Get the Right Study Materials
First things first. Make sure you select the best materials to prepare. You will need a comprehensive text and question bank at a minimum. Don’t rely on old versions of materials because industry rules change often. Read online reviews and talk to friends and colleagues who have taken the exam previously. Access to an instructor can make all the difference, so be sure instructors are available to you.
Know What You’re Dealing With
Understand the key areas of emphasis on the 2 parts of the Series 3 exam, and practice accordingly. If time becomes short, you’ll want to spend more time on a subject worth 20 questions than one worth 2. And don’t expect to perform well on a 2 ½ hour exam of 120 multiple choice questions without practicing your focus for that length of time. These exams aren’t easy, but you only need to get 70% right on each part to pass!
Follow a Proven Process
Use the recommended Series 3 At-A-Glance guide to prepare. Think of yourself as an athlete and stick with the program. You can’t expect great results if you skip steps or take too much time off. It comes down to hard work, and “working smart” will get you there faster.
Dust off your Test Taking Skills
Take advantage of these techniques and you’ll earn extra points. Slow down when reading questions, and discipline yourself to read questions twice before you answer. Read all answer choices before you select the winner. Use the process of elimination to help you land on the right answer by figuring out which answers can’t work. Be especially careful with questions that include “not” and “except”. And finally – don’t change your answers without a strong reason. Your first instinct is almost always best.
Know Where You Stand before you Test
Confidence is half the battle on the Series 3 Exam. You will earn it by working 120-question practice exams until you are consistently averaging in the mid-70’s before you test. Take time to understand your areas of weakness and practice some more. Then go pass the Series 3 – you deserve it!
