u/AdEfficient69

based on my scores and study progress, would you sit for the exam if you were me?

Here’s where I currently stand using mainly Achievable:

- 95% exam readiness on Achievable
- Predicted scoring range: 79%-84%
- About 30+ hours of study time
- Completed all 50/50 pages/modules
- 210 practice questions completed in the last few days
- Overall recent accuracy: 82.9%

Breakdown:
- Definitions: 93%
- Registration: 84%
- Enforcement: 81%
- Ethics: 77%

I’ve also taken Kaplan exams and usually land somewhere in the mid/high 60s depending on the test. Ethics has been my weakest area at times, but I recently retook an ethics section and scored around an 82.

From NASAA’s actual exam outline:
- Ethical Practices & Obligations = 25% of the exam (15 questions)
- Communication with Customers = 20% (12 questions)
- Agent Regulations = 13% (8 questions)
- Broker-Dealer Regulations = 12% (7 questions)

I know the Series 63 only requires 43/60 scored questions correct to pass, but I’m trying to pass first attempt and not walk in overconfident.

A few things I’m still reviewing:
- IA/IAR exclusions & exemptions
- Administrator powers/remedies
- Communication rules
- Ethics wording/trick questions

For people who already passed:
- Were the real questions more straightforward than Achievable/Kaplan?
- Did you feel fully ready before taking it?
- Is a consistent 80%+ on Achievable enough?
- Any “must know” concepts you saw heavily tested?

Brutal honesty appreciated.

Taking Series 63 Monday — looking for honest feedback from people who passed

I’m taking the Series 63 soon and wanted to see if anyone who has actually passed thinks I’m in decent shape or if I should postpone.

Here’s where I’m at:

Achievable:
- 90% exam readiness
- Predicted score range 79–84% (high confidence)
- Mock exams:
- 78%
- 80%
- 82%
- 85%

My strongest areas:
- Definitions
- Investment advisers/IARs
- Ethics recognition

Weaker areas:
- Remedies & administrative provisions
- Securities registration/exemptions
- Some communication rules

Kaplan scores are lower:
- Around mid 60s overall
- Unit breakdowns:
- Broker-dealers/agents: 72%
- IA/IARs: 86%
- Securities/issuers/exemptions: 63%
- Remedies/admin: 38%
- Communications: 61%
- Ethics: 65%

The thing messing with my confidence is Kaplan feels WAY harder and more detailed than Achievable.

People who passed:
- Did you feel the actual exam was closer to Kaplan or Achievable?
- Were the questions more straightforward than Kaplan?
- Is the real exam mostly ethics/registration recognition like people say?

I’m mainly worried about overthinking wording traps and exemptions/exclusions.

Any honest advice appreciated.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar experience or could offer some advice.

I recently passed the SIE, and honestly I thought it was pretty straightforward. I used Achievable and put in around 100 hours of studying, and I felt really confident going into that exam.

Now I’ve started studying for the Series 63, and I’m about 10–12 hours in using the same Achievable materials—but I’m finding it way more difficult than expected.

Specifically, I’m struggling a lot with:

Exemptions for broker-dealers

Investment adviser vs. investment adviser representative definitions

Agent vs. IAR distinctions

When registration is required vs. exempt

I’ve read a lot of people say the 63 is “easier” than the SIE, but right now it feels like the opposite. The concepts seem way more nuanced and tricky.

For those who have passed:

Did you feel the same way at first?

Any tips or tricks for remembering exemptions and registration rules?

Anything you focused on that made a big difference on the actual exam?

Appreciate any help—just trying to get over this hump.

Thanks!