Series 10 Practice Exam
Series 10 practice exam covering general securities sales supervision. 145 questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass.
Series 10 Exam
General Securities Sales Supervisor — General. Requires SIE + Series 7. 145 scored questions, 4 hours, 70% to pass.
Practice by Series 10 Domain
Target a specific area, or launch the full exam below
Personnel Management
Supervise associated persons, registration, CE, hiring, and firm procedures. 19% of Series 10 — 28 questions.
Customer Accounts
Supervise opening, maintenance, and compliance of customer accounts. 34% of Series 10 — 49 questions.
Sales Practices & Trading
Supervise sales practices, trading activities, and Reg BI compliance. 36% of Series 10 — 52 questions. Largest section.
Communications with the Public
Supervise firm communications, advertising, and public disclosures. 11% of Series 10 — 16 questions.
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Full Series 10 Practice Exam
All four domains mixed and weighted by the official FINRA Series 10 blueprint.
About the Series 10 Exam
The Series 10 General Securities Sales Supervisor exam covers all non-options supervisory activities for branch-level sales supervision at a FINRA member broker-dealer. Taken alongside the Series 9, it constitutes the full General Securities Sales Supervisor (GSSS) qualification. The Series 7 and SIE are prerequisites.
With 145 scored questions (155 total with 10 unscored) and a 4-hour time limit, the Series 10 is one of the longer FINRA exams. The passing score is 70%. The exam covers the full range of branch office supervision responsibilities — from reviewing customer accounts and suitability to supervising advertising, handling customer complaints, and maintaining required records.
Series 10 Exam Topic Breakdown
| Topic | Weight | Key Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Supervision of Sales Activities | 30% | Suitability review, account supervision, trade review, complaint handling |
| Supervision of Registered Personnel | 25% | Hiring, U4/U5 filings, continuing education, outside business activities, private securities transactions |
| Customer Accounts | 25% | Account types, margin supervision, retirement accounts, trust accounts |
| Communications and Advertising | 10% | Principal review of advertising, correspondence supervision, social media |
| Recordkeeping and Reporting | 10% | Books and records requirements, FINRA reporting, SAR filing, AML |
Sample Series 10 Exam Questions
1. A registered representative at a branch submits a Form U4 amendment disclosing a customer complaint involving $10,000 in alleged damages. As the branch manager, you must ensure the U4 is amended within:
2. A registered representative asks to engage in an outside business activity (OBA) as a part-time financial planning consultant. Under FINRA Rule 3270, the representative must:
3. A branch manager receives a written customer complaint alleging unsuitable recommendations. Under FINRA Rule 4513, the firm must:
Study Tips for the Series 10 Exam
The Series 10 is the most comprehensive supervisory exam at the branch level. Focus heavily on FINRA's supervision rules: Rule 3110 (Supervision), Rule 3120 (Supervisory Control System), Rule 3130 (Annual Certification of Compliance), and Rule 3270 (Outside Business Activities). Know the specific timelines — U4 amendment within 30 days, certain complaint reporting requirements, SAR filing within 30 days of detecting suspicious activity.
Customer account supervision (25% of the exam) covers margin accounts, retirement accounts (IRA, 401k rules), trust accounts, custodial accounts (UGMA/UTMA), and discretionary accounts. Know what activities require heightened supervision, what documentation is required, and the specific rules for different account types. The Series 10's length (4 hours, 145 questions) requires stamina — use timed practice to build endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions — Series 10 Exam
What is the Series 10 exam and who needs it?
The Series 10 is the General Securities Sales Supervisor — General exam. Combined with the Series 9, it provides the GSSS qualification for branch office managers at FINRA member firms. Any principal who supervises registered representatives engaged in securities sales (other than options-only) needs the GSSS qualification.
What exams are prerequisites for the Series 10?
The SIE and Series 7 are required before taking the Series 10. The Series 9 must also be passed (in any order) to complete the GSSS qualification.
What is the difference between the Series 10 and Series 24?
The Series 10 covers branch-level sales supervision. The Series 24 is the General Securities Principal exam, authorizing supervision of all broker-dealer activities including trading, market making, and investment banking — broader authority than branch-level supervision.
What is FINRA Rule 3270 (Outside Business Activities)?
FINRA Rule 3270 requires registered persons to provide prior written notice to their firm before engaging in any outside business activity (OBA). The firm must evaluate and determine whether to approve, restrict, or prohibit the activity. This rule protects customers by ensuring firms know about activities that might create conflicts of interest or divert attention from the representative's obligations.
What are a branch manager's obligations regarding U4 amendments?
Branch managers must ensure that Form U4 is updated within 30 days of any reportable event — including certain criminal matters, regulatory actions, civil judicial actions meeting reporting thresholds, and customer complaints. The branch manager also has supervisory responsibility to watch for events that could trigger reporting obligations and to ensure all registered persons under supervision maintain current U4 information.
What recordkeeping requirements are tested on the Series 10?
Key retention periods: customer complaint files (4 years), customer account records (6 years), order tickets (3 years), blotters/ledgers (6 years). FINRA Rule 4510 series covers general recordkeeping; Rule 4513 covers customer complaints specifically. The branch manager is responsible for maintaining required records and ensuring they are accessible for FINRA examination.
How long does it take to study for the Series 10?
Most candidates who hold the Series 7 need 60–80 hours of dedicated study for the Series 10. The exam is long (4 hours, 145 questions) and covers a broad range of supervisory topics. Focus on FINRA's supervision rules (3110, 3120, 3270), the U4/U5 amendment requirements, and customer account supervision procedures.