Series 24 Exam Pass Rate and What to Expect
- April 1, 2025
- Posted by: 'FINRA Exam Mastery'
- Category: Finance
🧾 Series 24 Exam Pass Rate and What to Expect
📘 A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring General Securities Principals
🎯 What Is the Series 24 Exam?
The Series 24, officially known as the General Securities Principal Qualification Exam, is administered by FINRA. It qualifies individuals to supervise or manage branch activities such as corporate securities, REITs, variable contracts, and venture capital. A general principal may also approve advertising and sales literature, including communications regarding municipal securities .
📊 Series 24 Exam Overview
- Number of Questions: 150 multiple-choice questions
- Exam Duration: 3 hours and 45 minutes
- Passing Score: 70% (105 correct answers)
- Prerequisites: Candidates must be sponsored by a FINRA member firm and have passed the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and a representative-level qualification exam (e.g., Series 7) .
📈 Series 24 Pass Rate
While FINRA does not publish official pass rates, industry sources estimate the Series 24 exam pass rate to be approximately 60%. This rate is lower compared to other securities exams, reflecting the exam’s comprehensive coverage and difficulty .
🧠 Exam Content Breakdown
The Series 24 exam assesses knowledge across five major job functions:
- Supervision of Registration of Broker-Dealer and Personnel Management Activities – 9 questions
- Supervision of General Broker-Dealer Activities – 45 questions
- Supervision of Retail and Institutional Customer-Related Activities – 32 questions
- Supervision of Trading and Market Making Activities – 32 questions
- Supervision of Investment Banking and Research – 32 questions .
🧩 Why Is the Series 24 Considered Challenging?
The Series 24 exam is regarded as one of the more difficult FINRA exams due to:
- Broad Scope: Covers a wide range of topics, including supervision, compliance, trading, and investment banking.
- Application-Based Questions: Requires not just memorization but also the ability to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Time Constraints: With 150 questions in 225 minutes, time management is crucial.
📚 Preparation Tips
To increase your chances of passing:
- Comprehensive Study: Allocate sufficient time to cover all exam topics thoroughly.
- Practice Exams: Take full-length practice exams to familiarize yourself with the format and time constraints.
- Focus on Weak Areas: Identify and concentrate on topics where you need improvement.
- Utilize Quality Study Materials: Consider reputable prep courses and materials tailored for the Series 24 exam.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Achieving a passing score on the Series 24 exam is a significant milestone for those aiming to advance in the securities industry. Given its complexity and breadth, diligent preparation is essential. By understanding the exam structure, focusing on key content areas, and employing effective study strategies, you can enhance your readiness and confidence on exam day.