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NISM V-A Exam Day: Tips That Actually Move Your Score

You have prepared for weeks; exam day should not be where you leak marks. Here is the practical playbook, starting with NISM's own test-centre rules.

Before you leave

Carry an original photo ID: a PAN card, Aadhaar card, driving licence or passport, or a document in DigiLocker with an embedded photograph. Reach the test centre 30 minutes before your slot; NISM can refuse entry to candidates who arrive late, with no refund or rescheduling.

You may bring your own silent calculator (no computer connectivity) and a pen. Books, notes, phones, smart watches, headphones, food and other electronic devices are not allowed inside. Check your booking confirmation on cert.nism.ac.in for anything specific to your centre.

The two-hour strategy for 100 questions

These timings are BullWiser's suggestion, not an NISM rule.

Pass 1 (about 70 minutes): answer everything you know straight away and flag anything that takes more than about 45 seconds. Momentum beats perfection.
Pass 2 (about 35 minutes): return to the flagged questions with fresh eyes.
Last 15 minutes: V-A has no negative marking, so make sure all 100 questions have an answer, even pure guesses.

Five mistakes that cost real marks

Leaving blanks. There is no penalty in V-A, so a blank can never help you.
Burning five minutes on one hard question in Pass 1.
Not using the flag-and-review option, then losing track of skipped questions.
Second-guessing regulatory answers you drilled correctly in practice.
Walking in without ever having used a timed computer-based mock, so the screen, timer and review flow are new on the day.

After the exam, NISM issues your certificate within about two weeks if you gave your PAN at registration. See how to register and the V-A pass mark for the rest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I carry to the NISM exam centre?

An original photo ID (PAN card, Aadhaar card, driving licence or passport, or a DigiLocker document with a photograph). You may also bring your own silent calculator and a pen.

How early should I reach the NISM test centre?

30 minutes before your slot. Late arrival can mean being refused entry with no refund or rescheduling.

Should I attempt all 100 questions in V-A?

Yes. V-A has no negative marking, so a guess can only help.

Are phones and notes allowed?

No. Books, notes, phones and other electronic devices are not allowed in the exam room.

How do I manage 2 hours for 100 questions?

A two-pass approach works well: answer the easy ones first in about 70 minutes, revisit flagged questions in about 35, and use the last 15 minutes to make sure nothing is blank.

BullWiser is an independent financial education platform, not affiliated with NISM or SEBI. Exam fees, dates and rules can change — always confirm on the official portal nism.ac.in before registering. Mock tests and readiness scores are preparation aids and do not guarantee a pass. Last updated: September 2026.