Does NISM Series VIII have negative marking?

Yes. Series VIII deducts 25% of the marks allotted to a question for each wrong answer, so a blind guess costs you. Attempt a question only when you can eliminate enough options to make it worth the risk.

Is the Series VIII mock test the same format as the real exam?

Yes. The mock tests use the same interface, timing and question style as the real paper, so exam-day pacing is already familiar. A free demo is available before you pay.

How hard is NISM Series VIII compared with Series V-A?

Most candidates find Series VIII harder. It is more calculation-heavy, the concepts are less intuitive, and it carries 25% negative marking where Series V-A carries none.

What is the pass mark for Series VIII?

Series VIII requires 60% to pass, against 100 marks in 2 hours. Confirm the current structure on the official NISM certifications page before registering.

SEBI-mandated

NISM Series VIII Equity Derivatives mock test

Series VIII is the certification for anyone dealing in the equity derivatives segment, and it is one of the more calculation-heavy NISM papers. It also carries negative marking, which changes how you should attempt it. Our mock tests are built around both of those facts.

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Exam at a glance

Exam fee: ₹1,500
Duration: 2 hrs
Maximum marks: 100
Pass mark: 60%
Negative marking: 25%

Verified against the official NISM certifications page on 23 July 2026. Fees and exam structure are set by NISM and can change — always confirm before registering.

Who this exam is for

Dealers and traders in the equity derivatives segment
Employees of trading members handling derivatives
Candidates moving from cash-segment roles into derivatives
Anyone needing the certification for a compliance requirement

What the exam covers

Derivatives basics — forwards, futures, options and their uses
Contract specifications on the NSE and BSE derivative segments
Option pricing, payoffs and the Greeks
Trading strategies: hedging, speculation, arbitrage and spreads
Margining, position limits and risk management
Clearing, settlement and the regulatory framework

Topic areas are indicative. The official workbook is the authoritative syllabus and is revised periodically — always prepare against the current edition.

Negative marking changes the exam, not just the score

Series VIII deducts 25% for a wrong answer. That single rule should change how you attempt the paper: a genuine guess has negative expected value, so the discipline of leaving a question rather than filling it in is worth marks on its own.

Timed practice is where that discipline gets built. Knowing the material is not the same as knowing, under pressure and with minutes left, which questions to walk away from.

How to prepare

Get comfortable with payoff diagrams before memorising anything. Most option questions become obvious once you can draw the position.
Practise the Greeks numerically, not just conceptually — the exam asks what happens to a number, not what delta means.
Work through margin and settlement calculations repeatedly; they are predictable marks and candidates still drop them.
Take full-length timed papers so the negative-marking discipline is automatic by exam day.

What you get with this mock test

Questions mapped to the latest official workbook
A free demo test before you pay anything
A written explanation for every question
Topic-wise and full-length timed tests
Instant results with chapter-wise analytics
Unlimited attempts during your validity period

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