Series 82 exam-day guide
Series 82 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Bring your driver's license or passport. The name on your registration must match your ID exactly. Confirm with the test provider whether one or two forms of ID are required at your specific test center before test day.
Appointment confirmation and appointment/confirmation number
Have the confirmation email or number available (printed or on paper, since phones usually must be stored). Verify the date, time, address, and any arrival instruction the day before.
Confirmation that your member firm has properly sponsored/registered you
Exam appointments are tied to a firm-sponsored window (Form U4). If the window has lapsed or the sponsorship is not in place, you may be turned away. Verify with your firm's registration or licensing contact at least 72 hours ahead.
A plan for prohibited items (phone, smartwatch, notes, study materials)
Phones and other electronics, notes, and study materials generally must be stored in a provided locker or left outside the testing room. Leave watches, earbuds, and loose paper at home or in the car.
Clarification on calculators and scratch materials
Assume no personal calculator is allowed and that the center provides scratch materials; the Series 82 is not calculation-heavy. Needs_review: confirm the allowed-items list with your test provider, because policies can differ by delivery method.
Confirmed delivery method (test center vs. remote proctoring) and its requirements
If remote-proctored, confirm the system check, camera/microphone, room and desk requirements, and acceptable ID scan in advance; run the equipment check 24 hours ahead.
Advance approval for any testing accommodations
ADA or other accommodations must be requested in advance with documentation; they are generally not granted on the day of the exam. Confirm your approval status with the provider.
Knowledge of the official content outline
Bring a one-page summary you built yourself. The Series 82 is a 100-question, 150-minute exam covering the private-placement workflow (pre-offering due diligence, offering documentation, marketing of exempt offerings, sales, and post-sale obligations). Know the outline's sections so you can read the score report meaningfully.
Confirmed reschedule/cancellation policy and window deadline
Confirm the provider's reschedule cut-off and any associated fee, plus the last date of your eligibility window, so a last-minute problem does not cost you the appointment.
Logistics: route, parking/transit, and a buffer
Plan to arrive roughly 30 minutes before your appointment. Budget extra time for check-in, ID verification, and secure storage of belongings.
Practical comfort items allowed by the center
A light snack and water for before/after (not inside the testing room unless permitted), and layered clothing for variable room temperature. Confirm what the center allows in the test room.
State-law and SIE co-requisite status
Series 82 registration is tied to the SIE and, in most states, a state-law exam (for example Series 63 or 66). Needs_review: confirm with your firm which state requirements apply to you, since this affects whether your registration is complete but not the exam itself.
Plan the day
Stop learning brand-new material. Take one or two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions (100 questions, 150 minutes, no pauses). Score them, then re-read only the outline sections where you missed the most questions. Reconfirm your appointment time, location/delivery method, ID, and sponsorship status.
Targeted review of the highest-yield areas: exempt-offering mechanics and investor qualification concepts under Regulation D, offering documents and disclosure, due diligence on issuers and management, rules on communications and general solicitation, suitability/Regulation Best Interest considerations, and recordkeeping. Build a one-page sheet you will review tomorrow.
Light review only: your one-page sheet plus definitions you keep confusing. Pack your ID and confirmation in a place you will grab without thinking. Run the remote-proctoring system test if applicable. Confirm the route and arrival time. Go to bed at a normal hour: performance on a timed exam is more sensitive to sleep than to one more hour of review.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Do not cram new material; skim only your one-page sheet. Arrive about 30 minutes early, complete check-in, store prohibited items, and use the restroom before you are seated. Take a few slow breaths before the clock starts.
Read the exam tutorial and instructions before the timer starts if offered. Work through the 100 questions at about 1.5 minutes each, answering easier questions first. Flag anything that requires long analysis and move on; do not let one question consume five minutes.
Use remaining time on flagged questions. Watch for the classic traps: 'EXCEPT,' 'MOST likely,' 'FIRST step,' and 'under the rule.' Since there is no penalty for wrong answers, ensure every question has an answer selected before time expires.
Confirm no question is unanswered. Make final selections on flagged items only where you have a clear reason to change; second-guessing without a reason tends to hurt. Submit and review your printed score report, which typically shows pass/fail and a section-level breakdown.
Report your result to your firm's registration contact immediately; the firm handles any Form U4 update. If you did not pass, note the section breakdown and the applicable waiting period before a retake. If you passed, confirm with your firm that the registration is complete, including any state-law requirement.
Rules to check
Follow all proctor instructions and the candidate agreement you accept at the start of the exam; the exam content is confidential, so do not discuss, reconstruct, or share specific questions afterward.
Your ID must be valid, unexpired, government-issued, and must match the name on your registration. A mismatch can result in being refused admission and losing the appointment.
Keep all personal items - phone, smartwatch, notes, study materials, and any unauthorized electronics - out of the testing room. Accessing a phone or notes during the exam is treated as a serious testing-integrity violation, even during a break.
Breaks: procedures differ by provider, and unscheduled breaks typically do not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider how breaks are handled so you do not lose exam time.
Scoring: the Series 82 is a 100-question, multiple-choice exam with a 150-minute limit, and the passing standard is a scaled score corresponding to roughly 73 correct answers. Needs_review: confirm the current passing standard and time limit with your provider or the official exam page, since these can be revised.
There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so never leave a question blank. If you are running out of time, fill in every remaining response.
Retakes: a candidate who does not pass generally must wait before retaking, and the waiting period lengthens after repeated failures. Needs_review: confirm the current waiting-period rules with your firm or the provider before scheduling a retake.
Eligibility: Series 82 registration depends on satisfying the SIE corequisite and, in most states, a state-law exam requirement. Confirm with your firm which requirements apply to you; the exam proctor will not resolve registration gaps on test day.