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Exam Review

Key Facts: ICWIM Exam

100 Qs

Multiple Choice

CISI Edition 7

2 hrs

Exam Time

CISI

70%

Pass Mark

CISI

100 hrs

Recommended Study

CISI Learning Platform

Level 3

RQF Level

Ofqual UK

Mar 2027

Edition 7 Valid Until

CISI Syllabus

The CISI ICWIM exam delivers 100 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours and requires 70% to pass. Edition 7 of the syllabus is valid through 31 March 2027. CISI recommends roughly 100 hours of study and the exam is a recognised Level 3 qualification on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). It is taken by wealth managers and private bankers across more than 50 countries and is delivered as a computer-based test through CISI test centres or remote invigilation.

Sample ICWIM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ICWIM exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 233+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following is the principal regulator for conduct of business in the United Kingdom retail wealth-management industry?

A.Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

B.Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)

C.Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee

D.European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

Explanation: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the UK's conduct regulator for around 50,000 firms, including all retail wealth managers and investment advisers. It writes and enforces the FCA Handbook, including COBS, SYSC, and CASS rules.

2Under standard anti-money-laundering rules, the process of verifying a client's identity and source of funds before opening an investment account is known as:

A.Know Your Customer (KYC)

B.Treating Customers Fairly (TCF)

C.Senior Managers Regime (SMR)

D.Customer Due Diligence Refresh (CDDR)

Explanation: Know Your Customer (KYC) is the umbrella term for identifying and verifying the client and understanding the source of their funds at onboarding. KYC is a core requirement of the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives and the UK Money Laundering Regulations.

3Which international body sets global standards for securities regulation that domestic regulators (such as the SEC and FCA) generally adopt?

A.IOSCO

B.OECD

C.World Bank

D.Bank for International Settlements

Explanation: The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) brings together national securities regulators and publishes the IOSCO Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation, which underpin most domestic regimes.

4Which of the following BEST describes 'integrity' as understood in the CISI Code of Conduct?

A.Acting honestly and fairly, even when it conflicts with personal financial interest

B.Following all written rules without exercising professional judgement

C.Generating the highest possible return for the client at all costs

D.Reporting only material breaches that the regulator is likely to discover

Explanation: Integrity in the CISI Code of Conduct means acting honestly, fairly, and with moral courage, even when it puts the practitioner's personal or commercial interests at risk. It is the first of the CISI's eight code principles.

5A wealth manager notices that a long-standing client suddenly wants to deposit a large sum of cash from an unfamiliar offshore account. What is the MOST appropriate first action?

A.File a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with the firm's MLRO

B.Reject the deposit and close the client account

C.Tell the client that the firm cannot accept funds from offshore accounts

D.Process the deposit because the client is long-standing

Explanation: Under UK money-laundering rules, if a member of staff knows or suspects money laundering, they must make an internal report to the firm's Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) without tipping off the client. The MLRO then decides whether to file an external SAR with the National Crime Agency.

6Which US regulator has primary responsibility for enforcing federal securities laws and overseeing investment advisers?

A.Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

B.Federal Reserve Board

C.Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) only

D.Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)

Explanation: The SEC is the principal US federal regulator for securities markets and registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. FINRA is a self-regulatory organisation that supervises broker-dealers under SEC oversight.

7A client classified as 'professional' under MiFID II is generally entitled to FEWER protections than which category of client?

A.Retail client

B.Eligible counterparty

C.Per-se professional client

D.Elective professional client

Explanation: MiFID II ranks clients on a sliding scale. Retail clients receive the highest level of protection (full appropriateness, suitability, and disclosure). Professional clients receive fewer protections, and eligible counterparties receive the least.

8Which of the following is NOT one of the FCA's three statutory operational objectives?

A.Maximising fee income for regulated firms

B.Securing an appropriate degree of consumer protection

C.Protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system

D.Promoting effective competition in the interests of consumers

Explanation: The FCA has one strategic objective (ensuring relevant markets function well) and three operational objectives: consumer protection, market integrity, and effective competition. Maximising firm fee income is not an FCA objective.

9What is the minimum customer due diligence (CDD) standard required for a politically exposed person (PEP) under EU/UK AML rules?

A.Enhanced due diligence (EDD)

B.Simplified due diligence (SDD)

C.Standard due diligence

D.No due diligence required if the PEP is from an EU member state

Explanation: Politically exposed persons are deemed higher-risk under the EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives and UK Money Laundering Regulations, so firms must apply enhanced due diligence (EDD), including senior-management approval and source-of-wealth checks.

10Insider dealing under the UK Criminal Justice Act 1993 requires that the trader has dealt on the basis of:

A.Specific, price-sensitive information that is not publicly available

B.Any information given to them by a senior colleague

C.Publicly available company financial statements

D.A general feeling that the share price will rise

Explanation: The criminal offence of insider dealing requires the trader to have inside information that is specific, precise, related to a particular issuer, not made public, and price-sensitive. All four characteristics must be present.

About the ICWIM Exam

The CISI International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management (ICWIM) is a Level 3 benchmark qualification from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment for wealth managers, private bankers, and investment advisers working in international markets. The Edition 7 syllabus is valid through March 2027 and tests the full investment toolkit: financial markets, equities, bonds, alternatives, funds, derivatives, regulation, taxation, and portfolio construction.

Exam sponsor: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam / Certification Fees

GBP 245 (approx. USD 310)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

10%

Industry, Professional and Ethical Context

Financial services structure, regulators (FCA, SEC, ESMA, IOSCO), AML/KYC, integrity.

12%

Financial Markets

Primary vs secondary markets, exchanges, MTFs, OTC, T+1/T+2 settlement, central counterparties.

12%

Equities

Share types, dividends, rights issues, splits, equity valuation (DDM, Gordon growth, P/E, EV/EBITDA).

12%

Bonds

Bond types, coupon, YTM, duration, convexity, credit ratings, clean vs dirty pricing, accrued interest.

10%

Alternative Investments

Hedge funds, private equity, real estate, commodities, infrastructure, structured products.

10%

Investment Funds

UCITS, AIFs, OEICs, unit trusts, ETFs, fees (TER, OCF, performance fees), passive vs active.

Derivatives

Futures, forwards, options (calls/puts, payoffs, intrinsic/time value), swaps (IRS, currency, equity).

Investment Products

Life insurance products, pensions (DB vs DC), wraps, ISAs, JISAs, SIPPs.

Financial Services Regulation

MiFID II, AIFMD, UCITS Directive, FCA Handbook, US 1940 Investment Advisers Act.

Taxation in Financial Planning

Capital gains, dividend tax, income tax, IHT, tax wrappers.

Client Advice and Portfolio Construction

Risk profiling, strategic vs tactical asset allocation, rebalancing, behavioural finance, suitability.

Preparing for the ICWIM Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 2 hours
Exam / certification fees: GBP 245 (approx. USD 310) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

Work through all 233 available questions
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ICWIM: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master bond mathematics early. Macaulay duration, modified duration, YTM, and clean vs dirty price questions appear repeatedly and trip up candidates without finance backgrounds.

2Distinguish UCITS from AIFs cleanly. UCITS are retail-friendly and highly regulated, while AIFs sit under AIFMD and target professional investors.

3Memorise the option payoff diagrams. ICWIM rewards candidates who can describe the payoff and break-even of long calls, long puts, covered calls, and protective puts.

4Know the UK tax wrappers. ISAs, JISAs, and SIPPs each have distinct contribution limits and tax treatment that the exam tests in client-scenario form.

5Practise the EU regulatory acronyms. MiFID II, AIFMD, UCITS Directive, EMIR, and the FCA Handbook are all fair game and appear in distractor-heavy questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the CISI ICWIM exam?

The CISI International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management exam delivers 100 multiple-choice questions in a 2-hour computer-based test. Candidates must score 70% to pass. The exam is offered year-round through CISI test centres and via remote invigilation in countries where CISI supports remote testing.

What is the ICWIM passing score?

The passing score for the CISI ICWIM exam is 70%, which means at least 70 correct answers out of 100. Each question carries equal weight and there is no negative marking, so candidates should answer every question even when they need to make an educated guess.

What is the current ICWIM syllabus edition?

Edition 7 of the CISI International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management syllabus is the version currently being examined. It is valid through 31 March 2027. CISI publishes the workbook and accompanying e-learning materials aligned to that edition through its Learning Platform.

How much does the ICWIM exam cost in 2026?

The standalone ICWIM exam booking fee is approximately GBP 245 in 2026 for non-members, with discounts available to CISI members. The official CISI workbook is sold separately, typically around GBP 100 for digital access. Exact fees depend on country and whether you book through a corporate sponsor.

Is the ICWIM a Level 3 qualification?

Yes. The CISI International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management is a Level 3 qualification on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). It is broadly comparable to A-Level in the UK and serves as a benchmark international entry-level credential for wealth managers and private bankers.

How long should I study for the ICWIM?

CISI recommends approximately 100 hours of study time for the International Certificate in Wealth and Investment Management. Most candidates spread that over 2 to 4 months while working, focusing on bonds, equities, financial markets, and portfolio construction since those domains carry the largest weight on the exam.