If you need help studying for the Series 66 exam or just want some more information about what the exam is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free Series 66 practice exam!
How to Register
Exam Scores
Retaking the Test
What Test-Takers Are Saying
FAQs
What’s on the Series 66 Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the test. There are 110 multiple-choice questions total, but only 100 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 10 unscored questions on the Series 66 exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the tests to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 2.5 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the Series 66 exam.
1. Economic Factors and Business Information
8 scored questions
- Time value of money concepts
- Descriptive statistics
- Financial ratio interpretation and calculation
- Valuation factors
2. Investment Vehicle Characteristics
17 scored questions
- Characteristics of cash and cash equivalents
- Types of cash and cash equivalents
- Valuation factors of fixed income securities
- Types of equity securities
- Characteristics and valuation factors of equity securities
- Equity public offering
- Types and characteristics of pooled investments
- Futures and options
- Alternative investments
- Insurance-based products
- Other assets
3. Client/customer Investment Recommendations and Strategies
30 scored questions
- Type of client/customer
- Client profile
- Capital market theory
- Portfolio management strategies, styles, and techniques
- Tax considerations
- Retirement plans
- ERISA issues
- Ownership and estate planning techniques
- Trading securities
- Portfolio performance measures
4. Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines Including Prohibition on Unethical Business Practice
45 scored questions
- Regulations of investment advisers
- Regulation of investment adviser representatives
- Regulation of broker-dealers and their agents
- Regulations of securities and issuers
- Remedies and administrative provisions
- Communication with clients and prospects
- Ethical practices and fiduciary obligations
How to Register
If you work for a FINRA member firm, they can register you for the exam using a U4 form. Otherwise, you can register yourself through FINRA’s Test Enrollment Services System (TESS).
The exam fee is $177 regardless of how you register.
Series 66 Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using the Angoff method. Here’s how it works:
The Angoff method involves a group of subject-matter experts taking an educated guess at the percentage of candidates who would correctly answer each question on the test. These estimates are then averaged to set a cut-off score, which test-takers must meet or exceed to pass.
This method aims to ensure the pass threshold reflects the level of knowledge or skill that is deemed minimally acceptable for a particular profession or field.
To pass, you’ll need to answer at least 73 scored questions correctly.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test after a 30-day waiting period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
What Test-Takers Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it! See what real test-takers are saying about the Series 66 exam:
“The middle of the exam was very ratio heavy. There was probably 10-15 questions about ratios which I did not expect. The last portion was mostly laws, regulations, registration and some simple options questions. I didn’t get any order, custody, or discretion questions.”
Chelsef
“Know IR Changes and how that effects bonds of different/same maturities, durations and nominal yield. Know Risks of Asset classes, and particularly and funny enough how inflation impacts things.”
Frontn24
“Overall, maybe 3 life insurance questions, a couple of trust and joint account questions, a few questions on business structures, more than I expected equation questions (inputs and outputs are key!), a few suitability questions, and obviously the rules and regs are major.”
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FAQs
How many questions are on the Series 66 exam?
The exam contains 110 questions.
How long is the Series 66 exam?
The time limit for the exam is 2.5 hours.
What is the passing score for the Series 66 exam?
You’ll need to answer at least 73 scored questions to pass.
How much does the Series 66 exam cost?
The testing fee is $177.
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