CISI Investment Operations Certificate

CISI Asset Servicing Exam Preparation

Exam preparation for the CISI Asset Servicing technical unit, with eight chapter summaries, worked calculations, flashcards and five timed practice exams.

250 Practice Questions Detailed Study Notes Realistic mock exams

Course syllabus information reviewed for 2026. Always check the awarding body’s latest official syllabus and candidate updates before booking or sitting your exam.

Exactly what is included

250 practice questions across 5 mock exams · unlimited retakes
Focus Learn · key areas, pitfalls, exam traps & key numbers
Flashcards · fun, fast and effective recall
Reference sheet with 18 worked calculations
AI Analyzer & Mentor · pinpoints your weak areas
Study Mode Exams · learn while you train
AI Chat trained specifically for this exam
Study material organised by syllabus

Syllabus

Module 1: Life Cycle of an Event 14% syllabus weight

End-to-end corporate-action processing from announcement through entitlement, instruction, settlement and reconciliation.

• Event capture
• Key dates and entitlements
• Instructions and settlement

Module 2: Mandatory Events 20% syllabus weight

Processing events that occur without a holder election.

• Cash and stock dividends
• Interest and redemption
• Reorganisations

Module 3: Voluntary Events 16% syllabus weight

Events requiring investor decisions, elections and deadline management.

• Rights and offers
• Tender events
• Election processing

Module 4: Corporate Governance 10% syllabus weight

Shareholder rights, meetings, voting and issuer governance.

• Meetings and resolutions
• Proxy voting
• Shareholder communications

Module 5: Tax 10% syllabus weight

Tax consequences, withholding and relief relevant to asset-servicing events.

• Withholding tax
• Relief at source
• Tax documentation

Module 6: Participants 8% syllabus weight

Roles of issuers, agents, custodians, depositories and other infrastructure providers.

• Issuers and agents
• Custodians and CSDs
• Information vendors

Module 7: Legal and Compliance 16% syllabus weight

Legal ownership, documentation, disclosure, sanctions and regulatory obligations.

• Legal title
• Disclosure rules
• Compliance obligations

Module 8: Risks and Controls 6% syllabus weight

Operational risks, reconciliations, controls, claims and incident management.

• Operational risk
• Reconciliations
• Control frameworks

Student Reviews

4.7

★★★★★

Based on 2457 reviews

5 stars

100%

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Real Reviews, Real Results

From verified learners who used Exams Academy to prepare for their exams.

Recent Exams Academy learner reviews

Published feedback from learners using Exams Academy across our exam-preparation courses.

Amara B.

VERIFIED · Mar 10, 2026

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

DB transfer ban J05

Contingent charging ban and DB transfers are a huge part of J05. Content was super up to date. Recommend for advisors.

Ahmed J.

VERIFIED · Jun 8, 2025

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

Market abuse scenarios

The mock scenarios on market manipulation were really challenging but super realistic. Exactly what we need to see in practice exams.

Amelia S.

VERIFIED · May 30, 2025

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

Mobile-first studying changed my routine

I did 95% of my studying on my phone during commutes. The flashcards work perfectly on mobile, the mock exams render beautifully, and the AI tutor is responsive on a 4G connection. For people who cannot sit at a desk for hours, this approach to studying is a super helpful.

Victoria T.

VERIFIED · Mar 25, 2025

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

The AI tutor is genuinely impressive

I was sceptical about using an AI tutor for professional exam prep. After using it across three different sessions, Im genuinely impressed. It explains regulatory concepts clearly, doesnt make up answers, and consistently references the correct syllabus content. A real differentiator.

Fatima A.

VERIFIED · Feb 1, 2025

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

Super helpful for exam prep

Ive used this platform for two CISI exams now and it consistently delivers. The question quality is genuinely on par with the official exam. The scenario-based format prepares you for how CISI actually phrases questions which is different from simple recall.

Badr O.

VERIFIED · Jan 8, 2023

★

5.0 out of 5

★ Trustpilot

Math finally clicked

Rights issues and stock splits used to do my head in... The math is always the tricky bit in 3a but these tutorials were actually clear. Managed to pass even though I thought I failed the calc section!!

Interactive preview

Free CISI Asset Servicing Practice Questions & Exam Preview

Try 15 CISI Asset Servicing practice questions from Mandatory Events

Practice CISI Asset Servicing exam questions with answers and explanations. The full course includes 5 mock exams and chapter study tools.

Exam Preview

Mandatory Events

Question 1 of 15

Which pairing describes common dividend frequencies rather than an issuer-specific guarantee?

1 / 15

Flashcards

Card 1 of 10Number Recall

Question

Which MT number carries a corporate-action notification?

Tap to reveal answer

Focus Learn

Key Examinable Areas10

1.1.1: Event classifications
1.1.2: Event life cycle
1.2.1: Corporate-action messages
1.2.1: ISO standards
1.2.1: Disclosure messages
1.2.1: Meeting messages
1.2.2: Data scrubbing and the golden copy
1.2.2: Distributed ledgers and tokenisation
1.3.1: Entitlement dates
1.3.1: Special trading terms

Common Pitfalls to Avoid3

Exam Traps4

Key Numbers7

Chapter 1: Life Cycle of an Event

Corporate-action processing connects an issuer announcement to the correct client outcome. The core task is to preserve the event terms, economic entitlement and investor choice through every intermediary. A control at one stage cannot substitute for a missing control earlier in the chain.

Event classifications

A mandatory event proceeds without an individual holder election, such as a share split. A voluntary event requires a decision to participate, such as exercising a warrant. A mandatory event with options proceeds but permits a choice of outcome, such as cash or scrip dividend; the announced default applies if no valid election arrives. Taking no action is itself an investment decision, not proof that there is no entitlement.

Event life cycle

Start with the market announcem…

Unlock all Focus Learn

Open every chapter’s key areas, pitfalls, exam traps and key numbers.

Adaptive study tools

Focus weak topics, learn with feedback, then switch to exam conditions.

Practice modes

Learn first. Then prove you’re ready.

Learn with feedback, then switch to exam conditions.

Study Mode

Instant feedback & explanations

See the answer and explanation after each choice.

Exam Mode

Realistic exam simulation

Use the timer, keep answers hidden, then review your result.

Preparation Package at a Glance

Feature	Exams Academy	Details
Access Period	Lifetime Access	One-time enrollment with no recurring fee
Practice Exams	Unlimited Retakes
Study Support	Instant 24/7 AI Tutor	Self-service AI support; live instructor support is not included
Cost	$151 (One-Time)	One-time payment with no recurring subscription

Frequently Asked Questions

The assessment contains 50 multiple-choice questions and lasts 60 minutes.

All eight Asset Servicing chapters: the event lifecycle, mandatory and voluntary events, governance, tax, participants, legal and compliance, and risks and controls.

The eight chapters contribute 7, 10, 8, 5, 5, 4, 8 and 3 questions respectively, totalling 50.

Yes. The course includes eight chapter summaries, 126 references with 18 worked calculations, 121 flashcards and five timed 50-question practice exams. The five mocks include 250 practice questions.

Yes! Test your knowledge and review detailed explanations with the free CISI Asset Servicing Mock Exam Preview below. It contains 15 exam-style questions from one named topic; the full course provides complete mock exams and syllabus coverage.

Key Benefits

Corporate-actions lifecycle

Follow events from announcement and entitlement through elections, settlement and reconciliation.

✓ Mandatory events
✓ Voluntary events
✓ Operational deadlines

Weighted syllabus plan

Prioritise all eight chapters according to their official share of the 50-question exam.

✓ Chapter question counts
✓ 60-minute assessment
✓ Targeted revision

Controls and risk context

Connect servicing processes with governance, taxation, legal duties and operational controls.

✓ Market participants
✓ Legal and compliance
✓ Risks and controls

Exam Format & Details

Assessment	Multiple-choice examination
Duration	60 Minutes
Pass mark	At least 35 correct answers out of 50
Level	CISI Level 3
Total Qualification Time	80 hours

Build the operational knowledge required for the CISI Asset Servicing examination, from the lifecycle of a corporate action through mandatory and voluntary events, tax, participants, legal duties, risks and controls. Every one of the 50 official question allocations is represented in the eight-chapter syllabus map.

Who Is This For?

✓ Asset-servicing and corporate-actions professionals

✓ Custody, operations and post-trade staff

✓ Candidates selecting Asset Servicing as an IOC technical unit

Preparation centre

Use these connected guides for the syllabus, exam format, booking and revision strategy.

View all insights

Exam format

CISI Asset Servicing Exam Guide: Chapters, Weightings and Study Plan

A current guide to the CISI Asset Servicing V22 exam, including its 50-question format, eight chapter weightings and an 80-hour revision plan.

★★★★★ 4.7 (2457 Exams Academy reviews)