SIE Exam Format: Length, Number of Questions, and How It Works

Q: How long is the SIE exam?

The SIE gives you 105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes) to answer 85 questions. That works out to roughly 84 seconds per question if you spread your time evenly. In practice, most candidates finish with time to spare. Easy questions take 30 to 45 seconds, harder scenario questions take 90 to 120 seconds, and the average lands well under the per-question budget. If you find yourself running out of time, the issue is almost always second-guessing on questions you already answered, not the raw clock. You cannot pause the timer. If you take a bathroom break, the clock keeps running. Plan your hydration accordingly.

Q: How many questions are on the SIE exam?

There are 85 total questions, but only 75 of them count toward your score: The 10 unscored pretest questions are FINRA's way of trying out new items for future exams. They are mixed in randomly and indistinguishable from scored questions. There is no marker, no warning, no way to tell which is which. Treat every question as if it counts, because for all you can tell, it does.

Q: What is the SIE exam format?

The SIE is multiple choice, computer-based, and adaptive in delivery but not in difficulty. Translation: the questions are pre-selected from FINRA's item bank, but they are presented one at a time on a screen with four answer choices each. Key format details: Four answer choices per question (A, B, C, D). Exactly one is correct. No partial credit, no multi-select, no fill-in-the-blank. Everything is single-answer multiple choice. You can flag questions to review. A flag button lets you mark uncertain answers and come back if time allows. You can change answers freely. Up until you submit the entire exam, every answer is editable. No penalty for guessing.

Q: What's the passing score for the SIE?

You need 70% to pass, which means roughly 53 of 75 scored questions correct. FINRA does not curve the exam, and there is no scaled scoring you need to worry about for the SIE. Get 70% of the scored questions right, and you pass. Get below 70%, and you fail. Your exact percentage shows on the result screen. You will also see a section-by-section breakdown showing how you performed in each of the four content areas. That breakdown is the most useful thing on the report if you fail and need to retake.

Q: Can I take the SIE online?

Yes. FINRA offers the SIE through online proctoring in addition to in-person testing at Prometric centers. The exam content, length, and format are identical. The only differences are logistical: Online: You take it at home with a webcam-monitored proctor watching you. Requires a quiet room, a working webcam and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a clean desk. In-person: You take it at a Prometric test center in a quiet exam room. No tech setup on your end. Both cost the same ($80) and produce the same credential. Choose based on your preference for environment. Some candidates focus better at home; others find the formality of a testing center helps.

Q: What should I expect on the screen?

The exam interface is functional, not flashy. You'll see: The question text at the top, sometimes with a short scenario or table. Four answer choices below, each with a radio button. A flag/bookmark icon to mark questions for later review. A calculator button that opens an on-screen four-function calculator. A scratchpad for working through math problems. Navigation buttons (Next, Previous) and a question counter. A countdown timer showing time remaining. There are no graphics, animations, or video clips. Every question is text-and-numbers only.

Quick Answer

The SIE has 85 multiple-choice questions (75 scored, 10 unscored pretest items mixed in randomly) and a 105-minute time limit (1 hour 45 minutes). It’s computer-based, taken at a Prometric center or via online proctoring, and you’ll see your pass/fail result on screen immediately after submitting.

85 Total Questions

75 Scored Questions

105 min Time Limit

~84 sec Per Question

How long is the SIE exam?

The SIE gives you 105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes) to answer 85 questions. That works out to roughly 84 seconds per question if you spread your time evenly.

In practice, most candidates finish with time to spare. Easy questions take 30 to 45 seconds, harder scenario questions take 90 to 120 seconds, and the average lands well under the per-question budget. If you find yourself running out of time, the issue is almost always second-guessing on questions you already answered, not the raw clock.

You cannot pause the timer. If you take a bathroom break, the clock keeps running. Plan your hydration accordingly.

How many questions are on the SIE exam?

There are 85 total questions, but only 75 of them count toward your score:

Scored questions	75
Unscored pretest questions	10
Total questions on exam	85

The 10 unscored pretest questions are FINRA’s way of trying out new items for future exams. They are mixed in randomly and indistinguishable from scored questions. There is no marker, no warning, no way to tell which is which. Treat every question as if it counts, because for all you can tell, it does.

Don't try to guess which are pretest

Some candidates try to identify pretest questions (“this one feels weird, must be experimental”) and skip them. This is a waste of mental energy. The pretest items are written to the same standard as scored items, and you have no reliable signal. Answer everything with full effort.

What is the SIE exam format?

The SIE is multiple choice, computer-based, and adaptive in delivery but not in difficulty. Translation: the questions are pre-selected from FINRA’s item bank, but they are presented one at a time on a screen with four answer choices each.

Key format details:

Four answer choices per question (A, B, C, D). Exactly one is correct.
No partial credit, no multi-select, no fill-in-the-blank. Everything is single-answer multiple choice.
You can flag questions to review. A flag button lets you mark uncertain answers and come back if time allows.
You can change answers freely. Up until you submit the entire exam, every answer is editable.
No penalty for guessing. Wrong answers and blank answers count the same (zero points), so always guess rather than leave anything blank.

There is an on-screen calculator and a digital scratchpad. You will not be allowed to bring your own calculator or scratch paper.

What does the SIE exam cover?

The 75 scored questions are distributed across four content sections according to FINRA’s official outline:

Section	Topic	Questions	Weight
1	Knowledge of Capital Markets	12	16%
2	Understanding Products and Their Risks	33	44%
3	Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts, and Prohibited Activities	23	31%
4	Overview of the Regulatory Framework	7	9%

You won’t be told during the exam which section a question belongs to. Sections are an organizational tool for FINRA and study material publishers, not a visible structure on test day. Questions are interleaved, so you might get a regulatory question, then a products question, then a trading question, in any order.

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What’s the passing score for the SIE?

You need 70% to pass, which means roughly 53 of 75 scored questions correct.

FINRA does not curve the exam, and there is no scaled scoring you need to worry about for the SIE. Get 70% of the scored questions right, and you pass. Get below 70%, and you fail. Your exact percentage shows on the result screen.

You will also see a section-by-section breakdown showing how you performed in each of the four content areas. That breakdown is the most useful thing on the report if you fail and need to retake.

What happens on test day?

Here’s the actual sequence, whether you take the exam at a Prometric center or online:

Check in 30 minutes early. For in-person, this means showing up at the testing center; for online proctoring, this means logging in to the proctoring platform.
ID verification. You’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID. Names must match your FINRA registration exactly.
Workspace check. For online proctoring, the proctor will ask you to show your room, desk, and clear away any prohibited items. For in-person, you’ll lock your belongings in a locker.
Tutorial (optional). A brief navigation tutorial loads first. It does not count against your 105 minutes, but most candidates skip it after their first practice exam.
The exam begins. The 105-minute timer starts. Questions appear one at a time.
Submit. When you hit submit (or the clock hits zero), the system grades your exam.
Result on screen. You’ll see “PASS” or “FAIL” along with your percentage and section breakdown within seconds.
Print the score report at the testing center, or download the PDF if testing online. FINRA also retains the official record.

You can take one optional 5-minute break during the exam, but the timer continues running.

Can I take the SIE online?

Yes. FINRA offers the SIE through online proctoring in addition to in-person testing at Prometric centers. The exam content, length, and format are identical. The only differences are logistical:

Online: You take it at home with a webcam-monitored proctor watching you. Requires a quiet room, a working webcam and microphone, a stable internet connection, and a clean desk.
In-person: You take it at a Prometric test center in a quiet exam room. No tech setup on your end.

Both cost the same ($80) and produce the same credential. Choose based on your preference for environment. Some candidates focus better at home; others find the formality of a testing center helps.

How is the SIE different from the Series 7 in format?

If you’ve heard about the Series 7 and are wondering how the SIE compares structurally:

	SIE	Series 7
Total questions	85 (75 scored)	135 (125 scored)
Time limit	1 hour 45 minutes	3 hours 45 minutes
Passing score	70%	72%
Sponsor required	No	Yes
Cost	$80	$300

The SIE is shorter, cheaper, and open to anyone. The Series 7 is longer, harder, more expensive, and requires employer sponsorship. Both are multiple-choice and computer-based.

What should I expect on the screen?

The exam interface is functional, not flashy. You’ll see:

The question text at the top, sometimes with a short scenario or table.
Four answer choices below, each with a radio button.
A flag/bookmark icon to mark questions for later review.
A calculator button that opens an on-screen four-function calculator.
A scratchpad for working through math problems.
Navigation buttons (Next, Previous) and a question counter.
A countdown timer showing time remaining.

There are no graphics, animations, or video clips. Every question is text-and-numbers only.

Quick recap

The SIE is 85 questions, 105 minutes, multiple choice, four sections of content, 70% to pass. You’ll see your result immediately after submitting. The format itself is not the hard part; the breadth of content is. Practice under timed conditions before exam day so the format feels familiar and your attention can go where it belongs: the questions.