If you're thinking about a formal Series 3 prep course, Varsity Tutors can set you up with private Series 3 classes to help you improve your study skills. The Series 3 - National Commodities Futures Exam is a National Futures Association (NFA) exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that investment professionals must pass in order to legally trade in commodities and securities. It's considered more challenging than the Series 7 exam, which only covers securities. If you feel that you could benefit from a Series 3 course, reach out to us today to learn more about how we may be able to assist you!
One of the first things discussed in most Series 3 courses is the formatting you can expect on exam day. The Series 3 is a standardized test administered at testing centers across the country. A calculator is provided for your use, as are a pair of dry erase boards you may use as scrap paper. Both of these items must be returned to the test center at the conclusion of your testing session. The chart below provides additional information about the Series 3 test:
Question Format | # Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
Multiple-Choice | 120 | 2 Hours and 30 Minutes | 70% |
You might think that the Series 3 is easy because it utilizes a multiple-choice format, but some of the questions may be deceptively worded. You might want to take practice exams during your Series 3 class to get a feel for the way questions are worded. Since it is a timed test, taking practice exams under realistic conditions may help you develop effective time management strategies as well.
Once you understand the exam's formatting, you can move on to more specific content areas in your Series 3 prep class. The bulleted list below includes some of the topics you might want to go over:
Series 3 Major Subject Areas
- Futures trading theory and basic functions
- Futures margins, option premiums, price limits, futures settlements, delivery, exercise, and assignment
- Types of orders, customer accounts, price analysis
- Basic hedging, basis calculations, hedging futures
- Spreading
- Speculating in futures
- Option hedging, speculating, spreading
- Regulations
Private Series 3 prep classes allow students to concentrate on their unique areas of opportunity to improve study efficiency. For example, a test-taker who lacks a firm grasp of pertinent regulations may focus on them during their test prep. Likewise, you can spend your class time on futures if you don't completely understand them. Any questions you have may be answered promptly, as you are your instructor's sole pupil during your Series 3 prep courses.
A private instructor may also be better able to accommodate your individual learning style during your Series 3 course. If you are a visual learner, charts and graphs may be utilized to help illustrate key concepts. If you are more of an auditory learner, a lecture format may be used to help you better retain information.
We also strive to make Series 3 test prep as convenient as we can. All instruction takes place on our mobile-friendly Live Learning Platform, facilitating remote study sessions anywhere with a stable internet connection. We also try to match you with a tutor who meets your scheduling needs for added flexibility.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of taking a Varsity Tutors Series 3 class, contact an Educational Consultant today for more information. We look forward to helping you reach for your academic goals!
Andrew: Series 3 course instructor
...adept at teaching economics and finance, as well as topics in math, statistics, business administration, and standardized testing including several of the Series Exams. My teaching philosophy begins with understanding a student's goals and helping them achieve success both inside and outside of the classroom. I can use elements of a student's background to relate complex subjects in a way that is more familiar with the student. Outside of work, I am an avid sports...
Education & Certification
- UNC Chapel Hill - Bachelors, Economics & Psychology
- Georgetown University - Masters, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- CPA
- Series 56 - Proprietary Trader Qualification Exam
- +70 subjects
Peter: Series 3 course instructor
...it as a career. You possibly are in college and wanting an internship at an investment firm. You are hired in the business and need to pass the SIE and the other FINRA exams thereafter. Please understand that these tests are NOT EASY. You must be committed to PASSING the test. Your commitment to passing ensures my commitment to you. Otherwise, I probably am not the right tutor for you. My GOAL is for you...
Education & Certification
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Bachelor of Science, Materials Engineering
- California University of Pennsylvania - Master of Science, Mathematics and Statistics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 6
- IBEW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Series 66
- +42 subjects
Paul J : Series 3 course instructor
- 25 years of seasoned option trading involvement across diverse sectors. - Proven track record in investment banking and commodity exchange settings. - Insightful CFA exam grader with deep understanding of exam requirements. - Successful stint in hedge fund environment, enhancing market insight. - Former Head of Trading Risk at major clearing house, overseeing significant operations. - Aims to mentor CFA candidates, combining rich industry background with exam expertise. Marine engineering degree MBA in business CFA
Education & Certification
- Pace University-New York - Masters in Business Administration, Business, General
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 56 - Proprietary Trader Qualification Exam
- Series 5 - Interest Rate Options Exams
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- +58 subjects
Hal: Series 3 course instructor
...been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Trust and Investment Advisor, Regulation 144 Specialist, Retirement Planning Specialist, Certified Senior Advisor, and a variety of other qualifications. In 2019, as I began tutoring and realized that it had been decades since I originally passed my securities licensing exams, I took the Securities Industry Essentials Exam (SIE), and retook the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam (Series 65), and the National Commodities Futures Exam...
Education & Certification
- Frostburg State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Business Management
- Frostburg State University - Master of Science, Management Science
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 86
- Series 22
- CPA
- +171 subjects
Michael: Series 3 course instructor
...my time at two firms was involved in building electronic trading platforms over 20 years ago. While marketing an equity derivative trading platform I was offered a position on an equity derivatives brokerage desk as a sales/trader for an inter-dealer broker. Here I acted like an extension of my clients trading desks executing delta neutral trades, risk reversals and many other strategies either on a held or not held basis. Held means I am given...
Education & Certification
- Long Island University-C W Post Campus - Bachelor of Science, Finance
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College - Master of Science, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 63
- Series 4
- Series 55
- +14 subjects
Kevin: Series 3 course instructor
...My passion for teaching comes from a life long passion for learning. Im a Masters Degree graduate of Washington University in St. Louis (Olin School of Business: Finance emphasis) and also received my Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University. Both students and parents say that I help students succeed and realize their own potential with improved confidence, grades and test scores. Because I have over 20 years of "real life" professional experience...
Education & Certification
- Truman State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting
- Washington University in St Louis - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 63
- Series 79
- SIE
- +41 subjects
Gregory: Series 3 course instructor
...Financial Mathematics at The University of Chicago (Masters Degree.) I have 20 years experience using complex concepts in finance (stats, linear algebra, calculus) at JPMorgan and UBS. I teach stats, finance and programing in a user friendly way. I don't repeat the dry methods of text books. MATLAB is my main scripting language; I also use R and SPSS. I enjoy math and science, and I tutor my own children (7 and 10)
Education & Certification
- Wesleyan University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- University of Chicago - Master of Science, Financial Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Exam FM - Financial Mathematics
- +48 subjects
Michael: Series 3 course instructor
...can learn something and then pass it on to others. That is what brought me to earn my PhD and my flight instructor certificate, allowing me to teach various areas in finance, such as corporate finance, personal finance, and securities markets, and anything dealing with aviation. I have recently changed my career to move out of in-house financial services firms and focus completely on teaching. The way I prefer to teach and tutor is to...
Education & Certification
- Capella University - Doctor of Philosophy, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- SIE
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- +16 subjects
Mary: Series 3 course instructor
...proved to be mutually beneficial both to my professional career, as it was for the bank's global securities businesses (particularly US Equities and Swiss Treasury) that I diligently represented resulting in increasing customer business and attractive risk adjusted return on capital (RAROC). My career trajectory continued to expand beyond US domestic equity markets into global markets - Asia, Latin America, Europe as well as into other asset classes FX, Commodities, Fixed Income dictated by customer...
Education & Certification
- Dickinson College - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- Northwestern University - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 55
- Exam FM - Financial Mathematics
- Series 22
- +109 subjects
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- Series 6
- CFA
- +10 subjects
Chi-Sun: Series 3 course instructor
...students to truly understand the concepts and reasoning behind math, and not just learn how to apply formulas and do well on tests. Although they may get good grades, this will be useless later in life. In my teaching experience, when students actually learn the concepts and logic, not only does their math vastly improve, but they also learn to enjoy math, which is the ultimate goal. My qualifications include excelling at all high school...
Education & Certification
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Exam IFM - Investment and Financial Markets
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- AAI - Accredited Adviser in Insurance
- +112 subjects
Ben: Series 3 course instructor
Experienced portfolio manager, strategist and published author with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Asset Management, Equities, Bonds, Investment Strategies, and Capital Markets. Strong finance professional with a MBA focused in Finance, General from University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business. Series 65, 7, 63, 24, CFA, FRM
Education & Certification
- University of Amsterdam - Bachelor of Economics, Economics
- University of Southern California - Masters in Business Administration, Economics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Exam IFM - Investment and Financial Markets
- WMCP - Wealth Management Certified Professional
- Series 24
- +39 subjects
Jonathan: Series 3 course instructor
...an MBA with a concentration in finance, I am well acquainted with many of the various subjects taught by varsity tutors. The courses I have taken in financial derivatives, business statistics and corporate financial analysis have given me a broad base knowledge, as well as a forum for exploration. My personal goal is to use the knowledge I have gained combined with my experience teaching others to be a great tutor and overall resource for...
Education & Certification
- St Johns University-New York - Bachelor of Science, Finance
- St Johns University-New York - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Insurance License
- Middle School Math
- Elementary School Math
- +75 subjects