Question is as the title states, Can I pass the SIE with 2/3 days of hard studying?
I am using knopman so would appreciate tips on how to most efficiently use time. Should I just skip the videos and go straight to class summary and then q bank?
I was thinking read the class summary fully each of the 3 days then slam quizzes for the remainder.
Would probably equate to ~25 hours maybe 30
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Certainly possible, will take the bulk of those 2/3 days, though. Are you a good test taker? How solid is your knowledge going in? The videos are helpful, but the QBank is where you really nail it down if you are trying to decide where to allocate time. The book makes great kindling.
I would say I am an above average standardized test taker for sure. Also was a finance major and took the series 79 already/passed that so I have a decent understanding of basic finance.
I know the book is trash so gonna chuck that. Biggest debate is whether the videos are worth it it or not because it will eat up half my time approximately.
If you already passed the 79, I'm sure you can do the SIE in a weekend.
I thought the 79 had to be taken after? How long was your prep for it?
Yeah, I passed with 4-5 days of hard studying. I probably could have done it in like 2/3 but I spent a lot of time reviewing chapters I already felt comfortable with. Got like a 55 on the diagnostic first test and like an 80 right before I took it, felt like I didn't miss a single question. If you don't come from a finance background/major it will be tough.
1. Read the chapters in the textbook that you don't know. You can virtually skip the stuff about stocks, bonds, options, etc. if you come from a finance background.
2. Write down the stuff you don't know, I usually write stuff down when I study and it really improves my memory.
3. Watch all the vids (can skip the chapters you know stuff about like bonds) on 2x speed and pause to write down shit you may not remember or are unfamiliar with.
4. Pound the class summary and reread the whole thing every night before bed and the exam to build recall.
I passed a week ago on Saturday & I have a procrastination problem (actively trying to fix it so I don't get railed on the job) so I did it in a matter of 2ish days. Hours wise, I did 4 on Thursday & then went from essentially 6am Friday - 11am Saturday with about 6 hours of not studying in there (sleep included in the 6). I found it super time effective to watch the Knopman videos for a chapter at 1.75x Speed and right after that, read corresponding the Knopman chapter summary. Book isn't useful at this stage of the game - takes way too long. I also tried not watching the videos & I couldn't retain/understand the concepts as well just from the class summary. Doing the videos & reading the chapter summaries basically took me until 2am Saturday. Then, from 4-6am I went over the class summary again, highlighting shit I didn't understand. Basically did 2 practices tests over the next 3 hours and went over my mistakes right in time for the exam. I got a 78 and 82 on the practice tests, and I thought the exam was a decent bit easier (I'd guess I got around 86-88).
I didn't do a diagnostic beforehand but I'd say I would've gotten around a 20% so most of it was new material to me. The key thing is do not panic, put the phone/distractions away, and remember that this test is just high level understanding of a lot of concepts. If this was an application based test, people like you and I would've been screwed.
Haha beast, this gives me hope. Appreciate it.
Wouldn’t recommend. There’s a lot of pointless shit you need to memorize. It’s all memorization no intuition too.
if you crush the knopman video lectures day one and practice Qs the next two days you should be alright but study longer if you can
I thought SIE was harder than 79
Yeah going to try for 3 days at minimum based on responses. It’s not really ideal or a choice but necessary based on other time sensitive issues.
Figured trying to get it done while I have 2/3 fully free days will at least put me at some advantage if I fail and have to retake it while more heavily staffed anyway.
Wow really? Taking the 79 next week and went through the knopman videos recently and it seems relatively easy to me too. I always heard the SIE is very easy and the 79 is way harder and takes more time. The 79 just seems to go more in depth on much less material and a lot of it is easy or known with a finance/undergrad business school background. Wasn't sure if I felt too relaxed about it. SIE wasn't bad at all just felt like memorizing a lot more random stuff.
Yeah I’ve generally heard S79 is harder too but after taking both I completely disagree.
Would say 1/3rd of the S79 is basic accounting and valuation (everyone taking the test already knows this), 1/3 is basic deal process for M&A and IPO, and the rest is the more granular legal bullshit.
I felt like everything on the SIE was granular bullshit
Back when I took it i think I got like a 60 on the diagnostic exam, so it only took like 2 days of studying for me to get an 80 which is above passing. But because I’m super anxious and didn’t want to mess it up, it took like 6-7 days of hard studying for me to consistently get high 90s. So I think it’s totally doable in a shorter timeline, you just have to decide what your comfortable margin of error is.
Today was my first day studying and took a practice exam, got a 75. So I’m hoping if I can get that to 80 tomorrow I’d be comfortable.
Why? If you pass the benchmark, you have a 99.9% chance of passing. Don’t waste your time. You just need a 70 to pass. You’ll be fine.
Can anyone speak to the difficulty of 79, in respect to the SIE?
For example, watching lectures + practice problems was sufficient for me to pass the SIE. Is 79 the same, does it require more time?
It’s the same. Don’t watch the 12 hour lesson 2 video on valuation. Watch the 2 hr 31 minute one in the supplements. If you get a problem wrong you can go watch that section in the extended version. Should save you a few hours.
I found the 79 easier. You really only have to do the video lectures for the first and third sections, the second section is basic accounting and valuation and I would just skip the video review.
so watch the vids for 1 and 3, do like 300-400 Qs and you’re chilling. Knopman tests tend to be like 5+ points harder than the actual test too if that helps
Hi, did you schedule an online exam? I wasn’t sure how the process worked, can you take it anytime if it’s an online exam? I looked at the scheduling portal from the FINRA website but it didn’t have any times available to take the exam for online version, so I assume we can take it anytime. How far in advance did you schedule your exam?
Both exams are relatively easy. Just watch the videos on 1.25 speed, fill in the blanks in your notes as you go along, do 600 q bank questions and read the class summary a couple of times. I thought the 79 was way harder but I also only got a 73 on the benchmark and don’t know anything about how a dcf works or which multiples to use. The SIE is a joke, I guarantee when you take it there will be 2 or 3 questions that you’ll be like “did they really just put that on here????”
The SIE on Finras website is the identical layout of the exam. (So none of those stupid Roman numerals Knopman fucking loves)
How did you get a full-time investment banking role without knowing how a DCF works or about multiples?
I have no idea. Combination of knowing the right people (I hit it off with an md at a recruiting event), being an athlete, attending a good school with very few people interested in banking, and interning in a group that doesn’t model.
I'd say it's definitely possible and given the amount of work an analyst may have from the start, I'd recommend not allocating more than a necessary amount of hours to pass these exams. The Knopman Marks books + online practice questions the week of should be enough to get you by.
I took 63, 79 and SIE all last year with 1 night of stuyding each (Friday 4/6 PM start - Saturday 2/3 AM finish, then get a short nap in before the test). I passed all the exams but take my advice with a grain of salt as I would call myself an above average test taker with solid background knowledge in finance already. For some context, I studied for CFA II in 2 weeks of constant studying and passed.
Just an update for any people in a similar situation, was able to pass with roughly ~24 hours of dedicated studying. Definitely do-able.
I also thought the exam itself was very easy compared to both the 79 and 63.
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