Enough practice?

FINRA FINRA Series 65
1

Hi!

I’m on my second attempt at the S65. I first used Kaplan but found the material to be extremely bland and challenging to get through. It really felt like a slough. I like how much more relatable and easier to get through Achievable’s material is. If I found it on the first attempt, I probably would’ve passed.

In fact, the unfortunate thing about my first attempt was that I was off by only 1 question at passing, so figured the second time around it was more so brushing up and refining my weak areas, instead of completely rehauling my studying. To be fair, the highest practice test I got with Kaplan although it was a 79% had a lot of repeats and second highest after that was 72% so should’ve done more on first take. With that said, I am consistently seeming to score in the mid 70s now with my last 4 exams being 77, 75, 77 and 75 on Achievable. I plan to take a few more and hopefully will continue scoring high 70s to low 80s.

Is this enough? Can I enter exam day on the afternoon of the 25th with confidence? I plan on taking at least 3-4 more practice tests. So far my routine has been take a practice test every day, go through every single question, right or wrong, and write down questions I have difficulty with or questions that have concepts I want to solidify. I am not cutting corners and being really challenging on myself to crystallize all concepts, irrespective of my perceived confidence on them.

The hope is that by Aug 21/22 I am able to score 80+ and then Saturday and Sunday I will spend reviewing material instead of burning myself out with more tests and then taking the exam Aug 25…but tbd. What do you think?

Thanks for the help!

2

Hi @Leigh_Herman,

We’re glad you’re using Achievable! It’s clear you’re putting in a lot of focused, consistent work this time around, and that’s exactly the right mindset going into a retake. It’s great to see you scoring consistently in the mid-70s, and with your plan of several more practice tests, you’re definitely on track.

Looking at your study report, the areas where you scored lowest are Strategies: Special accounts, Tax considerations, Retirement plans, Brokerage account types, Type of client, and Trading securities. I recommend revisiting these sections in depth, then retaking the quizzes to reinforce your understanding and boost your confidence in these areas. By closing those gaps, you’ll raise your scores into that 80+ range you’re aiming for.

You’re also doing a great job reviewing every question, that’s one of the most powerful ways to learn. I recommend consistently scoring in the mid-to-upper 80s on the practice exam before sitting for the real exam. This helps account for test day stress or a tougher set of questions, ensuring you walk in with full confidence. Keep up your thorough review process and focus especially on the concepts behind the questions in your weaker areas. Your plan to shift into review mode by Aug 21–22 is excellent, helping you enter exam day sharp but not burnt out.

Keep pushing these last few days, and you’ll be ready. You got this!

Best,
Mataia