30-Day Study Plan for the SIE Exam
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
📆 30-Day Study Plan for the SIE Exam
The Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®) Exam is your entry point into the securities industry. It tests your foundational knowledge of markets, products, trading, and regulations. With 75 multiple-choice questions and a 70% passing score, it’s passable in 30 days with a clear, focused plan.
Here’s a complete day-by-day strategy to prepare efficiently and pass confidently.
🗂️ Study Plan Overview
- Study Days: 6 days per week
- Study Time: 1–2 hours on weekdays, 2–3 hours on weekends
- Final Score Goal: 80%+ on full-length practice exams
✅ Week 1 – Get Oriented (Days 1–7)
Focus: Core concepts & capital markets
Goal: Complete 25% of material
| Day | Topics | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIE exam overview + intro to capital markets | Watch intro videos, skim content outline |
| 2 | Types of market participants & offerings | Read + flashcards |
| 3 | Regulatory bodies (SEC, FINRA, MSRB, etc.) | Quiz + flashcards |
| 4 | Primary vs. secondary markets | Visual chart + quiz |
| 5 | Economic indicators & market influences | Practice questions |
| 6 | Review weak topics + recap | 20-question quiz |
| 7 | Light study or rest | Reflect & update notes |
✅ Week 2 – Deepen Product Knowledge (Days 8–14)
Focus: Investment products & risk
Goal: Complete 60% of material
| Day | Topics | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Common & preferred stock | Study + flashcards |
| 9 | Bonds (corporate, municipal, government) | Diagrams + calculations |
| 10 | Mutual funds, ETFs, UITs | Video + examples |
| 11 | Options (calls/puts – basic only) | Basic concepts + suitability |
| 12 | Investment risks (market, credit, liquidity) | Match terms to examples |
| 13 | 30-question mixed quiz | Review all incorrect answers |
| 14 | Review & concept mapping | Create summary sheet |
✅ Week 3 – Accounts, Trading, & Ethics (Days 15–21)
Focus: Accounts, trading, ethics, and prohibited practices
Goal: Complete 90% of material
| Day | Topics | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Account types (cash, margin, retirement) | Scenarios + flashcards |
| 16 | Order types (market, limit, stop) | Simulation practice |
| 17 | Trade settlement & confirmation | Timeline chart + quiz |
| 18 | Prohibited practices (insider trading, churning, etc.) | Ethics quiz + red flag review |
| 19 | Communications & disclosure rules | Suitability checklist |
| 20 | 40-question timed quiz | Review results + flashcard updates |
| 21 | Weekend deep review | Practice test: 50 questions |
✅ Week 4 – Mastery & Mock Exams (Days 22–30)
Focus: Practice exams, weak area review, confidence building
Goal: Score consistently 80%+
| Day | Task |
|---|---|
| 22 | Full-length practice exam (75 questions) |
| 23 | Review incorrect answers + revise notes |
| 24 | Flashcard blitz + quiz on weak topics |
| 25 | Half-length exam + targeted review |
| 26 | Rest or light review |
| 27 | Full-length timed exam |
| 28 | Focus review (ethics, orders, risks) |
| 29 | Final exam + test-day checklist |
| 30 | Light review, deep breath, exam tomorrow! |
📌 Final Tips
- 🎯 Aim for 80%+ on practice exams before the real test
- 🧠 Don’t cram — spaced repetition boosts retention
- 📈 Track your progress daily in a spreadsheet or notebook
- 🛌 Get good sleep before test day
🚀 Start Strong and Pass Confidently
👉 Access full SIE exam prep, daily quizzes, flashcards, and expert video lessons at finra-exam-mastery.com — and make your 30-day prep count where it matters.