111+ Free RICS APC Ethics Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: RICS APC Ethics Exam

Exam Questions

RICS

30 mins

Time Limit

RICS

70%

Passing Score

RICS (14/20)

6 years

Minimum PII Run-off

RICS PII Guidelines

20 hours

Annual CPD Minimum

RICS CPD rules

2 stages

Complaints Procedure

RICS CHP Guidance

The RICS APC Ethics test is a mandatory 20-question, 30-minute online assessment that must be passed (70% score) within 12 months of APC submission. It tests the application of RICS Rules of Conduct (Integrity, Competence, Service, Respect, Responsibility) to realistic scenarios involving client money, complaints, PII, and conflicts of interest.

Sample RICS APC Ethics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your RICS APC Ethics exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 111+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A client asks an RICS member to recommend a contractor for a major refurbishment project. The surveyor's brother is the majority shareholder of one of the bidding firms. What is the correct course of action?

A.Recommend the brother's firm without disclosure if they are genuinely the most competitive bid

B.Disclose the relationship in writing to the client immediately and obtain their informed written consent before including the firm

C.Disclose the relationship verbally during a meeting and proceed without written confirmation

D.Decline the entire instruction from the client to avoid any possible conflict of interest

Explanation: Under the RICS Rules of Conduct (Rule 1: Honesty and Integrity) and the Global Ethical Standard 'Act with integrity', members must identify, disclose, and manage conflicts of interest. A close family relationship with a bidder is a clear conflict of loyalty. Verbal disclosure is insufficient; the conflict must be disclosed in writing, and the client's informed consent must be documented before proceeding.

2An RICS member is asked to represent both the buyer and the seller in a commercial property transaction. According to RICS guidance on dual agency, what is the required approach?

A.Proceed with representing both parties by setting up internal information barriers without telling them

B.Decline the instruction, as dual agency where a surveyor represents both buyer and seller in the same transaction is a conflict of interest that cannot be managed

C.Represent both parties but charge a single commission fee split between them

D.Represent both parties after obtaining verbal consent from their respective legal representatives

Explanation: RICS professional standards on Conflicts of Interest strictly state that dual agency (representing both buyer and seller in the same transaction) represents a conflict of interest that cannot be managed, even with information barriers. A member must decline such instructions to maintain professional integrity and promote trust in the profession.

3During a competitive tender process for a construction contract, one of the bidding contractors invites the supervising RICS surveyor to an all-expenses-paid corporate golf weekend. How should the surveyor respond?

A.Accept the invitation as it is standard networking practice in the construction industry

B.Politely decline the invitation to ensure impartiality and avoid any perception of bribery or bias

C.Accept the invitation but promise the client they will remain completely objective

D.Decline the invitation but ask if they can attend after the contract has been awarded instead

Explanation: Under the RICS Rules of Conduct (Rule 1: Honesty and Integrity) and the UK Bribery Act 2010, accepting significant gifts or hospitality during a active tender process is prohibited. It compromises the surveyor's independence and could be perceived as an inducement or bribe. Declining protects the surveyor's impartiality and promotes trust in the profession.

4A property developer client asks an RICS valuer to increase the valuation of a development site by 15% to help them secure bank funding. The client threatens to take their future business elsewhere if the valuer refuses. What should the valuer do?

A.Increase the valuation as requested, noting the developer's commercial optimism in the report assumptions

B.Refuse to alter the valuation, stand by the independent professional analysis, and report the pressure internally

C.Agree to a compromise increase of 7.5% to retain the client while limiting the valuation error

D.Withdraw from the instruction immediately without explaining the reasoning to the client

Explanation: The RICS Global Professional and Ethical Standards require members to 'Act with integrity' and 'Always provide a high standard of service'. Valuers must remain objective, independent, and resistant to client influence or pressure. Altering a valuation without professional justification violates RICS Red Book standards and constitutes professional misconduct.

5A prospective client offers to pay an RICS surveyor a fee of £12,000 in cash for a quick building survey, requesting that no formal invoice or receipt be issued. What is the surveyor's obligation?

A.Accept the cash but record it manually in the firm's private log to avoid paperwork

B.Refuse the cash payment, insist on standard invoicing procedures, and perform client due diligence in line with anti-money laundering (AML) guidelines

C.Accept the payment and offer a discount since the firm will save on administration and tax

D.Report the client to the police immediately without communicating with them

Explanation: Under RICS Rule 1 (Honesty and Integrity) and UK anti-money laundering legislation, surveyors must prevent money laundering and tax evasion. Accepting large cash payments without invoicing is a high-risk activity that facilitates financial crime. Surveyors must have robust AML policies and client identification checks in place.

6An RICS surveyor is asked to advise a client on purchasing a commercial site. The surveyor realizes they previously acted for the seller of the site on a lease negotiation two years ago. What should the surveyor check first?

A.Whether the seller will pay them a finder's fee for making the introduction

B.Whether they hold any confidential information from the previous instruction that is material to the new client's purchase

C.Whether the previous client paid their invoice on time

D.Nothing, as the previous instruction ended two years ago and poses no conflict

Explanation: Under the RICS Conflicts of Interest professional standard, conflicts can arise from possessing confidential information obtained from a former client. If the surveyor holds confidential information about the seller that is relevant to the buyer, they cannot act for the buyer unless the conflict can be managed and both parties give written informed consent.

7A long-standing client sends a bottle of moderately priced wine to an RICS surveyor's office as a 'thank you' after the successful completion of a boundary dispute case. How should the surveyor handle this?

A.Return the bottle immediately as accepting any gift violates RICS regulations

B.Accept the bottle, disclose it in the firm's gift register if required by their internal threshold, and thank the client

C.Keep the bottle but do not disclose it to avoid administrative paperwork

D.Refuse the bottle and inform RICS that the client attempted to influence their professional judgment

Explanation: Modest, transparent tokens of appreciation that are offered after a service has finished are generally acceptable, provided they are not intended as inducements. The surveyor should comply with their firm's internal gift and hospitality policy, which typically requires logging gifts above a certain value in a register.

8A home seller client asks a surveyor carrying out a building survey to omit any mention of significant damp in the basement, arguing that they intend to paint over it anyway. How should the surveyor proceed?

A.Omit the damp from the report if the client signs an agreement taking full legal responsibility

B.Accurately report the damp in the survey report, explaining that surveyors must be honest and truthful in their professional assessments

C.Mention the damp but describe it as minor cosmetic discoloration to please the client

D.Terminate the contract immediately without completing the report

Explanation: Surveyors must act with honesty and integrity and promote trust in the profession. Omitting a significant defect to assist a client in hiding it from a potential buyer would mislead third parties and constitute fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation. The surveyor must report findings accurately and objectively.

9An RICS surveyor working on an international project is told by a local public official that a small 'facilitation payment' is required to release planning documents that have already been approved. How does the UK Bribery Act 2010 apply?

A.The payment is acceptable if it is standard practice in that country and recorded as a business expense

B.The payment is illegal under the UK Bribery Act 2010, which applies to UK citizens and businesses globally, and must be refused

C.The payment is acceptable if it is under £100 and authorized by the firm's director

D.The payment is acceptable if paid through a local sub-consultant instead of directly by the surveyor

Explanation: Under the UK Bribery Act 2010, facilitation payments (small unofficial payments to secure or speed up routine government actions) are considered bribes and are strictly illegal. The Act has extra-territorial reach, meaning UK nationals and businesses can be prosecuted in the UK for bribery committed abroad. RICS Rules of Conduct require strict compliance with all legal obligations.

10An RICS valuer is asked by Client A to value a commercial property. The valuer notes that they valued the same property for Client B (a competitor) six months ago. What is the valuer's primary concern?

A.Ensuring they charge Client A a higher fee than Client B

B.Checking if they are using Client B's confidential information to benefit Client A, and obtaining consent if a conflict of interest exists

C.Informing Client A of Client B's business strategies to show their expertise

D.Refusing the instruction immediately as they cannot value the same property twice within a year

Explanation: Under the RICS Conflicts of Interest standard, acting for different clients on the same property can lead to a conflict of interest or a breach of confidentiality. The valuer must perform a conflict check, ensure they do not disclose or use confidential information from the previous instruction, and obtain written informed consent if a conflict of loyalty exists.

About the RICS APC Ethics Exam

The RICS APC Ethics, Rules of Conduct and Professionalism Test is a mandatory online assessment that all candidates must pass within 12 months prior to their final APC interview. The test contains 20 multiple-choice questions based on the RICS Rules of Conduct (effective February 2022). It assesses practical application of rules regarding conflicts of interest, bribery, complaints handling, client money protection, professional indemnity insurance, and respect in the workplace.

Assessment

20 multiple-choice questions

Time Limit

30 minutes

Passing Score

70% (14 out of 20)

Exam Fee

Free (for registered APC candidates) (RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors))

RICS APC Ethics Exam Content Outline

20%

Honesty and Integrity

Conflicts of interest checks and consent, UK Bribery Act compliance, gifts/hospitality policy, client pressure, and anti-money laundering regulations.

20%

Professional Competence

CPD obligations (20 hours, 10 formal), working within scope of expertise, local market knowledge, and proper delegation and supervision.

20%

Service

RICS two-stage Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP), clear Terms of Engagement, transparent fee quotes, and limitation of professional liability.

20%

Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion

Treating others with respect, preventing discrimination under the Equality Act 2010, promoting inclusive design and accessibility, and workplace conduct.

20%

Public Interest and Responsibility

Client money regulations, bank set-off letters, PII requirements (run-off cover minimum 6 years, excess caps), sole practitioner locum agreements, and reporting breaches.

How to Pass the RICS APC Ethics Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70% (14 out of 20)
Assessment: 20 multiple-choice questions
Time limit: 30 minutes
Exam fee: Free (for registered APC candidates)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

RICS APC Ethics Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on applying the rules to scenarios rather than memorizing definitions.

2Understand the 3 steps of conflicts of interest management: check, disclose, avoid/manage.

3Know the rules for Client Money: must be in a separate named client account with no set-off letter.

4Be ready to explain the two-stage Complaints Handling Procedure (CHP) and the 6-year PII run-off requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RICS professionalism module ethics test?

It is a mandatory online test assessing your understanding of RICS Rules of Conduct and ethical standards. You must pass it before submitting your final APC documents.

What is the pass mark for the RICS ethics test?

The pass mark is 70% (14 out of 20 questions correct). You must complete the test within 30 minutes.

What happens if I fail the RICS ethics test?

You can retake the test. There are unlimited attempts, but you must pass it to proceed with your APC final assessment.

How long is the RICS ethics test pass valid for?

The pass is valid for 12 months. It must be valid on the date of your final assessment submission.

What are the five RICS Rules of Conduct?

Effective February 2022, they are: 1) Honesty and Integrity, 2) Professional Competence, 3) Service, 4) Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion, and 5) Public Interest and Responsibility.