CTFA Sample Exam Questions

The following questions are representative of the types of questions you will find on the examination.

a. Tell the advisor he must first obtain the consents of the current beneficiary and presumptive remaindermen.b. Confront the advisor and, if the situation cannot be remedied, seek court guidance.c. Follow the advisor's directions nonetheless.d. Obtain the written consent of all fiduciaries. 

a. Leave everything to his wife in his will.b. Give $14,000 per year to each of his two children.c. Incorporate a credit shelter trust provision in his will.d. Transfer the house ownership completely to his wife.

a. 401(k)b. Money Purchase Pension Planc. Profit Sharing Pland. Rabbi Trust

a. John's deathb. Sam's deathc. The creation of the trustd. The appointment of the executor or administrator of Sam's estate

a. A 10% Treasury bond is more attractive than a 7.2% municipal bond issued by a state of which the client is not a resident.b. A 6.0% bond issued by the client's state of residence is more attractive than a 7.2% municipal bond issued by another state.c. An 18% corporate bond is more attractive than a 12% municipal bond issued by the client's state of residence.d. A 6.75% municipal bond issued by the client's state of residence is more attractive than a 7% municipal bond issued by a U.S. territory.

1. b2. c3. d4. a5. a​

DSE 2023: To ace history exam, pay attention to question words and make sure essays are well-structured

Pencils scribble furiously in a race against the clock – most students taking the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) history exam know the fear of running out of time. But don’t worry – we’ve got your back.

With the history exam to be held on May 15, Young Post asked Beacon College’s history tutor, Lori Tsang, for advice on approaching this tough paper.

The star tutor said these topics were likely to appear on the exam this year:

“Factors comparison on World War II is also a common topic, but students already know about this,” Tsang added.

In this photo from 1986, Deng Xiaoping (left) meets Queen Elizabeth II. Deng was crucial to China’s opening in 1978. Photo: PA Images via Getty Images

Paper 1: don’t ignore the question words

On Paper 1, which features data-based questions, Tsang said students needed to pay attention to specific question words.

“Sometimes the question words would be switched up a bit, and students would look past it,” he explained.

For example, questions about Hong Kong history often use the words “improve” and “better”, but when answering, students forget to explain the comparison, causing them to lose points.

In Part C of the data-based questions, a common issue is forgetting to separate information from the sources and one’s own knowledge. Tsang said this mistake would make it hard for markers to attribute students’ scores.

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Paper 2: structure is key

For the two essays in Paper 2, structure is a key component that markers look at when scoring the paper. Each essay should be about nine paragraphs long, which includes the introduction and conclusion.

Tsang recommended following this simple four-part structure for writing paragraphs: topic sentence, example, explanation and conclusion. “It will be easier for the markers to track your arguments,” he said.

Strong topic sentences are crucial. They must be concise and precise, telling the markers exactly what your argument will be. The tutor warned against writing paragraphs that are too long.

“When [students] write a lengthy paragraph, it doesn’t relay a strong main point,” he stressed.

Your essays should be easy for the exam markers to follow. Photo: Shutterstock

Throughout the essay, use sequence words and phrases to make sure your arguments are well-structured and easy to follow.

Tsang also reminded students to do analysis based on specific question words in the prompt, or their response would get off track, risking a major downgrade in marks.

Also, when the question specifies a time period, make sure to include the whole time frame in your writing.

“For example, if the question asks for 1970 to 1999, but the student only writes about events up to 1980, then they would lose points,” he said.

Time management

On Paper 1, which carries 60 per cent of the total marks, you only need to answer three of the four data-based questions in one hour and 45 minutes.

Tsang suggested finishing each data-based question in 35 minutes, which could be split into 15 minutes for both Part A and B with 20 minutes left for Part C.

Paper 2, which carries the remaining 40 per cent of the marks, requires you to attempt two essay questions in one hour and 30 minutes.

Tsang advised evenly dividing the time with 45 minutes for each question, but he reminded students to leave three minutes to outline the structure before delving into writing.

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Last-minute revision tips

The day before the exam, the tutor said it was best to revise the overall timelines of the topics.

“I know [students] would be very nervous the day before the exam. I suggest they revise timelines of history to refresh their memory on the chronological order of events,” Tsang said.

“In history, the facts and event details don’t matter as much. Rather, they want to see your analysis of them.”