CAIB 1 — CAIB New Edition 1.0 Study Plan

Last revised: June 24, 2026

A practical 7-day, 14-day, 30-day, and 60/90-day study plan for Insurance Brokers Association of Canada CAIB 1 candidates.

Orientation

This Study Plan is for candidates preparing for the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada exam CAIB New Edition 1.0 - CAIB 1, exam code CAIB 1.

Use it to turn your remaining study time into a realistic schedule. The plan is built around how insurance exams are usually passed: repeated exposure to policy language, coverage distinctions, broker duties, scenario judgment, and careful missed-question review.

The goal is not to reread everything. The goal is to become reliable at answering CAIB 1-style questions under time pressure.

Which plan should you use?

Time remaining	Best plan	Use this if	Main risk to manage
7 days	Final review plan	You have already studied most of the material	Spending too much time on new reading
14 days	Focused plan	You know the basics but need structure and practice	Weak coverage distinctions and rushed review
30 days	Balanced plan	You are starting with some available study time	Reading without enough question practice
60/90 days	Full preparation path	You are starting early or studying around work	Forgetting early material before exam week

If you are unsure, take a short diagnostic set first. If you score poorly because you do not recognize terms, choose a longer plan if possible. If you miss questions because you misread scenarios or confuse similar coverages, you may be closer than you think, but you need focused review and timed practice.

Build your CAIB 1 study map

Before scheduling days, organize your materials into review buckets. Do not assume these are official exam weightings. They are practical study categories for managing your preparation.

Study bucket	What to review	Practice focus
Insurance fundamentals	Risk, indemnity, insurable interest, utmost good faith, subrogation, contribution, proximate cause	Definitions applied to short client scenarios
Broker role and conduct	Client needs, documentation, disclosure, privacy-minded handling, conflicts, errors and omissions awareness	“What should the broker do next?” questions
Policy structure and wording	Declarations, insuring agreements, conditions, exclusions, endorsements, limits, deductibles	Identifying where the answer is found in a policy structure
Personal lines coverage concepts	Property coverage, liability coverage, additional living expense, scheduled items, exclusions, special limits where applicable in your material	Coverage granted vs. excluded vs. limited
Automobile concepts	Ownership/use scenarios, liability, physical damage, accident benefits concepts where covered in your course material	Matching client facts to coverage response
Underwriting and rating logic	Risk information, applications, material facts, renewals, changes, cancellations where applicable	Consequences of incomplete or changed information
Claims handling basics	Notice, duties after loss, proof/documentation, settlement concepts	Order of steps and responsibilities
Calculations and numbers	Deductibles, limits, coinsurance or valuation examples if included in your materials	Slow, clean setup; avoid arithmetic traps

Daily practice rhythm

Use the same rhythm most study days. Adjust the length based on your available time.

Session length	What to do	Output
10 minutes	Quick recall from yesterday: key terms, conditions, exclusions, formulas or calculation steps	Warm-up list
35 to 60 minutes	Study one topic bucket using your CAIB 1 material	Short notes, not copied paragraphs
30 to 45 minutes	Topic drill questions	Mark every uncertain answer
20 to 30 minutes	Review missed and guessed questions	Error log entries
5 minutes	Choose tomorrow’s first topic	No decision fatigue tomorrow

For workday study, one focused 75- to 90-minute block is better than several distracted sessions. On weekends, use two separate blocks: one for learning and one for timed practice.

The missed-question review method

Missed-question review is where most score improvement happens. Do not only read the explanation and move on.

For every missed or guessed question, record:

Field	What to write
Topic	Example: policy conditions, liability coverage, underwriting, claims
Why I missed it	Knowledge gap, misread facts, confused two coverages, ignored an exclusion, arithmetic error
Correct rule	One sentence in your own words
Trigger words	Words in the question that should have changed your answer
Retest date	2 to 4 days later

Use this quick classification:

Error type	Fix
Did not know the term	Add it to a daily terminology list
Knew the term but chose wrong coverage	Make a comparison table
Missed an exclusion or condition	Review policy structure and wording cues
Changed a correct answer	Require a specific reason before changing answers
Calculation error	Rewrite the setup, not just the final number
Scenario judgment error	Ask: client fact, broker duty, policy response, next best action

Review the error log every second day. In the final week, review it daily.

When to use timed mock exams

Timed mocks should be used after you have enough content knowledge to learn from the result. Taking full mocks too early can waste time and create false discouragement.

Preparation stage	Best use of timed practice
Early stage	Short timed sets of 10 to 25 questions
Middle stage	Mixed-topic sets with explanation review
Final 2 weeks	Full or near-full timed mock exams
Final 48 hours	Light timed sets only; no exhausting mock unless you have not practiced timing at all

After each mock, spend at least as long reviewing as you spent writing. A timed mock without review is only a measurement. A reviewed mock becomes study time.

7-day final review plan

Use this if the exam is one week away. This is not the time to rebuild your entire course from scratch. Focus on high-yield review, question practice, and error correction.

Day	Main goal	Study actions
Day 7	Diagnose and prioritize	Take a timed mixed set. Mark weak topics. Build a one-page priority list.
Day 6	Insurance principles and policy structure	Review core principles, declarations, insuring agreements, exclusions, conditions, endorsements. Drill questions.
Day 5	Property and liability coverage distinctions	Make comparison tables. Practice scenarios involving coverage granted, limited, or excluded.
Day 4	Auto and client scenarios	Review auto concepts in your materials. Drill ownership, use, liability, and physical damage scenarios where applicable.
Day 3	Broker duties, underwriting, claims	Review applications, material facts, documentation, client communications, claims steps.
Day 2	Timed mock and deep review	Complete one timed mock or long mixed set. Review every missed and guessed question.
Day 1	Final consolidation	Review error log, definitions, comparison tables, and calculation steps. Stop adding new material.

7-day rules

Stop broad reading by Day 3 unless a topic is completely unfamiliar.
Do not take multiple full mocks back-to-back without review.
Prioritize recurring misses over rare obscure details.
On the final day, study lightly and protect sleep.
If you are using free practice exams, use them as a timing and weakness check, not as your only source of learning.

14-day focused plan

Use this if you have two weeks and can study most days. The first week closes content gaps. The second week converts knowledge into exam performance.

Day	Focus	Practice task
1	Diagnostic mixed set	Create topic ranking: strong, moderate, weak
2	Insurance fundamentals	Drill terminology and principle-based scenarios
3	Policy structure	Identify conditions, exclusions, endorsements, limits, deductibles
4	Personal property concepts	Coverage distinctions and special limits where covered
5	Liability concepts	Client scenarios and policy response
6	Auto concepts	Mixed auto questions from your CAIB 1 materials
7	Weekly review	Retest missed questions from Days 1 to 6
8	Broker role and client handling	Documentation, disclosure, needs analysis, professional conduct
9	Underwriting and applications	Material facts, risk information, changes, renewals
10	Claims basics	Duties after loss, notice, settlement logic, documentation
11	Calculations and wording traps	Deductibles, limits, valuation or coinsurance examples if applicable
12	Timed mock	Simulate exam conditions as closely as practical
13	Mock review and weak-topic drills	Rework every missed and guessed question
14	Final review	Error log, comparison tables, light mixed set, rest

14-day daily minimum

If you are short on time, complete these three items each day:

30 minutes of targeted content review.
25 to 40 topic questions.
15 minutes updating and reviewing your error log.

30-day balanced plan

Use this if you have about a month. This is the best balance for many working candidates because it allows time for learning, spaced review, and timed practice.

30-day overview

Phase	Days	Goal	Main output
Foundation	1 to 7	Understand core concepts and policy structure	Topic notes and terminology list
Coverage application	8 to 16	Apply property, liability, auto, and client facts	Comparison charts and scenario drills
Broker process and exam skill	17 to 23	Review broker duties, underwriting, claims, documentation	Mixed-topic accuracy improvement
Mock and final review	24 to 30	Build timing, reduce repeat errors, consolidate	Mock review and final checklist

Days 1 to 7: foundation

Day	Focus	Study actions
1	Diagnostic	Complete a short mixed diagnostic. Build your topic map.
2	Insurance principles	Create flashcards or quick notes for core principles and terms.
3	Policy anatomy	Review declarations, insuring agreements, exclusions, conditions, endorsements.
4	Legal and contract concepts	Focus on applied meaning, not memorized wording only.
5	Broker role	Review client intake, advice boundaries, documentation, disclosure.
6	Mixed drill	Complete topic drills from Days 2 to 5.
7	Review day	Retest missed questions and rewrite weak notes.

Days 8 to 16: coverage application

Day	Focus	Study actions
8	Property coverage basics	Identify what is covered, limited, excluded, or conditional.
9	Property exclusions and limitations	Build a comparison table from your course material.
10	Liability coverage	Practice third-party injury/property damage scenarios.
11	Additional coverages and endorsements	Focus on why an endorsement changes the answer.
12	Auto concepts	Review definitions, coverage parts, and common scenario triggers.
13	Auto application	Complete a timed auto-focused question set.
14	Calculations	Practice deductibles, limits, valuation, or other calculations in your material.
15	Mixed coverage set	Complete a timed mixed set across property, liability, and auto.
16	Error-log review	Retest all missed coverage questions.

Days 17 to 23: broker process and exam skill

Day	Focus	Study actions
17	Underwriting information	Review applications, material facts, risk selection, changes.
18	Documentation	Practice “best next step” broker scenarios.
19	Claims handling	Review notice, duties after loss, evidence, settlement concepts.
20	Compliance vocabulary	Review professional and regulator-facing terms in your materials.
21	Mixed timed set	Complete a longer mixed set under time limits.
22	Explanation review	Review all guessed answers, even if correct.
23	Weakest two topics	Deep drill only your weakest areas.

Days 24 to 30: mock and final review

Day	Focus	Study actions
24	Timed mock 1	Complete a full or near-full timed practice exam.
25	Mock 1 review	Build a top-10 error list. Rework missed questions.
26	Targeted repair	Study only topics from the top-10 error list.
27	Timed mock 2 or long mixed set	Test whether errors are decreasing.
28	Mock 2 review	Compare results to Mock 1. Identify remaining risks.
29	Final consolidation	Review definitions, comparison tables, and calculations.
30	Light final review	Short mixed set, error log, exam logistics, rest.

60/90-day full preparation path

Use this if you are starting early, studying around a full-time job, or want more spacing. The main advantage of a longer plan is retention. The main danger is passive reading.

Weekly structure

Week	Focus	Practice target
1	Orientation and diagnostic	Baseline mixed set; build study map
2	Insurance principles and terminology	Short daily recall drills
3	Policy structure and legal concepts	Policy wording identification questions
4	Broker role and client handling	Scenario-based “next best action” drills
5	Property coverage concepts	Coverage granted vs. excluded comparisons
6	Liability coverage concepts	Third-party scenarios and limits/deductibles practice
7	Auto concepts in your course material	Auto-focused timed sets
8	Underwriting and applications	Material fact and risk information scenarios
9	Claims handling and documentation	Claims-step sequencing questions
10	Mixed-topic review	Timed mixed sets and error-log retesting
11	Mock exam phase	Full or near-full timed mock and review
12	Final review phase	Weak-topic repair and exam-week routine

For a 60-day schedule, combine Weeks 2 and 3, combine Weeks 5 and 6, and begin mock practice around the final 14 days. For a 90-day schedule, keep the spacing and add more retesting of older topics.

Long-plan weekly rhythm

Day type	What to do
3 study days	Learn or review one assigned topic bucket
2 practice days	Complete topic drills and mixed sets
1 review day	Update error log and retest older misses
1 rest or light day	Flashcards, terminology, or no study

A long plan should still include timed work. Do not wait until the final week to experience time pressure.

Topic drill strategy

Use drills differently depending on where you are in the plan.

Drill type	When to use	How to review
Topic drill	After studying a chapter or topic bucket	Confirm the rule behind every answer
Mixed drill	After several topics are covered	Practice switching between concepts
Timed drill	Mid-plan onward	Track pacing and careless errors
Free practice exam	Early as a baseline or late as a check	Do not memorize answers; review explanations
Full mock exam	Final 2 to 3 weeks	Simulate exam conditions and analyze deeply

When reviewing explanations, ask four questions:

What fact in the question controlled the answer?
Which policy term, condition, exclusion, or broker duty applied?
Why were the other options wrong?
What would change the answer if the client facts changed?

Coverage comparison tables to build

Create your own tables as you study. They are especially useful for CAIB 1 because many questions test distinctions rather than isolated definitions.

Coverage decision table

Question to ask	Why it matters
Who is insured?	Determines whether the person or organization qualifies for coverage
What property or liability is involved?	Identifies the coverage part or exclusion area
What caused the loss?	Connects facts to insured peril, exclusion, or condition
Where did it happen?	Location can affect coverage response
Was there a limit, deductible, or special condition?	Prevents overbroad coverage assumptions
Was the broker expected to act?	Connects the scenario to professional duties

Similar-concept table

Concept A	Concept B	How to avoid confusion
Limit	Deductible	Limit caps payment; deductible is the insured’s retained amount
Exclusion	Condition	Exclusion removes coverage; condition sets requirements
Endorsement	Standard wording	Endorsement modifies the standard policy
Application information	Policy declaration	Application supports underwriting; declaration summarizes issued coverage
First-party loss	Third-party liability	First-party concerns the insured’s own loss; third-party concerns liability to others

Calculation practice

CAIB 1 preparation may include insurance calculations depending on your course materials and practice questions. Do not treat calculation questions as memory questions. Write the setup.

Use this process:

Identify the amount of loss.
Identify the applicable limit.
Identify deductible or retained amount.
Check whether a condition, valuation rule, or limitation changes the result.
Calculate only after the coverage response is clear.

For calculation errors, record the exact mistake:

Error	Fix
Used the wrong limit	Highlight the relevant limit before calculating
Forgot deductible	Add “deductible?” to your calculation checklist
Calculated before deciding coverage	Determine covered vs. excluded first
Mixed up replacement cost and actual cash value concepts	Create a side-by-side definition table from your material
Arithmetic slip	Recalculate once slowly before submitting

Scenario judgment routine

For applied insurance questions, use the same four-step routine.

Step	Question	Example output
1	What are the client facts?	Person, property, vehicle, location, timing
2	What policy or broker concept applies?	Coverage part, condition, exclusion, duty
3	What is the issue?	Covered, excluded, limited, requires action, needs documentation
4	What is the best answer?	Choose the option that matches both facts and rule

Avoid answering from memory before reading all facts. Insurance exam questions often turn on one word, such as who, where, when, owned, rented, excluded, reported, disclosed, or endorsed.

Final-week rules

During the final week, your job is to reduce uncertainty and avoid fatigue.

Rule	Why
Stop adding new material 24 to 48 hours before the exam	New content can crowd out stable knowledge
Review missed questions more than new questions	Repeat errors are the easiest points to recover
Keep mocks limited and purposeful	Exhaustion lowers accuracy
Practice with timing	You need a pacing plan before exam day
Sleep before the exam	Tired candidates misread scenario details
Prepare logistics early	Reduce avoidable stress

In the final 24 hours, focus on:

Error log.
Definitions and insurance principles.
Coverage comparison tables.
Broker duty and documentation scenarios.
Calculation setup steps.
A short, confidence-building mixed set.

Exam-readiness checks

You are likely ready to sit when most of these are true:

Readiness check	Target condition
Topic coverage	You have reviewed every major CAIB 1 topic in your materials
Error pattern	You are no longer missing the same rule repeatedly
Scenario accuracy	You can explain why the correct answer is better than the distractors
Timing	You can complete a timed set without rushing the final questions
Terminology	You can define key terms in plain language
Coverage judgment	You can distinguish covered, excluded, limited, and conditional responses
Calculation process	You can set up calculations cleanly before doing arithmetic
Confidence level	You feel cautious but organized, not surprised by common question styles

If one area is still weak, do not reread the whole course. Build a 90-minute repair block:

Review the exact rule or policy concept.
Work 15 to 25 focused questions.
Review explanations.
Add the lesson to your error log.
Retest the next day.

Practical next step

Choose the plan that matches your remaining time, then start with a diagnostic mixed set. After that, build your CAIB 1 error log and schedule your next three study sessions before doing more reading. Practice first, review carefully, and let your missed questions decide what you study next.

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