NIE Revision
Plan
The College recommends at least 14 weeks of study for the National Investigators' Exam. This guide gives you 12, 8 and 4 week timetables weighted to the four parts of the Investigators' Manual, a dated plan for the last five weeks before Tuesday, 17 November 2026, a shift-worker version, and what to do if you fall behind. The free revision timetable tool will build a version for your own date and hours.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 11 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Give it as long as you can: the College recommends at least 14 weeks. Plan around 7 to 8 hours a week over 12 weeks, 9 to 10 over 8, or 14 to 16 over 4 (our planning figures). Start with part 1's general principles, then parts 3, 2 and 4, with part 1's procedure chapters spread throughout. Weight time to the September 2026 split (30, 19, 11, 10 of 70). Test yourself every session, review each chapter after a gap, and sit at least two full 80-question mocks, the last no later than five days out.
NIE revision plans at a glance
These plans apply the method in how to pass the NIE to a calendar. The hours are our planning figures; the College recommends weeks, not hours. Read the plan that matches your time, then adjust it to your rota and your diagnostic score.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| College recommendation | A minimum of 14 weeks of independent study using the Manual (2026 candidate handbook). No hours given |
| Our plans | 12 weeks (about 90 hours), 8 weeks (about 75), 4 weeks (about 60), and a dated last five weeks |
| Weighting | In proportion to the September 2026 split: part 1 30, part 2 19, part 3 11, part 4 10 of 70 scored questions |
| Order | Part 1 general principles first, then part 3, part 2 and part 4, with part 1 procedure chapters spread throughout |
| Every week | New reading tested the same day, review of earlier weeks, mixed questions, error log |
| Full mocks | At least two full 80-question papers in 2 hours; the last no later than 5 days before |
| Next sitting | Tuesday, 17 November 2026. Registration closes 6pm Wednesday, 21 October 2026 |
| Free tool | Our NIE revision timetable builds a plan to your date and hours |
The College's 14 weeks, and why these plans are shorter
The 2026 candidate handbook says: it is recommended that candidates spend a minimum of 14 weeks completing independent study using the Manual. That is the official benchmark, and if you can start 14 weeks out, do.
We still publish shorter plans because real life does not always allow 14 weeks. People are entered at short notice, start a detective programme partway through the year, or are resitting after a near miss with most of the Manual already learned. A shorter plan is a compromise: it costs you spacing (fewer chances to come back to each chapter) and slack (less room for a cancelled rest day or a week of illness). The shorter the plan, the more hours each week it needs and the more ruthlessly it has to prioritise.
For the Tuesday, 17 November 2026 sitting, 14 weeks before was Tuesday, 11 August 2026. If you are aiming for the first sitting of 2027 instead, the dates were not published when we checked (11 October 2026). The first 2026 sitting was Wednesday, 4 March 2026; if 2027 follows a similar pattern, which is our assumption only, a start in late November or early December 2026 would give you 14 weeks.
Add one week at the start (a slower first pass of part 1's principles and procedure) and one before the first full mock (spaced review of everything so far). That gives you the College's 14 weeks with the same order and the same mocks.
Weighting your time to the four parts
The College publishes a subject area breakdown after each sitting. In September 2026 the 70 scored questions split as below. Dividing your hours in the same proportion is a sensible default. The College says the breakdown is valid only for that sitting and should not be used to predict future papers, so treat it as a guide to emphasis, never as permission to skip a part.
| Part | Scored questions | Share | 12 weeks (90h) | 8 weeks (75h) | 4 weeks (60h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Powers and procedures | 30 | 43% | 39h | 32h | 26h |
| Part 2: Serious crime | 19 | 27% | 24h | 20h | 16h |
| Part 3: Property offences | 11 | 16% | 14h | 12h | 9h |
| Part 4: Sexual offences | 10 | 14% | 13h | 11h | 9h |
Two adjustments improve on a strict proportion. Part 1's general principles come first even though the procedure chapters are bigger, because every offence uses them. And once you have a diagnostic or mock score, move time towards your weakest part. More detail in the NIE syllabus 2026.
12 week NIE revision timetable (about 90 hours)
For most first-time candidates. Roughly 7 to 8 hours a week, with one full mock in week 9 and another in week 11. In hours by part, about P1 39h, P2 24h, P3 14h, P4 13h including the questions you do on each part. Chapter numbers follow Appendix A of the 2026 handbook.
| Week | Hours | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Set-up; part 1 general principles | Diagnostic: our free mini mock or 30 to 40 mixed questions, cold. Read the handbook. Chapters 1.2 mens rea and 1.3 actus reus. Start the error log |
| 2 | 7 | Part 3: theft to burglary | 3.1 theft (all elements), 3.2 robbery, 3.3 blackmail, 3.4 burglary, 3.5 aggravated burglary. Procedure dose: 1.4 instituting proceedings. Re-test week 1 |
| 3 | 7 | Part 3: the rest | 3.6 handling, 3.7 fraud, 3.8 proceeds of crime, 3.9 criminal damage. Procedure dose: 1.6 Code B with the cited Code paragraphs |
| 4 | 8 | Part 2: violence | 2.7 non-fatal offences, 2.1 homicide, 2.6 racially and religiously aggravated offences. Procedure dose: 1.7 detention, first half. Weekend: 40 mixed questions on parts 1 and 3 |
| 5 | 8 | Part 2: public protection | 2.13 public order, 2.8 hatred and harassment, 2.9 domestic abuse, 2.10 child protection, 2.11 deprivation of liberty. Procedure: 1.7 second half (reviews, charging, annexes) |
| 6 | 8 | Part 2: specialist offences | 2.2 drugs, 2.3 firearms, 2.4 terrorism, 2.5 cybercrime, 2.12 injunctions, 2.14 driving. Procedure: 1.8 Code D |
| 7 | 8 | Part 4: core offences | 4.1 to 4.3: anonymity, rape, consent and the presumptions, assault by penetration, sexual assault, under-13 offences. Procedure: 1.9 interviews (Codes C, E and F) |
| 8 | 8 | Part 4: the rest | 4.4 offences against children, 4.5 mental disorder, 4.6 preparatory, 4.7 prostitution, 4.8 other offences. Procedure: 1.10 release and bail |
| 9 | 8 | Part 1 finish; first full mock | 1.11 disclosure, 1.12 RIPA and CHIS, 1.1 equality, 1.5 court and witnesses. Weekend: full timed mock 1 |
| 10 | 8 | Repair and spaced review | Work through mock 1 by part and error type. Revisit weeks 1 to 4 with fresh questions. Daily 30 mixed questions |
| 11 | 7 | Second full mock | Full timed mock 2 early in the week. Repair the two weakest areas. Error log twice through |
| 12 | 5 | Taper | Optional mock 3 (no later than 5 days out) or a 40-question set. Familiarisation exercise and system check. Light final days |
Every week also includes: questions on that week's chapters the same day you read them; a short re-test of chapters from one and three weeks earlier; and five minutes of error log after each session. Those habits matter more than the exact order.
8 week NIE revision timetable (about 75 hours)
Workable with a steady rota or some prior study. About 9 to 10 hours a week, with full mocks in weeks 6 and 7. In hours by part, about P1 32h, P2 20h, P3 12h, P4 11h.
| Week | Hours | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Set-up; part 1 principles; part 3 start | Cold diagnostic. 1.2 and 1.3. Then 3.1 to 3.5 (theft to aggravated burglary). Error log from day one |
| 2 | 9 | Part 3 finish; procedure | 3.6 to 3.9 (handling, fraud, proceeds of crime, criminal damage). 1.4 and 1.6 Code B. Re-test week 1 |
| 3 | 10 | Part 2 violence and public order | 2.1, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.13. Procedure: 1.7 detention. Weekend: 40 mixed questions |
| 4 | 10 | Part 2 the rest | 2.2 to 2.5, 2.9 to 2.12, 2.14. Procedure: 1.8 Code D |
| 5 | 10 | Part 4 | All of 4.1 to 4.8, core offences first. Procedure: 1.9 interviews |
| 6 | 10 | Part 1 finish; first full mock | 1.10 bail, 1.11 disclosure, 1.12 RIPA, 1.1 equality, 1.5 court. Weekend: full timed mock 1 |
| 7 | 10 | Repair; second full mock | Repair from mock 1. Full mock 2 at least 5 days before the exam. Mixed sets daily |
| 8 | 6 | Taper | Short mixed sets, error log, numbers and authorities sheet, familiarisation exercise, system check, rest |
With eight weeks, each chapter gets fewer return visits, so daily mixed questions across everything already covered are not optional. Twenty a day is enough to keep earlier parts from fading.
4 week NIE revision timetable (about 60 hours)
For resitters and people who studied the Manual recently. About 14 to 16 hours a week, which is a lot alongside a full rota. In hours by part, about P1 26h, P2 16h, P3 9h, P4 9h. From a standing start, four weeks is a big risk.
| Week | Hours | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Diagnose; part 1 principles and part 3 | Day 1 or 2: a full timed mock, however it goes, to see your gaps. Then 1.2, 1.3 and all of part 3. Procedure dose daily: 1.6 and 1.7. 30 mixed questions a day |
| 2 | 16 | Part 2 | Violence, public order, harassment and domestic abuse first, then drugs, firearms, child protection and the rest. Procedure: 1.8 and 1.9 |
| 3 | 16 | Part 4 and part 1 finish; mock 2 | All of part 4. Then 1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.1, 1.4 and 1.5. Weekend: full timed mock 2 |
| 4 | 10 | Repair and taper | Repair the weakest part. Mock 3 no later than 5 days out, or a 40-question set. Error log, familiarisation exercise, rest |
The plan starts with a full mock because, with four weeks, you cannot afford to spend time on what you already know. Let the mock and your previous feedback report decide where the hours go.
The last five weeks to Tuesday, 17 November 2026, dated from Tuesday, 13 October 2026
If you are registering for the Tuesday, 17 November 2026 sitting now, this is the plan. It assumes about 12 to 13 hours a week, roughly 60 hours in all, which is the 4 week plan's hours spread more evenly. It is far shorter than the College's 14 weeks, so it suits a resit or someone who has already worked through much of the Manual. If you are starting from nothing, read the callout below first.
| Week | Hours | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Tue, 13 Oct to Mon, 19 Oct | 12 | Day 1: a 40-question mixed diagnostic. Confirm with your NIE liaison contact that you are registered (closes 6pm Wed, 21 Oct; your force's date may be earlier). Part 1: 1.2 mens rea, 1.3 actus reus. Part 3: 3.1 to 3.5. Procedure dose: 1.7 detention time limits and reviews |
| Week 2: Tue, 20 Oct to Mon, 26 Oct | 13 | Registration and adjustment deadline: 6pm Wed, 21 Oct. Part 3: 3.6 to 3.9. Part 2: 2.7 non-fatal, 2.1 homicide, 2.13 public order, 2.8 harassment, 2.6 aggravated offences. Procedure: 1.6 Code B, 1.9 interviews. Re-test week 1 |
| Week 3: Tue, 27 Oct to Mon, 2 Nov | 13 | Part 2 the rest: 2.2 drugs, 2.3 firearms, 2.9 domestic abuse, 2.10 child protection, 2.11 deprivation of liberty, 2.4, 2.5, 2.12, 2.14. Procedure: 1.8 Code D, 1.10 bail. End of week: full timed mock 1 |
| Week 4: Tue, 3 Nov to Mon, 9 Nov | 13 | Repair from mock 1. Part 4: 4.1 to 4.8, rape, consent and the child offences first. Part 1: 1.11 disclosure, 1.12 RIPA, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5. If you are thinking of withdrawing, decide before Tue, 3 Nov: the handbook says forces are charged for candidates still registered two weeks before the exam |
| Week 5: Tue, 10 Nov to Mon, 16 Nov | 9 | Familiarisation email due around Tue, 10 Nov (one access only). Full timed mock 2 by Thu, 12 Nov. Then repair, error log, numbers and authorities sheet, system check. Mon, 16 Nov: 20 questions and an early night |
| Exam day: Tuesday, 17 November 2026 | Start any time from 8am and before 8pm, ideally at your sharpest time. Checkpoints: question 20 by about 28 minutes, 40 by 55, 60 by 1:23, 80 by 1:50. Results by Tuesday, 8 December 2026 |
- 6pm Wednesday, 21 October 2026: registration and reasonable adjustment applications close (forces may set earlier dates).
- Around Tuesday, 3 November 2026: two weeks before the exam. The handbook says forces are charged for candidates registered at this point and for absentees.
- Around Tuesday, 10 November 2026: the familiarisation exercise email (about a week before; one access only; available until 7pm on exam day).
- Tuesday, 17 November 2026: the exam. Start any time from 8am and before 8pm.
- Tuesday, 8 December 2026: results by this date, through AIMS.
Be honest with yourself. Five weeks from a cold start is about a third of the College's recommendation. You may still choose to sit, and some people do pass on short preparation, but talk to your supervisor or NIE liaison contact before the registration deadline about whether the first 2027 sitting would give you a better chance. When we checked, 2027 dates had not yet been published.
The first week, day by day (from Tuesday, 13 October 2026)
The first week of the five-week plan sets the habits for the rest. It assumes rest days at the end of the week; move the long blocks to wherever your rest days fall.
| Day | Time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, 13 Oct | 60 to 90 min | 40-question mixed diagnostic across all four parts, cold. Mark it by part. Start the error log |
| Wed, 14 Oct | 60 min | Check your registration with your NIE liaison contact. Read the handbook's exam rules. 1.2 mens rea, with questions |
| Thu, 15 Oct | 60 min | 1.2 finished; 1.3 actus reus (voluntary act, omissions, causation) |
| Fri, 16 Oct | 60 min | 1.3 finished (accessories, joint enterprise, corporate and vicarious liability). 15 questions on 1.2 |
| Sat, 17 Oct | 2 x 90 min | 3.1 theft, element by element, with questions after each element. 1.7 detention time limits as the procedure dose |
| Sun, 18 Oct | 2 x 90 min | 3.2 robbery, 3.3 blackmail, 3.4 burglary, 3.5 aggravated burglary. 30 mixed questions on everything so far |
| Mon, 19 Oct | 45 min | Re-test this week's error log entries. Plan week 2 around the rota |
The last seven days, day by day, to Tuesday, 17 November 2026
The final week is for consolidating, not for learning new chapters from scratch. Its shape is the same whichever plan you followed.
| Day | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tue, 10 Nov | Repair the weakest part from mock 1. Watch for the familiarisation email (about a week before) |
| Wed, 11 Nov | Mixed set of 40; error log |
| Thu, 12 Nov | Full timed mock 2 at the time you plan to sit, then mark it by part and error type |
| Fri, 13 Nov | Repair the two weakest areas from mock 2 |
| Sat, 14 Nov | Mixed set of 30; numbers and authorities sheet; system check on the device you will use |
| Sun, 15 Nov | Familiarisation exercise (one access only). Error log twice through |
| Mon, 16 Nov | 20 questions and a skim of the error log. Prepare the room. Early night |
| Tue, 17 Nov | Normal meal, start at your sharpest time (from 8am, before 8pm), keep to the checkpoints, answer every question |
A mock shows you where marks are leaking. You need two or three days afterwards to repair those areas and re-test them, and a lighter day or two before the exam so you arrive fresh. A mock the day before shows problems you no longer have time to fix.
The shift-worker version
Rotas differ by force and team, so rather than a single calendar, here is how to place each kind of work on each kind of day. Fill in your rota for the next few weeks, then drop the plan's tasks into the matching slots.
| Day | Time | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest day 1 | 2 x 90 minutes | New chapters, with questions straight after each | The biggest block of the week |
| Rest day 2 | 2 x 90 minutes, or a full timed mock | New chapters, or the mock and its marking | Mocks go on rest days only |
| Rest day 3 (if you have one) | 60 to 90 minutes | Spaced review of earlier weeks; error log repair | Lighter, to avoid burnout |
| Early turn | 45 minutes in the afternoon | Review and mixed questions | No new heavy reading after a 5am start |
| Late turn | 60 to 90 minutes in the morning | New sub-sections and questions | Your best weekday slot |
| Night shift | 15 to 20 minutes, if quiet | Phone questions or flashcards | Nothing new; sleep comes first |
| First rest day after nights | 30 minutes late in the day, or nothing | Light review | Never a full mock |
On a pattern with three or four rest days a cycle, those days carry most of the new reading and every full mock. Weekday slots, especially mornings before late turns, carry the procedure doses and the review. Nights carry only phone questions.
An example 10-day cycle
This example uses two earlies, two lates, two nights and four rest days. Yours will differ; the point is the placement. It comes to about 12 hours a cycle, or roughly 8 to 9 hours a week, which fits the 12 or 8 week plan.
| Day | Shift | Study time | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Early | 45 min, afternoon | 15 mixed questions on earlier weeks; error log |
| Day 2 | Early | 45 min, afternoon | Re-test last week's chapter with fresh questions |
| Day 3 | Late | 90 min, morning | New sub-sections from this week's part, with questions |
| Day 4 | Late | 90 min, morning | Part 1 procedure dose (for example a Code C section), with questions |
| Day 5 | Night | 15 min, if quiet | Phone questions |
| Day 6 | Night | 15 min, if quiet | Phone questions |
| Day 7 | Rest (after nights) | 30 min or none | Light review only |
| Day 8 | Rest | 2 x 90 min | New chapters with questions; the week's biggest block |
| Day 9 | Rest | 2 x 90 min, or a full mock | New chapters, or a full timed mock and marking |
| Day 10 | Rest | 60 min | Weekly review: error log, mixed set, plan the next cycle |
The weekly review
Once a week, on a rest day, spend an hour on the plan itself. Re-test every error log entry from the last fortnight with fresh questions and mark the ones that stay right as fixed. Do a 30-question mixed set across all four parts and note the score by part. Then look at next week's rota and fix the slots for new reading, review and any mock. If one part is consistently weaker, move an hour towards it. This hour is what keeps a plan honest.
The last five weeks on a rota
| Week | Rest days and late-turn mornings | Nights and early turns |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Diagnostic on your first rest day. Part 1 principles and part 3 start on rest days and late-turn mornings | Phone questions on part 1 principles |
| Week 2 | Part 3 finish and part 2 violence on rest days. Code B and interviews on late-turn mornings | Registration check before the deadline, even on nights |
| Week 3 | Part 2 the rest on rest days. Mock 1 on the last rest day of the week, not after nights | Daily 15 questions on parts 2 and 3 |
| Week 4 | Part 4 in two rest-day blocks. Part 1 finish on late-turn mornings. Repair from mock 1 | Error log entries on your phone |
| Week 5 | Mock 2 on a rest day at least 5 days out. Ask for leave or a rest day before the exam if you can | Light review only; protect sleep before exam day |
- Exam day on a rest day. If your rota puts you on nights the night before, ask early for a change or leave. The College lets you start any time from 8am and before 8pm, so you can at least choose your sharpest hours.
- Ask about study time. Some forces and programmes give protected study time for the NIE. Ask your tutor, supervisor or NIE liaison contact.
- Court and cancelled rest days. Move the block to the next available slot rather than deleting it. Keep the daily 15 questions whatever happens.
What a session looks like
The plans above say what to cover. This is how to spend the time inside each session so the hours turn into marks.
| Length | What to do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 15 mixed questions from earlier weeks, check against the Manual, log errors | Busy days, early turns, phone sessions |
| 60 minutes | 10 minutes recall warm-up; 30 minutes new reading with recall; 15 minutes questions on it; 5 minutes error log | Late-turn mornings, most weekdays |
| 90 minutes | As 60 minutes, plus a 30-question mixed set across all four parts | Rest days |
| 120 minutes plus marking | A full 80-question timed mock, then at least an hour marking by part and error type | Rest days only, at the time you plan to sit |
Read actively: one sub-section at a time, then close the book and write the rule or elements from memory before checking. Questions follow the same day. Check every answer against the Manual, right or wrong, and log every error with its reason.
Where the full mocks go
Full timed mocks train the two hours of concentration and the 90-second pace. They also show which part is weakest when you still have time to fix it. Sit them at the time of day you plan to sit the real exam, with no notes and no breaks.
| Plan | Mock 1 | Mock 2 | Mock 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 week plan | Week 9 (weekend) | Week 11 (early) | Week 12, no later than 5 days out (optional) |
| 8 week plan | Week 6 (weekend) | Week 7, at least 5 days out | Not needed |
| 4 week plan | Week 1, day 1 or 2 (diagnostic) | Week 3 (weekend) | Week 4, no later than 5 days out, or a 40-question set |
| Last five weeks | End of week 3 (by Mon, 2 Nov) | By Thu, 12 Nov | Not needed |
Use fresh questions for each mock: a paper you have seen before measures memory, not readiness. The free NIE mini mock is a short diagnostic. Blackstone's Mock Examination Paper and commercial providers offer full-length papers, and our paid NIE exam prep toolkit (ours) has timed 80-question mocks in the September 2026 part proportions. None of these is the College's own paper, so leave a margin when reading the score.
If you fall behind
Almost everyone does at some point. The mistake is trying to catch up by cramming every missed chapter at the expense of review and mocks.
| Situation | What to do | Keep |
|---|---|---|
| One week behind | Absorb it: drop the lowest-value extras (rereading, rewriting notes) and keep the plan's order | Do not cut mocks or review |
| Two to three weeks behind | Compress: cover the remaining chapters faster, with questions as the main way of learning, and fewer pages read in full | Keep daily mixed questions so earlier parts do not fade |
| A whole part untouched with two weeks left | Triage: learn that part's core offences and definitions from the Manual, then go straight to questions | Do not drop the part entirely: in September 2026 even the smallest part had 10 scored questions |
| Scoring well below 55.7% two weeks out | Talk to your force about the next sitting, early | Forces are charged for candidates still registered two weeks before the exam |
Choosing a plan from your diagnostic score
A cold diagnostic in week one tells you which plan is realistic. The bands below are our rough guide, not College figures, and practice questions from any source may be easier or harder than the real paper.
| Score | What it usually means | Suggested plan |
|---|---|---|
| Below 35% | Normal for a cold start. You are learning most of the syllabus from scratch | Use the longest plan you can; 14 weeks if possible. If your sitting is five weeks away, discuss the next one |
| 35% to 50% | Some prior knowledge, uneven across parts | 12 or 8 week plan, with extra time on the weakest part |
| 50% to 60% | A good base; close to the pass mark but with no margin | 8 or 4 week plan; questions-led, with reading targeted at errors |
| Above 60% (cold) | Strong prior knowledge, often a resitter or experienced investigator | 4 or 5 week plan focused on weak areas, mixed sets and full mocks |
If you are resitting
Your feedback report from the previous sitting is the best diagnostic you have: the handbook says it identifies strengths and development needs in the areas examined, with your total percentage score. Start your plan from those weaker areas, then confirm them with a fresh full mock. Do not start again from page one of the Manual. More in what happens if you fail the NIE.
Studying with others
Study groups help with explaining points to each other and keeping each other going, and the College's Knowledge Hub group has guidance on mentoring and study groups. One firm rule: the College's candidate guide says candidates must not discuss any part of the exam questions or answers with anyone before, during or after the exam, including on social media. A group that swaps memories of a past sitting puts every member's result at risk.
Build your own timetable
Our free NIE revision timetable and countdown takes your sitting date and the hours you can give each week and lays out a week-by-week plan weighted to the four parts, using the same approach as this page. The College's Knowledge Hub group also has a revision timetable template and a video explaining how to use it (login needed). Use whichever you will actually follow.
Scenarios
Common revision plan mistakes
- Planning to read everything first. Questions from week one; reading and testing go together.
- A plan with no slack. Leave at least one lighter week for work, court or illness.
- Leaving part 4 to the end. It needs at least two visits before the exam.
- Doing all of part 1 procedure in one go. It is the biggest block in the syllabus. Spread it.
- Mocks too late. A mock three days out gives you no time to act on it.
- Repeating the same mock. You end up measuring memory of the paper.
- Full mocks after nights. The score will mislead you.
- Forgetting the admin. Registration closes 6pm Wed, 21 Oct; your force may close earlier.
Myths about NIE revision plans
Revision plan checklist
- I know my sitting date and my force's registration deadline, and I am registered.
- I have chosen a plan (14, 12, 8, 4 or 5 weeks) and written it into my calendar around the rota.
- My hours are weighted to the four parts, and I start with part 1 principles.
- Part 1 procedure chapters are spread across several weeks.
- I took a diagnostic in week one.
- Every session ends with questions and an error log entry.
- Each chapter comes back at least twice after a gap.
- Two or three full mocks are booked on rest days, the last no later than 5 days out.
- I have a fallback for missed weeks.
- The familiarisation exercise and system check are in the final week's plan.
- I do a weekly review: error log re-test, a mixed set scored by part, and next week's slots fixed.
What we could not verify
- Hours. The College recommends at least 14 weeks but no number of hours. All hours on this page are our planning figures.
- Whether proportional weighting is optimal. It is a sensible default from one sitting's published split, not a tested strategy. The College warns the split is valid only for that sitting.
- The exact familiarisation email date. The College says approximately one week before; our date is that estimate.
- Diagnostic score bands. Our bands are a rough guide from how the pass mark works, not from data linking practice scores to results.
- Force study time and internal deadlines. These vary and we have not surveyed them.
- 2027 dates. Not published when we checked on 11 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I revise for the NIE?
The College of Policing's 2026 candidate handbook recommends a minimum of 14 weeks of independent study using the Investigators' Manual. Shorter plans are possible, especially for a resit, but they leave less room for spaced review and for losing a week to work or illness.
How many hours a week should I study for the NIE?
The College does not say. As our planning figures, about 7 to 8 hours a week over 12 weeks, 9 to 10 over 8 weeks, or 14 to 16 over 4 weeks gives roughly 60 to 90 hours in total. Someone who already knows the Manual well needs less; someone starting from scratch may need more.
Which part of the Investigators' Manual should I revise first?
Start with part 1's chapters on mens rea and actus reus, because every offence in parts 2 to 4 uses them. Then a self-contained part such as part 3, with part 1's procedure chapters spread through the plan in short daily doses because they are long and detailed.
How should I split my time between the four parts?
In proportion to the College's published breakdown is a sensible starting point. In September 2026 the 70 scored questions split 30, 19, 11, 10 across parts 1 to 4, about 43%, 27%, 16%, 14%. The College says that breakdown is valid only for that sitting, so every part still needs covering.
Is five weeks enough to revise for the Tuesday, 17 November 2026 NIE?
It is well short of the College's recommended minimum of 14 weeks. It can work for someone resitting or who has already studied the Manual, if they commit 12 to 14 hours a week and prioritise ruthlessly. If you are starting from nothing, talk to your supervisor or NIE liaison contact about whether the next sitting is the better choice.
When is the registration deadline for the November 2026 NIE?
6pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, through AIMS via your force or organisation's NIE liaison contact. Your force may set an earlier internal deadline, and the handbook says late registrations are considered only in exceptional circumstances outside your control.
How many full mock exams should I do before the NIE?
At least two full 80-question papers in 2 hours, three if your plan allows. Put the first about two to three weeks out, and the last no later than five days before the exam so you have time to act on the result.
How do I revise for the NIE around shifts?
Do heavy work, such as new chapters and full mocks, when you are fresh: rest days and mornings before late turns. Use early-turn afternoons for review, and keep nights to short sets of questions on your phone. Plan the week around the rota before it starts, and keep a minimum of 15 questions a day so the habit survives bad weeks.
What should I do in the last week before the NIE?
Sit your final full mock no later than five days before, then repair your weakest areas, work through your error log, and do short mixed sets. Complete the College's familiarisation exercise (emailed about a week before, one access only) and the system check. The day before, keep it light and sleep.
Is there a free NIE revision timetable?
Yes. The College's Candidate Online Examination Guidance group on the Knowledge Hub (login needed) has a revision timetable template and a video on using it. Our free NIE revision timetable tool builds a week-by-week plan to your sitting date, weighted to the four parts.
What if I fall behind my NIE revision plan?
Do not try to catch up by cramming every missed chapter. Cut new reading to the highest-value chapters, keep daily mixed questions going so earlier material does not fade, and protect your full timed mocks. If you are far behind with weeks to go, discuss the next sitting with your force early.
Should I take a mock exam at the start of NIE revision?
Yes, a short one. A cold diagnostic of 30 to 40 mixed questions in the first week shows which parts you already know and which plan length is realistic. Expect a low score; its job is to direct your time, not to predict your result.
Can I use my NIE feedback report to plan a resit?
Yes, and you should. The handbook says the feedback report identifies strengths and development needs in the areas examined and gives your total percentage score. Start your resit plan from the weaker areas, confirm them with a fresh full mock, and keep the stronger areas alive with mixed questions.
How many practice questions should I do for the NIE?
There is no official number. Our plans work out at roughly 15 to 30 questions on most study days plus two or three full 80-question mocks, which adds up to several hundred over 8 to 12 weeks. How carefully you review each answer against the Manual matters more than the count.
Will these plans work for a 2027 NIE sitting?
The method will. The dates will not: when we checked on 11 October 2026 the College had not published 2027 sitting dates or a 2027 handbook. Use the 12 or 8 week plan from your sitting date once it is known, and the edition of the Manual the 2027 handbook names.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 11 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- College of Policing: NIE candidate handbook 2026 (November 2025, PDF) — minimum 14 weeks of independent study recommended; 80 questions in 2 hours; November 2026 sitting Tuesday, 17 November 2026, registration closes 6pm Wednesday, 21 October 2026, results by Tuesday, 8 December 2026; adjustment applications by the same closing date; forces charged for candidates registered two weeks before the exam; familiarisation exercise about one week before; Knowledge Hub support including study timetables and a revision technique guide (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: NIE subject area breakdown, September 2026 (PDF) — scored questions by part: part 1 30, part 2 19, part 3 11, part 4 10; the College's warning that the breakdown is valid only for that sitting (accessed 11 October 2026)
- College of Policing: Online exams candidate guide (updated 5 August 2026) — Knowledge Hub resources including a downloadable study plan and revision timetable template; familiarisation exercise until 7pm on exam day; start before 8pm. Read on the College's production mirror because the main site blocked our reader (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T. and Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380 — spaced study beats massed study; the best gap between sessions grows with the time to the test (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Roediger, H. L. and Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning. Psychological Science, 17(3), 249-255 — testing yourself beat restudying on delayed tests (accessed 11 October 2026)
- Dunlosky, J., Rawson, K. A., Marsh, E. J., Nathan, M. J. and Willingham, D. T. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1), 4-58 — practice testing and distributed practice rated high utility; rereading and highlighting low (accessed 11 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or produced by the College of Policing or Oxford University Press (Blackstone's). Exam rules, dates, the syllabus and prices change, so check the College of Policing's current NIE candidate handbook and exam page before you register or buy. Practice material on this site is original and is not real or recalled exam content. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 11 October 2026.