CME-3A · CISI Securities Level 3
CME-3A Study Plan by Time Left
What to study first for CME-3A: sections ranked by question count, with plans for four weeks, two weeks and the final week.
- Questions and time
- 100 questions · 120 minutes
- Pass mark
- 70%
- Exam fee
- SAR 2,100
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelPut what you just read into practice
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelLast verified: 11 November 2026. This is an independent guide; it is not affiliated with Financial Academy or any government body. Exam details can change, so check the exam page at Financial Academy before relying on any figure.
This guide answers one question: with the days you have left before CME-3A, what do you study first? Section details are in the syllabus guide; booking and fees are in the registration guide.
The numbers behind the plan
| Fact | What it means for your study |
|---|---|
| 100 questions in 120 minutes (Financial Academy) | About 72 seconds per question. Answer recall questions quickly to leave time for the ones that need reading or calculation. |
| Pass mark: 70%: 70 correct answers out of 100 | You can afford at most 30 wrong answers. The mark is counted on the whole exam. |
| Fee: SAR 2,100 | Every extra attempt costs money and time, so do not book until your mock scores are steady. |
Sections in order of size
- Asset Classes: 27 questions (27%)
- Secondary Markets: 15 questions (15%)
- Primary Markets: 14 questions (14%)
- Accounting Analysis: 14 questions (14%)
- Investment Management: 10 questions (10%)
- Clearing and Settlement: 8 questions (8%)
- Corporate Actions: 7 questions (7%)
- The Financial Services Industry: 3 questions (3%)
- Markets: 2 questions (2%)
Four weeks or more
Give the sections 20 study days in proportion to their weight, then keep a week for mock exams:
- Asset Classes: 5 days
- Secondary Markets: 3 days
- Primary Markets: 3 days
- Accounting Analysis: 3 days
- Investment Management: 2 days
- Clearing and Settlement: 2 days
- Corporate Actions: 1 day
- The Financial Services Industry: 1 day
After each section, work its questions in the practice area and read the explanation for every option you got wrong before moving on.
Two weeks
Ten days for the larger sections and four for mock exams and review:
- Asset Classes: 3 days
- Secondary Markets: 2 days
- Primary Markets: 1 day
- Accounting Analysis: 1 day
- Investment Management: 1 day
- Clearing and Settlement: 1 day
- Corporate Actions: 1 day
- Smaller sections (The Financial Services Industry, Markets): review them only through your mock exam mistakes.
The final week
- Day 1: the 10 free questions, to find your weakest sections.
- Days 2 to 4: Asset Classes and Secondary Markets first because they are the largest, then your weakest section.
- Day 5: one full mock exam: 100 questions in 120 minutes without stopping.
- Day 6: go through every question you got wrong and read the explanation for each option.
- Day 7: light review, and check your appointment, test centre and required ID.
Finished reading? Try a set of questions
Start with 10 free questions to find your weakest units. Keep practising with the full question bank and mock exams from SAR 26.
Sources and references
- Financial Academy – exam page fa.gov.sa
- Financial Academy – exam specification links.cisi.org