Who has the most realistic Series 9 and 10 practice tests?
Table of contents
- What are the FINRA Series 9 and Series 10?
- Why taking Series 9/10 practice tests is important
- Achievable Series 9/10 practice exams: The top pick
- Kaplan: Leaves candidates feeling unprepared
- Knopman Marks: Overly difficult prep
- Securities Training Corporation (STC): Not a close match to the real exams
- ExamFX: Practice tests that don’t match the real exams
- Why Achievable has the best Series 9/10 practice exams
- Conclusion
When preparing for the Series 9/10 exams, using full-length practice exams is one of the most effective strategies for success. While Series 9/10 practice questions and end-of-chapter quizzes are valuable for reinforcing specific topics, nothing matches the comprehensive preparation that high-quality Series 9/10 practice tests provide. By working through expertly designed mock exams, such as those found in Achievable’s Series 9 and Series 10 study courses, you can accurately assess your readiness, improve your test-taking strategy, and target areas needing additional review.
When it comes to preparing for challenging principal-level exams like the Series 9/10, the pressure is on, as passing means greater opportunities for career growth at your sponsoring FINRA firm (and, in some cases, continued employment). Even with a strong background in representative-level securities exams and a firm grasp of options rules and regulations, the Series 9/10 exams require focused preparation. While the exam content covers broad supervisory topics in U.S. securities sales familiar to many professionals, Series 9/10 questions are known for their complexity and nuanced phrasing. As a result, practicing with reliable and precisely crafted FINRA-style exam questions is not just beneficial: it is absolutely needed to ace the day of your test.
Feedback from real candidates, including the reviews quoted below, suggests Achievable’s practice tests are among the closest to the real Series 9/10 exams, backed by realistic Series 9/10 exam questions and an extensive library of both Series 9 and Series 10 practice tests. With ample, high-quality material designed to mirror the actual exams, Achievable equips you with the preparation necessary to enter your test ready to pass.
What are the FINRA Series 9 and Series 10?
The Series 9 FINRA exam is a 55-question, 90-minute, multiple-choice test that is Part 2 of the General Securities Sales Supervisor exams (the Series 10 is Part 1). The primary objective of the Series 9 is to test the ability to competently supervise sales of options accounts. The Series 9 focuses on the oversight of options-related activities, while its complementary exam, the Series 10, assesses supervision of broader securities sales activities. When you pass these exams and gain your General Securities Sales Supervisor registration, you will be managing the activities of other registered representatives.
The Series 10 FINRA exam is a 145-question, four-hour, multiple-choice test that is Part 1 of the General Securities Sales Supervisor exams. It tests the ability to supervise general securities sales: managing associated persons, opening and maintaining customer accounts, overseeing sales practices and trading, and reviewing communications with the public. The exam fee is $235, and like the Series 9, it requires a 70% passing score. Both exams also include unscored pretest questions: ten on Series 10 and five on Series 9.
A significant portion of Series 9 questions focuses on customer options accounts, sales practices, and general options trading, with an emphasis on mastering supervisory elements. On the Series 10, most questions cover supervising customer accounts, sales practices, and trading (49 and 52 of its 145 scored questions). To prepare for the Series 9/10, staying up to date with the latest updates and rule amendments is crucial. Leveraging the most recent Series 9/10 study material is recommended over older practice tools that may not reflect recent rule changes.
Achievable stands above other popular licensing test vendors because its practice tests are the closest to the actual Series 9/10 exams, effectively mimicking their content and test-taking experience. While other test prep providers (Kaplan, STC, Knopman Marks, and ExamFX) all have their fair share of practice materials, they are reported to yield inconsistent results. When preparing for high-stakes exams, you want to make sure you have access to a large volume of reliable materials to enhance your prep to the fullest. The prices quoted below are each provider’s list price as of October 2026.
Why taking Series 9/10 practice tests is important
Every study routine should include time dedicated to taking mock tests and working through practice problems. Practice tests help you improve your knowledge of the material while also offering valuable data on your readiness:
- Diagnostic tests taken at the start of your study plan determine your starting point
- Chapter quizzes and topic-specific Series 9/10 exam questions help nail down important content
- Mid-point exams help you track your progress and become more comfortable with the test’s format and timing
- Final exams provide you with a sense of how you will perform on the actual test day
Remember, practice tests aren’t just review tools: with the Series 9 test running for a full hour and 30 minutes and the Series 10 for a full four hours, you want to build the endurance needed for your official testing appointment. Your testing routine is incomplete without intentionally adding dates for full-length, well-crafted practice exams to your study calendar.
Achievable Series 9/10 practice exams: The top pick
“I’ve finished all my reading materials, and today was my 3rd practice exam. So far, my scores have been 85%, 80%, and today, 95%. I’ve noticed these tests have been very spreads-math-heavy, which I love…I PASSED!!! Next up is the 10!”
Achievable’s Series 9 and Series 10 courses are the most dynamic and realistic practice solutions among the top providers of FINRA exam prep. The Series 9 course comes complete with 18+ full-length practice exams, plus 2,000+ practice questions for general or topic-specific review, and the Series 10 course includes three full-length practice exams of 145 questions each, timed at the real exam’s four hours, plus 750+ review questions. According to both testimonials and online reviews, Achievable is known for:
- Accurate coverage and concept prep
- Spot-on exam wording when compared to the real exam
- Similar difficulty level to the actual exam
- Adaptive quizzes that adjust their topic coverage to the areas each student struggles with most
- A single test-prep package: no “paywalling” exams or quizzes behind higher tiers
Achievable’s adaptable study program is one of its major draws: instead of leaving study planning solely to students, the platform automatically adjusts to help students pinpoint and practice weak areas. Full-length Series 9 and Series 10 practice exams are timed and structured to match the actual test format, and with so many practice tests available, students can frequently assess their preparation level without worrying about “running out” of material. Exam-preparation experts carefully crafted all practice tests and questions with years of FINRA licensing experience. No topic, from spread calculation to customer account management to supervisory ethics, is ignored. Furthermore, the entire platform is anchored by powerful AI that tailors your study routine to your quiz and test performance, for an experience that’s both personalized and comprehensive.
Importantly, Achievable prioritizes realistic preparation over creating overly difficult exams that force students to study more than necessary. This further emphasizes Achievable’s efficient approach to test preparation, ensuring that students target the areas where they need the most help and gain clarity quickly, so they can start their course and pass their final exam within a reasonable time frame.
A full year of access to Achievable’s entire Series 9 course is $249, and the Series 10 course is $399. Each includes all practice materials in a single package: no tiers or upcharges to worry about. For effective Series 9/10 prep, Achievable offers a transparent, streamlined solution, filled with material that closely matches the official tests and accurately measures readiness.
“Passed using Achievable only and felt super prepared. Even with the experimental questions, I felt like I was 100% on well over 90% of the questions.”
Kaplan: Leaves candidates feeling unprepared
“It's definitely possible to pass the S9 using Kaplan, but IMO I feel like Kaplan doesn't do a good job preparing you for the test."
Kaplan’s four Series 9 packages (Basic, Essential, Premium OnDemand, and Premium Live Online) offer students varying access to their practice materials, though all include at least one practice exam and the proprietary SecuritiesPro™ QBank. Kaplan’s Series 10 packages include the same tiers as the Series 9. Its Premium package includes two simulated exams (a Practice Exam and a Mastery Exam), Checkpoint exams, a Midterm, and the SecuritiesPro QBank. Kaplan’s programs are known for:
- Checkpoint, Midterm, and Mastery exams for different milestones in your prep
- An extensive question bank (commonly known as the “Kaplan QBank”)
- Exam and question phrasing that often adds unnecessary complexity to concepts
Many test-takers are encouraged to use Kaplan’s question bank for extra practice and reinforcement, though its materials have received some negative feedback regarding quality. Some students found that Kaplan wasn’t enough to pass their exams on the first try, while others who did pass still felt they entered their exams unprepared. Many found that their materials did not always match the format, style, or difficulty level of the actual Series 9/10, undermining their readiness for the actual test.
The biggest issue with Kaplan’s materials is their misalignment with the official test outline, leaving students feeling ill-equipped to pass the test or apply their knowledge in their day-to-day roles. Additionally, students must pay a premium to access all of Kaplan’s practice materials, as the Mastery, Midterm, and Checkpoint exams are only available to those who purchase the higher-tier course packages (Kaplan’s Premium Live Online package for the Series 9, the most expensive for that exam, lists at $339; Premium OnDemand is $309). For the Series 10, Kaplan’s packages range from $269 to $479, with Premium OnDemand at $449 and Premium Live Online at $479.
While Kaplan’s Basic packages list at $169 for the Series 9 and $269 for the Series 10, they include only one practice exam, which is insufficient for truly dedicated preparation. Although all packages include the QBank, mixed reviews of its question quality should make candidates pause before considering this option.
“Just failed my Series 9 today by 1 point…The weird part is I missed several questions on Communications with the public, which is the area in which I scored highest in my Kaplan studies. My firm bought me Kaplan, but the questions were nothing like the test.”
Knopman Marks: Overly difficult prep
“[Knopman diagnostics are] 5x harder than the actual exam.”
Knopman Marks is unique among FINRA exam vendors in offering instructor-guided FINRA preparation courses, along with a range of practice materials. The Knopman Marks Series 9 and Series 10 packages come with:
- Preset exams to determine readiness
- Customizable practice questions
- Private faculty strategy calls
KM offers a fully packed Series 9 study package for $410 a year and a Series 10 package for $510 a year, among the priciest options (STC’s Premier Plus is $424 for the Series 9 and $600 for the Series 10). While the programs include a range of resources, such as video lectures and faculty-led strategy sessions, some students report still feeling underprepared for their exams after completing the course. For the Series 9 and other licensing tests, candidates often find the materials significantly more difficult than the actual exam, which can make the learning process frustrating. Additionally, many modern test-takers prefer flexible, self-paced study options over intensive, high-commitment courses, and Knopman’s materials may not be well-suited to support that preference or fully prepare candidates for exam success.
“I'm currently in licensing with my bank, taking the SIE, Series 6, and 63, and I feel like Knopman Marks does not prepare me well enough for the exams.”
Securities Training Corporation (STC): Not a close match to the real exams
“I was getting mid to high 80s on STC tests and failed by one point on the actual Series 9…Maybe I got a bad draw, but there were some very odd questions on there.”
Like Kaplan, Securities Training Corporation (STC) also structures its Series 9 and Series 10 courses in distinct package tiers (Standard, Premier, and Premier Plus), and its courses include:
- Five practice final exams in every Series 9 tier and six in every Series 10 tier; Progress and Green Light exams in Premier and Premier Plus only
- End-of-chapter quizzes
- Both printed and online study materials to fit different learning styles
STC’s packages list at $255 (Standard), $382 (Premier), and $424(Premier Plus) for the Series 10 and $396 (Standard), $484 (Premier), and $600 (Premier Plus) for the Series 10.
Despite the wide variety of available practice materials, some learners report that STC’s practice questions repeat. Many also realized after taking the official Series 9 that they were ill-prepared, as the actual exam’s question wording and content coverage differed from STC’s practice resources.
This mismatch placed some test-takers in a very stressful (and expensive) situation: having to sign up for a retake. This can be even more high-pressure than initially preparing for the test, given that passing these exams is required to advance to supervisory roles at a FINRA-registered firm.
“I just took the 9 this morning and got a 67. I used STC and passed the 10 in September with it, but felt like a deer in the headlights on both tests based on the material. There were things I’d never heard of on both tests, and the questions were worded so differently. I already have a role I start in a week where I need to pass this the next time or else I’m out of a job.”
ExamFX: Practice tests that don’t match the real exams
“I used to use ExamFX for the staff I managed at a former firm, and never had great results.”
ExamFX offers two packages each for Series 9 and Series 10 preparation: the Textbook Package ($160 for the Series 9 and $315 for the Series 10) and the Online Course Package ($250 and $375), each with these practice exam options:
- Practice question sets
- Checkpoint, Benchmark, and Standard Final Exams
- Custom exam generator
The SpotCheck Quizzes, a signature feature of ExamFX’s products, are only included in the Online Course Package, for both exams. Some reviewers say ExamFX’s materials are more challenging and overly complicated than the actual Series 9 test. This leaves students feeling that their practice test scores are not representative of their true preparedness for their test appointment. Overall, reviews from those who used ExamFX for the Series 9/10 were mixed, with some noting a lack of alignment with the official test.
“I would NOT recommend TC (ExamFX) for the 9, at least. Practice tests weren’t comparable.”
Why Achievable has the best Series 9/10 practice exams
The best Series 9/10 prep out there is Achievable, for both Series 9 and Series 10, not only for its adaptive platform and innovative features, but also for the simple fact that its practice materials are realistic, reliable, and varied. Achievable’s platform offers:
- 18+ full-length Series 9 practice exams and three for the Series 10, for constant assessment
- Thousands of practice questions
- Score reports with recommendations on how to improve
- Lessons that adapt based on your quiz performance
- Regular content updates to stay in line with the actual exam
For Achievable, a practice quiz isn’t just a practice quiz: it’s an important source of data used to adjust your study routine for the best results automatically. From chapter review questions to timed, full-length exams, each review tool is carefully designed to give candidates the most accurate FINRA test-taking experience and an effective, straightforward prep solution for the Series 9/10.
Conclusion
Series 9/10 practice tests must be at the core of your exam preparation. Completing full-length tests is the best way to evaluate your starting point, identify your weak areas, and become familiar with the exact FINRA Series 9/10 exam format. Every effective study plan begins and ends with practice questions and realistic exams, helping you see your progress over time, measure your readiness, and boost your passing potential. Targeted Series 9/10 exam questions let you home in on specific topics and build your test-taking skills, helping you reach the required 70% passing mark on each exam more efficiently.
As a provider, Achievable delivers industry-leading Series 9/10 exam prep with practice materials that closely match the content of genuine FINRA Series 9 and Series 10 exam questions. With Achievable’s adaptive platform and realistic Series 9/10 practice questions, you’ll always know where you stand: your prep performance will accurately reflect your readiness for the real Series 9/10 exams (and your future General Securities Sales Supervisor registration).
