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CSC Exam 1 Prep

Build the foundation for the first CSC exam

Exam 1 emphasizes the Canadian investment marketplace, economics, fixed income, equities, derivatives, financial statements and securities financing.

Highest-weight area

Canadian Investment Marketplace — 15%.

Core product areas

Fixed-income features/types — 12%; fixed-income pricing/trading — 11%; common/preferred shares — 13%.

Other tested areas

Economy — 13%; equity transactions — 10%; derivatives — 10%; corporations/financial statements — 8%; financing/listing — 8%.

Continue your CSC preparation

CSC Exam Format CSC Exam 2 Practice Questions Calculation Questions Case Studies Mock Exams 2026 CIRO Changes

Independent preparation: CSCprep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI) or the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). Official exam requirements can change; candidates should confirm current requirements with the relevant official organization.

Exam 1 Chapter Map & Study Strategy

Chapter 1: The Canadian Securities Industry

Chapter 2: The Capital Market

Chapter 3: The Canadian Regulatory Environment

Chapter 4: Overview of Economics

Chapter 5: Economic Policy

Chapter 6: Fixed-Income Securities: Features and Types

Chapter 7: Fixed-Income Securities: Pricing and Trading

Chapter 8: Equity Securities: Common and Preferred Shares

Chapter 9: Equity Securities: Equity Transactions

Chapter 10: Derivatives

Chapter 11: Corporations and their Financial Statements

Chapter 12: Financing and Listing Securities

Study sequence

Learn the chapter → answer focused questions → work the relevant calculations → review errors → apply concepts in scenarios → finish with timed mock practice.

Common exam trap

Do not stop at memorizing a definition. Many difficult questions turn on a relationship, exception, calculation input or the distinction between two answers that are both partly true.

CSC Exam 1 exam trap: bond price and yield

A $1,000 face-value bond has a 5% annual coupon, so it pays $50 per year. If its market price is $950, current yield is $50 ÷ $950 = 5.26%, while the coupon rate remains 5%. If market yields fall, the bond's price generally rises, all else equal.

Trap: using face value in the current-yield denominator gives the coupon rate, not the current yield. Practise this distinction in our CSC calculations guide; then try free Exam 1 questions. If you need CIRO Investment Dealer approval, first consult the 2026 CSC vs CIRO exam requirements.