When it comes to your Series 86 practice scores, it would be nice to know what historically gets you a passing grade. Well, after years of observation, we have a somewhat reliable answer.
Let’s talk.
Series 86 Practice Scores…Higher and Higher
The Series 86 Exam is notoriously the hardest FINRA exam out there. A not so insignificant number of folks fail. Although there is no published data, it seems like a little less than half may not make it through the first time around.
Making matters worse, you likely only have one source for your study material: STC.
As a result of only having one set of practice questions, and after already failing the exam, your Series 86 practice scores will need to reach higher heights. Repetition may be helpful to pound in some topics. But, it can also lull you into a false sense of confidence. Repeating the same tests over and over, will undoubtedly make them easier.
So, let’s address what you should do.
What Do You Need to Pass?
After many hundreds of hours tutoring the subject, we have noticed the following:
- On your first time taking the Series 86 practice exams, scoring in the mid 80% range is highly likely to get you a passing grade on the real exam. Anything less, and you approach coin flipping territory.
- Taking the Series 86 again, on your second time around, scores in the mid 80% range on the practice exams unfortunately won’t necessarily hack it. We see a much higher failure rate for people that score in this range the second time through. An obvious reason for this is that the answers are more familiar. Therefore consistently cracking the 90% or better barrier on your practice exams is much more likely to add a cushion for any answers you’ve memorized.
- On your third time around, there is no messing around. Employers are less forgiving after the third failed attempt, so your ambition will need to be set high. Scoring 95% or above, is a must. Not because it will add peace of mind, but because we have seen too many people score in the mid-to-high 80% range and still fail. Students with scores consistently in the mid-to-high 90% range have been successful every time we have worked with them on their third time around.
All in all, the ideal scenario is to pass the first time. However, this exam is not easy no matter your education level. If you need some advice about where your Series 86 practice scores need to be, feel free to reach out. Good luck!