Question 1

What's the Series 7 passing score?

Accepted Answer

The Series 7 passing score is 72%. The exam has 125 questions (115 scored) and takes 3 hours 45 minutes. The exam fee is $245.

Question 2

Series 7 vs Series 6 - what's the difference?

Accepted Answer

The Series 7 is the 'full' securities license allowing you to sell stocks, bonds, options, and everything the Series 6 covers. The Series 6 is limited to mutual funds and variable products only.

Question 3

How hard is the Series 7 exam?

Accepted Answer

The Series 7 is considered one of the more challenging securities exams. Most candidates study 80-120 hours over 2-3 months. Options and municipal securities are often the hardest sections.

Question 4

What are the prerequisites for the Series 7?

Accepted Answer

You must pass the SIE exam and be sponsored by a FINRA member firm to take the Series 7. Unlike the SIE, you cannot take the Series 7 independently. Your sponsoring firm must file a Form U4 to register you for the exam through FINRA's Web CRD system.

Question 5

What careers can I pursue with a Series 7 license?

Accepted Answer

Series 7 holders work as stockbrokers, financial advisors, investment bankers, and wealth managers. Entry-level registered representatives earn $50,000-$70,000, while experienced brokers with strong client books can earn $150,000-$500,000+ through commissions and bonuses. It's the most versatile securities license.

Question 6

What are common mistakes to avoid on the Series 7?

Accepted Answer

Common mistakes include confusing options strategies (especially spreads and straddles), misunderstanding municipal bond tax rules, forgetting margin requirements and calculations, and rushing through suitability questions. Allocate extra study time for options, which comprise 25% of the exam.

Question 7

What tips help pass the Series 7 on the first attempt?

Accepted Answer

Take 2,000+ practice questions and review every wrong answer thoroughly. Master options using the T-chart method. Understand margin calculations cold. Study municipal securities taxation rules. Create flashcards for regulatory rules. Take full-length practice exams under timed conditions in the final two weeks.

Question 8

What's included for free?

Accepted Answer

All study guides, practice questions, and explanations are completely free. We also include 10 AI-powered questions daily. For unlimited AI assistance, you can upgrade to Pro.

Question 9

Why is the content free?

Accepted Answer

OpenExamPrep was founded by Ran Chen, a CFP® who passed multiple financial exams and believes quality exam prep shouldn't cost hundreds of dollars. With AI, we can create quality content at scale and make it accessible to everyone.

Question 10

Is the content up to date?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our content is aligned with the latest exam outlines and updated regularly. Last update: January 2026.

Series 7

Free Series 7 Exam Prep

Series 7 Exam Details

General Securities Representative

Exam Content Breakdown

What's Included

13 Chapters

Practice Quizzes

Free to Start

Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds

What's Next After the Series 7?

Series 63

Series 65

Series 66

Series 7 Exam FAQ

Course Content

Introduction

Chapter 1: Equity Securities

Chapter 2: Debt Securities

Chapter 3: U.S. Government & Agency Securities

Chapter 4: Municipal Securities

Chapter 5: Investment Companies

Chapter 6: Variable Products & Annuities

Chapter 7: Alternative Investments & DPPs

Chapter 8: Options

Chapter 9: Customer Accounts

Chapter 10: Retirement & Education Plans

Chapter 11: Securities Markets & Trading

Chapter 12: Rules, Regulations & Ethics

Compare the Series 7

Official FINRA Resources

More Free Resources

Ready to Start Your Free Series 7 Prep?