How to Pass the Series 66 in 2024

Are you stressed about taking your Series 66 Exam? This is a tough exam, and many candidates who easily pass other exams often struggle with this one. The most effective way to build confidence before an exam is to feel prepared. Here’s all you need to know about the S66 exam and how to pass in 2024.

What is the S66?

The Series 66 Exam is required by the North American Securities Administration Association (NASAA) and administered by FINRA. It qualifies candidates for state registration as Investment Advisor Representatives (IAR) if they have also passed the Series 7. Advisors are then licensed to charge a fee for assets under management (AUM).

Things to remember about the S65 and S66:

8 Tips to Pass the Series 66 Exam:

1. Expect law. Overall, the Series 66 has a heavy tilt toward law so be prepared to answer these questions.
2. Prepare for content creep. You’ll see product feature and suitability concepts that you’ve seen or SIE or Series 7 involving “hot products” and unethical sales practices.
3. Beware of burn-out with Series 66. Series 66 candidates often suffer from burn-out when they jump into a third study effort right after completing the SIE (Securities Industry Essentials) and Series 7. There is no letting up on the gas when preparing for Series 66. The rumor that the Series 66 is similar to Series 63 in difficulty is false, false, false.
4. Prepare for a heavy lift. The Series 66 requires nearly as many study hours as the Series 7. If it is taken right after the Series 7, there may be some efficiencies in content overlap, but it’s still a heavy lift.
5. Build stamina. The sheer length of this exam adds to its difficulty. Make sure you take a minimum of three timed full-length exams to build stamina and practice focus. Even better, add on an extra 10 to 15 questions to full exams for a cushion.
6. Focus on concepts over calculations. Most candidates expect many more math calculation questions than they actually see. Usually, there’s only a handful on the S66. It’s more important to understand how to do the math than to complete the calculations. Recognizing the right equation or formula that applies to a situation is often as far as the questions go.
7. Sleep. Breaks. Physical movement. Focus. Adopt these 4 learning and retention strategies in your day-to-day life to ensure you pass your exam on the first try. Check out our article about learning habits here!
8. Mindset. Maintaining a positive mindset will ultimately make a difference when it comes to your test’s outcome. Believing in your positive outcomes will make you much more likely to achieve them. Confidence makes a difference!

Looking for More Series 66 Exam Resources?

Download Knopman Marks’ At-a-Glance Guide. This guide will give you an up-to-date content breakdown, recommended time commitments, important things to keep in mind and more.