100+ Free CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Exam

50%

Passing Threshold

CILEX Assessment Guidelines

£350–£450

Assessment Fee

CILEX Fee Schedule

£322,000

Statutory Legacy

AEA 1925 (Intestacy Order 2023)

£325,000

IHT Nil Rate Band

IHTA 1984

7 Years

PET Exemption Period

IHTA 1984 s.3A

The CILEX CPQ Advanced Stage A6 Wills, Probate and Private Client exam is a key professional qualification module for legal executives in England and Wales. Official specs include an assessment fee of £350–£450, a 50% scaled passing score, and delivery by CILEX via an online platform. The official assessment is an online automated & scenario case study exam, and our practice bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation covering all core domain competencies.

Sample CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A testator executes a will in England. Under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, which of the following is a mandatory requirement for valid execution?

A.The signature must be made or acknowledged by the testator in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time

B.The witnesses must sign the will before the testator signs

C.The will must be dated and registered at the Probate Registry to be valid

D.An attestation clause must be drafted by a qualified solicitor

Explanation: Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 requires that the will be in writing, signed by the testator (or by another person in their presence and by their direction), and that the signature is made or acknowledged by the testator in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time. Each witness must then attest and sign the will or acknowledge their signature in the presence of the testator.

2Under section 15 of the Wills Act 1837, what is the legal effect if a beneficiary under a will acts as one of the two attesting witnesses to the execution of that will?

A.The gift to that beneficiary is void, but the will itself remains validly executed

B.The entire will is rendered completely void

C.The beneficiary receives their gift, but must pay a fine to the court

D.The execution is invalid unless a third non-beneficiary witness signs within 14 days

Explanation: Under section 15 of the Wills Act 1837, if a person to whom or to whose spouse or civil partner any beneficial disposition is given attests the execution of the will, the disposition is void so far only as concerns that person or spouse/civil partner, but the execution of the will remains otherwise valid.

3Which leading authority establishes the common law test for testamentary capacity in England and Wales?

A.Banks v Goodfellow (1870)

B.Donoghue v Stevenson (1932)

C.Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (1893)

D.R v Ghosh (1982)

Explanation: Banks v Goodfellow (1870) sets out the classic test for testamentary capacity: the testator must understand the nature of the act and its effects, the extent of the property of which they are disposing, the claims to which they ought to give effect, and must not suffer from any disorder of mind that poisons their affections or prevents the exercise of their natural faculties.

4What is the general rule regarding the effect of a testator's subsequent valid marriage or civil partnership on an existing will under section 18 of the Wills Act 1837?

A.The existing will is automatically revoked unless made in expectation of that marriage or civil partnership

B.The existing will remains fully valid and unaffected

C.Only gifts to former partners are revoked, leaving all other gifts intact

D.The will becomes voidable at the option of the new spouse within 12 months

Explanation: Under section 18 of the Wills Act 1837, a marriage or civil partnership automatically revokes any will previously made by either party, subject to specific statutory exceptions such as a will expressed to be made in expectation of marriage to a particular person.

5Under section 18A of the Wills Act 1837, how does the decree absolute of divorce affect a gift to a former spouse contained in a testator's existing will?

A.The gift lapses and takes effect as if the former spouse had died on the date the marriage was dissolved

B.The gift remains valid and is paid to the former spouse upon the testator's death

C.The entire will is revoked and the estate passes on intestacy

D.The gift is automatically transferred to the former spouse's children

Explanation: Under section 18A of the Wills Act 1837, where a testator divorces, any appointment of the former spouse as executor or any gift to the former spouse lapses and takes effect as if the former spouse had died on the date of the decree absolute, unless a contrary intention appears in the will.

6What protection does section 33 of the Wills Act 1837 provide when a testator leaves a gift to their child who predeceases the testator leaving surviving issue?

A.The gift does not lapse, but passes to the surviving issue of that child per stirpes

B.The gift lapses into the residuary estate automatically

C.The gift passes to the Crown as bona vacantia

D.The gift is divided equally among the testator's surviving brothers and sisters

Explanation: Section 33 of the Wills Act 1837 provides an exception to the doctrine of lapse: where a testator devises or bequeaths property to their child or direct issue who predeceases the testator leaving issue who survive the testator, the gift does not lapse but takes effect as a gift to the surviving issue per stirpes, unless a contrary intention appears.

7A testator decides to revoke their executed will. Under section 20 of the Wills Act 1837, which action satisfies the statutory requirement for physical destruction with intent to revoke?

A.Tearing the entire original will document into pieces with the intention of revoking it

B.Writing 'CANCELLED' in pencil across the cover page without tearing or burning

C.Making a slight 1-centimetre tear at the bottom of the last page while intending to tear it up later

D.Asking a friend over the phone to burn the will while the friend is alone at home

Explanation: Section 20 of the Wills Act 1837 requires burning, tearing, or otherwise destroying the document by the testator, or by some person in their presence and by their direction, with the intention of revoking it (animus revocandi). Tearing the entire document with intent satisfies the statute. Writing 'cancelled' without destruction or tearing outside the testator's presence does not comply.

8An unexecuted alteration is made to a will after its execution. Under section 21 of the Wills Act 1837, how is an obliteration treated if the original words are no longer apparent?

A.It is treated as a revocation of the obliterated part, and the gift fails

B.The court will order chemical restoration of the original text in every case

C.The alteration is automatically valid even without execution signatures

D.The entire will becomes invalid and is set aside

Explanation: Under section 21 of the Wills Act 1837, an unexecuted alteration or obliteration made after execution is invalid unless the original words are not apparent (i.e. completely obscured or blacked out). If the original words are not apparent, it operates as a pro tanto revocation of the obliterated portion.

9Under section 24 of the Wills Act 1837, from what point in time does a will speak regarding the property comprised in it, unless a contrary intention appears?

A.From the death of the testator

B.From the date of execution of the will

C.From the date of registration of the will

D.From the date the grant of probate is issued

Explanation: Section 24 of the Wills Act 1837 states that every will shall be construed, with reference to the real and personal estate comprised in it, to speak and take effect as if it had been executed immediately before the death of the testator, unless a contrary intention appears by the will.

10A testator executes a valid codicil to their existing will. What legal effect does the execution of the codicil have on the original will?

A.It republishes the original will so that the will is treated as made on the date of the codicil

B.It automatically revokes all gifts contained in the original will

C.It replaces the original will in its entirety

D.It renders all original attesting witnesses disqualified from taking gifts

Explanation: A codicil executed in accordance with section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 republishes the original will, meaning the will is treated as speaking from the date of the codicil, subject to any express modifications contained in the codicil.

About the CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Exam

CILEX CPQ Advanced Stage A6 Wills, Probate and Private Client tests advanced legal knowledge and practical drafting skills required for private client practice in England and Wales. Topics include testamentary capacity, execution of wills, revocation, intestacy rules, 1975 Act claims, non-contentious probate practice, personal representative duties, inheritance tax, capital gains tax for estates, trusts management, and lasting powers of attorney. Please note that the official assessment is an online automated & scenario case study exam; our practice bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation to build core legal knowledge and statutory analysis skills.

Assessment

Performance-based assessment

Time Limit

3 to 3.5 hours

Passing Score

50% passing threshold

Exam Fee

£350–£450 (CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives))

CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Exam Content Outline

20%

Will Formalities and Execution

Capacity tests under Banks v Goodfellow, execution requirements of s.9 Wills Act 1837, witness disqualification under s.15, revocation by marriage or destruction, and codicil validity.

20%

Intestacy and Inheritance Act Claims

Distribution under Administration of Estates Act 1925 s.46, statutory legacy (£322,000), statutory trusts, and financial provision claims under s.1 Inheritance Act 1975.

20%

Probate Grants and Estate Administration

Grant of probate and letters of administration under NCPR 1987, personal representative duties under s.25 AEA 1925, s.27 Trustee Act notices, devastavit liabilities, and insolvent estates.

20%

Inheritance Tax and Private Client Tax

IHTA 1984 calculations, NRB (£325k), RNRB (£175k), PETs, CLTs, BPR, APR, charity rate (36%), payment deadlines, and capital gains tax rules for personal representatives.

20%

Trusts and Powers of Attorney

Trustee Act 2000 investment duties, s.31/32 TA 1925 maintenance and advancement powers, LPAs (Property/Financial vs Health/Welfare) under MCA 2005, and OPG registration rules.

How to Pass the CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 50% passing threshold
Assessment: Performance-based assessment
Time limit: 3 to 3.5 hours
Exam fee: £350–£450

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise key statutory sections: Wills Act 1837 s.9, s.15, s.18, s.20, s.33; AEA 1925 s.46; Inheritance Act 1975 s.1, s.4; IHTA 1984 s.3, s.102; TA 2000 s.1, s.3-5; MCA 2005 s.1-3.

2Practise exact distribution calculations for intestacy, ensuring you correctly allocate the £322,000 statutory legacy, chattels, and residue split.

3Understand the difference between the spouse standard and maintenance standard under the Inheritance Act 1975.

4Master IHT death estate calculations, including transferable nil rate bands, residence nil rate band tapering, and business/agricultural property reliefs.

5Know the order of entitlement to grants of representation under Rules 20 and 22 of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987.

Frequently Asked Questions

What format is the official CILEX CPQ A6 exam?

The official CILEX CPQ A6 assessment is an online automated & scenario case study exam administered via the CILEX e-assessment platform. Our practice bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation designed to drill statutory knowledge and problem-solving rules.

What is the passing score and exam fee for CILEX A6?

The official passing threshold set by CILEX is 50%. The assessment fee for the module is typically £350–£450, set directly by CILEX.

What statutes form the core of the A6 Wills and Probate syllabus?

Core statutes include the Wills Act 1837, Administration of Estates Act 1925, Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, Inheritance Tax Act 1984, Trustee Act 1925 & 2000, Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, and Mental Capacity Act 2005.

What is the current UK statutory legacy on intestacy?

Under the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (as updated), where a deceased dies intestate leaving a surviving spouse/civil partner and issue, the surviving spouse/civil partner receives the statutory legacy of £322,000, personal chattels, and 50% of the remaining residue outright.

Who can claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975?

Eligible applicants under s.1 include a surviving spouse or civil partner, a former spouse/civil partner who has not remarried, a cohabitant of 2+ years, a child of the deceased, anyone treated as a child of the family, and anyone maintained by the deceased immediately before death.

How are PETs taxed under UK Inheritance Tax?

A Potentially Exempt Transfer (PET) is made by an individual to another individual. If the donor survives 7 years, the transfer becomes completely exempt. If the donor dies within 7 years, the PET becomes chargeable and receives taper relief if made between 3 and 7 years before death.

100+ Free CILEX CPQ A6 Wills & Probate Practice Questions

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