Has anyone on NS passed the Series 7?

Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522

Karma: 3,522

Posts: 11626

Crazy Fool

Yeah, I've passed the series 7 and series 66. Studying for the CPA now as we speak actually.

Anyway, I completely feel your frustration because right now that's how my CPA prep is going.

Advice: you need to isolate what it is that is bringing down your scores. Whether it's options, or regulation stuff, or whatever else is on the exam (it's been a few years). Anyway, once you figure out what is killing your score, go back and re-read those sections, make flash cards on the difficult topics, and re-do the homework and/or progress tests at the end of the chapter for that difficult topic.

It's tedious, and it sucks a ton, but it's the only way to improve. If you just keep taking the full exams it will be overwhelming and it's too much info to deal with at a time until you fix the little holes. Good luck man, don't give it. Take a break when you need to, and keep at it. Don't ever give up on it

Nov 18 2013 7:32PM

3 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

Thanks man. I was hoping there would be at least one person on here that would have some experience. After the 7 I'm going for the 66 too.

I've taken a few practice tests recently and noticed that I'm missing a lot on annuities. There a bunch of other random shit things I'm missing that are odd ball questions about VIX, TRACE, or FTSE.

Going to try to read up on some annuities and hope that helps.

Nov 18 2013 8:59PM

0 0

cornholio

Posts: 3952 - Karma: 3,057

Karma: 3,057

Posts: 3952

Addict

my girl took it a few years ago and passed. thats all i have too contribute. good luck op

Nov 18 2013 10:22PM

0 0

Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896

Karma: 14,896

Posts: 6096

No Life

I had the Series 7, 6 and 63. I took a class for the 7. The trick is not to study the material, but just take the tests over and over. The guy who taught my series 7 class in Denver was legendary. On day one he announced to the class - "If you are here to learn about stocks, bonds, trading, derivatives, options, etc. ; please leave. I am not here for that. I am only here to help you pass the Series 7".

You learn how to pass the test by familiarizing yourself with the way that they are asking the question. You will learn enough of the material to pass doing it this way, but your score is likely to be better than what you think when you are done with the test. I thought I had failed it, but I actually did really well, like over 90%. Just keep taking the quizzes and tests. If you are consistently missing questions about a particular subject; go back and read through that chapter. Otherwise, leave the book alone.

Good luck.

Nov 19 2013 12:15AM

2 0

CaptainObvious.

Posts: 5712 - Karma: 20,638

Karma: 20,638

Posts: 5712

No Life

Good luck man, I've heard it's a beast.

Nov 19 2013 12:24AM

0 0

Barefootin_Fiend

Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727

Karma: 4,727

Posts: 7618

Crazy Fool

i haven't taken the series 7, but have taken the CPA. the biggest help that i've found is note cards. lots and lots of note cards. take them with you everywhere. study whenever you have a minute. memorize them inside and out.

Nov 19 2013 12:24AM

0 0

Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522

Karma: 3,522

Posts: 11626

Crazy Fool

thank you, it is the hardest thing I have ever attempted in my life honestly. in terms of academics that is. it's not that I don't know the information or didn't master it in college, it's just that there is SO MUCH to remember all at once for each of the 4 exams that comprise it.

thanks for the tips barefootin and good luck on that series 7 OP!

Nov 19 2013 10:37AM

0 0

Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522

Karma: 3,522

Posts: 11626

Crazy Fool

I had literally the same experience btw. I was totally on the fence before I pressed submit or whatever, and then I got over a 90 and couldn't believe it.

You have to believe in all the preparation you've done and all the time you've spent on it. You know more than you think you do. (I need to remind myself of the same message next Tuesday!)

Nov 19 2013 10:45AM

0 0

Barefootin_Fiend

Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727

Karma: 4,727

Posts: 7618

Crazy Fool

so god damn true...hardest thing ever. it doesn't help that they try and trick you with the questions, too. as in they'll have two answers that could be right, but one of them is "more right" than the other one. fuckers.

Nov 19 2013 10:49AM

1 0

Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522

Karma: 3,522

Posts: 11626

Crazy Fool

hey man any news? have you taken it yet?

I passed my first (of four) CPA exams, such a relief! Hope you've gotten good news as well!

Dec 9 2013 8:34PM

0 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

Not yet. Still studying for it every fucking day. I feel like I know the information, take a new practice test and then I get like a 60% cause there was a shit ton of crap that I have never seen so I miss a bunch.

Dec 9 2013 10:17PM

0 0

Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522

Karma: 3,522

Posts: 11626

Crazy Fool

I know this doesn't make you feel better, but I literally was failing my final practice exams within 1 week of taking the real exam.

I went back and just started re-taking the exact same practice finals over and over again until I literally was getting hundreds because I had memorized the questions. It gave me the confidence I needed to go into the test center feeling good about myself.

Try it. Don't give up. It will blow your mind how much you know. You also may be at the point of saturation in terms of the information, so just start taking the same ones over and over again leading in to your exam day so you can get that much needed confidence boost for test day.

Good luck!

Dec 11 2013 9:03AM

0 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

Thanks dude. It helps to hear anyone's success story especially if its similar to mine. No way in hell I'm giving up. I've quit on a few things in my life and this isn't gonna be one of them.

Right now I've been taking all exams till I get a 90% or above. It took me 3 tries to take the 260 question exams to get the 90%. I left had 2 tests left that I had never taken before, took one last week. Got a 55%... -_-. That is what sucked. Trying to isolate what I don't do well on, read up on it, then retake everything one more time and take the last one I've never seen. Well see what happens.

I'm just so tired of questions like this, am constantly getting these wrong.

"Which TWO of the following are TRUE when a blah blah blahEXCEPT?"

I. ______
II. _______
III. ____
IV._____

a. I and III
b. I and IV
c. II and III
d. II and IV

Dec 11 2013 10:32AM

0 0

Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896

Karma: 14,896

Posts: 6096

No Life

Not trying to harp, but that's why you just keep taking the practice tests. I know it's completely backwards but you take the tests, look at the questions you got wrong, then take the test again. If there is something you are consistently getting wrong, that's when you crack the book and try to figure out what is behind that.

Here's a $10 book I found just by doing a goog search.

http://www.amazon.com/Series-Exam-Practice-Questions-First-ebook/dp/B004H4XO1C

The guy who taught my 7 class had his own bank of questions. He asked everyone who took his class and then took the test to try and remember a few questions. He compiled a database of questions, which he gave to us.

Anyway, something like this one on Amazon should do the same thing. Seriously, only break out the 7 book, when you are consistently getting the same question or type of question wrong. You are not going through this brain damage to learn anything about securities. All you want is your shingle.

Dec 11 2013 10:40AM

0 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

I hate hearing that. Makes no sense but it makes total sense. Just gotta learn the answers not the material.

Dec 11 2013 10:42AM

1 0

Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896

Karma: 14,896

Posts: 6096

No Life

Yep. It's pretty much the same with all standardized tests and the reason why they are a pretty weak gauge of how much someone knows.

Dec 11 2013 10:56AM

0 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

Tomorrows the big day. Not really nervous, just anxious. I just wanna take the damn thing and see if I have it.

Hope to come back to this thread with my caps lock broken tomorrow.

Feb 3 2014 10:46AM

0 0

MACAQUE

Posts: 2811 - Karma: 696

Karma: 696

Posts: 2811

Addict

Good luck!

Feb 3 2014 1:34PM

1 0

Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896

Karma: 14,896

Posts: 6096

No Life

Good luck! Also, at some point you will feel like you are failing the crap out of it. Must resist urge to blow chunks on the computer screen and leave. Just keep answering the questions. Your results will be better than you think.

Feb 3 2014 1:51PM

0 0

spliff.Life

Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549

Karma: 1,549

Posts: 7847

Crazy Fool

what I just read is that someone who is intelligent enough to at least pass an exam generally regarded as difficult still chooses to be known as "DildoPotamus" on the interwebz

people like you restore my faith in humanity, and Im being serious

Feb 3 2014 2:26PM

0 0

Posts: 10951 - Karma: 15,633

Karma: 15,633

Posts: 10951

Crazy Fool

Missed it by 11 questions. Got a 67% 169 correct.

Feb 4 2014 2:21PM

0 0