CIPM
CIPM Program Main

Principles Candidate Bulletin

 

10 December 2008

 

Congratulations on your decision to pursue the CIPM credential. As head of the only study and exam program designed specifically for investment performance professionals, I am pleased to welcome you personally. Please take a moment to read through this message in order to familiarize yourself with the resources available to you.

Schedule Your Exam Appointment
The final date for scheduling and rescheduling an exam appointment with Pearson VUE is 22 April. (Exams are administered through 30 April.) However, I strongly encourage you to contact Pearson VUE and schedule your appointment as soon as possible.

Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so by reserving a seat now, you are more likely to be accommodated at the time and place of your choosing.

In addition, making the appointment establishes a deadline for completing your preparation. Committing to sit for the exam on a specific date will help you adhere to your study plan.

Manage Your Time

It's most important to manage your time effectively, especially if this is your first experience with a self-directed, self-study distance learning program. However, time management is also a tremendous challenge in view of all the demands you meet at work and all the commitments you honor in your personal life. And if you have perused the Learning Outcome Statements presented in the Principles syllabus, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the task that lies ahead of you.

We have developed study plans that break each study session into subtopics, and we have structured the online courseware accordingly. The suggested study plans — presented under the heading "Planning Your Study" in the Resources section of the courseware — will help you manage your preparation time.

Interactive Courseware Features
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of studying the readings. The online courseware alone does not fully equip you to master the CIPM candidate body of knowledge.

However, the online courseware does include additional learning tools that can be extremely advantageous, so a smart study plan will use all the available resources.

For example, in addition to interactive exercises and practice questions with feedback throughout the online courseware, there are short videos introducing each study session, navigational aids including bookmarking and go-to-section/page shortcuts, a note-taking feature, print functionality for individual screens and entire study sessions, and self-evaluation checklists at the close of each study session.

A Word About Test Prep Courses
Keep in mind that prep materials can be helpful supplements to the CIPM program curriculum but should never be used as a replacement. Learn more about the CIPM Trainer Guidelines program and the four participating organizations (two based in the U.S., one in the Netherlands, and one in Spain) if you are interested in using a third-party prep provider.

Sample Exam
Your enrollment in the CIPM program includes access at no additional charge to an online sample exam through 30 April 2009. The sample exam is accessible through the online courseware.

The online sample exam consists of questions that previously appeared on actual CIPM exams. Taking the sample exam will familiarize you with the format of the Principles exam, and reviewing the feedback may help you identify topics or concepts that merit further study.

Please bear in mind that the CIPM exams do not include questions on every concept in the curriculum. Thus a concept that is tested on the sample exam may not appear on the actual exam, and concepts that appear on the actual exam may not be among those tested on the sample exam.

Remember that the Learning Outcome Statements are the best guide to the knowledge you may be asked to demonstrate when you sit for the actual exam.

Exam Administration Policies

  • Identification: You must provide two forms of identification that meet certain requirements.
  • Calculator use: Review the calculator policy to ensure your calculator will be allowed into the test center. 
  • Security: A digital fingerprint, photograph, and signature may be taken when you check in for the exam.
  • Exam length: You will have 180 minutes to take the exam. We schedule 210 minutes at the test center to provide you with up to half an hour to read and sign the candidate pledge. The three-hour exam clock starts when you open the actual exam.
  • Breaks: There are no scheduled breaks during the exam. You can take an unscheduled break, but the 180-minute clock will continue to run for the duration of the break.
  • Scrap paper: No scrap paper is allowed. You will receive a dry-erase tablet and a writing instrument for use during the exam. You can have only one tablet at a time. If you run out of space, another tablet will be provided.

 

Conferences and Speaking Engagements
The CIPM program actively participates in speaking engagements and industry conferences throughout the world. We encourage you visit our events calendar to learn more about these conferences. In some cases, you may be eligible for discounted registration fees as a CIPM candidate.

Your Candidacy in the CIPM Program
The CIPM designation is a mark of accomplishment, and earning the right to use it requires serious, disciplined effort. At the same time, I hope that you will find the experience of studying the curriculum and preparing for the Principles exam inherently rewarding. If you haven't already started, I encourage you to get under way as soon as possible. Then, keep moving ahead, and you may find that you have a little extra time to review before exam day.

Finally, be sure to take advantage of the candidate resources section of the CIPM website. It contains useful information on what to expect when you schedule, prepare for, and take the CIPM exam.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Best wishes in your study,

Philip Lawton, CFA, CIPM
Head, CIPM Program