CISI Global Securities Operations Past Papers: What Exists (2026)

Global Securities Operations candidates are usually revising around a full working day in operations, which makes the hunt for past papers understandable: you want efficient, realistic practice, not another read of the workbook. The honest answer is that CISI does not publish past papers for GSO. One sample paper exists, the workbook has its own questions, and the rest of what you will find online is unofficial and usually old.

The paper you are preparing for

The syllabus covers the plumbing of the market: industry participants, settlement, custody, corporate actions, investor services, taxation aspects and risk. Where the marks concentrate, and how to revise around a day job, is in our guide to passing Global Securities Operations.

What official material exists

One specimen paper written to the live standard, end-of-chapter questions and a practice paper in the official GSO workbook, the paid Revision Express tool, and the free Prometric demo of the test software. Sit the sample paper once, timed, late in revision. Everything official is worth doing exactly once; none of it is renewable.

Why old GSO material is a poor shortcut

Operations is the part of the syllabus the real world keeps rewriting. Settlement cycles have been shortening across major markets, and market infrastructure and regulatory detail move with them. A mock written a few years ago tests a market that no longer settles that way. Unofficial PDFs are also unverified: wrong keys and questions drafted against superseded workbook editions are common, and you have no way to tell from the document itself.

The alternative: current, weighted mock papers

Passkey gives GSO four full mock papers, each 50 questions in 60 minutes, weighted element by element like the real paper, with no overlap between papers. Questions are written from scratch against the current syllabus, answers carry full explanations, and practice mode sorts the bank by your weak elements so short sessions around work actually move your score. Average 80% or higher across your last three mocks, sit the real paper within 30 days, and if you do not pass we refund you in full.

Every GSO revision resource, in one list

• The official CISI Global Securities Operations workbook, current edition.
• The official sample paper, sat once under the clock.
• CISI Revision Express (paid) and the free Prometric CBT demo.
• Passkey: the full GSO bank, four weighted 50-question mocks, explanations and weak-spot tracking. £59 once covers all nine exams we support, for up to three months.
• Free GSO practice questions and the free diagnostic.
• Our GSO exam guide and the complete guide to passing CISI exams.

Passkey is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. For the picture across every paper, see CISI past papers: what's actually available.