I. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 ESG Exam

The ESG industry is currently booming, leading to a surge in the number of people interested in obtaining the certification. Below, SPOTO has compiled answers to some common questions to help you prepare for the 2026 ESG exam.

1. What are the English proficiency requirements?

   The study materials are entirely in English, but the reading volume is not excessive. Currently, there is only one textbook with around 500 pages, divided into 9 chapters. The content is relatively manageable. In general, if you have passed CET-4 or CET-6, you should not have any issues.

2. How long does it take to prepare?

   The CFA Institute recommends 120 hours, but many individuals have passed the exam after studying for less than 100 hours. With the guidance of a good instructor, 60-80 hours of preparation should be sufficient.

3. What is the exam duration and format?

   The exam duration is 2 hours and 20 minutes, consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions. The questions are a mix of standalone questions similar to CFA Level I and case-based questions with four sub-questions, resembling CFA Level II. The answer choices are 4-option multiple-choice, unlike the 3-option format in the CFA exams. The key strategy is to thoroughly understand the concepts and employ the process of elimination.

4. Is a calculator required?

   No, there are no calculation-based questions, so a calculator is not needed.

5. Necessary preparation materials:

   • Official textbook: A 500+ page electronic book in English
   • Mock exam: 100 questions closely matching the actual exam difficulty
   • Chapter-wise mind maps
   • Chapter-end question explanations

6. Practice questions available:

   • End-of-chapter questions: 15 questions per chapter, totaling 135 questions across 9 chapters
   • 100 mock exam questions, including a few case-based questions; most are standalone 4-option multiple-choice questions
   • Free question bank with 120 classic questions

7. Additional learning resources:

   • ESG-related reports
   • Recommended books on ESG topics, carbon neutrality, and carbon peaking (Related book lists and research reports are continuously released)

8. Textbook framework:

   The CFA ESG certification covers 9 chapters, with varying weightages. The content can be divided into two main themes:

   • Theme 1: ESG Fundamentals (Chapters 1-5)
   • Theme 2: ESG Investing (Chapters 6-9)