HKSI Paper 1 Exam Dates and Sittings 2026

2026 schedule

The current HKSI examination schedule lists Paper 1 sessions on October 26 and 27, 2026, and shows further sittings in November and December. The October 26 session has an enrollment cutoff of October 21; the October 27 session has an enrollment cutoff of October 22. These are confirmed entries in the schedule available when this page was. Use the official timetable for the full list of sessions, exact times and cutoffs, then confirm that a seat remains available in your account before making plans.

Use HKSI Institute's enrollment page and live examination schedule. The schedule is the source for available sessions, enrollment cutoffs and withdrawal deadlines. This article does not reproduce a date calendar because it changes and candidates need the current official availability when they book.

HKSI instructs candidates to read the relevant examination details and policies before enrolling. Complete enrollment through its Online Portal or mobile app before the published enrollment deadline. The enrollment page notes that sessions are not held every day, so do not assume a preferred date or time will be open.

Choose a venue

Paper 1 is available through HKSI's Hong Kong Examination Centre and Global Examination Centres. HKSI's overview lists different fees for those venue types, and session options may differ. Confirm the venue, mode, interface language and examination details on the enrollment screen before payment. Do not plan around an overseas city until you have confirmed it appears in HKSI's current center list and has a session for your exam.

Plan around the enrollment deadline

1. Check the live schedule for the sitting you want and note its enrollment cutoff.
2. Confirm that the venue and time are workable, including travel or work leave if needed.
3. Compare the date with your preparation runway and allow time for a final review.
4. Read the current withdrawal, cancellation and rescheduling policies before paying.
5. Return to the live schedule before completing enrollment in case availability changed.

A monthly exam cadence gives candidates more options than a small number of annual exam windows, but it does not guarantee a seat on a preferred day. If the date you want is unavailable or the deadline has passed, check the next open schedule rather than relying on an old timetable copied elsewhere.

Is one month easier than another?

The month is not a reliable strategy for predicting your result. HKSI publishes historical Paper 1 pass rates, but these are cohort outcomes and do not tell a candidate the difficulty of a future sitting. Use them as background information, not as a reason to delay or rush an appointment. Preparation and familiarity with the current syllabus matter more than choosing a calendar month.

For the pass-mark and pass-rate distinction, see our separate analysis. The pass mark is the candidate's score standard; the pass rate is the share of candidates who passed in a past reporting period.

Build a realistic study runway

Start with the date you can actually book, then plan study sessions backward from it. Check the current v3.5 Paper 1 study guide, make a syllabus checklist and schedule mixed practice before the last week. If you are sitting another required paper as well, confirm the paper-to-activity requirements before deciding whether to prepare for both at once.

When plans change

If your target date stops working, consult HKSI's current policies and your enrollment record for the available withdrawal, cancellation or rescheduling options. These are governed by the Institute's terms, not by a general assumption that every candidate can move a booking without a fee. The linked registration and deferral guides explain the practical steps.

Next step

Once you have confirmed an available date and cutoff, follow the registration walkthrough and verify the session details before submitting enrollment. Use the Paper 1 syllabus and practice pages to prepare against the material version that applies to your sitting.