Saudi CME-1A Exam Blueprint and Practice Map
Review the Financial Academy CME-1A format, ten syllabus elements, version 19 allocation, timing checkpoints, and Finance Prep's 600-question bank map.
Official exam snapshot
| Item | Current public Financial Academy and CISI information |
|---|---|
| Examination | International Introduction to Securities & Investment (CME-1A) |
| Questions | 50 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Passing requirement | 35 correct answers |
| Current English basis | CISI syllabus version 19 for examinations from September 10, 2026 |
| Scope | Ten international securities-and-investment elements |
| Qualification boundary | CME-1A covers the international foundation; CME-1B covers Saudi capital-market regulations |
Official target allocation and Finance Prep map
The official specification provides nominal question counts and notes that individual papers may vary slightly to maintain consistent difficulty. Finance Prep’s 600-question bank follows the same percentage allocation.
| Element | Official target | Nominal live questions | Finance Prep questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction and the Financial Services Sector | 6% | 3 | 36 |
| The Economic Environment | 8% | 4 | 48 |
| Equities and Stocks | 18% | 9 | 108 |
| Bonds | 14% | 7 | 84 |
| Other Markets and Investments | 10% | 5 | 60 |
| Derivatives | 8% | 4 | 48 |
| Investment Funds | 12% | 6 | 72 |
| Financial Services Regulation and Ethics | 10% | 5 | 60 |
| Other Financial Products | 8% | 4 | 48 |
| Financial Advice | 6% | 3 | 36 |
| Total | 100% | 50 | 600 |
Timing checkpoints
Sixty minutes allows an average of 72 seconds per question. A practical plan reserves the final five minutes for review.
| Checkpoint | Target elapsed time |
|---|---|
| Question 10 | 11 minutes |
| Question 20 | 22 minutes |
| Question 30 | 33 minutes |
| Question 40 | 44 minutes |
| Question 50 | 55 minutes |
| Review | 5 minutes |
If a question is consuming substantially more than the average, mark it, choose the best supported option, and return after completing the paper.
Use the free 50-question practice exam for a timed diagnostic, then use the study plan to turn misses into element-specific work.