10 free, exam-style International Diploma in Anti Money Laundering (ICA Intl Diploma) practice questions with answers and
explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the
full free ICA Intl Diploma practice test to study every exam domain.
These 10 free ICA Intl Diploma questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the International Diploma in Anti Money Laundering blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Domain 1: AML/CFT Framework and Threats (20% via MCQ assessments)
Question 1
A newly appointed CEO states that compliance is solely the responsibility of the compliance department and business units should focus only on revenue. This view is PROBLEMATIC because:
- It incorrectly assumes that compliance departments have sufficient authority to enforce policies across all business units
- It fails to recognise that GRC is the responsibility of the entire organisation, not just a single department
- It overlooks the fact that compliance departments require dedicated legal expertise that business units cannot provide
- It ignores the regulatory requirement that compliance officers must report directly to the board of directors
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - It fails to recognise that GRC is the responsibility of the entire organisation, not just a single department
Domain 2: Risk Management and Controls (40% via Written Assignment 2)
Question 2
A firm follows every specific rule issued by its regulator but its customers consistently experience poor outcomes. Under a principles-based regime, this firm:
- Can only be held accountable if a specific rule was broken and documented violations exist
- Is fully compliant and cannot be criticised for following all prescribed regulatory requirements
- Should be rewarded for its detailed compliance approach and adherence to regulatory standards
- May still be in breach of regulatory principles that require fair customer outcomes
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D - May still be in breach of regulatory principles that require fair customer outcomes
More ICA Intl Diploma practice questions
Question 3
A firm self-reports a significant regulatory breach to the regulator before the regulator discovers it. This approach is MOST likely to:
- Result in harsher penalties because the firm has admitted wrongdoing
- Be viewed favourably by the regulator and potentially mitigate penalties
- Be treated as an admission of criminal liability
- Have no impact on the regulatory response
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - Be viewed favourably by the regulator and potentially mitigate penalties
Question 4
A compliance function reports to the board quarterly with zero findings for three consecutive years. This should MOST likely prompt:
- Scrutiny of whether the monitoring programme is sufficiently rigorous
- The assumption that the firm has no compliance risks
- Reduction of the compliance function's budget
- Congratulations to the compliance function for excellent results
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - Scrutiny of whether the monitoring programme is sufficiently rigorous
Question 5
A firm's risk appetite statement says it has 'zero tolerance for financial crime.' In practice, this means:
- The firm guarantees complete elimination of all financial crime risks through comprehensive monitoring and detection systems
- The firm must immediately terminate any business relationships where even minimal financial crime risk is identified or suspected
- The firm can rely solely on regulatory compliance without implementing additional internal controls since zero tolerance is already declared
- The firm will not knowingly facilitate financial crime and will implement robust controls, but recognises it cannot eliminate the risk entirely
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D - The firm will not knowingly facilitate financial crime and will implement robust controls, but recognises it cannot eliminate the risk entirely
Question 6
A firm's risk appetite statement says 'moderate appetite for strategic risk' but the firm consistently pursues extremely high-risk expansion strategies. This indicates:
- That the risk appetite statement is irrelevant to operations
- A disconnect between stated risk appetite and actual risk-taking behaviour
- Effective risk management and strategic alignment
- That strategic risk appetite should be increased immediately
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - A disconnect between stated risk appetite and actual risk-taking behaviour
Question 7
A board consistently approves management proposals without challenge or dissent. This MOST likely indicates:
- Effective board governance through unanimous decision-making processes
- Strong collaborative relationship and alignment between board and management
- A governance weakness indicating inadequate oversight function
- Optimal board efficiency through streamlined approval mechanisms
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - A governance weakness indicating inadequate oversight function
Question 8
A firm outsources its transaction monitoring to a third-party provider. The provider fails to detect a significant pattern of suspicious activity. Responsibility for this failure lies with:
- No one, because outsourcing transfers responsibility
- The regulator for inadequate oversight of the arrangement
- The firm, because it retains regulatory responsibility for outsourced activities
- Only the outsourcing provider for failing to perform
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - The firm, because it retains regulatory responsibility for outsourced activities
Question 9
A customer makes multiple cash deposits just below the regulatory reporting threshold at different branches of the same bank. This is MOST likely an example of:
- Structuring to avoid detection thresholds
- Normal banking behaviour
- Layering through complex transactions
- Integration into legitimate economy
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - Structuring to avoid detection thresholds
Question 10
A firm's employee is approached by a government official who demands a payment to process a routine licence application faster. Under the UK Bribery Act, the employee should:
- Refuse to make the payment and report the request
- Make the payment if it is below £500
- Make the payment but record it as a legitimate business expense
- Make the payment as it is a routine facilitation payment
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - Refuse to make the payment and report the request
The rest of the ICA Intl Diploma blueprint
The ICA Intl Diploma exam also covers these domains. Drill them in the full free practice test:
- Domain 3: Detection and Response (40% via Written Assignment 3)