UK candidate context
CISI International Introduction to Securities & Investment is an international qualification used by UK finance professionals; connect the global syllabus to UK roles while keeping the official CISI learning objectives as the exam boundary. Check current UK booking options in MyCISI and use pounds only for ExamsPrep UK course purchases; official CISI examination fees are separate.
- Questions
- 50
- Time
- 60 minutes
- Pass mark
- 70%
- Average pace
- 1.2 min/question
- Study range
- 30–40 focused hours
- Primary challenge
- broad investment foundations
IISI question distribution by chapter
This weighting is the most useful planning document in the syllabus. Use it to allocate revision time, then verify the current edition in the official learning map.
| Chapter | Questions |
|---|---|
| Equities / Stocks | 9 |
| Bonds | 7 |
| Investment Funds | 6 |
| Other Markets and Investments | 5 |
| Financial Services Regulation | 5 |
| The Economic Environment | 4 |
| Derivatives | 4 |
| Other Financial Products | 4 |
| Introduction: The Financial Services Sector | 3 |
| Financial Advice | 3 |
A pacing strategy that leaves review time
Bank the clear marks
Answer questions you can solve confidently. Flag anything calculation-heavy or ambiguous and keep moving.
Work the flagged set
Return with the remaining time. Eliminate distractors, calculate carefully and avoid changing answers without a reason.
Protect the paper
Confirm every question has an answer, then inspect units, negative wording and accidental misclicks.
What score should you target?
| Mock score | Interpretation | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Below 65% | Knowledge gaps are still material | Return to chapter drills |
| 65–74% | Near the line, but fragile | Fix repeated errors before booking |
| 75–79% | Promising but not yet comfortable | Run more full simulations |
| 80%+ | A useful safety buffer | Maintain, review and protect timing |
A single strong mock is not proof. Look for a repeatable score across different question sets and days.
What candidates commonly misunderstand
- The pass mark is a minimum, not a sensible mock-exam target.
- A chapter with fewer questions can still decide the result when your score is close to the line.
- The 60-minute clock includes reading, calculations, flags and review.
- Question-bank accuracy is inflated if you repeatedly see the same questions without spaced retesting.
Practise the format before exam day
Use Study Mode to learn from immediate feedback, then switch to Exam Mode so answers stay hidden until submission. Your final preparation should feel operationally familiar: same pace, no notes and one uninterrupted sitting.
Try the IISI exam engineSources and editorial method
Exam structure and chapter labels were checked against the Official CISI qualifications navigator and candidate updates. Candidates should also review the CISI Candidate Update before sitting the exam because workbook amendments and testing windows can change.
Our editorial team begins with the current syllabus and official candidate information, then separates verified exam facts from ExamsPrep UK study guidance. We use original examples rather than recalled or copied examination questions. Before an article is published, its key facts, internal links, visible FAQs and structured data are checked together so search summaries do not contradict the page. We also check that every recommended action is specific enough for a candidate to use in a real study session. When an official source changes, we update the affected fact without rewriting unrelated advice or changing a stable URL unnecessarily. Readers can use the source links above to verify the current position for their own booking and syllabus version.
Last fact-check: 4 August 2026. UK exam fees, test-centre or remote-delivery availability and booking policies can change; the live MyCISI flow is the final source of truth.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in CISI IISI?
CISI IISI has 50 multiple-choice questions.
How long is the IISI exam?
The exam lasts 60 minutes, giving an average of about 72 seconds per question before review time.
What is the IISI pass mark?
The pass mark is 70%, which means at least 35 correct answers on a 50-question paper.
Is there negative marking in IISI?
CISI multiple-choice papers are not normally scored with a penalty for an incorrect response. Candidates should confirm the current exam instructions and answer every question.