NISM Series V-BKnowledge moduleTier B
Mutual Fund FoundationCertification Guide.
Foundational certification for understanding mutual funds - schemes, NAV, SIPs, risk, and taxation basics. Non-mandatory but excellent for building financial literacy.
BeginnerDifficulty
Suggested prep: 7-10 days
NoNegative marking
Better for beginners.
3 yearsValidity
Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Rank 20Priority
Mutual Funds track
01Overview
What this certification is really testing.
Ideal for
- Complete beginners wanting to understand mutual funds
- Non-finance professionals interested in personal investing
- Students exploring financial services careers
Career paths
- Entry-Level MF Distribution
- Financial Literacy Educator
- Personal Finance Blogger
02Syllabus
Study by chapter weightage, not by guesswork.
The highest scoring chapters carry 57% of the paper. Start there, then use the low-weight chapters for polish.
Chapter weightage
High-weightage focus
Basics of Mutual Funds
15%Types of Mutual Fund Schemes
15%How to Invest in Mutual Funds
15%NAV and Returns Calculation
12%03Key concepts
Concepts and formulas to keep handy.
Key concepts to remember
- Foundation-level certification - NOT required for MF distribution (that's Series V-A)
- Covers MF basics: types, NAV, SIP, risk, taxation at introductory level
- Good for personal financial literacy but has no regulatory mandate
- No negative marking, 50% passing - the easiest NISM exam alongside V-A
- SIP: Invest a fixed amount monthly - benefits from rupee cost averaging
- Riskometer: SEBI-mandated risk scale on all MF documents - Low to Very High
04Study plan
A clear way to study this module.
Study strategy
- This is the simplest NISM exam - workbook reading once is usually sufficient
- Focus equally across chapters - no single chapter dominates
- Understand basic MF concepts: NAV, SIP, risk categories, taxation basics
- No negative marking - attempt ALL questions
Exam-day tips
- NO NEGATIVE MARKING - attempt every question
- Plenty of time - 72 seconds per question
- Questions are basic and conceptual - no complex calculations
- 50% passing - very achievable with basic preparation
05Common mistakes
The pass mark is simple. The paper is not.
Scoring warning
Because this paper has no negative marking, use the full paper intelligently. Attempt everything, then spend your review time on concept-heavy questions.
Ready to register?
Book your slot on the official NISM portal. Confirm the current fee and exam pattern there before you pay.
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