NISM Series XII mock test
Securities Markets Foundation Certification Examination
The practice paper
Before you start
- 100 questions, 120 minutes. 1 mark each, no negative marking — the same rules the real paper uses, so a blank costs exactly what a wrong answer does.
- Questions are drawn to the syllabus weightages NISM publishes, so the mix matches the real paper.
- You can flag a question and come back to it. The clock does not stop.
- Nothing is saved. Close the tab and the attempt is gone.
The real examination
A practice paper for the Securities Markets Foundation certification — the entry-level paper covering the market as a whole: securities and asset allocation, the primary and secondary markets, mutual funds and derivatives. A hundred questions, no negative marking and a pass at 60, exactly as the examination has it, and an explanation for every answer.
- Questions
- 100
- Duration
- 120 min
- Pass mark
- 60/100
- Negative marking
- None
The certificate is valid for 3 years. This is a foundation-level certification rather than a regulatory requirement for a particular role. NISM offers it as an introduction to the securities markets for students, new entrants and investors, and it is the usual first paper for someone who has not yet decided which specialist certification to take.
Syllabus and weightages
6 units, weighted as NISM publishes them. Securities: Types, Features and Concepts of Asset Allocation and Investing and Primary Markets and Secondary Markets and Mutual Funds are 20% each of the paper — worth knowing before you decide where your week goes.
| Unit | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Understanding Securities Markets and Performance | 10% | 10 |
| 2. Securities: Types, Features and Concepts of Asset Allocation and Investing | 20% | 20 |
| 3. Primary Markets | 20% | 20 |
| 4. Secondary Markets | 20% | 20 |
| 5. Mutual Funds | 20% | 20 |
| 6. Derivative Markets | 10% | 10 |
Common questions
Is this the actual NISM examination?
No. It is a practice paper written by CAPITA1 from the syllabus NISM publishes. The real examination is conducted by NISM and can only be taken through them.
Does passing this get me certified?
No. Only NISM certifies, through its own examination. This tells you where you stand before you book it.
What score do I need in the real exam?
60 out of 100, which is 60%. There is no negative marking, so an unanswered question and a wrong one cost the same — there is never a reason to leave one blank.
Do I get the same questions each time?
No. A fresh paper is drawn from the bank each attempt, weighted to the same syllabus split.