The cheapest, quickest CISI credential — perfect starter for career-switchers or graduates. 514 calibrated MCQs, walkthroughs + cram sheet + audio, mock exams. £29.
The International Introduction to Securities & Investment is CISI's entry-level qualification. Its whole point: give you a broad, shallow tour of every corner of the financial-services industry so you have the vocabulary + context to work in it.
Perfect for:
50 multiple-choice questions, 1 hour, 70% pass mark. Delivered computer-based via Pearson VUE (or in-person at approved centres worldwide).
| Ch | Topic | Exam weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Financial Services Sector — core functions, wholesale vs retail, exchanges and trading venues | 5 / 50 |
| 2 | The Economic Environment — economic systems, the economic cycle, fiscal and monetary policy | 4 / 50 |
| 3 | Equities — the heaviest chapter — share types, preference shares, dividends, corporate actions | 10 / 50 |
| 4 | Bonds — features, pricing vs interest rates, credit risk, yields | 6 / 50 |
| 5 | Other Markets & Investments — cash deposits, money markets, property, FX, cryptocurrency | 5 / 50 |
| 6 | Derivatives — hedging vs speculation, futures, options, leverage | 5 / 50 |
| 7 | Investment Funds — pooling, active vs passive, open- vs closed-ended funds, ETFs | 6 / 50 |
| 8 | Regulation and Ethics — aims of regulation, IOSCO, the major regulators | 4 / 50 |
| 9 | Other Financial Products — pensions, loans, mortgages, insurance | 3 / 50 |
| 10 | Financial Advice — areas of advice, budgeting, savings vs investment, estate and tax planning | 2 / 50 |
Ch 3 (Equities) is the heaviest chapter at around 10 of 50 questions — double most of the others. Beyond that the weight is spread thinly, with seven chapters on 4-6 questions each and Ch 9-10 worth about 5 between them. IISI rewards broad reading, with extra time on equities.
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Full IISI bank — 514 Qs, walkthroughs, audio, cram sheet — £29 one-time.
Target 75%+ across two timed mocks before booking. IISI is the easiest CISI exam we ship — but 70% is still 35/50, so don't wing it.
The natural next step for wealth-management careers. Bigger, deeper, but the IISI vocabulary carries over.
The next step for compliance careers. GFC covers the international regulatory framework.
UAE FRR + CFC, if you're headed for a UAE compliance-officer role after IISI.
Probably not. If you have a finance-related degree (or a job at a financial firm already), skip IISI and go straight to ICWIM (wealth) or GFC (compliance). IISI's value is broad vocabulary + a credential for CVs — if you have both already, its ROI is low.
3-4 weeks at 6-8 hours per week is typical. Can be done faster (2 weeks intensive) if you have prior background. IISI is broad but shallow — not conceptually hard, just requires vocabulary absorption.
50 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, 70% pass mark. Computer-based delivery via Pearson VUE.
For entry-level finance roles: yes. It signals you've made deliberate effort to learn finance vocabulary + framework. It's not a licensed-role credential — you won't get promoted to portfolio manager on IISI alone — but it's a credible starter for interviews.
Our bank is not CISI-accredited (we're not an official CISI training provider). It's original preparatory material calibrated to the published syllabus. All content is our own; we don't reproduce past-paper content.
One-time payment, permanent access — no expiry, no subscription. Purchases aren't refundable once the licence key is issued, except where something is faulty or not as described — you can try free questions in every chapter before you buy.
CISI and IISI are trademarks of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. FinStudyHub is not affiliated with CISI. Content is original preparatory material calibrated to the published IISI syllabus.