• 44 questions

Series 6 Questions

Unofficial Series 6 sample questions on mutual funds, variable annuities and 529 plans, by the job functions of FINRA's outline.

Within how many days of receiving a redemption request must a mutual fund generally pay the proceeds?

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Exam mode: 40 questions, 72 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with FINRA. Bank checked October 9, 2026.

The real exam, as FINRA describes it

Questions
50
Time limit
90 minutes
Fee
$100
Passing score
70, as FINRA lists it. Equating puts scores on one common scale.
On the day
55 multiple-choice items: the 50 that are scored and 5 unidentified pretest items.
Corequisite
The Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam.
Products covered
Mutual funds, unit investment trusts, variable annuities, variable life insurance and municipal fund securities; closed-end funds only on their initial offering
Guessing
No penalty.
By function
Seeking business 12; opening accounts 8; information, recommendations and records 25; instructions and processing transactions 5.

Checked October 9, 2026 against FINRA's Series 6 page and Series 6 Content Outline. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

FINRA's Series 6 page and content outline

Next step SIE practice testSeries 7 practice questions

All 44 questions

Seeking business: communications and offerings 11

  • A member uses a retail communication that promotes a specific mutual fund. By when must it be filed with FINRA? FINRA Rule 2210, Communications with the Public, paragraph (c)(3)(A). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (product specific advertisements).
  • An investment company advertisement under Rule 482 quotes average annual total return. For which periods must it be shown, if the fund has existed that long? SEC rules under the Securities Act of 1933, 17 CFR Part 230, 17 CFR 230.482(d)(3). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (investment company advertising).
  • During its first year of FINRA membership, when must a firm file a retail communication used in public media, such as a website open to all? FINRA Rule 2210, Communications with the Public, paragraph (c)(1)(A). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (required approvals).
  • How much may an eligible company raise under Rule 504 of Regulation D? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Rule 504 of Regulation D. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.2, describing products and offerings (Regulation D offerings).
  • Under MSRB Rule G-21, what must happen before a dealer first uses an advertisement for municipal fund securities such as a 529 savings plan? MSRB Rule G-21. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (municipal fund securities advertising).
  • What is the largest number of retail investors that may receive a written communication within 30 calendar days for it still to be correspondence under FINRA Rule 2210? FINRA Rule 2210, Communications with the Public, paragraph (a)(2). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (types of communications).
  • What keeps an advertisement within the generic advertising rule, Securities Act Rule 135a? SEC rules under the Securities Act of 1933, 17 CFR Part 230, 17 CFR 230.135a. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (generic advertising).
  • When may a headline in a retail communication imply that a fund is the best performer in its category? FINRA Rule 2212, Use of Investment Companies Rankings in Retail Communications, paragraph (c)(1). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (investment company rankings).
  • When must a mutual fund give an investor its statement of additional information? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Statement of Additional Information. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.2, describing products and offerings (prospectus requirements).
  • Which statement may a communication with the public not make under FINRA Rule 2210? FINRA Rule 2210, Communications with the Public, paragraph (d)(1)(F). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (standards of public communications).
  • Who must approve a retail communication, and by when? FINRA Rule 2210, Communications with the Public, paragraph (b)(1)(A). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 1.1, communications and marketing materials (required approvals).

Opening accounts and customer profiles 7

  • For how long must a broker-dealer keep the identifying information it obtained under its customer identification program? FinCEN, 31 CFR 1023.220, paragraph (a)(3)(ii). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.2, customer information and documentation (customer identification program).
  • For tax years 2023 and later, which age sets the required beginning date for required minimum distributions from a traditional IRA? IRS Publication 590-B, Required Minimum Distributions. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.1, account types and disclosures (age restrictions for distributions).
  • How does a Roth IRA differ from a traditional IRA? Investor.gov (SEC), Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.1, account types and disclosures (retirement plans).
  • Under Regulation S-P, by when must a firm give an individual who becomes its customer the initial privacy notice? SEC Regulation S-P, 17 CFR Part 248, 17 CFR 248.4(a)(1). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.2, customer information and documentation (privacy regulations).
  • What does FINRA Rule 2090 require a member to know about every customer? FINRA Rule 2090, Know Your Customer. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.2, customer information and documentation (know your customer).
  • When must a broker deliver Form CRS, the relationship summary? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Form CRS. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.3, customer investment profile (Form CRS).
  • Which suitability obligation asks whether a recommendation suits some investors at least? FINRA Rule 2111, Suitability, Supplementary Material .05(a). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 2.3, customer investment profile (reasonable-basis obligations).

Funds, variable contracts and records 22

  • A branch receives a complete and correct application for a deferred variable annuity. By when must a registered principal review it and decide whether to approve the purchase? FINRA Rule 2330, Members' Responsibilities Regarding Deferred Variable Annuities, paragraph (c). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (variable annuity contracts).
  • A FINRA rule requires a record but sets no retention period, and no Exchange Act rule sets one. For how long must the member preserve the record? FINRA Rule 4511, General Requirements (books and records), paragraph (b). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.4, account information and records (books and records retention).
  • A fund charges a front-end sales load of 5.00% on investments under $25,000 and 4.00% on investments of $25,000 to $49,999. What is the sales load on a single $30,000 investment? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Breakpoint Discounts. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (sales practices: breakpoints).
  • A fund has neither a front-end sales charge nor a deferred one. What is the most its sales-related charges and service fees against net assets may be for a member to call it "no load"? FINRA Rule 2341, Investment Company Securities, paragraph (d)(4). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (open-end funds: no load).
  • A mutual fund has total assets of $52 million, total liabilities of $2 million and 4 million shares outstanding. What is its net asset value per share? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Net Asset Value. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (open-end funds: net asset value).
  • An investor puts the same dollar amount into a fund every month. What is the effect of this dollar-cost averaging? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Dollar Cost Averaging. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (sales practices: dollar-cost averaging).
  • An investor signs a letter of intent to reach a breakpoint and then does not make the promised purchases. What may happen? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Breakpoint Discounts. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (sales practices: letter of intent).
  • At what price must an order to buy or redeem mutual fund shares be filled? SEC Rule 22c-1, 17 CFR 270.22c-1, paragraph (a). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (open-end funds: forward pricing).
  • FINRA Rule 2341 measures a sales charge as a percentage of the offering price. A fund's offering price is $10.00 per share and its net asset value is $9.45. What is the sales charge? FINRA Rule 2341, Investment Company Securities, paragraph (d). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (sales practices: computing sales charge).
  • For an investment company with no asset-based sales charge, what is the most that aggregate front-end and deferred sales charges may be under FINRA Rule 2341? FINRA Rule 2341, Investment Company Securities, paragraph (d)(1)(A). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (open-end funds: fees and expenses).
  • How are the gains in a variable annuity taxed when the owner makes a withdrawal? SEC Investor Bulletin, Variable Annuities, tax consequences. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (tax treatment of variable annuity contracts).
  • How do the share classes of one mutual fund differ from each other? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Mutual Fund Classes. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (share classes).
  • How does MSRB Rule D-12 define a municipal fund security? MSRB Rule D-12. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (municipal fund securities).
  • How is the death benefit of a variable life insurance policy treated for federal income tax? SEC Investor Bulletin, Variable Life Insurance, tax consequences. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (variable life insurance).
  • Money is withdrawn from a 529 account and not used for qualified education expenses. What applies to the withdrawal? SEC Investor Bulletin, An Introduction to 529 Plans. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (municipal fund securities: tax consequences).
  • Under rights of accumulation, on what is the sales charge for a new purchase based? FINRA Rule 2341, Investment Company Securities, paragraph (b)(7). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (rights of accumulation).
  • What does Section 1035 of the tax code allow? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Section 1035. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (exchanging variable annuities).
  • What is the accumulation phase of a variable annuity? SEC Investor Bulletin, Variable Annuities, How do variable annuities work?. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (valuation of a variable annuity contract).
  • What may the owner of a new variable annuity contract do during the free look period? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Free Look Period. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (variable annuity contracts).
  • What sets the amount of a contingent deferred sales charge? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Contingent Deferred Sales Load. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (redemption: contingent deferred sales charge).
  • When a deferred variable annuity exchange is recommended, FINRA Rule 2330 asks whether the customer has had another such exchange within what period? FINRA Rule 2330, Members' Responsibilities Regarding Deferred Variable Annuities, paragraph (b)(1)(B). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (exchanging variable annuities).
  • Within how many days of receiving a redemption request must a mutual fund generally pay the proceeds? Investor.gov (SEC) glossary, Mutual Fund Redemptions. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 3.2, products and recommendations (redemption).

Orders, confirmations and complaints 4

  • A member receives an application and a purchase payment for a variable contract. What must it do with them? FINRA Rule 2320, Variable Contracts of an Insurance Company, paragraph (d). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 4.2, processing and confirming transactions (processing transactions).
  • An investor places an order to buy a stock and gives no time frame. For how long is the order good? SEC Investor Bulletin, Understanding Order Types. Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 4.1, quotes and orders (orders).
  • By when must a member report statistical and summary information on written customer complaints to FINRA? FINRA Rule 4530, Reporting Requirements, paragraph (d). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 4.3, errors and complaints (customer complaints).
  • Which fact about the broker-dealer's role must a confirmation disclose under SEC Rule 10b-10? SEC Rule 10b-10, 17 CFR 240.10b-10, paragraph (a)(2). Outline: FINRA Series 6 Content Outline (2020), Function 4.2, processing and confirming transactions (confirming transactions).

How it works

These Series 6 questions are our own, not Series 6 exam questions from FINRA: 44 on the four job functions of its content outline. Unofficial: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by FINRA. Not investment advice.

Read the full guide

Four functions, in FINRA's shares

FINRA's outline gives 50 scored questions: 12 on seeking business, 8 on opening accounts, 25 on information, recommendations and records, and 5 on instructions and processing transactions. This bank holds 11, 7, 22 and 4, nearly the same shares.

Packaged products only

The Series 6 covers mutual funds, unit investment trusts, variable annuities, variable life insurance and municipal fund securities such as 529 savings plans. Half of the real exam is Function 3, so Series 6 test prep starts with fund pricing and sales charges.

A timed run

Exam mode draws 40 questions with 72 minutes on the clock, the real pace of 50 in an hour and a half.

  • Work the arithmetic Series 6 example questions by hand: net asset value per share, sales charge as a share of offering price, a breakpoint.

Questions and answers

Is the Series 6 a top-off exam?

It is taken with the SIE. FINRA lists the Securities Industry Essentials exam as the corequisite, and a candidate must pass both to register. This Series 6 top off practice exam covers the Series 6 only.

How many questions are on the FINRA Series 6 exam?

55 in one hour and 30 minutes. Fifty are scored and 5 are unidentified pretest questions that do not count. All are multiple choice with four answers, and guessing carries no penalty.

What is the passing score for the Series 6 test?

FINRA lists 70. The exam is scored on an equated scale, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between sets of questions, so 70 does not mean 70 percent of this bank.

What can a Series 6 representative sell?

By FINRA's page: mutual funds, unit investment trusts, variable annuities, variable life insurance and municipal fund securities such as 529 savings plans; closed-end funds only on their initial offering. Corporate securities and options belong to the Series 7.

How much does the Series 6 license exam cost?

FINRA's Series 6 page lists the cost as $100. To sit it, a candidate must have a member firm as sponsor and be associated with that firm.

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