GARP SCR Study Plan 2026: 6-Week and 10-Week Plans for Working Professionals

Kateryna Myrko
22 minutes ago
3 min read

The GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate is designed to test practical climate risk management knowledge across markets, policy, governance, measurement, scenario analysis, and transition planning. The SCR exam is 80 multiple-choice questions (including one multi-part case study), 4 hours, and graded pass/fail.

For most working professionals, the biggest determinant of success isn’t “how smart you are,” it’s whether your preparation is structured and aligned to how the exam is built. GARP recommends ~100–150 hours of study time, which maps cleanly to either (a) an intensive 6-week plan or (b) a steadier 10-week plan.

Use the official materials first (then optimize)

Your registration includes complimentary access to the official curriculum via GARP Learning, plus a full-length SCR practice exam and other resources. The highest-ROI approach is:

Anchor on the official curriculum + required online readings (these are covered on the exam). Use the SCR Study Guide & Learning Objectives as your “map.” It summarizes each chapter, lists required readings, and even indicates the number of exam questions per chapter, so you can allocate time proportionally.
Build exam readiness with the full-length practice exam and targeted review, not endless re-reading.

The core curriculum spans topics such as climate change foundations, sustainability, climate risk, policy/culture/governance, green finance, measurement and management, models/scenario analysis, net zero, climate & nature risk assessment, and transition planning/carbon reporting.

GARP SCR Study Plan 2026: The 6-week SCR plan (intensive): ~16–20 hours/week (≈100–120 hours)

This plan is ideal if you’re inside a tight window or you already work in risk/ESG/climate.

Week 1 — Foundations + setup (14–18 hrs)

Read the Study Guide & Learning Objectives first and convert it into a checklist.
Cover the foundations: climate change basics, sustainability, and risk framing.
Create a one-page “definitions sheet” (physical vs transition risk, climate scenarios, etc.).

Week 2 — Governance + finance toolkit (16–20 hrs)

Policy, culture, governance: understand how regulation, disclosures, and organizational governance translate into risk management decisions.
Green/sustainable finance instruments: know what they are and how they behave under transition risk.

Week 3 — Measurement & management (18–22 hrs)

Deep focus on climate risk measurement/management concepts and how they are applied.
Start mixed practice: short quizzes + end-of-chapter checks in GARP Learning (even if they’re “not representative,” they help retention).

Week 4 — Models + scenario analysis (18–22 hrs)

Climate models and scenario analysis: aim for practical interpretation (what outputs mean, limitations, and how risk teams use them).
Midpoint mini-mock: do 40 questions timed to stress test pacing.

Week 5 — Net zero + nature risk + transition planning (16–20 hrs)

Net zero concepts and transition planning/carbon reporting: focus on terminology, decision-useful reporting, and common implementation challenges.
Integrate required online readings (don’t treat them as optional).

Week 6 — Exam simulation + targeted repair (18–22 hrs)

Take the full-length SCR practice exam under exam conditions (single sitting, timed).
Error-log every miss into categories: knowledge gap, misread question, application confusion, time pressure.
Revisit weak chapters using the Study Guide’s learning objectives and question distribution to prioritize.

6-week pacing target: by the end of Week 4, you should be “done once” with the curriculum; Weeks 5–6 are for integration, mocks, and conversion of knowledge into score.

The 10-week SCR plan (sustainable): ~10–12 hours/week (≈100–120 hours)

This plan is best for candidates with a heavy workload, frequent travel, or less background in climate/ESG.

Weeks 1–2 — Orientation + foundations (8–12 hrs/week)

Build your checklist from the Study Guide & Learning Objectives.
Cover climate change foundations + sustainability + climate risk overview.

Weeks 3–4 — Governance + policy + culture (10–12 hrs/week)

Focus on how policy and governance translate into operational risk decisions and controls.

Weeks 5–6 — Green finance + risk measurement/management (10–14 hrs/week)

This is typically “high yield” because it connects concepts to tools, instruments, and management actions.
Do weekly timed sets (20–25 questions) to build exam stamina.

Weeks 7–8 — Models/scenarios + net zero + nature risk (10–12 hrs/week)

Treat scenario analysis as an applied competency: interpretation, limitations, and governance.

Weeks 9–10 — Final review + practice exam + polish (12–16 hrs/week)

Sit the official full-length practice exam timed.
Use your error log to drive final revision (avoid passive rereading).
Re-check required online readings and any errata updates if relevant.

Practical tips that matter for working professionals

Register early if possible so your plan isn’t compressed by scheduling constraints; the exam is offered in April and October and appointments are first-come, first-served. GARP SCR Study Plan 2026
Use GARP Learning’s tracking and personalized planning features to stay consistent week-to-week.
Don’t ignore the case-study style question: train for application, not memorization.