To be able to successfully pass the Series 65 on your first try, you'll want to allow sufficient time to review and practice. If you don’t pass on your first try you have to wait 30-days to retake the test so ensure that you give yourself sufficient time. Here are the key steps…
Step 1: Cover a chapter inside your study guide at least every 48 hrs. At first, skim through the chapter. Get an outline on the material covered. You’re not going for retention here, just a synopsis. After skimming the chapter, re-read it with highlighter and pen available. Highlight crucial text and make notes inside the margins. Don’t worry about the pop-quizes or sample tests as of this time, concentrate on ferreting out the key material.
Step 2: Study the chapter you just completed. With 3 x 5 index cards in hand begin to make flash cards using the important facts you highlighted and notes you wrote in the margins. Put just one question or topic on the front side of every card and the solution on the back. Once you get that whole chapter on to 3 x 5 note cards, promptly review them. Repeat this for each chapter.
Step 3: Bring your finished notecards everywhere with you. When happen to be on a break, walking the dog, or at lunch review them. Study as frequently as possible. You are opting for reps here. Repetition will insure proper memory recall later. Also, repeat the material aloud whenever possible, the more of your senses you employ the more effective your memory will be during the exam!
Step 4: You should be about 2 weeks from your Series 65 test date now. It’s time to take the sample exams. Go to a silent room, where you won't be disrupted, with a clean sheet of paper and pen. Grab a kitchen egg timer and set it for 3 hours and start taking a practice test. No cheating. You need an honest appraisal of what you know and don’t know. In the event you arrived at a question you’re unclear of attempt to remove some of the answers. What do you know about the question? Don’t take a long time. Make your best guess and write that question number upon your piece of paper. If you've time at the end, you can re-read those questions you had issues with. Often the answer is now perfectly clear.
Step 5: Grade your responses. For the questions you got incorrect or guessed at (even though you guessed correctly) make fresh 3 x 5 note cards for all those questions and review every one of your new note cards regularly. Take a least 24 hours off to review ALL of your note cards between sample test days. Repeat steps 4 & 5 until the day before the test.
Step 6: T-minus tomorrow! Nervous? Don’t be you have prepared well. The day before the test is very important. Don’t stay up too late studying. Eat an excellent meal for dinner and get plenty of restful sleep (a minimum of 6-8 hours). Also the morning of the exam, make sure you consume a high-quality meal, but don’t stuff yourself. You want that blood inside your brain, not your stomach! Get up a bit early and get to your test site about 30-45 minutes before your test. Bring your note cards and study them in your automobile before the exam. Then… Victory!!!
Other Helpful Series 65 Tips:
- Know the location of the exam center prior to the morning of. The very last thing you need is to get lost on the way to the series 65 exam.
- Bring ear plugs. Sometimes the centers are loud.
- Bring a minimum of two current forms of ID to the test center.
- Go slow. Study each question two times to protect yourself from any carless errors.
- Think positive. What if everything works out perfectly?
Best of luck. You’ll do really wonderful!
