway is a connected set of pages — start anywhere, each links back here.
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CTEP™ Examination — frequently asked questions
The CTEP™ examination comprises 75 questions — 30 questions of 1 mark each, 30 questions of 2 marks each and 15 questions of 4 marks each — totalling 150 marks.
Candidates must score 75 out of 150 marks (50%) to pass. There is no negative marking, so every question should be attempted.
The exam duration is 115 minutes. Candidates should ensure they plan time across all six units to attempt every question.
The examination is available at over 300 centres spread across India, plus many overseas testing centres, providing wide scheduling flexibility.
The examination fee is Rs. 5,000 plus GST per attempt. Rescheduling costs Rs. 1,000 and re-examination (if required) costs Rs. 5,000 plus 18% GST per attempt.
Unit 3 — Personal and Intestate Succession Laws in India — carries the highest weightage at 27%, followed by Units 4 (Testamentary Succession) and 5 (Trust Planning in India) at 21% each.
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