SIE Exam: How Many Questions Can You Miss?
Why "about": FINRA uses scaled scoring, and 5 of the 80 questions are unscored pretest items you can't identify. The numbers here are the published specs — treat the margin as a close approximation, not a guarantee.
Pass-margin calculator
Tip: aim for a consistent 80%+ on practice material before booking — test-day nerves eat margin.
SIE exam at a glance
| Questions | 80 total — 75 scored, 5 unscored pretest |
|---|---|
| Passing score | 70% (≈53 correct) |
| You can miss | ≈22 scored questions |
| Time | 105 minutes |
| Fee | $100 |
| Run by | FINRA |
| Prerequisite | None — self-enroll with a FINRA account (Form U10) |
Three units tie for heaviest weight at 7 questions each: U4 Investment Companies, U8 Trading Securities (both "Grind it" verdicts), and U7 Issuing Securities (a "Goldmine" — most questions for the least reading).
Fees and passing scores verified July 2026 against official FINRA/NASAA specifications — including FINRA's January 2026 fee adjustment (many prep sites still show the old fees).
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