Rohit Shivale's NISM XIII Success: Prep Routine, Mock Mastery

Rohit Shivale's Journey to Clearing NISM Series XIII: Common Derivatives Certification

Rohit Shivale, a working professional, cleared the challenging NISM Series XIII exam on his first attempt by balancing office demands with smart study habits. His story offers practical insights for finance pros eyeing derivatives certification.​

Weekday vs Weekend Routine

Rohit managed study time alongside office work by sticking to a simple routine: weekdays focused on conceptual videos for 2 hours daily, aided by his habit of making notes. Weekends were dedicated to attempting mock tests for practice and reinforcement. This consistent split ensured steady progress without burnout.​

Best Study Time

Morning study sessions worked best for Rohit, a preference rooted in school days. A fresh mind made grasping complex concepts easier and more effective.​

Gaining Family and Colleague Support

Rohit informed his family and colleagues upfront about starting preparation for the exam, emphasizing his strong interest in the subject. He stressed that family support is crucial and vital during preparation, which helped secure their backing.​

Minimum Daily Study Target

On the busiest days, Rohit's non-negotiable target was 30 minutes of study. This kept momentum alive even under pressure.

​Habits Paused for Prep

Rohit avoided late nights by preferring to sleep at 11 PM, eliminating any risk to his preparation time from fatigue. He did not mention cutting social media, OTT, or trading specifically.​

Most Interesting Concept

Interest rates stood out as the most interesting topic for Rohit. While trading volume is low in India, it is a highly liquid segment outside, sparking his curiosity.​

Topic That Went from Scary to Easy

Early on, Rohit skipped some conceptual videos and fast-forwarded, lacking focus. Realizing concepts were foundational, he rewatched them thoroughly, making the material much easier.​

Biggest Early Mistake and Fix

Rohit's key mistake was relying only on mock test explanation videos without practice. He corrected it by resolving all mocks practically, boosting real exam readiness.​

Trickiest Exam Section

Interest Rate Derivatives felt trickiest due to jargon and the inverse relationship between bond prices and interest rates, requiring clear understanding to avoid confusion.​

Types of "Trap" Questions

Questions in Interest Rate Derivatives demanded strong conceptual understanding amid heavy jargon, acting as traps for the unprepared.​

Strongest Topics for Free Marks

Rohit excelled in option Greeks, margin requirements, and option strategies for sideways markets, which generated risk-adjusted returns-topics he prepared deeply.​

Topic Wished for Extra Revision

He wished to revise cross rates in currency derivatives and fixed income terminology one more time before the exam.​

Questions Attempted and Skipping Rule

Rohit attempted 123 out of 150 questions, skipping others to dodge negative marking. His rule: start from question 1, attempt only if 100% sure, and skip the rest if time allows.​

Handling Negative Marking

When 50-50 on options, Rohit selected only if fully confident; otherwise, he skipped to protect his score.​

Advice for Senior Distributors

For senior or older mutual fund distributors thinking derivatives aren't for them, Rohit advises clearing conceptual understanding and strictly following mock test explanation videos. Confidence builds quickly, making them exam-ready soon