Maximize Your Score: Free Series 9 Practice Exams
The Series 9 exam is also known as the General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options Exam. You must pass both the Series 9 and Series 10 exams to be licensed as a general securities sales supervisor.
Four practice exams covering key supervisory responsibilities related to options trading.
Tough, exam-style questions designed to reflect real-world supervisory scenarios.
Detailed explanations that clarify Series 9 concepts and deepen your understanding.
FINRA Series 9 Exam
General Securities Sales
Supervisor Exam
The General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options Exam (Series 9) is a FINRA exam required for individuals who supervise options sales and trading activities.
55 Questions
Multiple Choice
90 Minutes
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Series 9 Exam Overview
The Series 9 exam, formally known as the General Securities Sales Supervisor – Options exam, is part of FINRA’s Series 9/10 qualification for individuals overseeing sales activities involving options products. It assesses the competency of supervisors in ensuring regulatory compliance and safeguarding clients and markets under their purview.
Who Needs the Series 9?
To sit for the Series 9, candidates must be:
- Sponsored by a FINRA-member firm or another self-regulatory organization (SRO).
- Already registered as a General Securities Representative (i.e., must have passed the Series 7 exam), as well as the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam.
Exam Structure & Format
- Number of Questions: 55 scored multiple-choice questions + 5 unscored pretest items randomly included (total of 60 questions).
- Time Limit: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
- Passing Score: 70% (typically 39 correct answers out of 55).
- Administration: Computer-based at Prometric centers or via remote proctoring; includes a pre-exam tutorial; scratch paper and basic calculators provided.
Content & Exam Topics
The Series 9 exam focuses exclusively on supervising options-related activities. The four primary content areas are:
- Supervise the Opening and Maintenance of Customer Options Accounts (~18 questions)
- Supervise Sales Practices and General Options Trading Activities (~19 questions)
- Supervise Options Communications (~5 questions)
- Supervise Associated Persons and Personnel Management Activities (~13 questions)
Typical exam topics include:
- Options disclosure, agreements, and risk reporting
- Oversight of account approval processes and large position reporting
- Role of the Options Clearing Corporation
- Common options strategies such as spreads, straddles, and hedging.
How It Fits in Your Licensing Path
Passing the Series 9 alone does not fully qualify one as a General Securities Sales Supervisor. Candidates must also pass the Series 10 exam within two years to complete the supervisory registration. Successfully passing both grants the license to oversee sales activities across a broader range of securities.
Preparation Tips
- Focus your studies on options supervision, communications standards, and relevant regulatory guidelines.
- Use the official FINRA content outline to guide your review and ensure coverage of everything tested.
- Take timed practice exams to build speed and accuracy—aim for practice scores above the 70% threshold to buffer exam day nerves.
- Review scenario-based questions that test judgment and supervisory responsibilities.
Why the Series 9 Matters
The Series 9 license is essential for individuals managing options sales within a brokerage branch. It ensures supervisory competence, helps protect the investing public, and reinforces integrity in options-related securities operations.