NISM Series XXV-B Exam Pattern
50 marks, 1 hour, negative marking: exactly how Series XXV-B is scored and passed.
NISM Series XXV-B is a single paper of 50 multiple choice questions, each worth 1 mark, to be finished in 1 hour. You pass with 25 out of 50 (50%). There is no negative marking, so a wrong answer costs nothing.
It is also one of the few NISM certifications you do not sit at a test centre. The exam is internet based and remotely proctored: you take it on your own Windows laptop or desktop while a live proctor watches through your webcam. NISM launched the exam on 1 June 2026 for persons associated with investment advice who do sales and other non-core work for a registered investment adviser.
You save ₹500
- Full-length mock tests
- Chapter-wise question bank
- AI study plan
One payment, no subscription · Valid for 1 month
NISM XXV-B exam pattern at a glance
Every figure below is from NISM's XXV-B exam page and its FAQ.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 50 multiple choice questions |
| Marks per question | 1 |
| Total marks | 50 |
| Duration | 60 minutes (1 hour) |
| Pass mark | 25 out of 50 (50%) |
| Negative marking | None |
| Question types | Single-answer MCQs only; no case studies, no descriptive answers |
| Mode | Internet based, remotely proctored, taken from home or office |
| Launched | 1 June 2026 |
How the score is worked out
Your score is simply the number of correct answers. A wrong answer and a blank both score zero. 50 questions at 1 mark each gives 50 marks, and 50% of that is 25 marks. Get 25 right and you pass, whatever happens on the other 25.
There is no sectional cut-off. NISM does not require a minimum score from any of the six sessions of the syllabus, and it publishes no marks split per session. Any site showing a weightage per session for XXV-B has made it up.
Because nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, the negative-marking arithmetic that matters on other NISM papers (0.25 off per wrong answer on Series IX or XIII, for instance) does not apply here. Answer every question. An unanswered question is the only way to throw a mark away.
Time per question
60 minutes for 50 questions is 72 seconds each. Most questions are one-line recall or a short scenario. Mark any you are unsure of, move on, and come back. With no negative marking, every question should carry an answer when the clock runs out.
Free account, this exam preselected.
How the remote proctored exam runs on the day
From NISM's exam instructions and its remote proctored exam FAQ. The registration page covers how you book the slot.
- 1
Set up a Windows laptop or desktop
The secure exam browser (MSB) runs only on Windows 7 or later. You need a working webcam, a microphone, administrator rights and at least 512 kbps up and down. A phone or tablet cannot be used.
- 2
Place a second camera
NISM uses a dual-camera setup. Your mobile phone sits about 1 metre to your left or right and records your side profile, both hands, the screen and the desk for the whole exam. Keep it on charge.
- 3
Keep a photo ID ready
PAN card, Aadhaar, driving licence or passport in original, or the same document in DigiLocker with your photo embedded. You show it to the camera before the test is authorised.
- 4
Start inside the window
The Start Test button is live from 15 minutes before your slot to 15 minutes after it. For a 10:00 slot that is 9:45 to 10:15. Arrive later and the system shows Access Denied. The timer starts only when you see the first question, so waiting in the authorisation queue does not eat into your hour.
- 5
Sit it like a test hall
A live proctor watches throughout. No one else in the room, no talking, no phone, earphones or smart watch, and no toilet break once the test starts. The proctor can pause the exam, ask for a 360-degree view of the room, or end the exam for a breach.
- 6
If the connection drops
The test auto-saves. Log in again the same way and you resume from the question where you were cut off.
What the 50 questions test
The paper draws on six sessions: personal financial planning and markets, securities markets and investment basics, asset classes, financial products, sales skills, and professionalism, ethics and compliance. The syllabus page lists what each session covers.
Three question styles come out of that material. Definition questions: which of these is risk capacity rather than risk tolerance, what is compounding, what does a fixed-income security promise. Comparison questions: how a mutual fund differs from a PMS, an AIF or a SIF, or saving from investing. Scenario questions: a client wants a product pushed that does not fit their profile, what does an advisory-based sales approach require you to do.
The trap is answering as an adviser. XXV-B is written for the person who sells and supports an investment adviser's service, not the person who gives the advice. Questions on role boundaries, fiduciary duty and suitability expect you to know where your job stops and the registered adviser's begins. If you have prepared from Series X-A material, watch for options that describe the adviser's duty when the question asks about the associated person's.
Confirm before you book
These details are from NISM's XXV-B exam page, its FAQ and its remote proctored exam instructions, read on 17 October 2026. The exam is only a few months old, and NISM can change the pattern, the duration or the delivery mode. Check the exam page before you book.
FAQs
What is the NISM 25 B exam?expand_more
NISM Series XXV-B is the Persons Associated with Investment Advice (Sales and Other Non-Core Services) certification. It is a 50-question, 50-mark online test of 60 minutes for people who do sales and other non-core work for a SEBI-registered investment adviser. NISM launched it on 1 June 2026.
What is the pass mark for NISM XXV-B?expand_more
25 out of 50 (50%). There is no sectional cut-off and no negative marking, so 25 correct answers out of 50 is a pass.
Is there negative marking in NISM Series XXV-B?expand_more
No. NISM's exam page says there is no negative marking. A wrong answer scores zero, the same as a blank, so attempt every question.
Can I take the NISM XXV-B exam from home?expand_more
Yes. XXV-B is a remotely proctored exam, not a test-centre exam. You take it on a Windows laptop or desktop with a webcam and microphone, with your phone set up as a second camera, while a live proctor watches. You cannot take it on a phone or tablet.
What happens if I fail NISM XXV-B?expand_more
You book a fresh slot and sit the exam again. The registration page covers booking and the renewal rule.
Access exam-specific mock tests directly from your Android device.Trusted by learners and rated 4.6★ on Google Play.