How to Pass the FINRA Series 7 Exam?

By IIC Lakshya

05 Jan 2026

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7 guides professionals into the securities and investment businesses. If you are preparing for the FINRA Series 7 exam, this article will guide you through the syllabus, topics covered, and the structure of the exam.

What is the FINRA Series 7 Exam?

The FINRA Series 7 exam is an exam which offers a license to professionals aiming for the securities industry. The exam acts as a step for candidates who want to learn skills to trade a wide variety of securities. There are different FINRA exam levels, hence, candidates must create their study plan accordingly.

The license is related to securities trading topics that candidates can prepare from the FINRA Series 7 study materials. It helps in the development of skills in various types of investment business like bonds, mutual funds and options, buying and selling stocks.

Exam Structure of FINRA Series 7 Exam

Candidates need to be sponsored by the FINRA member firm because it is a significant eligibility criteria. Here is the exam structure, which will give candidates a better understanding of the exam, how it is executed, and what is expected from them.

Exam Features	Details
Name of the Exam	General Securities Representative Examination
Length of the Exam	125 questions (candidates must get 88 correct answers)
Exam Duration	3 hours and 45 minutes
Format	Multiple Choice Questions
Passing Score	72%

What are the Topics Covered Under FINRA Series 7 Exam?

The candidates must develop deeper knowledge of and skills in the FINRA Series 7 course. To learn more, candidates should review all the topics covered in the FINRA Exam course and syllabus, which will make it easier to plan their study schedules. The exam is divided into 4 sections; hence, below are the key topics:

Section 1: Seeking Business for the Broker-Dealer from Potential and Current Customers

Learn about the different types of accounts, like retirement, joint, and individual accounts. This will help candidates to approach a customer or a prospective customer about opening accounts. The three significant aspects of this section are as follows:

Investment Banking: Offering types, underwriting processes, and different types of securities
Regulation of Securities: Understanding FINRA and SEC, the governing securities rules of the state
Customer Accounts: types of accounts, learning about the customer rules (KYC)

Section 2: Opening a Customer Account

There are three topics under this section of the FINRA Series 7 exam. You can learn more about the customer’s profile, its implementation, along how to maintain regulatory compliance.

Customer Profile: suitability, investment objectives, and risk tolerance
Account Types: trust accounts, partnerships, Individual, corporate, joint, and retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s), etc
Regulations: FINRA’s suitability rule is a must; the foundation level of other regulations being taught concerning orders and accounts

Section 3: Providing and Processing Customers with Information About Securities

In this section, candidates learn about information related to securities and providing services to customers. Here, candidates can explore the various steps of providing customer service discussed below.

Disclosure Documents: Understanding official documents, prospectuses, and other significant legal documents that investors receive
Securities Products: Exploring and understanding the different securities types like bonds, stocks, options and mutual funds
Market Fundamentals: Key concepts discussed like market movements, pricing and yielding

Section 4: Completing and Execution of Transactions in the Customer’s Account

It is the last section of the exam where the candidates learn about buying and selling stocks and market trading. Below is a list of factors which are covered in the transactions of executions in the customer account.

Settlement and Delivery: Understanding the commissions, fees and the settlement cycle
Trading Practices: Executing various orders like market orders, limit orders and short sales
Regulations and Compliance: Insider trading, regulatory compliance guidelines and anti-money laundering (AML)

How to Crack the FINRA Series 7 Exam?

The planning of the study schedule should be 100 to 150 hours over 1 to 3 months. It is, of course, adjusted based on their prior knowledge and skills of the individuals. Candidates must understand the various topics instead of just rote memorization.

Regularly, candidates must solve the Series 7 practice exam and question papers. It will help them eliminate all wrong answers, thus implementing improvement in the overall process of preparation. By following the step-by-step study guide and preparations, candidates can prepare for the FINRA exams.

Career Path After FINRA Series 7 Exam

After completing the exam, below are some of the significant career paths that will create opportunities for candidates. The FINRA 7 exam will enhance skills, knowledge and professional expertise. It leads to higher income and better job positions like FINRA Investment Advisor and others:

Stockbroker: Professionals get to buy and sell securities for their clients, building relationships with clients, managing them and recommending investments on suitability.
Financial Advisor: Professionals are managing portfolios, providing long-term financial planning, along with offering advice on taxes, risk management and retirement planning.
Branch Manager: Professionals have to ensure regulatory compliance, monitor registered representatives and manage operations. Series 24 is gained along with the Series 7.
Trader: Professionals manage risk, monitoring market movements and executing trades. Candidates can get a license from Series 57 or Series 24, along with the FINRA Series 7.

Wrapping Up!

In conclusion, the FINRA Series 7 exam is a crucial step for candidates planning to work in and trade securities in the industry. If you want to become a licensed trader, you must take this exam, which is designed to guide you through securities trading and various investment businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions on FINRA Series 7 Exam Guide

Is the 63 harder than the 7?

The Series 63 is less hard as compared to Series 7 because it is more complex and is broader in its scope and coverage of topics in the securities industry.

What is the hardest part of the Series 7?

Several financial topics under the Series 7 are challenging, but the most difficult part to prepare for is the disclosure documents and pricing and market movements.

What is the Series 7 comparable to?

The Series 7 is often compared to another series of FINRA exams, namely the Series 63. Candidates must develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of these two series and gain the licenses so that they can operate effectively.

Is Series 7 worth the effort?

Series 7 is considered one of the significant steps towards creating a career in securities sales. Additionally, it also helps candidates to develop knowledge and skills in the securities industry.

Is SIE or Series 7 harder?

The Series 7 is harder compared to the SIE because it covers advanced trading and securities strategies. It also helps in the development of deeper knowledge in the technical processing and application of the basic concepts learnt from the SIE’s foundational exam.