Mastering the CAMS Exam: Top 5 Tips for Success

The current CAMS exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions covering theoretical knowledge and practical, scenario-based problems, with 3.5 hours to complete the computer-based exam. ACAMS also provides an exam simulator with more than 1,000 practice questions and performance tracking as part of the CAMS package. You can verify the latest exam and preparation information on the official ACAMS CAMS Certification page.

Preparing for the CAMS exam does not have to mean reading the entire study material repeatedly and hoping everything stays in your memory. A better approach is to study with a system.

Break the material into manageable sections, learn the high-value concepts first, test yourself frequently, turn mistakes into revision notes, and practise applying AML concepts instead of only memorising definitions.

If you are new to CAMS and want to understand the certification before starting your preparation, see our CAMS Certification guide. This guide focuses on five practical CAMS exam tips that can help you make your preparation more organised, efficient and easier to remember.

Key Takeaways

• Know the Current Exam Structure: Understand the 120-question format, 3.5-hour duration and scenario-based approach before you begin studying.
• Build a Structured Study Plan: Divide the syllabus into manageable topics and prioritise areas where you need more practice.
• Use Active Recall: Close your study material and explain key AML concepts from memory instead of repeatedly rereading them.
• Learn From Practice Questions: Review both incorrect and uncertain answers to identify knowledge gaps and improve your understanding.
• Practise Your Exam Timing: Use timed practice sessions to build confidence with pacing before the actual CAMS exam.

CAMS Exam Preparation: Start With the Right Strategy

Before opening your study material, avoid one common mistake: trying to study everything at once.

Your preparation becomes easier when you divide it into three stages:

Learn → Practise → Fix

First, understand the concept.

Next, answer questions or work through a scenario.

Then, identify what you got wrong or could not explain and revise that area.

Repeat the process throughout your preparation.

Here are five practical ways to do it.

Tip 1: Build Your CAMS Study Plan Around the Exam Blueprint

A study plan is more useful when it follows the actual structure of the exam.

The current CAMS examination blueprint is divided into four domains, with Understanding the Risks and Methods of Financial Crime and Building an Anti-Financial Crime Compliance Program each weighted at 30%. Global AFC Frameworks, Governance, and Regulations and Tools and Technologies to Fight Financial Crime are each weighted at 20%.

Before building your study schedule, review the current ACAMS CAMS examination blueprint so your preparation matches the published exam content.

That does not mean you should ignore the 20% areas.

It means you can use the blueprint to decide where your study time needs to go.

Try the 70/20/10 Study Split

A simple way to organise your preparation is:

• 70% of your time: Learn and practise the main exam domains.
• 20% of your time: Revise weaker areas and concepts you repeatedly forget.
• 10% of your time: Review notes, flashcards, terminology and quick-reference material.

For example, instead of writing:

“Study CAMS for 2 hours.”

Write:

• Financial crime methods: 45 minutes
• Compliance program questions: 45 minutes
• Review yesterday’s mistakes: 20 minutes
• Flashcards: 10 minutes

Now you know exactly what you are doing before you start.

Use the One-Topic Rule

Do not try to finish an entire chapter in one sitting.

• Choose one manageable topic. For example: Customer due diligence
• Study it.
• Close the material.
• Explain it in your own words.
• Answer several questions about it.
• Then move to the next topic.
• This makes a large syllabus feel much more manageable.

Easy Trick: Study in Small Blocks

Instead of forcing yourself through a long study session, use focused blocks such as:

25 to 30 minutes: Study
5 minutes: Break
25 to 30 minutes: Practice questions
5 minutes: Break
15 to 20 minutes: Review mistakes

The goal is not to spend the maximum number of hours studying.

The goal is to make each study session useful.

Tip 2: Stop Reading the Same Material: Use Active Recall

One of the easiest ways to improve your CAMS study routine is to stop asking:

“Did I read this?”

and start asking:

“Can I explain this without looking?”

That is the difference between passive reading and active recall.

Try the 5-Minute Recall Method

After studying a topic, close your book or study material.

Take a blank sheet of paper and write:

• What is it?
• Why does it matter?
• What are the main risks?
• What are the important controls?
• What would an AML professional do?

You do not need perfect wording.

The purpose is to discover what you actually remember.

Then reopen your study material and compare your answer.

Anything you missed becomes your next revision point.

Turn Difficult Concepts Into Simple Questions

Suppose you are studying customer risk assessment.

Do not only memorise the definition.

Ask yourself:

• What makes a customer higher risk?
• What information would I review?
• What could change the customer’s risk profile?
• What additional due diligence might be appropriate?

The same method works for transaction monitoring, sanctions, beneficial ownership, suspicious activity, investigations and other CAMS topics.

Use the “Teach It Simply” Trick

Imagine you have to explain the concept to a new employee who has never worked in AML.

Explain it using simple language.

If you cannot explain it without repeatedly looking back at your notes, you probably need another review.

This is especially useful for concepts that contain a lot of terminology.

Make One-Page Topic Sheets

For each major topic, create a one-page summary containing:

• Definition
• Key risks
• Important red flags
• Controls
• Practical example
• Common mistake

These sheets become extremely useful during your final revision.

CAMS Exam Study Methods: What to Use and When

Study Method	What You Do	Best Used For
Active Recall	Close your study material and explain a CAMS concept from memory.	Checking whether you actually understand and remember a topic.
Practice Questions	Answer CAMS-style questions and review both correct and incorrect answers.	Finding knowledge gaps and improving application of AML concepts.
Flashcards	Review short questions and answers covering terminology, distinctions and key concepts.	Quick revision of facts and concepts you frequently forget.
One-Page Notes	Summarise a topic using definitions, risks, controls, examples and common mistakes.	Fast revision before practice sessions and the final exam.
Timed Practice	Complete questions under a set time limit and analyse your performance afterwards.	Improving pacing and identifying topics that take too long to answer.

3. Treat Practice Questions as a Learning Tool, Not Just a Test

Practising questions is one of the most important parts of CAMS preparation.

But there is a better way to use practice questions than simply checking your score.

ACAMS currently provides an exam simulator with more than 1,000 practice questions, performance tracking and an exam-like experience. ACAMS states that the simulator questions are similar in style and difficulty to the certification exam but are not actual exam questions. The latest details are available on the official ACAMS CAMS Certification page.

Use the 3-Column Mistake Method

Question	Why I Got It Wrong	What I Need to Remember
Risk assessment scenario	I focused on one red flag only	Consider the overall customer risk
Beneficial ownership question	Confused ownership with control	Review the distinction
Investigation scenario	Chose the first reasonable action	Read the full scenario before deciding

This turns every mistake into a study note.

Do Not Just Review Wrong Answers

There is another useful trick.

Mark questions as:

C = Correct and confident

U = Correct but uncertain

W = Wrong

Your U questions are important.

You may have selected the correct answer by guessing or partial understanding.

Go back and check those questions too.

Ask “Why Not the Other Answers?”

When reviewing a practice question, do not stop after identifying the correct answer.

Ask:

Why is this answer correct?

Then:

Why are the other options less appropriate?

This helps you develop the judgement needed for scenario-based questions.

Avoid the Memorisation Trap

Do not rely on memorising question-and-answer combinations.

The purpose of practice is to understand the reasoning behind the answer.

ACAMS describes the current examination as testing both theoretical knowledge and practical, scenario-based application. That makes understanding the principle behind a question more useful than remembering the exact wording of a practice question.

Tip 4: Use Simple Memory Tricks for AML Concepts

The CAMS syllabus contains terminology, processes, regulations, risks, controls and financial-crime typologies.

Trying to memorise everything word-for-word can quickly become exhausting.

Instead, create connections.

Use the “RISK → ACTION” Method

Whenever you study a financial-crime risk, ask:

• What is the risk?
• What makes it suspicious?
• What control addresses it?
• What should happen next?

For example:

Unusual transaction pattern
↓
Identify the red flag
↓
Review customer profile and expected activity
↓
Analyse the transaction and relevant information
↓
Escalate or investigate where appropriate

When reviewing international AML standards, the FATF Recommendations are a useful primary reference. FATF states that the Recommendations provide the international framework countries use to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.

Use Comparison Tables

Concept	Ask Yourself
CDD	Who is the customer?
EDD	Why does this relationship require additional scrutiny?
Risk assessment	What level of risk is present?
Transaction monitoring	Does activity match expectations?
Investigation	What does the available information indicate?

The objective is not to replace the official material with a shortcut.

It is to make the relationships between concepts easier to recall.

Use Flashcards for Facts, Not Entire Chapters

Flashcards work well for:

• Terminology
• Abbreviations
• Key distinctions
• Important concepts
• Regulatory bodies
• Financial-crime typologies
• Processes you repeatedly forget

Avoid putting an entire paragraph on one flashcard.

A better card asks one question:

What is the purpose of enhanced due diligence?

Then answer it briefly.

5. Practise the Exam Before You Sit the Exam

Your final preparation should not be only about learning more information.

It should also be about practising how you will use your time.

The CAMS exam is 3.5 hours long with 120 questions. That gives you an average of about 1 minute and 45 seconds per question across the full exam.

You do not need to spend exactly the same amount of time on every question.

Some questions will be straightforward.

Others will require more thought.

The important thing is to avoid getting stuck on a single question for too long.

Use the Two-Pass Technique

During practice sessions, use this method:

Pass 1: Answer questions you understand quickly.

Pass 2: Return to questions that require more thought.

This prevents one difficult question from taking too much of your available time.

Practise With a Timer

Do not wait until exam day to discover how quickly three and a half hours disappears.

Use timed practice sessions.

Start with shorter blocks if you are new to timed practice.

For example:

30 questions → timed

Then:

60 questions → timed

Then:

Full-length practice → timed

The final stage should feel familiar rather than completely new.

Analyse Your Performance Afterwards

The most valuable part of a mock exam may actually happen after you finish it.

Ask:

• Which domain produced the most mistakes?
• Which questions took too long?
• Which answers did I change unnecessarily?
• Which topics did I forget?
• Did I understand the question or simply recognise the answer?

Use these findings to plan your next study session.

Also Read

• CAMS Certification Cost: Fees, Exam & Complete UAE Guide
• ACAMS Certification: Is It Worth It for a Career in the UAE?
• The Ultimate Guide to CAMS Certification: What It Is?
• ACAMS Certification Cost in UAE: ACAMS Fees vs Training Cost

A Simple CAMS Study Routine You Can Repeat

Step 1: Learn

Choose one small topic and understand the core idea.

Step 2: Recall

Close your study material and explain the topic from memory.

Step 3: Practise

Answer questions related to that topic.

Step 4: Review

Record incorrect and uncertain answers.

Step 5: Repeat

Revisit the weak area later rather than trying to master everything in one sitting.

Your study cycle becomes:

Learn → Recall → Practise → Review → Repeat

That is much more useful than:

Read → Read again → Highlight → Read again

A 7-Day Final Revision Strategy

Day 1

Review your weakest major domain.

Day 2

Review your second weakest area and complete practice questions.

Day 3

Revise key AML concepts, terminology and common mistakes.

Day 4

Complete a timed practice session.

Day 5

Review every mistake from the practice session.

Day 6

Complete another focused practice session and revisit weak topics.

Day 7

Keep revision light. Review short notes and key concepts rather than attempting to learn the entire syllabus again.

This is a sample revision structure, not an ACAMS-required seven-day plan. Your actual schedule should depend on your preparation progress and available study time.

CAMS Exam Tips: What to Avoid

1. Do Not Try to Memorise Every Sentence

Focus on understanding the concept and being able to apply it.

2. Do Not Use Only One Study Method

Combine reading, recall, practice questions, notes and timed exercises.

3. Do Not Ignore Mistakes

A wrong answer is useful information if you understand why it was wrong.

4. Do Not Spend All Your Time on Topics You Already Know

Use practice results to identify where additional study is needed.

5. Do Not Depend on Old CAMS Material Without Checking It

ACAMS has updated its CAMS program and learning structure, so always compare older preparation resources against the current official information and study materials.

6. Do Not Rely on Exam Dumps

Use legitimate study materials and practice resources. Avoid relying on leaked, unauthorised or unverified exam material as a substitute for learning the concepts.

Quick CAMS Exam Preparation Checklist

Before your exam, make sure you can say:

• I understand the current CAMS exam structure.
• I have studied all four domains.
• I know which areas are weaker for me.
• I have practised scenario-based questions.
• I have reviewed my incorrect and uncertain answers.
• I have completed timed practice.
• I know how I will manage my time during the exam.
• I am using the current ACAMS materials and information.

If you are preparing specifically for the UAE market, you can also familiarise yourself with the UAE’s goAML suspicious transaction reporting system. This is useful for understanding how AML reporting operates in the UAE, although your CAMS preparation should remain aligned with the current ACAMS learning materials.

If you can confidently tick these areas, your preparation is much more organised than simply reading the study material from beginning to end.

FAQs

How many questions are on the CAMS exam?

The CAMS exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions covering theoretical knowledge and practical, scenario-based problems. Candidates have 3.5 hours to complete the computer-based exam.

What is the passing score for the CAMS exam?

The CAMS certification exam has a passing score of 75. Candidates should check the current ACAMS Candidate Handbook for the latest scoring and examination requirements.

How difficult is the CAMS exam?

The CAMS exam can be challenging because it tests both AML knowledge and the ability to apply concepts to practical, scenario-based problems. Preparation should therefore include understanding concepts, practising questions and reviewing mistakes.

How long does it take to prepare for the CAMS exam?

Preparation time varies according to your AML experience, existing knowledge and available study time. A structured plan combining study, active recall, practice questions and timed revision can help you prepare more efficiently.

What topics are covered in the CAMS exam?

The CAMS exam covers four main areas: risks and methods of financial crime, anti-financial crime frameworks and regulations, anti-financial crime compliance programs, and tools and technologies used to fight financial crime.

Are CAMS exam questions scenario-based?

Yes. The current CAMS exam includes practical, scenario-based questions in addition to questions assessing theoretical knowledge. This means candidates need to understand how AML principles are applied rather than relying only on memorisation.

Can I take the CAMS exam online?

Yes. ACAMS provides computer-based CAMS exam delivery, with scheduling available through Pearson VUE after the application is approved. ACAMS also provides online proctoring for eligible exams.

Training Centers in UAE: Dubai, Sharjah and Online (Global)

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Conclusion

The most effective CAMS exam preparation is not necessarily about studying for the longest hours. It is about studying with a method.

Build your plan around the current exam structure. Break large topics into smaller sections. Use active recall instead of repeatedly rereading. Practise questions to identify knowledge gaps. Turn mistakes into revision notes. Use simple memory techniques to connect risks, controls and AML processes. Finally, practise under timed conditions before exam day.

Most importantly, keep your preparation aligned with the current ACAMS study material, exam information and official resources, because certification requirements and learning content can change over time. For readers specifically researching the challenge involved rather than preparation techniques, see our separate guide on how difficult the CAMS exam is.

The goal is simple: Study smarter. Practise deliberately. Review your mistakes. Repeat.

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About the Author and Review

• Author: Content Researcher at Zabeel International Institute
• Reviewed by: Senior Instructor

All course materials and learning frameworks are professionally designed, reviewed, and delivered by subject-matter experts, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and academic integrity.

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