90-Day Study Plan for the Series 63 Exam
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
📅 90-Day Study Plan for the Series 63 Exam
Pass the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam with Structure and Confidence
The Series 63 Exam (administered by FINRA and based on NASAA guidelines) is required for most individuals who want to sell securities at the state level. While it’s shorter than exams like the Series 7, it’s deceptively tricky—especially with its emphasis on ethics, prohibited practices, and state-level regulation.
This 90-day study plan is designed to help you build deep knowledge, reinforce it with practice, and pass on your first try.
📘 Exam Overview
- Total Questions: 60 (scored) + 5 (unscored)
- Time Limit: 75 minutes
- Passing Score: 43/60 (72%)
- Key Focus Areas:
- State securities laws (Blue Sky)
- Ethics and fiduciary standards
- Registration rules for firms, reps, and securities
📆 Study Structure: 3 Phases
| Phase | Duration | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 – Learn | Days 1–30 | Master fundamentals and terminology |
| Phase 2 – Apply | Days 31–60 | Reinforce with quizzes and micro-reviews |
| Phase 3 – Simulate | Days 61–90 | Sharpen test-day performance and review |
✅ Phase 1: Learn (Days 1–30)
📚 Daily Focus: 30–60 minutes per day
🎯 Goal: Build a strong foundation in core topics
Weekly Breakdown
- Week 1:
- Uniform Securities Act basics
- State vs federal authority
- Roles of broker-dealers and agents
- Week 2:
- Investment adviser vs IAR
- Registration of persons and firms
- Exemptions from registration
- Week 3:
- Registration of securities
- Exempt securities and exempt transactions
- Filing and consent to service of process
- Week 4:
- Anti-fraud provisions
- Unethical practices and prohibited conduct
- Summary reviews and flashcards
✅ Phase 2: Apply (Days 31–60)
📚 Daily Focus: 45–75 minutes per day
🎯 Goal: Convert passive knowledge into practical exam-ready application
Key Activities:
- Take topic-based quizzes after each section
- Build a mistake log to track errors and misunderstandings
- Begin using flashcards for high-frequency rules (e.g., powers of the state administrator)
- Watch short videos to reinforce areas like consent, registration timelines, and advertising rules
- Revisit weak areas weekly and test again
✅ Phase 3: Simulate (Days 61–90)
📚 Daily Focus: 60–90 minutes per session
🎯 Goal: Condition your mind for the real exam
Weekly Tasks:
- Weeks 9–10:
- Take 1 full-length practice exam per week (timed: 75 min)
- Review every question—right or wrong
- Focus review on:
- Fraud vs negligence
- Client communication scenarios
- State vs federal authority
- Week 11:
- Final topic reviews
- Create one-page summary sheets for high-weight areas
- Revisit your error log and retest those topics
- Week 12 (Final Week):
- Take 1–2 final full-length simulations
- Prioritize calm, focused review and exam-day strategies
- Rest the day before your exam
🔁 Weekly Tracker Sample
| Week | Topics Reviewed | Avg Quiz Score | Key Focus Next Week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BD & agent roles | 70% | Adviser vs IAR clarity |
| 4 | Prohibited practices | 75% | Filing rules + ethics |
| 8 | Practice exam #1 | 68% | Fraud scenarios |
| 12 | Final exam simulations | 80%+ | Maintain readiness |
🚀 Final Tip: Smart Tools to Use
- ✅ Flashcards (Quizlet, Brainscape)
- ✅ FINRA/NASAA outline cross-checker
- ✅ Full-length simulations with performance analytics
- ✅ Printable cheat sheets for registration and ethics rules
👉 Access Full Series 63 Study Plans and Exam Simulators
Structure your path. Practice deliberately. Pass with confidence.