CME-1A: Introduction to Securities and Investment (International)
CME-1A needs 35 correct answers (70%) to pass, and each attempt costs SAR 1,100. We've handpicked 278 questions covering most topics on the latest syllabus, to help you push for a top score before test day!
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- 50 questions in 60 min, like the real test
- 278 questions covering the main scoring topics, with explanations
- 70 pass mark, with targeted practice on your weak spots
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If your exam were today, would you pass?
Try 10 free questions without signing up. Get your score and find your weak areas as soon as you finish.
A fund management firm outsources its investment administration to a third-party administrator (TPA). Who retains ultimate responsibility for that work?
All 10 free questions with answers and an explanation for every option
What you get
- 278questions in the bankPractise with the answer shown right away, or sit a full timed mock
- 10unitsSplit by the exam syllabus
- 128flashcardsTo lock in terms and definitions
- 178quick review pointsEach unit in a few key lines
Unit map
- 01Introduction to the Financial Services Sector3 questions
- 02Economic Environment4 questions
- 03Equities/Stocks9 questions
- 04Bonds7 questions
- 05Other Markets and Investments5 questions
- 06Derivatives4 questions
- 07Investment Funds6 questions
- 08Financial Services Regulation5 questions
- 09Other Financial Products4 questions
- 10Financial Advice3 questions
Exam facts
CME-1A: Introduction to Securities and Investment (International) — Number of questions: 50 questions. Exam time: 60 minutes. Pass mark: 35 out of 50. Calculator: On-screen calculator. Exam fee: SAR 1,100. Source: The Financial Academy (Last verified: 2026-10-31). Question bank: full mock exams of 50 questions in 60 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 278 explained questions across 10 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end we compare your score with the pass mark and show your weakest units.
- Exam language
- Arabic or English
- Number of questions
- 50 questions Source
- Exam time
- 60 minutes Source
- Pass mark
- 35 out of 50 Source
- Calculator
- On-screen calculator Source
- Exam fee
- SAR 1,100 Source
- Retakes
- At most three attempts in any 12 months, then a six-week break. You cannot resit within three full days of failing, and each attempt is paid in full Source
Last verified: 2026-10-31
Where other sources differ
- Since 1 February 2023 the CME-1 certificate has been two separate exams (CME-1A and CME-1B). The old two-part format costing SAR 1,250 is no longer offered, and holders of the old certificate do not need to resit.
- The English syllabus in force is version 19 (from 10 September 2026). It adds share buybacks, private credit, crypto assets and fiduciary duty. The number of questions per chapter has not changed.
How to register
- There are no prerequisites: no certificate or training programme is required before you register.
- Register with your account on the Financial Academy website, choose the exam and its language (Arabic or English), book a date and pay the full fee in advance. The exam language cannot be changed after booking, and fees are not refunded once paid.
- Complete the online QRF form before the exam; the official result is not issued until it is done.
- Your first reschedule is free 15 days or more before the exam, SAR 100 between 4 and 14 days before, and SAR 400 with less than 4 days to go. Bookings cannot be cancelled.
- Bring valid ID whose name matches your booking exactly (national ID, iqama or GCC ID). The only calculator allowed is the one on the exam screen.
Exam body
The Financial Academy: Official website: The Financial Academy
Study guides
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there and how long is the exam?
50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes on computer, in Arabic or English as chosen when you book. You may get up to 10% extra trial questions that do not count towards your result, with proportionately more time.
Can I try CME-1A Securities Intro questions for free?
Yes. Free questions: a 10-question diagnostic test covering the main units, no sign-up; at the end we compare your score with the pass mark and show your weakest units. The free practice test page lists the same questions with answers and an explanation for every option. The rest of the questions and the full mock exams come with a pass from SAR 26.
What makes this CME-1A Securities Intro question bank different?
Question bank: full mock exams of 50 questions in 60 minutes, like the real test with a result for every unit, plus 278 explained questions across 10 units, every option explained, a review of your mistakes, and two ways to practise: see the answer right away, or sit a full timed mock. Every question is reviewed and referenced, ready to practise on your phone. Try the free questions and read the explanations before buying full access.
What is the pass mark?
35 out of 50, so 35 correct answers (70%). A score of 46 or more is a pass with merit according to CISI's official sample paper.
What are the chapters and how many questions come from each?
Ten chapters: introduction to financial services (3 questions), economic environment (4), equities (9), bonds (7), other markets and investments (5), derivatives (4), investment funds (6), financial services regulation (5), other financial products (4) and financial advice (3).
What is the difference between CME-1A and CME-1B?
CME-1 is two separate exams, each with its own registration and a SAR 1,100 fee: CME-1A covers securities and investment basics on CISI's international syllabus, and CME-1B covers the Saudi capital market laws and regulations. You get the certificate after passing both; each has 50 questions in 60 minutes with a pass mark of 35. The old two-part format costing SAR 1,250 was replaced on 1 February 2023.
Can I get the exam fee back?
According to the Financial Academy's exam page, the fee can be recovered after you pass through the Hadaf platform, and the support is granted only after passing both CME-1A and CME-1B and completing the certificate requirements. Bookings cannot be cancelled, and fees are not refunded before the exam.
How many times can I resit?
At most three attempts within any 12 months, followed by a six-week break. After failing you must wait three full days before resitting, and each attempt costs the full fee (SAR 1,100).
Is this site part of the Financial Academy or the Capital Market Authority?
No. This is an independent exam preparation site with no link to the Financial Academy, the Capital Market Authority, CISI or any government body. Always rely on what the official bodies announce.
Is this an official site, and how do I pay?
It is an independent site, not part of Qiyas or any government body, and every question is reviewed before it is published. You pay once, with no automatic renewal, through Waffo Pancake (the merchant of record) by Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and your statement shows "WAFFO". If you were charged twice or the pass did not open, email support@saudiexams.com.
Study material sample: Introduction to the Financial Services Sector
Summary
This unit is worth about 3 of the 50 questions and introduces the financial services sector. Indicator 1.1.1 covers the roles of institutions: retail and commercial banks, savings institutions, investment banks, private banks, pension funds, insurers, fund managers, stockbrokers, custodians, platforms, third-party administrators, trade bodies, sovereign wealth funds and peer-to-peer lending. Indicator 1.1.2 explains retail versus professional (wholesale) business and who the customers are. Indicator 1.1.3 covers distribution channels: independent advice, restricted advice and execution only. Indicator 1.1.4 covers the impact of fintech, robo-advice and crowdfunding. Indicator 1.1.5 covers ESG investment approaches and their advantages and disadvantages.
What the exam focuses on
- Wholesale (professional or institutional) versus retail: wholesale serves companies and institutions (equities, bonds, FX, derivatives, large insurance, commercial lending), retail serves individuals (accounts, insurance, pensions, investment, financial planning) (1.1.2).
- The role of an investment bank: raising finance and advising on new issues and mergers and acquisitions, trading, treasury services and managing investments for large clients; it differs from a retail or commercial bank, which takes deposits and lends to customers (1.1.1).
- The functions of a custodian: safekeeping of assets, arranging settlement, collecting dividends and interest and processing corporate actions, and reporting (1.1.1).
Show 5 more
- Savings institutions are mutually owned by their members, a sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund holding financial assets, and third-party administrators carry out administration under outsourcing while responsibility stays with the outsourcing firm (1.1.1).
- Independent advice rests on a comprehensive and fair analysis of all products available in the market, while restricted advice covers only the firm's own range and the firm must make this clear to the customer (1.1.3).
- In execution-only business the client decides alone and bears responsibility for suitability, the firm gives no advice, and it must keep written evidence of that (1.1.3).
- A robo-adviser gives advice by algorithm without a human adviser, usually through passive portfolios of index funds and ETFs, for a fee that is normally a percentage of the portfolio; peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding bypass the traditional bank (1.1.4).
- ESG investing: the three factors and their examples, the six Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), the approaches with their advantages and disadvantages, and the risk of greenwashing (1.1.5).
Common traps
- Mixing up an investment bank and a commercial bank: deposits, lending to customers and payments belong to the commercial bank, while new issues, mergers and acquisitions and trading belong to the investment bank.
- Confusing a custodian with a fund manager: the custodian keeps assets safe, settles trades and collects income but does not make buy and sell decisions, whereas the fund manager buys and sells assets to grow the portfolio.
- Confusing independent and restricted advice: independent means recommendations based on the whole market, not simply having no commission; restricted means the firm's own products only, and it is neither free advice nor execution only.
Show 5 more
- Believing an execution-only firm is responsible for suitability: the client is responsible, and the firm must make clear that it gave no advice and is not responsible for suitability.
- Mixing up robo-advice with algorithmic trading: robo-advice is an online advice and portfolio service for individual clients, not the execution of trades for large traders.
- Mixing up the three forms of crowdfunding: donation gives no return, debt is repaid with interest, and equity gives the investor a share in the venture.
- Assuming peer-to-peer loans are normally secured: most are unsecured, no interest is paid while the money waits to be lent, and immediate withdrawal is not always possible.
- Thinking ESG investing guarantees higher returns or carries no risk: it has advantages and disadvantages, including inconsistent ratings and definitions and the risk of greenwashing; also mixing up the factors: climate is environmental, consumer protection and diversity are social, management structures are governance.
Try the flashcards
Tap a card to see the answer
What is the difference between wholesale and retail business?
Wholesale (professional or institutional) business serves companies and institutions, retail business serves individual customers.
Name four wholesale market activities.
Equities, bonds, foreign exchange and derivatives; others include major insurance, commercial lending, private and digital markets.
What are the main services of an investment bank?
Raising finance and advice (new issues, mergers and acquisitions), trading and broking, treasury services, and investment management for large clients.
What does a custodian do?
Holds assets safely for others, arranges settlement, collects dividends and interest, processes corporate actions and reports.
Who owns a savings institution, and what is converting it into a quoted company called?
Its member depositors or borrowers (a mutual society); the conversion is called demutualisation.
What is a sovereign wealth fund?
A state-owned investment fund holding financial assets for financial objectives, including foreign ones, funded from balance of payments surpluses, privatisation proceeds and commodity exports.
What does a third-party administrator (TPA) do, and who keeps ultimate responsibility?
It carries out investment administration for other firms under outsourcing; ultimate responsibility stays with the outsourcing firm.
What is the difference between independent and restricted advice?
Independent advice is based on a comprehensive and fair analysis of the whole market; restricted advice covers only the firm's own products and the client must be told.
Why you can trust these questions
- Published questions: 278. We reviewed every one before publishing it: the answer, the explanation of each option and the source.
- Exam facts last checked against the organiser’s website: 2026-10-31. We check them again every three months and two weeks before each test.
- Found a mistake? Tap "Report an error" under any question in the practice area, or email us at support@saudiexams.com
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Update log
- 2026-10-31 Published the exam facts from the Financial Academy's pages and CISI's version 19 syllabus.