NISM Series VII Exam Pattern
100 marks, 2 hours, negative marking: exactly how Series VII is scored and passed.
The NISM Series VII paper has 100 multiple choice questions of 1 mark each, for 100 marks, and you get 120 minutes. You pass with 50%, which is 50 marks. A wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks, so 0.25 is deducted for each one.
The exam is computer-based, booked through NISM's certification portal. Your result is shown when you submit.
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The paper at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 multiple choice |
| Marks per question | 1 |
| Total marks | 100 |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Pass mark | 50% (50 out of 100) |
| Negative marking | 25% of a question's marks, so 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Unanswered question | 0, no deduction |
| Format | Computer-based, booked through NISM's certification portal |
| Result | Shown on submission |
| Fee | ₹1,500 plus payment gateway charges |
| Certificate validity | 3 years |
How the 100 marks are split by chapter
Each chapter's weightage, from the July 2026 workbook, is also its share of the 100 questions.
| Chapter | Marks |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction to the Securities Market | 5 |
| 2. Market Participants in the Securities Market | 10 |
| 3. Introduction to Securities Broking Operations | 20 |
| 4. Risk Management | 15 |
| 5. Clearing Process | 15 |
| 6. Settlement Process | 15 |
| 7. Investor Grievances and Arbitration | 10 |
| 8. Other Services Provided by Brokers | 10 |
Timing
120 minutes for 100 questions is 72 seconds each. Most questions on this paper are about rules, sequences and who does what, so many can be answered in well under a minute. That leaves time for the slower ones: settlement timings, margin types and corporate action adjustments in chapters 4 to 6.
A practical approach is to go through the paper once answering everything you are sure of, mark the rest, and come back to them with the time you have saved.
Free account, this exam preselected.
What the pass mark means in practice
The pass mark is a net score, after deductions. If you attempt all 100 questions, every wrong answer costs you the 1 mark you did not earn plus the 0.25 deducted. With all 100 attempted you need 60 correct to reach 50: 60 marks minus 40 x 0.25 = 50.
Leaving a question blank costs nothing, but it also earns nothing. The trade off between guessing and leaving blanks is worked through on the negative marking page for this exam.
Check NISM before you book
These details follow NISM's exam page and the July 2026 workbook. NISM can change the pattern, fee or workbook version, so confirm on the exam page before you book a slot.
FAQs
How many questions are there in NISM Series VII?expand_more
100 multiple choice questions, each worth 1 mark.
What is the passing mark for NISM Series VII?expand_more
50%, which is 50 out of 100 after negative marking is applied.
Is there negative marking in NISM Series VII?expand_more
Yes. 25% of a question's marks is deducted for a wrong answer, which is 0.25 per question. Blank answers are not penalised.
How long is the NISM Series VII exam?expand_more
120 minutes for 100 questions.
When do I get my NISM Series VII result?expand_more
The result is shown on screen when you submit the exam.
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