Are you planning on taking a class for any of your FINRA exams? There is something missing from FINRA exam classes that you should know about first.
Many of our students at Professional Exam Tutoring come to us after one of these types of classes. Although the classes can often be a great help, one crucial element is often absent: Q&A.
Why the Q&A is Missing from FINRA Exam Classes
First, I should be totally clear. The instructors from the large majority of these classes are extremely good at what they do. They have a deep understanding of the content they teach, and articulate the facts very well. Most of the class offerings out there come from established companies such as STC and Kaplan. To be sure, this is not their first rodeo.
When you’ve been in the tutoring/private education business long enough, you figure out what works and what doesn’t. Namely, what students are willing to sit through, and what they are not.
While some instructors will be nice enough to answer a question or two that you might have in these class settings, they are really just trying to get through all of the content they promised that they would cover. Therefore, there is typically not much time for Q&A throughout the day, other than on breaks if you can catch the instructor.
Don’t expect overly detailed answers (or the time for follow-ups). The class-room setting for most of these courses is not the right environment. Everyone is there (and paying) for the fire-hose of knowledge being poured out to the class. Not for specific answers to questions from certain students.
So what’s the end result? Many students leave these classes with more “dots of knowledge” but the lines to connect them are often missing.
So Are The Classes Worth It?
In short, yes. If you can afford to take a Series 7 Top-Off class for example, it will probably help. You may already have enough dots of knowledge such that adding new ones will be enough to make sense of what you weren’t clear on. While I always advocate for a SIE Exam tutor, Series 6 tutor, CFA tutor, or tutor for whatever course you’re taking in order to gain personalized help, the classes are often helpful for general learning. Experienced instructors, real-world examples, and demystifying jargon are some of the main advantages from these types of classes.
When Should I Not Take a Day-Long Class?
So, when are they not the right choice?
If you feel like you’ve studied the material, but need some guidance with a few specific subjects, a tutor might be better than a class. If you are going to spend between $200 and $300 on a multi-day class, then your money might be better spent with a tutor that can give you specific attention, identify your specific/personal needs, and avoid covering subjects where you’re already comfortable.
In conclusion, there are plenty of good reasons to take a full day class for your upcoming FINRA exam. That said, keep in mind that the interaction is limited so you might feel that something is missing from FINRA exam classes. Good luck!