The questions appearing in the exam aim to check and validate participants' awareness and knowledge about all important concepts, processes, techniques and methodologies used in analyzing and decision-making in typical roles and jobs in Investment Banking. CIBP™ Exams steer away from basic finance and accounting, and focus entirely on the mechanics and analytics of Investment Banking. Participants are expected to be exposed to business fundamentals and also the bare basics of accounting and finance for a faster and more in-depth learning of Investment Banking.
The exam features questions drawn from a wide selection of investment banking areas, a knowledge in which the body of knowledge defines as essential to have for individuals intending to be Investment Bankers. The framework and coverage of the exam is accurately fleshed out in the IBCA Handbook of Investment Banking, provided to every CIBP™ participant. The following topics have been specifically assigned in which the knowledge of participants are tested:
Understanding the basic structure of the CIBP™ exam is essential before attempting or preparing for the exam. The exam typically consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, some of which are fact-based, while others are numeric or argument-based.
Fact-based questions directly test the examinee’s ability to correctly and precisely recollect concepts, principles, techniques, and generally accepted practices in contemporary investment banking. Examinees' answers to these types of questions will reflect their awareness and comprehension of critical concepts and issues as covered in the IBCA body of knowledge.
Numeric or argument-based questions test the participants' understanding of concepts, principles, and techniques at an advanced level and their ability to apply their understanding and knowledge to real-world scenarios.
There is only one correct answer to fact-based and numeric or argument-based questions, and examinees are scored only if the correct option is selected.
The exam aims at validating the participants' potential and capacity to effectively perform an array of tasks across the entire spectrum of investment banking sub-domains. The exam system validates this potential through assessing participants' knowledge about investment banking theory and practice and their ability to apply this knowledge to achieve excellence in their performance. These exams are designed on standards from the Standardized Knowledge Architecture for Practice Excellence. The IBCA Body of Knowledge has been engineered to redefine the profession of investment banking in the 21st century.
CIBP™ Exams test participants on their knowledge of the state of the art principles, theories and generally accepted analysis and decision-making techniques, approaches, methods and practices. These exams expect that individuals being assessed for their CIBP™ program read the material contained in the IBCA Investment Banking Handbook and maintain familiarity with the latest in Investment Banking theory and practice by reading journals and books, listening to podcasts of experts.
Usually, a cumulative score of 65%-70% in the exam can be deemed qualification worthy. However, an examinee's real, individual scores do not decide the recommendation for the award. Instead, a complex algorithm is used to make award decisions which nullify geographic and other environmental factors with potential to skew performance. As such, the certifying benchmark should not be expected to stay pegged at an exact number for pass/fail.
CIBP™ exam aims at validating the candidate's potential and capacity to effectively perform the tasks across the entire spectrum of sub-domains within the Investment Banking industry. It is extremely important for IBCA to assess and validate the potential and capabilities of all the candidates before the award of the CIBP™ Charter.
All CIBP™ examinees must focus on widening their perspective of Investment banking. Young professionals aspiring to break into and grow their careers in the Investment banking space need to put in more effort. While the CIBP™ Resource Box contains books and guidelines on how to study for the exam, additional research should be done to properly prepare for the exam. Investment banking is an evolving discipline and will perhaps never become an exact science. Attempts to understand such disciplines through one book or a set of books restrict our understanding of them across all dimensions that they need to truly be understood.
As the world’s leading credentialing body in Investment banking, IBCA shoulders the onerous responsibility of covering the entire landscape of contemporary Investment banking, and everything else that may be connected to it. IBCA can clearly state that it has assessed and validated every individual across all the areas that impact or possess the potential of professional capabilities for practicing Investment banking.
CIBP™ makes an impact on the professional capabilities of charterholders. While CIBP™ examinees are clearly advised to use the IBCA Handbook on Investment banking – as the master reference for preparing for their exams, the handbook is one piece in preparation to build a longer–lasting base of knowledge and a more in-depth perspective of the most advanced concepts related to Investment banking completely for the CIBP™ examination. For external resources and modes you can use to expand your understanding of Investment banking and better prepare for your CIBP™ examination, please refer to the IBCA Exam Guide available for download from your myIBCA dashboard. Although a sizable number of questions in a typical CIBP™ exam are certainly drawn from content that is available in the Handbook, it is also possible that a few questions may arrive from sources other than the textbook provided to candidates. The topics of all exam questions are present in the handbook, which gives a sound knowledge of all the concepts required for necessary depth. While the learning resources contain books and guidelines on how to study for the exam, additional research is required to prepare well for the exam.
Therefore IBCA strongly advises all CIBP™ examinees to research other online and offline resources to increase their knowledge and awareness about how Investment banking impacts business and other various industries and also how globally several organizations today expect to help them navigate successfully into the future.
To ensure that all CIBP™ candidates develop themselves into the most dynamic and best young international professionals, IBCA advises they read extensively on the subject from as many sources as possible.
