CSI publishes IFC exam structure on the official Exam & Credits page:
- Exam format: Proctored (remote or in-person at a test centre)
- Exam duration: 3 hours
- Question format: Multiple Choice
- Questions per exam: 100
- Passing grade: 60%
- Attempts allowed: 3
Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/ifc/exam-credits
What are the official topic weightings?
From CSI’s official weighting table (IFC has 100 questions, so % ≈ target questions):
- Introduction to the Mutual Funds Marketplace — 13%
- The Know Your Client Communication Process — 19%
- Understanding Investment Products and Portfolios — 18%
- The Modern Mutual Fund — 5%
- Analysis of Mutual Funds — 10%
- Understanding Alternative Managed Products — 3%
- Evaluating and Selecting Mutual Funds — 16%
- Ethics, Compliance, and Mutual Fund Regulation — 16%
Source: https://www.csi.ca/en/learning/courses/ifc/exam-credits
Do I need the official CSI materials?
Yes. Use this hub as a study map + practice layer, but rely on CSI’s official materials for the canonical reading.
What should I memorize first?
Start with:
- KYC and suitability vocabulary and workflow
- mutual fund structure basics (what NAV is, how funds are organized/regulated)
- fee and service language (what costs are, how they show up, why they matter)
- performance comparison vocabulary (benchmark/universe, ranking concepts)
How should I practice?
Short drills per topic, then a weekly mixed set. Review every miss and write a one-sentence rule.
Where do I find official policies (fees, timing, retakes)?
Use the official CSI links in Resources. Policies can change, so we avoid hard-coding beyond the official exam structure.