Series 87 exam-day guide
Series 87 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID (unexpired, with signature)
Bring the original physical ID - photocopies and expired documents are not accepted. Confirm with your test provider which specific ID forms qualify before test day (needs_review: exact ID requirements vary by provider and jurisdiction).
Appointment confirmation and test-center address
Save the confirmation email and the test center address/phone number offline on your phone and on paper. Verify the appointment date, time, and location the day before.
Two backup forms of ID (secondary)
Some centers request a second identifier such as a debit/credit card or signed document. Bring one in case, but confirm the provider's accepted list first (needs_review).
Arrival buffer of at least 30 minutes
Check-in involves ID verification, a photo, a palm vein or signature capture, and locker assignment. Late arrivals can be refused entry or have time deducted - confirm the provider's cutoff rule (needs_review).
Plan for phones, smartwatches, and notes to stay outside the testing room
Wearables, phones, study sheets, and bags must be stored in a provided locker. Do not bring your own scratch paper or pens - the center supplies what is permitted.
Pre-approval for any testing accommodation
Extra time, separate room, or medical devices require advance approval, typically well before the appointment. If you have not already been approved, contact the provider immediately - do not assume it can be arranged on arrival (needs_review).
Eyeglasses, medication, and comfort items that are permitted
Bring glasses if you use them for screen work. Prescription medication and small comfort items are usually allowed but may need to be declared at check-in; confirm in advance (needs_review).
A one-page personal summary kept OUTSIDE the testing room
Review your own condensed notes (rule numbers, disclosure triggers, conflict-of-interest concepts, communication rules) in the waiting area, then store them in the locker. Nothing written may enter the test room.
Transportation and parking plan
Know the route, parking validation, and an alternate option. Build in extra time for traffic and security screening.
Meal, hydration, and sleep plan
Eat a normal meal before the exam and limit caffeine if you are prone to jitters. Do not attempt a last-minute cram the night before.
Confirm scoring and score-report mechanics
Know in advance how and when results are delivered and how a failing score affects your retake waiting period - ask the provider or check the sponsor's published rules (needs_review: do not rely on rumor).
Name-match check
The name on your appointment must match your ID exactly. Resolve any discrepancy with the provider before test day, not at the check-in desk.
Plan the day
Stop learning new material. Re-read your condensed outlines on the regulatory topics - analyst communications and disclosures, conflicts of interest, research report content requirements, quiet periods, recordkeeping, and supervisory procedures. Do two full-length timed practice sets under exam conditions, then review only the misses.
Reconfirm the appointment time, address, and ID requirements. Handle logistics: parking, transit, childcare, work calendar. If you are sick or have an emergency, check the reschedule/cancellation policy and fees now rather than on the morning of.
Normalize your sleep schedule so you are waking at your test-day time. Taper caffeine late in the day.
Light review only - skim your one-pager and the handful of rules you keep missing. No new practice exams. Pack your ID, confirmation, glasses, and payment card in one place.
Confirm the test center is open and your appointment is still active (a quick check of the confirmation or portal). Lay out clothes and plan the exact departure time.
Eat a real meal. Arrive at the center roughly 30 minutes early. Leave all study materials, phone, and wearable in the car or locker. Use the restroom before check-in.
Do not debate answers with anyone or scroll through forums. A short, calm review of your one-pager in the waiting area is enough.
Read the call of the question first, then the facts. Watch for words like EXCEPT, NOT, and BEST. Regulatory items often turn on who must act, when, and what must be disclosed or delivered - identify the actor and the timing before choosing.
Answer every question; there is no penalty for a guess. Flag long or unfamiliar items and return to them. Keep an eye on the clock and allocate roughly the remaining time across remaining questions.
If you need to leave the room, raise your hand and follow the proctor's instructions. Understand whether the clock keeps running during an unscheduled break - confirm the provider's policy beforehand (needs_review).
Collect your score report and your belongings from the locker. Note any retake waiting period and, if you did not pass, review the topic-level feedback before rescheduling.
Rules to check
Bring only the identification and items the provider expressly permits into the testing room; everything else goes in the locker. If you are unsure whether an item is allowed, ask the proctor before entering.
Your name on the appointment must match your photo ID. A mismatch can result in being turned away and losing the fee - resolve it with the provider in advance.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, do not attempt to view another screen, and do not remove or reproduce exam content. Exam materials are confidential, and misconduct can lead to score cancellation and disciplinary referral.
Scratch materials, if permitted, are supplied by the center and collected at the end. Never bring your own paper, notes, or writing instruments into the room.
Understand the break policy before you start: short qualification exams typically do not include a scheduled break, and unscheduled breaks may or may not stop the clock. Confirm with the provider rather than assuming (needs_review).
Scoring is based on the number of scored questions answered correctly; unanswered questions score as incorrect, so always guess. Confirm the current passing standard and any pretest (unscored) question policy with the sponsor (needs_review).
Follow all proctor instructions immediately, including palm-vein or signature capture, pockets-out checks, and room re-entry procedures. Refusal to comply can end your session.
If a technical problem or distraction occurs, stop and notify the proctor immediately and ask that an incident report be filed - do not try to fix it yourself or simply keep going.