My Experience with NISM Series XV-B: Research Analyst Certification (Renewal) Exam – April 2025
On 1st March 2025, NISM launched the Series XV-B: Research Analyst Certification (Renewal) exam – a new online module meant for candidates holding a valid XV certification who wish to renew it. I believe I am among the few early takers of this exam, as many research analysts had already completed their eCPE renewals before this exam was made mandatory. This blog post covers my personal experience, exam highlights, and some critical insights that may help future aspirants.
About the XV-B Renewal Exam
- Exam Name: NISM-Series-XV-B: Research Analyst Certification (Renewal)
- Launched On: 1st March 2025
- Eligibility: Only for those who already hold a valid NISM Series XV Research Analyst certification
- Structure:
- 3.5 hours of pre-recorded training (mandatory viewing)
- 1-hour online exam with 50 MCQs, no negative marking
- Passing Marks: 25 out of 50 (50%)
- Proctored via webcam & microphone
Tech Requirements For The Exam:
- Only laptops/desktops allowed (no mobile/tablets)
- Stable internet connection (min. 2 Mbps)
- Webcam, mic, and compatible browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- No remote-access software like TeamViewer or AnyDesk should be installed
- Office/corporate networks might cause access issues — personal internet is recommended
My Timeline & Process
- Registered on: 9th April 2025
- Planned to appear on 11th April, but couldn’t because:
- The training video link takes 1–2 days to be activated
- Watching all videos with webcam on is mandatory before the exam slot opens
Once videos are watched completely, only then the exam link gets activated. I had to make sure that:
- All distractions were minimized
- Webcam and mic were working properly
- No background noise or interruptions occurred during training or exam
Training Module Experience
- Duration: ~3.5 hours of pre-recorded content
- Unfortunately, no lecture notes or reading material were provided at the time
- Instructor was knowledgeable but the sessions were not very engaging or retention-friendly
- With no handouts, the only reference point was the video content, which made it tough to recall key concepts
Exam Day Experience
- Duration: 1 hour
- Questions: 50 MCQs (1 mark each)
- It took the entire hour to go through and answer all questions
- Topics covered:
- Behavioral Biases
- Adjusted Net Profit Calculations
- Technical Analysis
- Numerical and Conceptual Questions
It was not an easy exam despite the passing score being 50%. The lack of study notes, along with moderate-quality training videos, made it even more challenging.
Technical Issues
- Website glitches were quite frequent since NISM has recently revamped its portal
- Even after submitting the exam successfully, my profile still showed ‘not appeared’
- As of writing this post, final certificate not yet issued, possibly due to new system hiccups
My Key Takeaways
- Be prepared for a moderate to tough exam — this isn’t just a formality
- Do not expect spoon-feeding; you must revise concepts on your own
- Ensure you meet all system requirements well in advance
- Watch the training videos with full attention, as the lecture notes may be made available later — but by then, you might not have enough time to go through them thoroughly, since the exam must be taken within just 5 days of receiving the video access.
- Book your exam slot keeping a buffer, considering video watching and system checks
Final Verdict Overall, I would call it a challenging yet manageable experience. The concept of a structured renewal exam is good, but execution and delivery need improvement — especially in content quality, website usability, and support. For anyone planning to take this exam, be technically prepared, mentally alert, and don’t underestimate the questions!
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