Failed Series 79 - Received 80% on STC Practice Exams

I've received 69% on the the Series 79 twice. I retook all of the practice exams from STC before the second try and was getting above 80%. I'm guess taking the same test twice skewed my exam scores.

I've purchased the "progress exams" from STC which provide me with 2 fresh 175 question tests and 4 quizes. I've been told I should focus on the book and am now summarizing each chapter section by section.

Any advice as to how put this thing to bed? Exam 3 is in 2 weeks.

Thanks.

9 Comments
 

Maybe try Knopman? Here is what worked for me (80%+ on the actual test), and what I recommend to everyone:

  1. Read through the thick Knopman book twice and take extremely detailed notes.

  2. Read through your notes twice.

  3. Take each practice exam once. You should be scoring in the mid 70s.

  4. Read through your your notes twice.

  5. Take each practice exam again. You should be scoring in the uppers 70s or lower 80s.

That should get you to easily pass the final exam. Don't forget about the 63, though. That prep book might be thin, but the 63 is more difficult than the 79.

 
"Sil"

Maybe try Knopman? Here is what worked for me (80%+ on the actual test), and what I recommend to everyone:

  1. Read through the thick Knopman book twice and take extremely detailed notes.
  2. Read through your notes twice.
  3. Take each practice exam once. You should be scoring in the mid 70s.
  4. Read through your your notes twice.
  5. Take each practice exam again. You should be scoring in the uppers 70s or lower 80s.

That should get you to easily pass the final exam. Don't forget about the 63, though. That prep book might be thin, but the 63 is more difficult than the 79.

+1. Knopman was far superior for prep than STC.

 
Best Response

I can't say anything about the Knoppman products, but what I did when I passed my exams years ago was similar to what SIL did.

I read through the book twice. The first time, I took detailed notes and did every single practice problem. I reviewed my notes and read through the book again. I then took all of the exams the first time. I looked through and figured out where I got problems wrong (what sections they were in), and both reviewed my notes and reread the chapters from the STC materials that covered what I was weak on comparatively. I took the exams again and repeated the process a second time, trying to make sure I really understood the material and then did it one last time where I aced it. In a little under a month, I went from ~low 70s in the 1st pass through to mid 80s in the second pass through to mid-high 90s in the final run. If you are feeling weak in a given area, pick up another exam guide and just do questions and keep doing them until you feel like you know the material inside and out.

 
"mgc11"

I guess you don't want to fail again. But the exam is really not difficult.

This reminds me...OP, you really need to pass it this time. If you fail the Series 79 three or more times, there is a 180 day waiting period before you take the exam again. Most firms will fire you at this point.

http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/display_main.html?rbid=2403&eleme…

 

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