How long is the SIE exam and how many questions are on it?
The SIE exam takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has 80 multiple-choice questions: 75 scored and 5 unscored pretest questions mixed in at random. The passing score is 70, the fee is $100, and there is no penalty for guessing. You can take it at a Prometric test center or online, and you do not need to be hired by a firm first.
In more detail
That works out to about 79 seconds per question. FINRA does not tell you which questions are unscored, so treat all 80 as if they count, and answer every one, because a wrong answer costs nothing. The SIE is open to anyone aged 18 or older, and a pass stays valid for four years.
The 75 scored questions follow four sections of FINRA's content outline, and one section carries almost half the exam. Products and their risks is 44% of the questions, so most of your study time belongs there, followed by trading, customer accounts and prohibited activities at 31%.
The SIE alone does not let you sell securities. To register you also need a qualification exam such as the Series 7, and for that you must be associated with a FINRA member firm. The Series 7 has 130 questions (125 scored, 5 unscored) in 3 hours 45 minutes. Older prep material may still list 85 questions for the SIE, from before FINRA cut the number of unscored questions.
SIE content outline (FINRA)
| Section | Share of exam | Scored questions |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of capital markets | 16% | 12 |
| Understanding products and their risks | 44% | 33 |
| Trading, customer accounts and prohibited activities | 31% | 23 |
| Overview of the regulatory framework | 9% | 7 |
| Total | 100% | 75 |
Step by step
- 1
Download FINRA's SIE content outline and note the four sections and their weights.
- 2
Split your study time by weight, with the most days on products and their risks.
- 3
Build flashcards for the terms people mix up, such as calls and puts or the order of a bond's yields.
- 4
Practice at a pace of about 79 seconds per question, and answer every question.
- 5
Take two full 80-question practice exams in 1 hour 45 minutes before test day.
- 6
Enroll on FINRA's site, then schedule at a Prometric test center or take the exam online.
How StudyPDF helps
Upload your SIE prep book, class notes or slides, and StudyPDF builds flashcards, quizzes and a timed practice exam from them, with a graded report per section. Per-concept results show which areas, such as products or regulation, keep costing you points. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week, no card. StudyPDF is not affiliated with FINRA and does not give investment advice. Free 15-question samplers are at SIE Practice Exam and, for the next step, Series 7 Practice Exam.
See also
More questions
How many questions are on the SIE exam?
80 in total: 75 scored and 5 unscored pretest questions, all multiple choice, in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Older prep sites may still list 85.
Can you retake the SIE exam?
Yes. FINRA currently requires a 30-day wait after a first or second unsuccessful attempt and 180 days after a third. From January 19, 2027, the waits drop to 15 days and 60 days.
Do it on your own course
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