Exam difficulty

What the published monthly pass rates actually say, and how long people really need.

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HKSI Paper 1 Pass Rate (2026 Published Data)The twelve-month mean pass rate for HKSI Paper 1 to June 2026 was 51.9%, so about 48.1% of candidates fail. Published monthly figures ran from 47.4% i…
Is HKSI Paper 1 Hard? What the Data SaysPaper 1 is not intellectually hard, but it is easy to fail: the twelve-month mean pass rate to June 2026 was 51.9%. The difficulty comes from a 70% pa…
How Long to Study for HKSI Paper 1?Our estimate is 60 to 90 hours from a standing start, or 40 to 60 hours if you already work in a licensed corporation. Spread over six to eight weeks …
Hardest Topics in HKSI Paper 1Topic 3, the Securities and Futures Ordinance, is the hardest to read. Topic 4, licensing and subsidiary legislation, is the heaviest on our estimate …
Why people fail HKSI Paper 1About 48.1% of candidates fail, taking the twelve-month mean to June 2026. Almost none of them fail because the material was too hard. They fail on th…
HKSI Paper 1 Pass Rate by MonthPublished monthly rates range from 47.4% in March 2026 to 61.84% in November 2025, against a twelve-month mean of 51.9% to June 2026. There is no reli…
HKSI Paper 1 vs Other Professional ExamsHKSI Paper 1 is one of the lighter finance qualifications by hours - our estimate is 60 to 90 from a standing start - but its 70% pass mark is unusual…
HKSI Paper 1: How Many Hours of Study?Our full-fat budget is 90 hours from no background: 60 across the nine topics, 15 on timed mocks, 15 on targeted repair. With finance or compliance ex…
HKSI Paper 1 for Fresh GraduatesGraduates sit exactly the same paper at the same 70% threshold, and the twelve-month mean pass rate to June 2026 was 51.9% across everyone. Your exam …
HKSI Paper 1 With No Finance BackgroundYes, you can pass without any finance background. Nothing in the syllabus assumes prior knowledge and there is no maths beyond percentages. Budget tow…