Can’t get above a 68 SIE Practice test

I cannot get above a 68 on a final exam. I take the test on the 18th and I’m stressed. What is the best method? Go back to each chapter test and go from there? Keep taking Exams? Please help. TIA :joy:

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The most impactful thing you can do is carefully review the previous exams you’ve taken. Spend a few hours going through each question by question, focusing on those you’ve missed or guessed. Try to understand why you got it wrong, not just the correct answer. Revisit the textbook if needed to get a wider understanding. Also, slow down a little bit - it looks like you’re going through the questions pretty quickly.

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If we’re in this ballpark, would you recommend rescheduling?

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Yes, our practice exam scores are similar to the actual one, so we generally recommend people consistently pass ours before they sit for the actual exam.

That said, there is a large amount of natural randomness on these exams, so you might get lucky with an easier question draw. Some people prefer to go in a little underprepared if it’s their first take, and then get more serious on their next attempt.

But, we recommend that you study hard and aim for one-and-done.

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Thanks to this program, I passed the SIE this morning. The test started out easy, got a bit harder, then got easy, and ended a bit difficult. There were a few questions that were very vague, but that’s the nature of the exam. Overall, I think this program covered 85-90% of the questions asked on the exam.

I studied 64 hours, completed 4000 practice questions, and scored 93%, 95%, and 88% on the three final exams.

Thank you again for this wonderful program! Looking forward to using it again for the Series 7.

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Congrats, congrats, congrats!

I’m so glad you passed, we’re here to help with your S7 when the time is right :slight_smile:

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Practice test update. I’ve now passed with a 71 and 75 on achievable’s practice tests, 77 on Kaplans test and 80 on FINRA’s practice test. :grimacing: I test Wednesday!

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Nice job so far - keep up the good effort and finish strong!

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Made a 66. The wording on that test was SO hard

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Ah, I’m sorry to hear that, but at least you’re close and have the full test experience under your belt. I’m sure you’ll get it on your next attempt!

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Any tips on how to overcome the wording difference or where to go from here? I’m honestly at a lost for what to do.

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Hi @Alexander_Daniel, it can help to focus on thinking “beyond the question” when the wording is challenging. Every question is designed to test a specific learning objective, and if you can figure out what the test writer intended to assess, it can give you a hint to the right answer. It can also be helpful to push the boundaries of your knowledge and identify weaker areas. For instance, if a question asks about a premium bond, consider how the choices and answer might change if it was a discount bond. Or, if they’re asking about the suitability of elderly, risk-averse investors, how would it change if they were risk-tolerant or younger?

Slowing down is also a helpful strategy. As you study, you get more familiarity with the topics and tend to go more quickly over areas that you recognize. Make sure to carefully read every question and explanation, even if you feel you can jump straight to an answer. This will help you ensure you pick up all the little tidbits that are important, reduce errors from misreading, and identify weaker areas that you sorta know but haven’t thoroughly mastered yet.

I reviewed your account, and for specific next steps, I recommend you spend most of your time reviewing the exams you’ve already taken. Thoroughly review one, wait a day, and then take its Focus exam. Mix in reviewing the next exam on that same day, like:

  • Monday: Review exam #1
  • Tuesday: Focus retest exam #1; review exam #2
  • Wednesday: Focus retest exam #2; review exam #3
  • Thursday: Focus retest exam #3; review exam #4

This spacing effect and mixing in reviewing with retesting is an effective way to boost your memory while making efficient use of your study time. As you get into your final week, you can switch your focus to taking and carefully reviewing a few new practice exams.

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