Frequently Asked Questions-Financial Education

1. Who can take NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination?

NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination is a voluntary examination and will be open to all. This examination can be taken by those candidates who wish to assess their financial literacy and their understanding of various aspects of financial markets including banking, securities, insurance and pension at an introductory level.

2. How can I register for NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination?

Candidates can register with for this exam at: https://certifications.nism.ac.in/nismaol/

 After successful registration, candidates may select a test center, date and time slot of their choice on the Test Administrator website. Candidates are suggested to read further instructions available on NISM certification website.

3. What is the fee structure?

The fees for NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination is Rs 1,416 inclusive of taxes (Payment gateway charges extra).

4. What is the assessment structure?

The examination consists of 50 questions of 1 mark each and should be completed in 2 hours. There will be no negative marking. The passing score for the examination is 50% (i.e., 25 marks).

5. Is there a study material available for preparing for this examination?

This examination is broadly based upon the “SEBI Financial Education Booklet” and this booklet acts as reference material for this examination. The soft copy of this booklet would be made available to the candidates enrolled for this examination. However, the knowledge tested in this examination could go beyond the content covered in this booklet but shall fall within the broader realm of financial products, markets and ecosystem at the introductory level.

6. I have passed NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination. When will I receive the certificate?

Only the candidates who have produced their Income Tax Permanent Account Number (PAN) during registration would receive the NISM Certificate within two weeks of appearing for the examination.

Candidates who produced other identification proofs would not receive the NISM certificate. They would receive only the temporary mark sheet at the end of the examination. 

7. I have not provided my PAN information at the time of taking the certification examination. How do I obtain the certificate?

Candidates who have not provided their PAN information during registration may furnish their PAN details to the Test Administrator they have registered with anytime after taking the examination. After receiving and verifying PAN details, the candidate will receive the certificate. No additional payments are necessary for obtaining the certificate.

8. I have passed NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination and also provided PAN details. However, I have not received the certificate. Whom should I contact?

For non-receipt of certificate, please send an email to certification@nism.ac.in mentioning your enrollment and exam details.

9. What is the validity period of the certificate?

The certificate will be valid for 3 years from the date of the examination.

10. How do I renew my certificate?

To renew your current certificate, you need to re-appear and pass the NISM-Series-XVIII: Financial Education Certification Examination before the expiry of your existing certificate.

11. Can I request for re-evaluation of NISM Certification Examinations?

NISM Policy on Re-evaluation of performance of candidates appearing for Certification Examination and resolution of doubts about the questions forming part of such examination, if any.

“No re-evaluation of the performance of candidates appearing for Certification Examination conducted by NISM (Mandatory & Non-Mandatory examination) is permitted since the assessment of answers, with respect to Certification Examinations questions which are in the nature of the selection of only one correct answer from multiple choices offered, is carried out in an objective manner by in-built system architecture created for Certification Examination without any scope for human intervention and subjectivity element. 

Also, considering the examination structure, no disclosure of the questions and/or answers is permitted as it will violate the confidentiality of the question bank, which is the essence of the examination.

In view of the above, no communication regarding re-evaluation, etc. will be entertained/serviced by NISM.”

1. Candidate’s request/s will be considered only when he/she specifically mentions particular question or two which he/she thinks contain errors. Claims/ to recheck more than two questions shall normally be not permitted unless substantive material is provided by the candidate as to why he/she considers errors in such questions. In no case, claim/s to recheck all the questions appeared in his/her question paper shall be entertained.

2. No request/s to disclose/discuss question/s and/or their answers shall be entertained as disclosure of the question/s will violate the essence of the question bank viz. breach the confidentiality/secrecy of the Question bank.

3. Only those request/s made on-the-spot (before leaving the test center) will be considered for verification.

4. When a valid request is received from a candidate at the Test Centre, it shall be forwarded by the respective TA to NISM. NISM’s team will look into claim relating to the contested question/s to verify whether there is a mistake in the question or answer. If it is prima facie found that the question or answer contains a mistake, no score will be computed and consequently no score card will be issued then at the Test Centre.

5. Such matter will then be escalated with the question / answer to the Committee with the details of the nature of error, the correct version of the question or contested correct answer and system recognized correct answer. The Committee, after due diligence and proper scrutiny, will arrive at a conclusion whether the claim made by a candidate in relation to a question or answer is right. Such conclusion will be recorded in writing and put up for formal approval to the authority of NISM.

6. Score computation, kept in abeyance as per point 4, shall be carried based on the approval as per point – 5. Such a scorecard will then be issued to the candidate by TA/NISM.

7. Even though NISM endeavors best efforts and has put in place a robust mechanism to review its question bank intermittently, attributable to continuous changes taking place emanating from dynamics of market, encompassing products and features, and its regulatory framework, there is a possibility of inadvertently escaping some updation and/or escaping indirect impact on some question/answer. Therefore, to take care of such eventuality, the above process of entertaining request from the candidate in relation to the question/answer is put in place.

The above policy and process will be subject to review from time to time and shall be binding and final in relation to any claim and/or matter when disposed off with the approval of the authority of NISM.