Series 24 Cheat Sheet.
The night-before summary, built like the exam.

Series 24 — General Securities Principal Exam Cheat Sheet

Exam at a Glance (memorize these numbers)

• 150 multiple-choice questions
• 225 minutes (3 hours 45 minutes) to complete
• Passing score: 70% — you must answer at least 105 of 150 correctly
• Exam fee: $235
• Time budget: ~90 seconds per question (225 min ÷ 150 items)

Note: The Series 24 is a co-requisite exam — candidates generally hold a General Securities Representative (Series 7 or equivalent) qualification before functioning as a principal. Confirm current prerequisites on FINRA's site.

Scoring Quick Math

• Pass line: 105 correct (70% of 150).
• You can miss up to 45 questions and still pass.
• There is no penalty for guessing beyond a wrong answer — never leave an item blank.

Pacing Strategy

• At ~1.5 minutes/question, aim to reach question 75 by the ~112-minute mark (halfway).
• Flag-and-return: don't burn 4+ minutes on any single item when the average is 90 seconds.
• Reserve the final ~15 minutes for review of flagged questions.

Role & Scope Reminders (must-remember concepts)

• The Series 24 qualifies a candidate to supervise a broker-dealer's investment-banking and securities-business activities.
• Core supervisory domains typically tested: supervision of associated persons, trading & market making, corporate/municipal underwriting, and financial responsibility/recordkeeping.
• Principal-level focus is on written supervisory procedures (WSPs), review/approval of activity, and firm-level compliance obligations rather than individual sales practice.

Test-Day Checklist

• Confirm the $235 fee is paid and your enrollment window is open before scheduling.
• Bring valid government-issued ID matching your registration.
• Plan for the full 225-minute block plus check-in time.