Securities & Markets

CISI Certificate in Securities (UK)

Master the CISI Certificate in Securities with our interactive study platform. Covers equities, bonds, markets, settlement, accounting analysis and investment management. Fully updated for the latest standards.

500 Practice Questions Detailed Study Notes Realistic mock exams
CISI Certificate in Securities

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

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Listen to course modules on the go. Perfect for studying while driving or commuting.

🎧 Audio

* This is a chapter sample. All audio is available in the full version.

Free Topic Quiz & Key Practice Questions

Try 15 questions from Corporate Actions

This preview shows one part of the course. Try this short topic quiz and unlock the full course for complete mock exams and full coverage.

Corporate Actions

Which corporate action explicitly grants existing shareholders the first opportunity to buy newly issued shares in proportion to their current holdings?

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Certificate in Securities with Smart Practice

This is a complete exam simulation system for the CISI Certificate in Securities. Covering all 9 syllabus chapters from the Financial Services Sector to Investment Management, our platform turns the dense 384-page workbook into an interactive, high-retention learning experience.

Each module is designed for maximum exam readiness: the 500-question practice bank includes five 100-question exam modes, while flashcards and cheat sheets ensure rapid recall of critical facts, thresholds, and calculations.

Exam Format & Details

Assessment 100 multiple-choice questions
Duration 120 Minutes
Standard Pass Mark 70%

Exams Academy vs. Traditional Training

Feature Exams Academy Traditional Providers
Access Period
Lifetime Access
30 - 90 Days
Practice Exams
Unlimited Retakes
1 - 2 Static Mocks
Study Support
Instant 24/7 AI Tutor
Email Support
Cost
$189 (One-Time)
$300+ (Recurring)

Preview & See What You Will Get

Preview of CISI Certificate in Securities

Key Benefits

AI Audio Summaries New

Listen to course modules on the go. Practice anytime, anywhere - even while driving or commuting.

  • Studio-quality AI voice narration.
  • Perfect for auditory learners.
  • Maximize your study time during daily commutes.
Listen to a sample

Unlimited Mock Exams

Practice under real exam conditions with four distinct 100-question exams.

  • Standard Balanced: Covers all chapters proportionally.
  • Scenario-Based: Applied questions with calculations.
  • Comprehensive Mastery: Tricky edge cases and distinctions.
  • Final Assessment: Test your readiness for the real exam.

Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet

28 critical facts you MUST know on exam day — timelines, thresholds, and key rules.

  • BIS DvP Models and settlement cycles.
  • Credit rating scales and investment grade thresholds.
  • Yield calculations and day count conventions.
  • Liquidation hierarchy and accounting rules.

50 Active Recall Flashcards

Master key concepts with spaced repetition across all 9 chapters.

  • Covers asset classes, markets, settlement, and accounting.
  • Track mastery progress with the built-in tracker.
  • Focus on the facts most likely to appear in exams.

Chapter Summaries with Exam Tips

Concise summaries highlighting examinable areas and common exam traps.

  • Examinable areas ranked by importance.
  • Common pitfalls that catch students out.
  • CISI-specific exam tricks and distinctions.

AI-Powered Study Mentor

Get instant explanations and guidance on any topic from your AI tutor.

  • Ask questions in natural language.
  • Get detailed explanations with examples.
  • Covers all 9 chapters of the syllabus.
New course feature

Learn first. Then prove you’re ready.

Use the same question bank in two different ways: build understanding with instant feedback, then switch to a realistic simulation when you are ready.

Study Mode

Instant feedback & explanations

Choose an answer, see immediately whether it is right or wrong, and read the explanation before moving on.

  • Feedback after every choice
  • The correct answer shown clearly
  • A concise explanation while it matters
Exam Mode

Realistic exam simulation

Work against the official-style timer without revealing answers, then review your score and every explanation after submission.

  • Timer mirrors the exam duration
  • Answers stay hidden during the attempt
  • Score and explanations after submission

Syllabus

Module 1: The Financial Services Industry 3% syllabus weight

🎧 Audio

Understanding the structure and participants of the financial services industry.

  • Retail vs professional/wholesale sectors
  • Key participants: banks, pension funds, insurance companies
  • Investment banks, fund managers, brokers, custodians
  • Equity, bond, and FX market overview

Module 2: Asset Classes 27% syllabus weight

Comprehensive coverage of equities, bonds, yields, FX, CISs, and structured products.

  • Ordinary and preference shares (cumulative, convertible, redeemable)
  • Bond yields: flat yield, GRY, NRY, modified duration
  • Government bonds by country (gilts, Treasuries, bunds)
  • Credit ratings and investment grade thresholds
  • Collective investment schemes and ETFs
  • Foreign exchange markets and day count conventions

Module 3: Markets 2% syllabus weight

Primary and secondary market characteristics and governing authorities.

  • Primary market: IPOs, capital raising
  • Secondary market: liquidity, HFT, algorithmic trading
  • Governing authorities: FCA, SEC, CSRC

Module 4: Primary Markets 14% syllabus weight

How securities are brought to market through various types of offerings.

  • Types of offer: subscription, sale, placing, introduction
  • Bookbuilding, underwriting, and stabilisation
  • Greenshoe options and clawback mechanisms
  • Bond offerings and the role of the DMO

Module 5: Secondary Markets 15% syllabus weight

Trading mechanisms, order types, and market structure.

  • Order-driven vs quote-driven vs hybrid systems
  • Order types: market, limit, stop, iceberg
  • Dark pools, MTFs, and systematic internalisers
  • Key equity indices: FTSE 100, S&P 500, DJIA

Module 6: Corporate Actions 7% syllabus weight

Events initiated by issuers that affect their securities.

  • Dividends: interim, final, ex-dividend mechanics
  • Scrip/bonus issues and stock splits
  • Rights issues: TERP and nil-paid value calculations
  • Share buybacks and notifiable interests

Module 7: Clearing and Settlement 8% syllabus weight

Post-trade processes including clearing, settlement, and custody.

  • Clearing vs settlement: definitions and processes
  • BIS DvP Models 1, 2, and 3
  • Custody, nominees (designated vs pooled)
  • CLS for FX settlement, stock lending

Module 8: Accounting Analysis 14% syllabus weight

Financial statements, key ratios, and accounting concepts.

  • Balance sheet: current/non-current assets and liabilities
  • Income statement: revenue to net profit
  • Cash flow statement: operating, investing, financing
  • Key ratios: EPS, P/E, dividend yield, ROCE, gearing

Module 9: Investment Management 10% syllabus weight

Risk and reward, diversification, and investment strategies.

  • Systematic vs unsystematic risk
  • Correlation, diversification, and hedging
  • Active vs passive management
  • ESG investing and bond strategies
  • Institutional investors and liquidation hierarchy

Who Is This For?

Financial services professionals preparing for the CISI Certificate in Securities
Students pursuing Capital Markets Programme qualifications
Investment banking and securities operations professionals
Compliance and risk professionals needing securities knowledge
Career changers entering the financial services sector
International professionals seeking UK-recognised qualifications

Preparation centre

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

View all insights

Frequently Asked Questions

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that you must complete within 2 hours. You need to score 70% or higher to pass.

You get lifetime access from the moment you enrol. Study at your own pace and revisit the material whenever you need a refresher.

Yes, all content is aligned with the CISI latest standards. We update our material whenever CISI releases syllabus changes.

Absolutely. The platform is fully responsive and works on desktop, tablet, and mobile browsers. You can study on the go.

We go beyond the workbook with AI-powered tutoring, 500 practice questions with detailed explanations, rapid-recall flashcards, and timed mock exams that simulate real exam conditions.

Our course is designed to be a comprehensive exam prep tool. While the official workbook is a useful reference, many students pass using our platform alone.

All content is created from the official workbooks and compiled with input from finance professionals who have studied for and passed the exam themselves. Their notes, insights, and exam feedback are combined into a focused, interactive study system.

We do not guarantee a pass — success requires reading the official workbook and using our materials for active revision. However, our system is designed around recall-based learning, which is proven to significantly improve retention and exam performance.

No previous qualifications or work experience are required. Our materials are structured to help both newcomers and experienced professionals looking to formalise their knowledge.

Yes — the official workbook is recommended for full exam preparation. Our course is designed as a powerful revision companion that distils the most exam-relevant content into flashcards, cheat sheets, and mock exams to accelerate your preparation.

Yes! Test your knowledge and see our AI tutor explanations with the free CISI Certificate in Securities Topic Quiz below. It contains 15 questions from one named topic and is not a full mock exam or overall readiness assessment.

No. For UK regulated activities, the firm must map the role to the FCA Training and Competence sourcebook and its appropriate-qualification tables. A CISI course title alone does not establish authorisation for every activity. Confirm the requirement with the employer and regulator before booking.

Use the official CISI booking flow to check remote-invigilation or test-centre availability for CISI Certificate in Securities. Confirm the current workbook edition and read Candidate Updates before booking.

Exams Academy checkout is displayed in US dollars and the card provider converts it to GBP. The official CISI exam and required workbook are booked and paid for separately at the current CISI price.

🇬🇧 Local market guide

CISI Certificate in Securities in the United Kingdom: pathway, booking and careers

Review how CISI Certificate in Securities connects to regulation, qualification pathways, booking, currency and careers in the United Kingdom before paying the official exam fee.

Regulator and qualification pathway

For UK regulated activities, the firm must map the role to the FCA Training and Competence sourcebook and its appropriate-qualification tables. A CISI course title alone does not establish authorisation for every activity.

Financial Conduct Authority

Booking and official examination

Use the official CISI booking flow to check remote-invigilation or test-centre availability for CISI Certificate in Securities. Confirm the current workbook edition and read Candidate Updates before booking.

Find a CISI test centre

Career and employer context

ICWIM knowledge is relevant to international private banking, client services, wealth operations and entry-level investment-support roles. Regulated UK advice roles may require a different or higher-level qualification.

Price and currency

Exams Academy checkout is displayed in US dollars and the card provider converts it to GBP. The official CISI exam and required workbook are booked and paid for separately at the current CISI price.

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CISI Certificate in Securities
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