Last week I failed the Series 65 with a 66%. I felt a little defeated. My exam readiness was at 88%, I had about 200 review questions remaining, and got anywhere between a 67%-82% on my last 10 practice exams. I can’t say I’m disappointed based on the discipline I had studying. I studied as much as I could without feeling burned out (between working full time, buying a house, getting married, etc.) But this post isn’t to sulk on the past and what I should have done better, but to focus on the future. I want to retake it in a month when I am able to, but I don’t really know where to start. I’m thinking I should continue to do the review questions as they come up, but really hone in on the stuff I missed. Usually with a topic I would read the textbook, do the quiz, and if I struggled with it I would watch a video on it. If I felt like I understood the topic I wouldn’t watch a video. But going forward do I focus on a few topics I struggled with on the actual exam, with a little review of the whole content? Or do I reset it all and start fresh and take a few months? I would love some advice as to what worked for those that failed then went on to pass. Thank you!
You have a great mindset; it’s clear that you put in the work and are approaching this the right way by reflecting instead of dwelling. A 66% means you were close, and with your foundation already built.
When taking practice exams, treat them like the real thing: limit distractions, use your time wisely, and avoid leaving the testing tab to mirror the actual testing experience. Afterward, review your results carefully and focus on understanding why you missed each question, rather than just identifying the correct answer.
From your practice exam breakdown, your most significant opportunities lie in:
- Characteristic: Insurance (30%)
- Strategies: Brokerage account types (47%)
- Strategies: Performance measures (55%)
- Regulations: Registration (55%)
- Strategies: Retirement plans (64%)
- Economic factors: Analytical methods (60%)
- Strategies: Client profile (66%)
These sections tend to be heavily tested and conceptually dense, so it’s worth revisiting the related chapters and quizzes in depth. Redo the chapter quizzes and exams, especially for the areas where you scored below 70% in your exam summary.
Continue doing your review questions as they come up, but pair that with targeted study sessions on your weaker areas. Once you’re feeling solid there, start taking full-length exams again and aim to score in the mid-to-upper 80s consistently. That’ll give you a buffer for test-day stress or a harder question set. After each exam, review missed questions before moving on, as well as the section you scored weakest on; it’s one of the best ways to close any remaining gaps.
You’ve already proven you have the discipline; now it’s just about fine-tuning. Stay consistent, and you’ll be ready to crush it next time. You got this 
Best,
Mataia