Common GARP SCR Exam Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

The GARP Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) Certificate has quickly become a gold standard for professionals seeking expertise in managing climate-related financial risks. With exam sessions offered in April and October each year, demand for the certification continues to grow. However, despite the exam’s accessibility to candidates of all professional backgrounds, many fall short not due to a lack of intelligence, but because of avoidable mistakes.

In this professional guide, we’ll explore the most common mistakes SCR candidates make, and—more importantly—how you can avoid them to confidently prepare for and pass the exam.

1. Underestimating the Exam’s Breadth and Depth Common GARP SCR Exam Mistakes , GARP SCR Exam

The Mistake: Some candidates assume the SCR exam is light on technicality or consists solely of high-level climate change concepts. In reality, the exam tests deep understanding across 10 chapters, including policy frameworks, climate models, green finance, GHG reporting, nature risks, and more.

How to Avoid It: Study the Candidate Guide and Fact Sheet thoroughly. Note that Chapter 6 (Climate Risk Measurement and Management) alone carries 12–18 questions—the highest exam weight. Chapter 7 on Scenario Analysis, and even case study-based chapters like 9 and 10, require applied knowledge. Start early and aim for 100–150 hours of study. Common GARP SCR Exam Mistakes , GARP SCR Exam

2. Ignoring the Learning Objectives

The Mistake: Treating the SCR eBook as a textbook to read from cover to cover without referencing the learning objectives leads to inefficient studying.

How to Avoid It: Download the Learning Objectives document from GARP and use it to guide your studies. Focus on what you need to know, differentiate, evaluate, and apply in real-world contexts. If a learning objective mentions you must “assess risk using XYZ framework,” ensure you can do just that.

3. Memorizing Instead of Understanding

The Mistake: Some candidates attempt to memorize definitions and numbers without grasping their implications—especially in topics like GHG accounting, net-zero transition planning, or climate scenario analysis.

How to Avoid It: Understand concepts contextually. For instance, don't just memorize that CH₄ has a GWP of 29; know why methane’s short atmospheric lifetime still results in a potent warming impact and how that affects corporate carbon strategies.

4. Skipping Practice Exams

The Mistake: Candidates who avoid the full-length practice exam often struggle with time management and question complexity on test day.

How to Avoid It: Take the GARP-provided practice exam under real conditions. It’s a key tool to familiarize yourself with:

Case study format
Application-style questions
Time pacing

Evaluate your performance and revisit weak areas.

5. Neglecting Case Study Preparation

The Mistake: Case studies make up a meaningful portion of the SCR exam. Candidates who focus only on theory may be unprepared for multi-part questions based on real-world corporate or policy scenarios.

How to Avoid It: Practice analyzing case studies from the SCR eBook and understand how frameworks like TCFD, IFRS S2, and the TNFD apply to business scenarios. Be ready to assess risks, suggest disclosures, and compare transition plans.

6. Disregarding Supplementary Readings

The Mistake: Required readings—like the UNEP-FI Principles for Responsible Banking or TCFD Implementation Guides—are often skipped.

How to Avoid It: These readings are essential. They are often cited in questions and help ground your learning in industry best practices. Allocate 10–15% of your study time to digest these documents and their practical implications.

7. Poor Time Allocation Across Chapters

The Mistake: Spending equal time on every chapter might seem fair, but it’s not strategic.

How to Avoid It: Focus based on exam weighting:

High-Weight Chapters (12–18 Questions): Chapter 6
Mid-Weight Chapters (8–12 Questions): Chapters 1–5, 7
Low-Weight but Applied Chapters (4–6 Questions Each): Chapters 8–10

Adjust your time accordingly. Don’t ignore lower-weight chapters—they appear as case studies and often test deeper application.

8. Overlooking the Practical Use of Frameworks

The Mistake: Many candidates know the names of key frameworks (like SBTi, PCAF, GFANZ) but can’t describe how they’re applied.

How to Avoid It: Be able to explain how a company would report emissions using the GHG Protocol, how PCAF links to financed emissions, or what constitutes a credible net-zero plan under SBTi criteria. This level of depth is tested.

9. Not Scheduling Early or Missing Key Deadlines

The Mistake: Waiting until the last minute to schedule your exam may limit location or time availability—or worse, missing the registration window.

How to Avoid It: For the April 2025 window (April 19–May 3), register and schedule your exam as early as possible. Standard registration ends March 31. Deferral requests must be submitted by April 1.

10. Underestimating the SCR’s Career Value

The Mistake: Some candidates treat the SCR as just another line on the resume.

How to Avoid It: Recognize that this credential validates your ability to analyze, report, and manage sustainability and climate risk. With employers like the UN, JPMorgan, Microsoft, and Shell recognizing the SCR, passing the exam gives you an edge in sustainability leadership roles, ESG analysis, risk advisory, and climate strategy consulting.

Final Thoughts: Your SCR Success Strategy

To maximize your success:

Start early and create a study calendar.
Use the official SCR eBook, practice exam, and learning objectives.
Digest key frameworks and case studies.
Simulate exam day with the practice test.
Stay motivated by keeping your career goals in view.

The SCR Exam is a gateway into the future of climate finance. By avoiding these common mistakes and approaching your preparation strategically, you’ll be well on your way to becoming an SCR Certificate Holder and a climate-smart professional ready to make a difference.

Enhance your GARP SCR exam preparation with our comprehensive study packages —get started today to achieve success in 2025 exam window!