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Ethical and Professional StandardsQuantitative MethodsEconomicsFinancial Statement AnalysisCorporate IssuersEquity InvestmentsFixed IncomeDerivativesAlternative InvestmentsPortfolio Management

Level I · 2026 curriculum · 5–8% of the exam

Derivatives

Derivatives at Level I introduces forwards, futures, swaps and options: how they work, how they are priced by no-arbitrage, and how they pay off.

Exam weight5–8%
≈ Questions in a 180-question exam11

What the questions cover

  • Forward commitments vs contingent claims, and exchange-traded vs OTC markets
  • Uses, benefits and risks of derivatives
  • Arbitrage, replication and the cost of carry
  • Pricing and valuing forwards, futures and swaps
  • Option payoffs and profits, and put–call parity
  • The one-period binomial model

How to study it

  • Separate payoff from profit: profit subtracts (or adds) the premium.
  • Put–call parity questions are quick marks once the formula is second nature.

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