RICS Ethics Test
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ExploreAbout this exam
The RICS Ethics Test is the ethics component of the assessment pathway run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the globally recognised professional body whose stated aim is to effect positive change in the built and natural environments. RICS describes itself as developing and enforcing leading international standards, protecting consumers and businesses by ensuring professionalism across the built and natural environment, with its regulatory functions relating to standards and professional development led and overseen by the Standards and Regulation Board (SRB). Candidates typically encounter ethics within RICS candidate assessment and professional development, and the subject matter is directly relevant to anyone working toward or maintaining professional status. This independent study page covers three areas: rules of conduct; professional and ethical standards; and reporting concerns and regulatory compliance. Note that RICS publishes a Rules of conduct page and a Reporting concerns page, and candidates should read those primary documents directly, since the specific rule wording, any numeric limits and any procedural deadlines are set by RICS and are not reproduced here. We make no claim of official affiliation with RICS, and no claim that this page is endorsed by it. Prepare by reading the current RICS rules and reporting guidance, then practising scenario-based reasoning: identify the duty owed, the conflict, the disclosure required and the correct escalation route. Verify all figures and procedures against current RICS publications before your assessment, as content is revised over time.
What you'll study
About RICS Ethics Test preparation
What does the RICS Ethics Test cover?
This study page is organised around three domains: rules of conduct, professional and ethical standards, and reporting concerns and regulatory compliance. Expect scenario questions asking what a member should do when duties conflict, when a conflict of interest arises, or when misconduct should be reported. Always check the current RICS Rules of conduct and Reporting concerns pages for authoritative wording.
How is the ethics assessment delivered and how long does it take?
We cannot state a format, question count or duration with confidence: the RICS ethics page returned an error when retrieved, and the RICS homepage does not set out assessment logistics. Confirm the format, timing and any time limits through the RICS Assessment Platform or RICS candidate support before booking.
What score do I need to pass, and can I retake it?
Pass marks and retake rules are not published in the source material available to us, so we do not quote figures. Check your candidate guidance and the RICS Assessment Platform for the current pass standard and any resit conditions, including whether a waiting period applies before you can re-attempt.
How difficult is the ethics test?
Difficulty is not something we can quantify without official data. In practice, candidates who struggle usually know the headline principles but cannot apply them to messy facts: competing client and public interests, undisclosed referral fees, or pressure from an employer. Practise short scenarios and justify each answer against a specific rule.
In what order should I study the three domains?
Start with rules of conduct, because the other two domains assume you know the obligations. Then study professional and ethical standards, which test judgement in applying those obligations. Finish with reporting concerns and regulatory compliance, since escalation routes only make sense once you know what has been breached and why it matters.
What are the most common failure modes?
Typical errors are choosing the commercially convenient answer over the ethical one, failing to recognise a conflict of interest, staying silent when a matter should be escalated internally or reported to RICS, and confusing confidentiality with concealment. Another frequent mistake is answering from memory of older rule wording rather than the current published rules.
Where can I find the official rules and reporting guidance?
The RICS homepage links to both a Rules of conduct page and a Reporting concerns page, and to the Standards and Regulation Board, which oversees regulatory functions relating to standards and professional development. Use those primary pages, plus RICS candidate support, as your authoritative references rather than third-party summaries.
Is this page affiliated with or endorsed by RICS?
No. This is independent study material written for candidates searching this exam. RICS is a globally recognised professional body, but we make no claim of official affiliation, endorsement or partnership, and nothing here should be treated as a substitute for the current RICS rules, guidance or assessment instructions.