BCP Exam Format, Logistics and Study Plan

BCP Exam Format, Logistics and Study Plan

Quick Answer: BCP is a 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice Computer Screen Examination (CSE) run by the Singapore College of Insurance (SCI). You need 70% (28 of 40) to pass, wrong answers are not penalised, and the weekday daytime fee is S$49.05 including GST. From 3 August 2026 the examination is based on the BCP 8th Edition (Version 1.1) study text.

The Basic Insurance Concepts and Principles (BCP) module is the first building block of SCI's Certification in General Insurance (CGI). SCI introduced the modular CGI on 12 June 2002 with three modules: BCP, Personal General Insurance (PGI) and Commercial General Insurance (ComGI). Because BCP is common to both certifications, SCI advises candidates to pass it first: the PGI and ComGI products all rest on the risk concepts, legal principles and market rules taught here.

Why Practitioners Must Pass It

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requires every "Relevant Person" who sells general insurance, gives sales advice, handles claims or advises on claims to pass the Personal General Insurance Certification and/or the Commercial General Insurance Certification, depending on the lines involved. This covers agents, brokers and employees of insurers, banks and finance companies. SCI points to MAS Notice 211 and MAS Notice 502 for these requirements. The General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) and the Singapore Insurance Brokers' Association (SIBA) also require their "Front End Operatives" to hold the relevant certification.

Passing all three modules is also the minimum entry requirement for SCI's Diploma and Advanced Diploma in General Insurance and Risk Management.

Official Examination Format

SCI does not publish chapter weightings for BCP. Treat any weighting table you see elsewhere as an unofficial estimate and prepare across all nine chapters.

Fees, Booking and Rescheduling

Since 1 April 2024, first-time candidates and retakers pay the same fee. Registration is online and payment is by Visa or MasterCard. Cancellations and refunds are not allowed, but BCP dates can be changed under SCI's rescheduling policy:

• 7 or more working days before the exam: the first change is free; later changes cost S$32.70 each.
• Less than 7 but more than 2 working days before: S$32.70 per request.
• 2 working days or less before: no rescheduling is allowed.

Bring valid photo identification. No calculators are provided, but you may bring an approved non-programmable model from SCI's list. The list includes the Casio FC 100/100V/200/200V, HP 10b/10bII, Texas Instruments BA II Plus and BA II Plus Professional, and Sharp EL735/EL738/EL738F. BCP is conceptual, but a calculator helps with average, contribution and reinsurance arithmetic.

Study Text and Edition Control

SCI issues the study text as an eBook only, and access is activated after registration and payment. SCI's notice on study texts for regulatory examinations lists the BCP 8th Edition (Version 1.1) as effective for examinations from 3 August 2026. Updates are recorded in the Version Control Record at the back of the eBook, so check it before your final revision week. SCI recommends a minimum of 40 to 50 study hours per module.

The Nine Official Chapters and How This Guide Maps to Them

1. The Insurance and Reinsurance Market (Guide Chapter 1)
2. The Regulatory Landscape and Industry Frameworks (Chapter 2)
3. Risks and Insurance (Chapter 3)
4. Principles of Insurance (Chapters 4 to 6)
5. Law of Contract and Agency (Chapter 7)
6. Insurance Documents (Chapter 8)
7. Claims (Chapter 9)
8. Reinsurance and Co-insurance (Chapter 10)
9. Ethics, Professionalism, Data Protection and Cyber Hygiene (Chapter 11)

A Four-Week Study Plan

1. Week 1: market structure, regulation, the PPF Scheme, the Premium Payment Framework and nominations. These chapters are fact-heavy, so make a one-page list of numbers and names.
2. Week 2: risk, hazards and the six principles of insurance. Practise applying each principle to short scenarios rather than memorising definitions.
3. Week 3: contract and agency law, insurance documents, claims, reinsurance and co-insurance. Work through every calculation by hand.
4. Week 4: ethics, codes of practice, PDPA and cyber hygiene, then timed mixed practice at about one minute per question.