HKSI Paper 1 Results, Retakes and 3-Year Rules
Updated · 5 min read
A Paper 1 result is the start of a clock, not the end of the process. Your pass has to reach the SFC inside a time limit, and if you are working towards an HKSI certificate there is a second, separate time limit. A fail has its own steps. This guide covers both outcomes, using HKSI’s Examination Policies on hksi.org and the SFC’s Guidelines on Competence, as checked on 11 October 2026.
How results are graded and released
HKSI grades each paper PASS, FAIL or ABSENT. For Paper 1 the pass mark is 70%. On a computer-based exam you see your grade on screen as soon as the session ends.
| Document | Available | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Notification of Results | Online Portal, one working day after the exam | Evidence of your pass for the licence application |
| Performance Analysis | With the Notification of Results | Shows where you were weaker; most useful after a fail |
| HKSI certificate | Eight working days after the exam, if you completed the required combination | HKSI’s own certification |
Download everything within one year of the exam date; after that it leaves the portal. HKSI does not reissue results or certificates. A replacement Statement of Results costs HKD300 and can be requested within seven years of the exam (HKSI FAQ, checked 11 October 2026).
After a pass
- Send the Notification of Results to your firm’s licensing or compliance team.
- Your firm submits your licence application to the SFC; see SFC licence requirements.
- If you also need Papers 7 and 8, enrol now while the overlap with Paper 1 is fresh.
The two three-year rules
Candidates often merge these. They come from different bodies and do different jobs.
| SFC licence application | HKSI certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| The rule | Pass the local regulatory framework paper (and obtain any industry qualification) not more than three years before you apply | Complete the preset combination of LE papers within three years of passing your first LE paper |
| Exception | The SFC may accept an older pass if you were a licensed representative or responsible officer for a relevant activity within the past three years | None: HKSI says the period is not extended and grants no paper exemptions for certificates |
| Source | SFC Guidelines on Competence (October 2024), paras 4.1.5 and 4.1.6 | HKSI Institute FAQ on exemptions and Examination Policies |
The SFC rule is the one that matters for your job. A Paper 1 pass from four years ago, with no licence since, will normally need re-sitting before you can be licensed. Read the rule in the Guidelines on Competence.
Trap
After a fail
You are in good company: Paper 1 averaged a 50.9% pass rate from September 2025 to August 2026 (HKSI Institute, Pass Rate for the LE in Hong Kong (hksi.org)). For your licence, what matters is a pass within the three-year window when your firm applies.
Rechecking a result
HKSI offers a results rechecking service if you believe a grading error occurred. Apply in writing within 21 working days of results being released. HKSI normally replies within seven working days, by post. There is a fee, refunded only if the original result was wrong, so use it when you have a specific reason to doubt the grade, such as a system fault during your session.
How to retake
- Re-enrol through the Online Portal and pay the full fee again. A new 90-day scheduling window starts.
- Read your Performance Analysis and list your two or three weakest topics.
- Spend the first week on those topics only, with questions, not re-reading.
- Then sit full timed mocks. Book the retake only after two scores above 80%.
Our topic banks let you drill a single topic, and the mock exams give you full timed papers. The 10 common traps lists the figures most often behind a near miss.
Takeaway
HKSI Prep is an independent study tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by HKSI Institute or the SFC. Check result and retake policies on hksi.org and licensing rules on sfc.hk.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an HKSI Paper 1 pass valid?
For an SFC licence, you are expected to have passed not more than three years before you apply, unless you were licensed for a relevant activity within the past three years (SFC Guidelines on Competence (October 2024), paras 4.1.5 and 4.1.6).
What happens if I fail HKSI Paper 1?
You re-enrol and pay the full fee again, which opens a new 90-day window to schedule. Use the Performance Analysis released with your results to target your weakest topics.
Can I appeal or recheck my HKSI exam result?
You can request a results recheck in writing within 21 working days of the results release. HKSI normally replies within seven working days; the fee is refunded only if the result was wrong (HKSI Examination Policies, checked 11 October 2026).
How long do I have to complete an HKSI certificate?
HKSI requires the preset combination of LE papers to be completed within three years of passing your first LE paper, and it does not extend that period or grant paper exemptions for certificates.
Go deeper: the study notes
Put it into practice
Free account, 600+ exam-style questions, instant explanations and timed mock exams.
Build a daily practice habit — a few exam-style questions a day, with worked answers. Free to start.
Start practising →