BREAKING: We have just had it confirmed today about a significant type-setting error in the syllabus for the CIPS L6M5 Strategic Programme Leadership study module. This will affect you if you are sitting L6M5 in the March 2026 exams. Here we highlight the issue and explain how CIPS is mitigating the problem.
Cordie was the first study centre to discover the problem in the L6M5 syllabus:
“I noticed the issue while teaching one of our Level 6 study groups. There is a significant mismatch between the learning content of the newly released syllabus and the current version of the study guides.
Because this could lead to considerable confusion when preparing for the exam, I reached out to my contacts in CIPS to alert them of the problem.”
The problem lies in Learning Outcome 1.0 of the syllabus where a significant section on contracting options appears to be missing. The syllabus printed in the CIPS study guide refers to this as LO1.1, but it is missing from the newly released syllabus document.
To mitigate the issue and keep the exam ‘fair’ for all students, CIPS has said it will remove any questions associated with the original LO1.1 (contracting options) during the March 2026 exams. This then allows them sufficient time to edit the syllabus and re-release it with the necessary corrections to reinstate the correct LO1.1 content.
For exams in May 2026 and beyond, the syllabus will be revised and the missing content restored.
For further detail, you can watch our YouTube clip here:
Cordie recommends that all Level 6 students keep an eye out for updates from CIPS. We have not been informed when the syllabus is likely to be revised and re-released, but clearly the March 2026 exams will be affected.
If you are studying for your CIPS Level 6 Professional Diploma qualification in 2026, please get in touch for further information and any clarifications. We will be happy to help!