Currently sitting solidly at a mid 80s average for my full SIE practice exams.
83 → 83 → 84 → 76 → 84 → 87 → 87 → 84
There are core concepts that I am solid on, which is why I’m still getting these decent passing scores. But it feels like there are these little “facts” and small bits of info that it feels like, every time I take an exam I’m like “What even is this?”. Any tips? Is it merely a matter of taking more practice exams?
Hi @Pat_Koepp,
First of all, your scores are very strong heading into the exam. An average in the mid-80s across multiple full-length practice exams is exactly where you want to be.
One thing I’d suggest is avoiding the temptation to take another full practice exam right away. At this stage, you will probably get more value from a targeted review of your weaker areas. Looking at your exam summaries, areas like Municipal Debt and Investment Companies stand out as opportunities to pick up a few extra points.
As for those questions where you think, “What even is this?”, that’s a very common feeling on the SIE. Often, those aren’t entirely new concepts; they’re smaller details, exceptions, or pieces of information found in the material.
A good approach would be:
The good news is that your core understanding appears solid, which is why you’re consistently scoring in the 80s. At this point, you’re mostly working on closing small knowledge gaps rather than learning major concepts. That’s usually the difference between an 84 and an 88, not the difference between passing and failing.
Overall, these are great scores leading into your exam. Keep focusing on the weaker areas, and you should be in a strong position on test day.
Best,
Mataia