Hi everyone! I apologize but this question is more series 63 related. I passed my SIE this January and decided to take the 63 this summer. My firm is sponsoring me and I’ve studied for the last 4 days and have been getting 71-88 on 2dollartest.com and then 72 on the Kaplan Mastery exam. Does anyone have any recommendations I have the test tmmr (Monday)
I’m super excited to take my test this upcoming Monday and really hope I pass. I’ve been studying for quite some time now. Any last minute tips for review tomorrow (Sunday) that helped you guys out?
Background
Studied Finance in school, worked in PE in Canada. Grew up with above-average memory. Used knopman marks (I bought Kaplan but never got around to using it)
How it felt
Despite my b/g I found the material difficult because it was quite heavily weighted on rote memorization on new rules and dates. This is because I'm Canadian and I had only ever heard of a Roth IRA, traditional IRA or a 401(k). I shot myself in the foot because I totally underestimated the volume of new stuff I would have to memorize. I also had to onboard a new job and was generously given after 3pm to study. I would lock into the material Monday to Friday from 3pm to ~12am over the work week. I think my b/g helped with a very small portion of the exam being Reg D (Partnerships), economics, equity and debt mechanics, and options (Which honestly didn't weigh that much in my exam).
What my exam covered
Biggest tips
-VERY IMPORTANT PREFACE-
How to approach resources (Knopman Marks)
Active Recall and Learning
Take rest as serious as your studying
An analogy to support rest and wellness
Holding a stack of books
On the day before and of the exam
Test Tips
People have told me they take on average 2-4 weeks to study for the SIE. Given my background I should have given myself ~2 weeks to be comfortable. I definitely pushed the limit by giving myself ~6 days.
Feel free to reach out with any questions! ONTO THE 7!
Testing in 14 days. Starting to get really stressed since all of the content is getting mixed up in my head and I’m having a really hard time recalling things. For example, the various names used for the same concept. Credit risk is also called counterparty risk but then it can also be referred to as default risk… idk how you guys were able to differentiate all of this content but I am severely struggling and getting very nervous about this exam. My role at work is contingent on me passing this exam in one try so any advice is welcome.
Took the exam today and passed. Prepared for a month using kaplan mainly but also took practice exams from STC, achievable, and the finra website just to see how different providers were framing questions. Went through kaplan's study plan as they laid it out for me and then just spammed simulated exams using the question bank (ended up going through every single question in their bank). For reference I was testing in the 70s while reading the material but by the time we got to the final and mastery exam I was in the 80s and even 90s sometimes. Thought the mastery exam was far harder than the actual exam today.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, the exam was most worded like the practice exam on the website. Kaplan, STC, and achievable exams that I saw were harder and worded with far more difficulty than the actual exam which means you should be familiar with the concepts and not focus on memorizing the questions. For my test the most prominent topics were options, prohibited activities, types of risks, and investment company questions (mainly mutual funds and NAV). I did not have to use the calculator once and didn't have a single bond see saw question which is funny cause that was in every single Kaplan exam. I finished the test in about 30 minutes and then went through the questions one more time (changed about 2-3 answers). I think about 55 of the questions I had the answer immediately (so I knew I was going to pass) with the others being a bit in the air. Learn the concepts and you'll be fine. These third party providers do a good job of making it harder
Did achievable. Completed all the chapters, did practice problems, took 0 practice exams, and watched a “dirty thirty” YouTube video before my exam.
The test was honestly pretty tough, a lot of the questions were hyper specific and worded much differently than achievable.
Lots of my answers were by process of elimination, you really do need to understand the underlying concepts to get a good read on the questions. Not much felt handed to me.
I would highly recommend reading the textbook carefully and digesting it, I was spamming practice tests for about a week but for the 63 and 7, I will be reading much more thoroughly.
Just thought I'd come on here and say that I passed my SIE today, was able to finish the test in about 40 minutes, and I'm moving onto the 66. Been studying for the last month with Kaplan; finished all the material in about a week and a half, and the rest of the time was spent just spamming Q bank questions and the practice exams. I put in anywhere from 2-4 hours a day on top of work and the gym.
What I found worked best for me was to focus on the questions I would get wrong. I would go back and read why the right answer was right, and try to understand why the wrong ones were right too, rather than just focusing on what was right. (Sorry if that made no sense)
The best advice I can give is to go into that testing center, or if you're virtual, knowing that you will pass, and whatever happens, happens, just don't go in there with a negative mindset, it won't do you any good.
Feel free to leave any questions below
Achievable scores: 79, 76, 75, 69, 79, 84, 76, 81
From most recent to earliest.
I know this is asked all the time but I’m in my own head here
Passed using achievable and SIE whisperer YT
Timeline: Studied for a total of 50 hours in a 40 day period
Happy to answer any questions!
It’s been proposed, but it’s not a rule yet there is a timeline for all this
Used achievable. My readiness score was a 95 on the achievable website.
There were some questions that I felt like I didn’t see in the achievable materials but I just blasted through them and didn’t get freaked out.
My major issue during practice exams was not reading the question thoroughly. I definitely made sure to understand the question fully before answering but I felt they were pretty straightforward and not trying trick me with wordplay.
Feel free to ask questions. I’ll answer to the best of my ability.
Best of luck to all.
Somehow passed even though I felt I didn’t know half the material. Just go with your instincts. I didn’t go back and change my answers. I just submitted it after 50 mins. Had a lot of time left but it wasn’t needed.
Studying with Kaplan. I usually start the units getting ~50-60 on the quizzes and then move when I consistently get 70s-80s I still have 9 units to go and then some practice quizzes
Getting lots of anxiety over this test tbh
(update : passed!)
Hey everyone,
I just took the SIE ONLINE through Proproctor. I took all the time allotted, and with about 20 seconds left I messaged the proctor i was done. They didn’t respond in time and the exam runs out of time. He then tells me to click submit but there is no submit button so I told them that, and he just says click exit. I got no score back immediately or in my email. What do I do?
Edit: I passed! Took 8 hours to get my email back. What a relief.
Currently grinding through capital advantage’s full SIE playlist. I have my Exam July 13th. What should be my study schedule?
Just accepted an offer in the beginning of June with a start date mid-August and today (one month later), got an email from the company to access the SIE study materials they sent me and schedule the exam in 48 hours.
The issue I want to point out isn't on the company, they have a system that works for them and they do that. My issue is that IF you guys accept a job that requires the SIE, then you need to immediately get the study materials (I used Kaplan), then go to the SIE website and sign up without the voucher ($100) and just take it (I studied for three weeks and passed).
The reason for this is if you fail, you have another 30 days in your back pocket to retake. If I had waited for the company to send me everything, and failed, I'd be up a creek.
TL/DR: The SECOND you get a job offer that requires you have the SIE, DO NOT wait for the company to send you the materials/links/vouchers for the exam, DO IT YOURSELF.
Took my SIE today and passed! Exam was less in depth that I was anticipating but there were a TON of questions on products/risks and prohibited activities
Shoutout to Ken Finnens power hour!! Onto the 7
After being given 15 days to study for that exam with no prior securities knowledge I scored a 69%. Definitely feeling defeated as I was so close. Just gotta get back to the books and re try in a month. Being so close to passing stings, and I am definitely upset at myself for second getting some questions. Any questions regarding the exam send my way!