How to Pass the CISI CFC (Combating Financial Crime) Exam: Complete 2026 Study Guide
The CISI CFC exam covers money laundering, sanctions, bribery, fraud and financial crime risk management in 50 questions. Learn the exam format, chapter-by-chapter question weighting, a focused study plan, and how to pass on your first attempt.
The CISI Combating Financial Crime (CFC) exam is a benchmark qualification for compliance professionals. It is aimed at Compliance Officers and Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs), and anyone whose role touches anti-money laundering, sanctions, anti-bribery and fraud prevention. In the UAE — with its robust AML regime across banks, exchange houses and DIFC/ADGM firms — CFC is a highly relevant credential.
The good news: with a pass rate of around 69%, CFC is the most achievable of the mainstream CISI exams. The catch: it still demands 70% to pass, and the syllabus is dense with legislation, directives and acronyms. If you want to know exactly what to watch for, see our guide to whether the CFC exam is difficult.
This guide breaks down what is on the exam, how the 50 questions are distributed across the 8 chapters, and the study strategy you need to pass on your first attempt.
📋 Quick Reference: CISI CFC Exam Format
- Questions: 50 multiple-choice questions
- Duration: 1 hour
- Passing Score: 70% (35 out of 50)
- Pass Rate: ~69% (the most achievable mainstream CISI exam)
- Grades: Pass (35–50), Fail (0–34)
- Delivery: Computer-based test at a CISI test centre or online with remote invigilation
- Administered by: Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)
Who Needs the CISI CFC Qualification?
Combating Financial Crime gives you a working knowledge of the financial crime landscape and the controls firms use to manage it. It is aimed at:
- Compliance Officers and Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs)
- Financial crime, AML and sanctions staff
- Anyone in financial services who needs a solid grounding in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, anti-bribery, fraud and sanctions
For compliance teams at UAE banks, exchange houses and DIFC/ADGM-regulated firms, CFC is a recognised way to demonstrate financial crime competence.
Understanding the CISI CFC Exam Structure
The exam tests whether you understand the financial crime framework — the offences, the legislation, and the controls firms must put in place. Here is what you are up against:
- 50 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour (about 1.2 minutes per question)
- Passing score: 70% — at least 35 correct answers
- Delivery: a computer-based test at a CISI test centre or online with remote invigilation
For the full breakdown of the pass mark and what to expect on the day, see our guide to the CFC passing score and exam format.
Unlike some CISI wealth exams, CFC uses a simple two-band result:
- Pass: 35–50 marks
- Fail: 0–34 marks
There is no "merit" grade — you either clear the 70% mark or you do not.
The 8 Chapters and How Questions Are Distributed
CISI publishes how the 50 questions are split across the 8 chapters. This tells you exactly where to focus your study time.
| Chapter | Topic | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Background and Nature of Financial Crime | 7 |
| 2 | Money Laundering | 8 |
| 3 | Terrorist Financing | 4 |
| 4 | Bribery and Corruption | 6 |
| 5 | Fraud and Market Abuse | 4 |
| 6 | Tax Evasion | 4 |
| 7 | Financial Sanctions | 4 |
| 8 | Financial Crime Risk Management | ⭐ 13 |
Key insight: Chapter 8 (Financial Crime Risk Management) is by far the heaviest at 13 questions — more than a quarter of the exam. Add Money Laundering (8), the Background chapter (7) and Bribery and Corruption (6) and you reach 34 of the 50 questions from four chapters. Get these right and you are comfortably over the line.
ExamPrep.ae provides instant feedback and explanations to help you understand each concept, not just memorise it.
Chapter-by-Chapter Study Strategy
Chapter 1: The Background and Nature of Financial Crime (7 questions)
Your foundation. Learn the key definitions (money laundering, predicate offences, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, fraud, market abuse, bribery, sanctions, tax evasion), the roles of FATF, OFAC, the FCA and OFSI, and how a compliance culture is built.
Chapter 2: Money Laundering (8 questions)
A core chapter. Understand the placement–layering–integration model, the offences under POCA (concealment, arrangements, tipping off, failure to disclose), MLR 2017, the EU money laundering directives, and FATF's risk-based approach.
Chapter 3: Terrorist Financing (4 questions)
The similarities and differences between money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation finance, plus the main UN, EU and UK measures to combat it.
Chapter 4: Bribery and Corruption (6 questions)
The UK Bribery Act 2010 (the four offences, the six principles for bribery prevention, "adequate procedures," FPOs) and the US FCPA 1977, plus types of corrupt practice.
ExamPrep.ae's Practice by Chapter mode lets you drill each of the 8 CFC chapters individually.
Chapter 5: Fraud and Market Abuse (4 questions)
The three classes of fraud under the UK Fraud Act 2006, common fraud types (identity fraud, phishing, APP fraud, ransomware), and market abuse legislation (MAR, insider dealing, Dodd-Frank).
Chapter 6: Tax Evasion (4 questions)
The difference between tax evasion and avoidance, FATCA, CRS, and the Criminal Finances Act 2017 (the corporate offences, "reasonable procedures," and the six prevention principles).
Chapter 7: Financial Sanctions (4 questions)
Sanctions screening, the main sanctions lists (EU, UK/OFSI, OFAC), the legal effects of "designation" (asset freezes, prohibitions, targeted sanctions), and the penalties for breaches.
Chapter 8: Financial Crime Risk Management (13 questions)
The single most important chapter. Customer due diligence (KYC, EDD, PEPs), the risk-based approach, practical safeguards, suspicious activity reporting and the consent regime, record keeping, and the roles of the MLRO and senior management under SM&CR.
🧠 A knowledge-based exam
CFC has no calculations. It rewards precise recall of definitions, legislation and controls — and the ability to tell similar concepts apart (for example, money laundering vs terrorist financing, or tax evasion vs avoidance). Active question practice is the fastest way to lock in the detail.
Your 2-Week Study Plan
Because CFC is a 50-question, single-hour exam, a focused two-week plan works well for most candidates.
Week 1: Foundations + the core offences
- Chapter 1: Background and Nature of Financial Crime (7 questions)
- Chapter 2: Money Laundering (8 questions)
- Chapter 3: Terrorist Financing (4 questions)
- Chapter 4: Bribery and Corruption (6 questions)
Week 2: Fraud, tax, sanctions, risk management + mocks
- Chapter 5: Fraud and Market Abuse (4 questions)
- Chapter 6: Tax Evasion (4 questions)
- Chapter 7: Financial Sanctions (4 questions)
- Chapter 8: Financial Crime Risk Management (13 questions) — the heaviest chapter, so give it the most time
- Sit at least two full mock exams and review every wrong answer
ExamPrep.ae's performance-by-chapter analytics reveal your weakest chapters after every practice session.
💡 Pro Tip: Practise with Realistic Questions
CFC rewards candidates who practise. The syllabus is full of legislation and acronyms, so drilling exam-style questions across all 8 chapters is the fastest way to lock it in. Not sure which resources to use? Compare your options in our guide to the best CISI CFC mock exams and study materials.
👉 Start CISI CFC Practice
The AI Weakness Engine builds personalised quizzes targeting your weakest CFC chapters after every mock exam.
Exam Day Tips
Manage Your Time
50 questions in 1 hour is about 1.2 minutes each. Flag anything you are unsure of, keep moving, and return to flagged questions at the end.
Attempt Every Question
Never leave a blank. If you are unsure, eliminate the options you know are wrong and make your best choice.
Watch the Legislation and Definitions
CFC is full of named Acts, directives and precise definitions. Read each question carefully — a single word (for example, "evasion" vs "avoidance," or which Act introduced an offence) often decides the answer.
ExamPrep.ae's Review Questions mode helps you revisit the questions you got wrong and lock in the concepts.
How to Register and What It Costs
You register for the CFC exam directly through the CISI website — our step-by-step CFC registration guide walks through the whole process. CISI sets its fees in GBP. As of 2026, the typical costs for an international candidate are:
| Item | Fee (GBP) |
|---|---|
| Qualification Registration Fee (one-off, first CISI qualification) | £68 |
| CFC exam — first sitting (workbook included) | £275 |
| CFC exam — resit | £155 |
A useful detail: the official CISI workbook is included in your exam fee. When you book, CISI provides the most up-to-date workbook for the subject, so every candidate prepares from the same definitive material. For a first-time international candidate, budget roughly £68 + £275 ≈ £343 all-in. Always confirm current pricing on the CISI website before you book.
Results: MCQ exam results are available online within 24 working hours and can be accessed via your MyCISI account.
Your Next Steps
- Understand the format — Read our CISI CFC passing score and exam format guide
- Know what you are up against — See whether the CFC exam is difficult and how to secure the 70% you need
- Register the right way — Follow our step-by-step CFC registration guide
- Test yourself — Try our free CISI CFC mock questions
- Choose the right prep — Compare your options in the best CISI CFC mock exams, then start practising with ExamPrep.ae
A 69% pass rate is on your side, but the 70% mark and the volume of legislation still demand real preparation. Focus on the four big chapters, practise across the whole syllabus, and you will be well placed to pass on your first attempt.
Good luck with your CISI CFC exam!
Frequently Asked Questions About the CISI CFC Exam
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