CSC® Exam Breakdown: Structure, Weightings, and Passing Score

The Canadian Securities Course (CSC®) is offered by the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). CSI publishes the exam structure and topic weightings, which makes it easier to prioritize your study time and avoid surprises on exam day.

This page summarizes those weightings and explains how to use them to build a study plan.

Overview of the CSC® Exam Structure

CSI describes the CSC® exam structure as:

Item	Details
Exams	2
Exam format	Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre)
Duration	2 hours per exam
Question format	Multiple choice
Questions per exam	100
Attempts allowed	Up to 3 attempts per exam (fees/policies may apply)
Passing grade	60% per exam
Assignments	None

CSC® Exam 1 Breakdown

Exam 1 focuses on the Canadian investment marketplace, the economy, and core product/trading mechanics (fixed income, equities, and derivatives), plus corporate finance basics.

CSI-published topic weightings:

Topic	Weight
The Canadian Investment Marketplace	15%
The Economy	13%
Features and Types of Fixed-Income Securities	12%
Pricing and Trading of Fixed-Income Securities	11%
Common and Preferred Shares	13%
Equity Transactions	10%
Derivatives	10%
Corporations and their Financial Statements	8%
Financing and Listing Securities	8%

CSC® Exam 2 Breakdown

Exam 2 focuses on analysis and portfolio construction, managed products (mutual funds, ETFs, alternatives/structured products), taxation, and working with clients.

CSI-published topic weightings:

Topic	Weight
Investment Analysis	18%
Portfolio Analysis	18%
Mutual Funds	14%
Exchange-Traded Funds	10%
Alternative Investments, Other Managed, and Structured Products	16%
Canadian Taxation	6%
Fee-Based Accounts and Working with the Retail Client	8%
Working with the Institutional Client	10%

Passing Score for the CSC® Exams

To pass the CSC®, you must score at least 60% on each exam. Exam 1 and Exam 2 are graded separately, and you must pass both.

How to Use the Weightings to Build a Study Plan

Use weightings to allocate time and practice volume:

\text{Hours for a topic} \approx \text{Total study hours} \times \text{Weighting}

Example: If you budget 80 hours for Exam 2, then “Investment Analysis” (18%) is roughly 14–15 hours of your plan.

High-Impact Study Tips (That Match the Exam Format)

Train your pacing: 2 hours for 100 questions is ~72 seconds per question.
Use mixed practice: You need recall and discrimination, not just reading.
Track mistakes: Keep an error log and re-test weak areas weekly.
Stay current on terminology: CIRO is the current Canadian SRO (older materials may reference IIROC/MFDA). Market mechanics can change over time (e.g., settlement cycles).

Official Sources (Always Verify Here)

CSI can update exam weightings and policies. Confirm the latest details on the official pages:

CSI CSC® exam structure & weightings: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/csc/exam-credits
CSI CSC® curriculum: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/csc/curriculum

For a broader overview on this site (including chapter mapping and study planning), see:

Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC®): Exam Structure, Curriculum, and How to Prepare

CSC® is a trademark of the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). This site is not affiliated with CSI or CIRO.

Conclusion

The best way to use an exam breakdown is to turn it into a plan: prioritize high-weight topics, practise under time constraints, and continuously close gaps using targeted review. When in doubt, verify the latest policies and weightings on the official CSI pages.