FSA Exam

[soosta]

What is this? What type of material does it cover? Is it tough? What doors can it open to a person not yet involved in trading/dealing? Is it worth doing prior to sending out CV's?

p.s. regulars on this forum may have noticed my numerous threads requesting knowledge. If I was in a position to be "giving back" to the forum I would, but as I am new to trading and the finance world in general I cant! I very much value (mostly!) everyone's responses to my questions.

Just thought I'd add that..! :-0

 

[Airthrey Capital]

The FSA exams are a must if you want to work in the City.

The first part of the paper is compulsory and covers financial regulation. It is a multiple choice paper. You will be tested upon how the City is regulated.

You will then need to sit a second paper, such as securites / derivatives.

These are also multiple choice questions. You will be asked details about various markets and instruments, and will be asked to make a few calculations.

You can study for these by classroom methods with a tutor or even by distance - learning.

There is a large amount of information that you need to learn, and you will be tested upon the detail of your knowledge. Don't be fooled that it is easy because it is a multipl choice paper. If you put enough study time into it you will pass. If not, you won't.

You should pass the exam before you send out your CV if possible.

Get more info at the Securities Institute website.

 

[Chrissy T]

The FSA exams are a must if you want to work in the City.

The first part of the paper is compulsory and covers financial regulation. It is a multiple choice paper. You will be tested upon how the City is regulated.

You will then need to sit a second paper, such as securites / derivatives.

These are also multiple choice questions. You will be asked details about various markets and instruments, and will be asked to make a few calculations.

You can study for these by classroom methods with a tutor or even by distance - learning.

There is a large amount of information that you need to learn, and you will be tested upon the detail of your knowledge. Don't be fooled that it is easy because it is a multipl choice paper. If you put enough study time into it you will pass. If not, you won't.

You should pass the exam before you send out your CV if possible.

Get more info at the Securities Institute website.

I agree with the above...

I would recommend sitting the 2 parts on separate days. The regulations exam is only an hour long but involves a lot of memorising of rules/ regs, etc. If you were already in the markets then you may have been familiar with some of the questions.... what are the opening hours of FTSE, tick sizes, etc. A good week of really hard work can pass this exam. Securities/ Derivs is more like calculate the profit/ loss of this basic position, know the characteristics of basic future/ options positions, etc...

Remember the FSA exams are difficult but by no means impossible... the Eurex exam is far harder but you only need that once you are in a Bank trading Eurex products...

Remember make a point of mentioning it in your interviews to show how committed you are to a career in the City.

Best of luck

 

[soosta]

Thanks guys.

Someone from this forum kindly sent me all relevant info regarding the Eurex exam months ago (tutorial, case studies etc.) . Would it not be wise to print this all out (there are around 500 pages!!)? As I dont really need to focus on this?

I went to the securities institute website but couldnt find info on the "fsa exam". Is it categorically called this? There were many other courses on offer and I also couldnt really navigate the site with ease.

Could anyone shed some light on how I could actually do this exam (where, cost for example) and also where I could get solid info, study help/aid on the net?

I am very keen to get this done asap.

 

[Airthrey Capital]

You need to look under SII Certificates on the Securities Institute website.

The site also gives all the information regarding training providers, dates and costs of exams etc.

I would recommend that you train with BPP.

On a different , but perhaps more harsh note, if people have been kind enough to point you in the right direction, you will have to put in your own effort. If you can't navigate the Securities Institute website, or find out from there where / when course dates are, what costs are etc....then I'm not sure you have it in you to pass the exam....

LOOK IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, USE YOUR BRAIN AND PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT!

 

[Chrissy T]

No offence mate, but as Airthrey said, use your brain... is it too much to phone them and ask them all these questions???

I used 7city for my training (www.7city.com) - I can recommend them

No point in training for Eurex at the moment - its far harder that FSA, just make sure you get your FSA and then start pushing people very hard to give you a job.

Thanks guys.

Someone from this forum kindly sent me all relevant info regarding the Eurex exam months ago (tutorial, case studies etc.) . Would it not be wise to print this all out (there are around 500 pages!!)? As I dont really need to focus on this?

I went to the securities institute website but couldnt find info on the "fsa exam". Is it categorically called this? There were many other courses on offer and I also couldnt really navigate the site with ease.

Could anyone shed some light on how I could actually do this exam (where, cost for example) and also where I could get solid info, study help/aid on the net?

I am very keen to get this done asap.

 

[soosta]

Lol!! No offence taken!!

Im willing to put in the effort but im sure you guys can remember when you first started out!? Everything just seems very complex to me at the moment, and many of the terms/phrases, technical jargon seems very daunting!!

But I will definitely give myself a good kick up the back side for good measure!

 

[soosta]

One last question!!

What prior knowledge did you have before taking this exam? Should I read up on certain topics before even attempting to start this course!?

cheers

 

[niraj shah]

too be honest the sii site is ****, information and banners run all over that site. a very poor website

 

[tedjiting]

Thanks guys.

Someone from this forum kindly sent me all relevant info regarding the Eurex exam months ago (tutorial, case studies etc.) . Would it not be wise to print this all out (there are around 500 pages!!)? As I dont really need to focus on this?

I went to the securities institute website but couldnt find info on the "fsa exam". Is it categorically called this? There were many other courses on offer and I also couldnt really navigate the site with ease.

Could anyone shed some light on how I could actually do this exam (where, cost for example) and also where I could get solid info, study help/aid on the net?

I am very keen to get this done asap.

hello buddy
i saw you got the 500Page sources, i am really interested. could you share it to me? i need the study sources urgently.

best wishes

 

[ohamoodi]

I know this was AGES ago... but .. i'm sorry, i work in the markets, and that website is a bloody spidernest, so maybe you should have said "on more of an anal retentive note.."

You need to look under SII Certificates on the Securities Institute website.

The site also gives all the information regarding training providers, dates and costs of exams etc.

I would recommend that you train with BPP.

On a different , but perhaps more harsh note, if people have been kind enough to point you in the right direction, you will have to put in your own effort. If you can't navigate the Securities Institute website, or find out from there where / when course dates are, what costs are etc....then I'm not sure you have it in you to pass the exam....

LOOK IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE, USE YOUR BRAIN AND PUT SOME EFFORT INTO IT!