SCR Exam Failure Stories: What 53% of Candidates Got Wrong

Kateryna Myrko
Sep 19
4 min read

With pass rates hitting as low as 47% in April 2024, over half of SCR candidates are walking away disappointed. But their failures aren't random – they follow predictable patterns. Here are the real stories behind what's going wrong and how to avoid joining the 53% who didn't make it.

The Memorization Trap: "100 Hours of Study Were Irrelevant"

The Story: A frustrated candidate who sat for both October 2023 and April 2024 sessions said it bluntly: the exam "is really not to test understanding, but rather to test memories in text." Another candidate felt even more defeated: "I almost feel like there was no need to study at all since the only strategies I could apply to the test were some deductive reasoning and other generic test-taking strategies. Very frustrating and makes you feel like your 100 hours of study were irrelevant."

What Went Wrong: The #1 mistake candidates make is "failing to connect theoretical knowledge to real-world applications." The SCR exam isn't a memory test – it's designed to assess practical climate risk management skills. SCR Exam Failure Stories , SCR Exam

The Fix: Stop memorizing definitions. Start understanding how concepts apply in real scenarios. Practice case studies where you need to analyze actual business situations involving climate risks.

The Practice Exam Deception: "Questions Don't Match Study Materials" SCR Exam Failure Stories , SCR Exam

The Story: An April 2024 candidate discovered a crushing reality: "I did the 3-hour practice exam offered by the online portal and was dismayed to discover that the exam questions do not accurately reflect the study materials and practice questions." They wrote to GARP's feedback system about this "real problem."

What Went Wrong: Candidates are "not sure of what the exam is about. Sometimes it feels like it is not about knowledge testing but more about experience (practicality) testing." The disconnect between official materials and actual exam content leaves candidates unprepared.

The Fix: Don't rely solely on GARP's practice materials. Supplement with current industry reports, regulatory updates, and real-world climate risk case studies from major financial institutions.

The Time Management Disaster: Getting Stuck on One Question

The Story: Many candidates "get stuck on one question, reducing the time available for the rest of the exam. The two multi-part case studies require strategic thinking—if you spend too much time on one part, it can impact the rest of your answers."

What Went Wrong: Poor time allocation strategy. Candidates treat all questions equally instead of prioritizing based on confidence and point value.

The Fix: Use a time-based approach: allocate 2 minutes per question and keep track of time. "Prioritize high-confidence answers first and return to difficult ones later."

The Interdisciplinary Confusion: Finance Meets Climate Science

The Story: The SCR exam "demands expertise in finance, environment, and policy. You need to understand the financial instruments used to manage climate risk, the scientific fundamentals of climate change, and the regulatory frameworks in the context of business sustainability."

What Went Wrong: Candidates studied each subject in isolation instead of understanding how they interconnect. They could define carbon pricing but couldn't analyze how it affects a mining company's transition strategy.

The Fix: Practice systems thinking. Study real-world examples like "How does a heatwave in Argentina impact a textile factory in Bangladesh?" Focus on the domino effects of climate risks across industries.

The Mystery Score Problem: "I Don't Know Where I Lack"

The Story: A failed candidate described the frustration: "You will never know where you lack. It is like you are with some ghosts in a battle. You don't know where your enemy is, and you swing the sword in every direction and end up going out of breath."

What Went Wrong: GARP doesn't provide detailed score breakdowns, leaving candidates guessing about their weak areas. The passing score "remains a mystery. Some people say it is 50% some people say it is 60-70%. However, there is no official statement by GARP."

The Fix: Track your own performance during practice. Create detailed study logs noting which topics you struggle with. Focus extra time on these areas rather than hoping for the best.

The Resource Overload Mistake: Too Many Study Sources

The Story: "Finding the right resources to help with your preparation can feel like searching for water in the desert. This is not coming from us, as we have heard this from the people who have already passed the exam or are on their way to take the exams."

What Went Wrong: Candidates either used insufficient resources (only official GARP materials) or went to the opposite extreme, drowning in too many conflicting sources.

The Fix: Use a balanced approach. Start with official GARP materials for the foundation, then add 2-3 high-quality supplementary sources focusing on current industry developments and practical applications.

The Overconfidence Trap: "I Understand the Text Completely"

The Story: One candidate lamented: "I just sat for the 2022 Oct SCR exam. You could completely understand the text, completed 4 rounds of review and memorise everything you needed to memorise and yet still cannot pass this exam."

What Went Wrong: Understanding concepts in isolation isn't enough. The exam tests practical application and integration of knowledge across disciplines.

The Fix: Test your understanding by teaching concepts to others or writing brief case study analyses. If you can't explain how climate transition risks affect different industries, you're not ready.

Learning from the 47%: Your Path Forward

The April 2024 failure rate of 53% wasn't due to the material being impossible – the October 2024 rebound to 66% pass rate proves that. The difference? Candidates who learned from these common mistakes.

Key Takeaways for Success: