CCM Debt Securities
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certificate in Capital Markets (CCM) is a professional qualification offered in the capital markets space, and its Debt Securities module is the fixed income component of that programme. This independent study page is written for candidates who are preparing for the Debt Securities module and who want a clear, structured way to organise their revision. The module sits entirely within a single content area - debt securities - so your preparation should be built around one coherent body of knowledge rather than spread across unrelated topics. Candidates typically include new entrants to fixed income sales, trading, syndicate, origination and operations roles, as well as students and career-changers who want a recognised grounding in bond markets before applying for roles. Because this page is maintained by an independent study platform, it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the awarding body, and no official syllabus weighting, question count, duration, pass mark or fee is reproduced here. Where the awarding body's own materials are the authoritative source, always check them directly before you book or sit the exam. To prepare, work through the debt securities content in a logical sequence - instrument types and features, issuance, pricing and yield, risk, and market structure - then test yourself with practice questions and revisit weak areas. Use the FAQ below to plan your study order and avoid common preparation mistakes.
What you'll study
About CCM Debt Securities preparation
What is the CCM Debt Securities module?
It is the debt securities component of the Certificate in Capital Markets, a professional qualification for people working in or entering the capital markets. The module concentrates on fixed income: bond instruments, how they are issued and traded, how they are priced, and the risks investors take. Confirm the current syllabus with the awarding body.
Who should study for it?
It suits new joiners in fixed income sales, trading, syndicate, origination, research, risk and operations, plus students and career-changers targeting bond market roles. If your day-to-day work touches bonds, repo, credit or rates, the module gives you a shared vocabulary and a structured foundation.
What topics does the Debt Securities exam cover?
Expect fixed income fundamentals: instrument types and their features, issuance and primary market process, pricing and yield conventions, interest rate and credit risk, and secondary market structure. Treat this as a study map, not an official syllabus, and check the awarding body's current content list before relying on it.
How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
We do not publish duration, question count or format details on this page because they are not confirmed by the awarding body's current published material. Exam logistics change between revisions, so verify the current format, timing and any calculator or reference rules directly with the awarding body before your sitting.
What pass mark do I need?
The passing score is not stated here, as it is not confirmed in the source material available to us. Do not rely on figures quoted in forums or older study guides, which may reflect previous revisions. Check the awarding body's candidate handbook for the current pass standard and grading rules.
How much does it cost and can I retake it?
Fees and retake policy are not confirmed in our source material, so we do not quote them. Both vary by region, membership status and revision. Contact the awarding body or an accredited training provider for current pricing, and ask specifically about retake windows, fees and any waiting period between attempts.
How should I order my study?
Start with instrument types and features so the vocabulary is in place, then move to issuance and the primary market. Next tackle pricing and yield calculations, which underpin most numerical questions, followed by interest rate and credit risk. Finish with secondary market structure and trading, then revise by practising questions under time pressure.
Why do candidates fail this module?
The most common causes are skipping the quantitative work, memorising definitions without understanding mechanics, and ignoring yield conventions such as day-count and compounding. Others underestimate credit and interest rate risk linkages. Practise calculations by hand, explain concepts aloud, and revisit errors rather than re-reading notes passively.
Does this page belong to the awarding body?
No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the awarding body. We do not reproduce official question banks or claim official status. Always treat the awarding body's own syllabus, handbook and registration pages as the authoritative source for exam rules.