Is there a free Series 79 exam prep?
There is no fully free Series 79 system among the providers we checked. CertFuel hosts a free practice test at /series-79/practice-test/ so you can gauge where you stand before buying anything. Among full prep systems, CertFuel is the cheapest confirmed option at $170 one-time for 12 months of access.
What's the cheapest Series 79 exam prep?
CertFuel is the cheapest confirmed option at $170 for a full year. Kaplan's Basic Self-Study package starts at $169 for 5 months, but it is a static bank with no adaptive engine and a shorter access window. Pass Perfect starts at $285, STC's standalone top-off starts at $449, and Knopman Marks starts at $630. The Series 79 is a specialized investment-banking exam, so a deep, well-organized question bank matters more than a low sticker price alone.
Which Series 79 prep has the most practice questions?
CertFuel publishes a 4,400-question Series 79 bank plus 2,800 flashcards. Kaplan, Pass Perfect, STC, and Knopman Marks do not publish exact question counts on their Series 79 product pages (STC discloses only its Progress Exams at 20 questions each and its Greenlight Exams at 85 questions, not a total bank size). On an 80-question exam covering three dense investment-banking topics, adaptive selection matters as much as raw volume: CertFuel's engine resurfaces weak topics based on your performance instead of showing you the same static rotation.
Is the cheapest Series 79 prep good enough to pass?
Yes, if the cheapest option is also a genuine adaptive system. CertFuel, at $170, ships a 4,400-question adaptive bank, unlimited full-length practice exams, section videos, per-unit audio podcast episodes, FSRS flashcards, and a live Exam Readiness Score, all at its single price point. Kaplan's Basic tier is cheaper on paper ($169) but strips out the practice and midterm exams that its own Essential tier includes, and its bank is static rather than adaptive. For a 73%-to-pass exam, a strong adaptive bank and full-length timed exams matter more than a low headline price.
Which Series 79 prep has adaptive learning?
CertFuel is the only provider in this comparison with a fully adaptive question-selection engine that adjusts which questions you see based on your performance. Knopman Marks and Pass Perfect both describe performance-based content delivery (Knopman Marks calls it "predictive analytics," Pass Perfect describes moving past mastered concepts), but neither claims a full adaptive-selection engine the way CertFuel does. Kaplan and STC are static: their banks are randomly generated or organized by topic, but they do not adjust to your weak spots. Separate from its adaptive engine, CertFuel also ships a lesson-aware AI tutor, Aiden, that explains any lesson and works examples on demand.
Do I need the SIE and a sponsor before I can use Series 79 prep?
You need both to sit for the actual Series 79 exam, but not to start studying. FINRA requires the SIE as a co-requisite and requires firm sponsorship (a Form U4 filing) before you can register for the Series 79 at Prometric. This is a FINRA registration requirement that applies no matter which prep provider you choose, CertFuel included. If you have not passed the SIE yet, our free SIE prep at /sie/ is the place to start.
How long does Series 79 prep take?
Most candidates budget 6 to 10 weeks of focused study, longer than the SIE or a Series 6 because the Series 79 tests deep, scenario-based investment-banking judgment across data analysis, underwriting, and M&A rather than broad recall. Kaplan estimates roughly 65 hours of coursework; STC's on-demand lecture track alone runs about 12 hours before qbank and review time. The exam itself is 80 questions (75 scored) in 150 minutes, with 73% needed to pass.
What comes after the Series 79?
Passing the Series 79 qualifies you to work investment banking transactions, but it does not make you a supervisor. If you move into a role overseeing other investment banking representatives, your firm will sponsor you for the Series 24, the general securities principal exam, for which the Series 79 is one of the qualifying prerequisites. See /series-24/ when that stage of your career comes up.