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Name the applicable edition
This guide follows the 2027 handbook currently linked by CAIA for the March and September 2027 exams. An older handbook’s time allocation or topic list should not be carried forward automatically. Update the same guide when the applicable cycle changes.
Read the section allocation
| Feature | Handbook record |
|---|---|
| Questions | 200 multiple choice in total |
| Section one | 100 questions, 130 minutes |
| Section two | 100 questions, 130 minutes |
| Scheduled break | Optional 30 minutes between sections |
Use the section average carefully
130/100=1.3 minutes, or 78 seconds, is an average over the section. It is not an official per-question cutoff. A practice plan can reserve review time, but that reserve is a chosen allocation rather than a change to the examination’s rule.
Match learning materials to the cycle
Check the official 2027 curriculum and companion for the tested coverage. General finance knowledge remains useful, but it does not establish that an old edition contains every current topic. CAIA identifies its own curriculum and companions as its endorsed preparation material.
Diagnose the cause of a slow answer
Record reading, retrieval, computation and choice evaluation separately in a short rehearsal. Free Academy examples can help with selected concepts. They are independent educational resources, not official CAIA questions or a claim of Association endorsement.