FSCA regulatory exam preparationRE5RE1
Your single source of truth to pass the RE5 and RE1 exams.
For representatives. RE5 (Regulatory Examination 5) is the FSCA exam every South African financial-services representative must pass under FAIS. Study the full syllabus and practise with 1000 real-style RE5 questions.
For key individuals. RE1 (Regulatory Examination 1) is the FSCA exam for the people who manage or oversee an FSP. Practise with real-style RE1 questions and a full explanation for every answer.
What you get
More than a question bank
Everything a RE5 or RE1 candidate needs to study, practise, measure and improve, in one place.
Full practice exams
19 timed RE5 or RE1 exams built like the real paper, each marked the moment you finish with the reason for every answer.
1000+ questionsGuided study course
Step-by-step modules, each a tile you tap to open, with tables, worked examples and knowledge checks.
First module freeFlashcards
The key terms, rules and numbers from every module on cards that flip. The ones you miss come round again.
First deck freeTopic quizzes on your weak areas
After each exam we point you at the topic that cost you most, with a short quiz on that topic alone.
Fix what mattersAnalytics and readiness
Every topic tracked across all your exams, your trend over time, and a clear read on whether you are ready to book.
Know when you are readyExam pacing
A live pace check in timed exams tells you if you are on track to finish, so the clock never surprises you.
Beat the clockA plan for what to do next
Every result ends with your next step: the topic to revise, the quiz to take, or a harder exam once you are passing.
Never guessYour own PDF report
A personal report after each exam: every topic against the pass mark, where you lost marks and what to do next.
Yours to keepExam history
Every exam you have sat, with your score and the date, so you can see how far you have come and review any attempt.
Saved to your accountLeaderboard and trophies
See how your scores compare with other candidates, by first name only, and collect trophies as you improve.
Stay motivatedCommunity trivia
Cards that flip to show how all candidates are doing: the topic most people find hardest, the average score and more.
Learn from the crowdMade for your phone
Compact pages with big tiles and tabs. On Android, get the RE Exams App from Google Play; on iPhone, add it to your Home Screen.
Study anywhereWhat you will know after your first exam
Not only a mark. This is what the app shows you about yourself.
- 1Create a free accountIt takes a minute. No card needed.
- 2Sit the free examA full RE5 or RE1 exam, timed or at your own pace.
- 3Get your planYour scores, your weak topics and what to do next.
What is the RE5 exam?
The RE5 (Regulatory Examination 5) is the FSCA regulatory exam that every representative working under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act must pass. It is a closed-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions with a two-hour time limit, and you need 65% to pass. Read the complete guide to what RE5 is for who needs it and how it fits with the other Regulatory Exams.
The syllabus covers the FAIS Act and its subordinate legislation, the General Code of Conduct, the duties of a representative and key individual, the role of the FSCA and the FAIS Ombud, complaints handling, record-keeping and the ethical standards expected of financial-services professionals in South Africa.
RegulatoryExams turns that syllabus into a step-by-step RE5 study guide and a bank of real-style practice exams so you can learn the material and prove you are ready before you sit the real thing.
What is the RE1 exam?
The RE1 (Regulatory Examination 1) is the FSCA regulatory exam for key individuals: the people who manage or oversee the financial services an FSP renders. It tests the FAIS Act and its subordinate legislation from the point of view of the person accountable for the business. More about our RE1 preparation.
The key individual role
What it means to manage or oversee an FSP, when approval is needed, and what stays your responsibility when work is outsourced.
Managing representatives
Appointment, supervision, the register of representatives, competence deadlines and how a debarment must be run.
Running a compliant FSP
Licensing conditions, fit and proper requirements, operational ability, financial soundness, record keeping and compliance reporting.
Clients, complaints and FICA
The codes of conduct, conflicts of interest, complaints and the Ombud, and your duties as an accountable institution.
How RE1 works here
- Separate from RE5. RE1 has its own exams, question bank, results, analytics and leaderboards. Nothing from one exam is counted in the other.
- Start free. A full 80-question RE1 exam simulation is free, in the format of the real paper, with an explanation for every answer.
- Its own plan. RE1 is a separate subscription from RE5. The RE1 Pro 7-Day Pass is R149. See pricing.
- A full study course.Nineteen guided modules follow the FSCA's 16 RE1 tasks, with scenarios, flashcards and hard knowledge checks. More exam sets are being added.
Everything you need to pass the RE5
A complete RE5 preparation toolkit — study, practice and track — built specifically for FAIS representatives.
Guided RE5 study guide
Modules mapped to the official FSCA exam tasks — the FAIS Act, General Code of Conduct, FICA, ethics and the full regulatory framework — so you study exactly what is examined.
Real-style practice exams
Hundreds of exam-grade questions with full explanations, available as timed 50-question mock exams or untimed topic drills.
Cloud-synced progress
Your scores and history follow you across devices, so you always know which topics still need work before exam day.
Built for FAIS reps
Purpose-built for South African financial-services representatives preparing for the RE5 regulatory exam — no fluff, just what you need to pass.
Track and compete
Benchmark yourself on the leaderboard and watch your average climb as you work through the question bank.
Pass first time
Strategies, legislation breakdowns and exam-day advice from our blog combine with the question bank to get you exam-ready, fast.
Popular RE5 guides
All articlesRE1 Exam Format: The Question Types and How to Handle Each
The RE1 has 80 questions in 150 minutes. Learn the question styles you will meet, from scenarios to roman-numeral statements, and a method for each.
Read moreAdvice vs Intermediary Service: The RE5 Distinction That Trips Candidates
The FAIS Act splits financial services into advice and intermediary services. Learn the difference, the exclusions and how the RE5 tests it, with worked examples.
Read moreWhat Is the RE1 Exam? A Plain Guide for Key Individuals
Who must write the RE1 regulatory exam, what it covers, how it is structured and how it differs from the RE5. A plain guide for key individuals and people about to become one.
Read moreYour First 90 Days as a Newly Authorised Representative
A practical roadmap for your first 90 days as a newly authorised financial services representative in South Africa. Covers supervision, the advice process, record-keeping, CPD, and building compliant habits that protect your career from day one.
Read moreThe Compliance Officer's Role in an FSP, Explained
What a compliance officer actually does at a South African FSP: monitoring and reporting duties, the FSCA relationship, and why RE5 tests this role.
Read moreRetirement Funds and Annuities: RE5 Guide
A clear guide to retirement funding products for RE5 candidates and financial advisors. Covers pension and provident funds, retirement annuities, preservation funds, the two-pot system, and living versus guaranteed annuities in the South African context.
Read moreFree RE5 resources
Start learning right now — no account needed.
RE5 Readiness Calculator
A 2-minute check that scores how ready you are and builds a personalised study plan.
OpenFree RE5 questions
Real-style RE5 questions with the correct answer and a full explanation for each.
OpenRE5 & FAIS glossary
Plain-English definitions of FSP, Key Individual, Fit and Proper, Debarment and more.
OpenCompare RE5 tools
See how RegulatoryExams stacks up against other RE5 study options.
OpenRE5 exam — frequently asked
What is the RE5 exam?
The RE5 (Regulatory Examination 5) is the FSCA regulatory exam that every representative operating under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services (FAIS) Act must pass. It tests your knowledge of the FAIS Act, the General Code of Conduct, the role of the FSCA and the FAIS Ombud, and the regulatory framework governing financial-services representatives in South Africa.
How many questions are in the RE5 exam and what is the pass mark?
The RE5 exam has 50 multiple-choice questions and you have 2 hours to complete it. You need to answer 65% correctly (33 out of 50) to pass. Our practice exams mirror this format so you walk in knowing exactly what to expect.
How should I study for the RE5 exam?
Work through the full FAIS syllabus with a structured study guide, then prove your knowledge with timed practice exams drawn from a real-style question bank. Reviewing detailed answer explanations for every question — especially the ones you get wrong — is the fastest way to close knowledge gaps and pass first time.
How long does it take to prepare for the RE5?
Most working professionals are ready in three to six weeks of consistent study. A focused 30-day plan that combines daily study-guide modules with regular mock exams is enough for the majority of candidates to pass on their first attempt.
Are the practice questions similar to the real RE5 exam?
Yes. Our question bank is written to match the style, difficulty and FSCA exam-task coverage of the real RE5 exam, with full explanations for every answer so you understand the legislation rather than just memorising it.
Can I try RegulatoryExams for free?
Yes. You can take a full free RE5 mock exam and start the first study-guide module at no cost. Create a free account to save your results and track your progress across every attempt.
Ready to pass the RE5?
Start with the guided study guide or jump straight into a free practice exam — your progress is saved automatically once you create a free account.