Pre-Exam Week: What to Focus On
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
π§Ύ Pre-Exam Week: What to Focus On
π Your Final Week Strategy for the Series 65 Exam
The last week before your Series 65 exam is critical. At this stage, it’s no longer about learning new material β itβs about polishing your timing, reinforcing your strengths, and fixing your weak spots. Here’s a precise guide to what you should focus on during the final 7 days.
π― 1. Prioritize Practice Exams (Under Real Timing Conditions)
- Goal: Complete at least 3 full-length practice exams this week.
- Simulate the exam: No pauses, timed exactly like the real test (180 minutes).
- Post-review: Donβt just score yourselfβanalyze each mistake. Understand why you missed the question.
β Tip: Aim for 75%+ consistently on your final practice exams.
π― 2. Final Review of Core Areas
Focus on high-weighted topics that appear most often:
Topic | Focus Points |
---|---|
Economic Concepts | Business cycles, inflation, monetary policy |
Investment Vehicle Characteristics | Mutual funds, ETFs, REITs, alternatives |
Portfolio Management Strategies | Asset allocation, diversification, CAPM |
Client Profiles and Suitability | Risk tolerance, investment objectives |
Fiduciary Duties and Ethics | Conflicts of interest, disclosures |
Retirement and Tax Planning | IRA rules, taxation of investments |
β Tip: Each day, review one or two big topics β not everything at once.
π― 3. Tighten Up Flashcards and Quick Sheets
- Focus only on must-know rules, laws, and threshold numbers.
- Examples to have locked in memory:
- Qualified Client = $1M AUM or $2.2M net worth
- Accredited Investor = $200k income single / $300k joint or $1M net worth excluding home
- Max criminal penalty = $10,000 fine and/or 5 years jail
- Statute of limitations = 3 years violation / 2 years discovery
β Tip: Spend 20 minutes a day flipping through your quick reference sheets.
π― 4. Focus on Weaknesses, Not Everything
- Pick your bottom 2β3 topics (based on past practice tests) and hammer them.
- Donβt waste time rereading areas you already score 90%+ on.
β Tip: Strengthen the weak links without overloading yourself.
π― 5. Plan Your Exam Day Logistics
- Confirm your testing center or remote proctoring setup.
- Know what ID you need to bring.
- Plan meals, timing, and clothing for comfort and alertness.
β Tip: No surprises = less stress = better performance.
π― 6. Mental Reset: One Full Rest Day Before
- One day before exam = no new studying, only light review.
- Rest your brain, sleep well, and get into a calm, sharp mindset.
β Tip: Confidence > Cramming the night before.
π Pre-Exam Week Checklist
β
3+ full practice exams under real conditions
β
Daily review of top Series 65 topics
β
Memorized core numbers, laws, and rules
β
Strengthened weakest subjects
β
Confirmed exam logistics
β
Rested mind and body the day before
π Want printable pre-exam checklists, flashcards, and study calendars?
Get final prep tools for Series 65 success at:
π https://finra-exam-mastery.com
You’ve done the work β now it’s time to finish strong!