Quick Read

Ms Preeti cleared the NISM Series XXV-A exam, also known as NISM 25A or the PARS certification, in her first attempt. She prepared for up to two weeks. In her words, the exam mostly tests basic research concepts, market fundamentals, and SEBI compliance rules, so once you know what to expect, planning is simple. Her main advice to future aspirants is to focus on the basics, spend no more than one minute per question, solve easy questions first, and stay calm on exam day. NISM 25A is very much clearable when you approach it in a systematic way.

Who This Review Is For

If you are appearing for NISM 25A in the coming weeks or planning to sit for it in the next few months, this review is written for you.

We interviewed Ms Preeti shortly after she cleared NISM Series XXV-A in her first attempt. We asked her about her preparation, exam experience, mistakes to avoid, and advice for future aspirants. Her answers are shared below in her own words, followed by practical insights for your preparation. She recently cleared the exam on her first attempt. Instead of giving you a generic study guide, we asked her six honest questions about her actual experience and put her answers here in her own words. Below each answer, you will find a short explanation of what her point means for your own preparation.

Before you read her review, a quick note on the exam itself so the rest of this review makes sense.

What Is NISM 25A?

NISM 25A is the short name for NISM Series XXV-A, officially titled "Persons Associated with Research Services (Sales and Other Non-Core Services) Certification Examination." It was launched by the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM), SEBI's education arm, on 10 February 2026.

It is a SEBI-mandated exam for a specific group of people. If you work at a SEBI-registered research analyst firm in sales, marketing, relationship management, or any other client-facing role that is not core research, this exam applies to you. It does not apply to the actual research analyst who publishes research reports. That role still needs NISM Series XV.

NISM 25A Exam Details

Ms Preeti's Review of NISM 25A

Q1. What to Expect From NISM 25A Before You Appear

My perception before appearing for this exam was clear. I assumed the exam would cover basic research, markets, and compliance and regulatory concepts. The NISM 25A syllabus is limited to three broad areas.

• How the Indian securities market works at a basic level.
• The fundamentals of research and the relationship between risk and return.
• The SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014, along with the ethical standards and client interaction norms that apply to research services.

You do not need to know equity valuation or models. You do not need financial statement analysis. You do not need advanced statistics. If you go in expecting a research analyst level exam, you will over-prepare and stress yourself out. Match your expectation to the actual syllabus, the way Preeti did, and half your battle is already won.

Q2. What were the easy and difficult concepts during your preparation?

Prof. Sheetal Kunder Academy made the concepts easy to understand for all modules in the course while learning PARS. Notice what she did not say. She did not point out a single topic as difficult. That is rare for any NISM exam, and it tells you something about how the syllabus feels once you sit with it. But if you talk to a wider set of aspirants, a clear pattern shows up. Some sections feel easy because they match what you already do in your job. Others feel harder because they are rule-heavy and need pure memory work.

Easy topics for most students:

• Market basics
• Client interaction
• Communication norms
• Day-to-day sales conversations

These feel simple because they are close to real client-facing work. You already speak this language every day.

Harder topics for most students:

• SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations, 2014
• Ethics and compliance rules
• Permitted activities and restrictions
• Roles and obligations of a research analyst

These parts are not tough because the ideas are complex. They are tough because you have to remember exact rules, exact words, and exact limits. The good news is that this kind of content sticks once you revise it two or three times.

A quick tip that works for most aspirants:

If you forget rules easily, keep a small notebook only for SEBI regulations. Revise it every night for 10 minutes.

If you already know markets from your day job, move quickly through the first sections. Spend that saved time on ethics and compliance.

If a rule feels confusing, try to link it to a real client situation. It sticks faster that way.

Compliance is where most first-attempt failures happen. Not because the rules are hard, but because students underestimate them.

Q3. How many hours did you dedicate daily to clear this in the first attempt?

Ms Preeti took a maximum of two weeks to thoroughly prepare to clear on the 1st attempt. She did not share her exact daily hours, and to be fair, hourly targets are not always useful for working professionals. What matters more is that you touch the syllabus every single day, even if it is only for 30 to 45 minutes.

Here is a 2-week plan that mirrors how most first-attempt clearers structure their prep:

1. Days 1 to 4: Watch the concept videos for every module. Do not take notes yet. Focus on building understanding first.
2. Days 5 to 9: Read the workbook chapters. This time, note down every SEBI rule and every line that uses the words "shall" or "must." These lines often become exam questions almost word for word.
3. Days 10 to 14: Practice with mock tests. Review every wrong answer carefully. Repeat until you are consistently scoring 80 per cent or higher.

Two weeks worked for Preeti. Your own timeline may be shorter or longer depending on how comfortable you already are with markets and SEBI regulations. Do not stretch your prep unnecessarily, but do not rush it either.

Q4. What Actually Helped in NISM 25A Preparation?

Preeti's own words: Prof. Sheetal Kunder Academy helped me in my preparation for PARS. All the research concepts were explained nicely and were simple to understand in Hindi/English. Even the study modules were easy to understand, and the mock test was the most important practice, which helped me gain confidence while appearing for the exam.

Preeti credits specific things for her success.

Concept videos in both Hindi and English, structured study modules, and mock tests.

Whichever preparation route you choose, take her point about mock tests seriously. The exam gives you 60 minutes for 50 questions; that is about 72 seconds per question.

If you have never taken a timed mock, that pace can feel uncomfortable on the actual exam. Mock tests are the single best way to fix this.

Q5. What impact did this exam have on your career and profession?

Preeti's own words: PARS XXV-A Certification is a mandatory certification launched by SEBI for all candidates who are into research, sales, or stock market business. It targets professionals in sales, marketing, and client relationships, as well as SEBI-registered research analysts. Clearing this exam will have a positive impact on our career, present and future. NISM 25A is not optional. SEBI has made it mandatory for sales, marketing, and client-facing roles at registered research analyst firms.

What clearing NISM 25A gives you:

• Job safety: You stay compliant in your current PARS role.
• Firm-level trust: One less audit worry for your compliance team.
• Resume weight: SEBI-recognized certificate, valid for 3 years.
• A clear next step: Sets you up for NISM Series XV later.

The real trade-off

• 2 weeks of study
• Rs. 1,500 fee
• 3 years of certified status
• A career path in Indian securities markets

Q6. What is your single message to upcoming NISM XXV-A aspirants?

To upcoming aspirants for cracking NISM XXV-A, just focus on fundamentals. Allocate a maximum of 1 minute per question to avoid pressure. Stay calm and focused, trust your preparation, and approach the exam systematically. Attempt easy questions first, and review the questions left marked for review after completing the easy ones. Be confident! All the best.

She kept her message short, but every word comes from someone who has actually sat through the exam and knows exactly where students lose time and confidence.

Here is her advice, broken down into a simple checklist you can carry into the exam hall:

• Focus on fundamentals, and skip the unusual details, since the exam tests the basics more than the exceptions.
• Give one minute per question, and if it takes longer, mark it for review and move to the next one.
• Solve the easy questions first, so your score and confidence build together from the start.
• Come back to the marked questions at the end, when your mind is warmed up, and the answers feel closer.
• Attempt every single question, since there is no negative marking and a guess always beats a blank.
• Stay calm and trust your preparation, because the work is already done, and now it just needs to show on paper.

What Ms Preeti's Review Actually Teaches Us

If we strip everything down to the lessons that will help you prepare, this is what her experience tells us:

• NISM 25A is a fair, clearable exam: A 50 per cent pass mark, no negative marking, and 1-mark questions make this one of the more forgiving NISM exams.
• Two weeks of steady prep is a realistic timeline: Not a rushed one, and not a padded one. It matches the depth of the syllabus.
• Set your expectations right before you start: The exam is about the basics of markets, the basics of research, and SEBI compliance. Nothing more.
• Mock tests are non-negotiable: They are how you get comfortable with the 72-seconds-per-question pace.
• Time management can save your paper: Even people who know the content can fail if they get stuck on hard questions early.
• Regulatory content needs revision, not just reading: The rules stick only when you see them multiple times.
• The 23 July 2026 deadline is real: If you are a working PARS professional, do not leave this to the last week.

Conclusion

Ms Preeti's NISM 25A journey proves something simple yet easy to forget: this exam rewards preparation, not panic. She walked in with a clear sense of what the syllabus actually demanded, spent two focused weeks building that understanding, and leaned on mock tests until the exam's pace stopped feeling like pressure and started feeling familiar. Nothing about her approach was extraordinary, and that's exactly the point. She didn't chase shortcuts or overthink the difficulty. She matched her effort to what the exam actually tests, revised the regulatory content until it stuck, and walked into the exam hall trusting the work she'd already put in. That combination- clarity, consistency, and calm - is what carried her through on the first attempt. If you're preparing for NISM 25A, her experience isn't just inspiring; it's a workable template.

Prof. Sheetal Kunder

SEBI® Research Analyst. Registration No. INH000013800 M.Com, M.Phil, B.Ed, PGDFM, Teaching Diploma (in Accounting & Finance) from Cambridge International Examination, UK. Various NISM Certification Holders. Ex-BSE Institute Faculty. 18 years of extensive experience in Accounting & Finance. Faculty Development Programs and Management Development Programs at the PAN India level to create awareness about the emerging trends in the Indian Capital Market, and counsel hundreds of students in career choices in the finance area