Primerica is a financial services company that requires its advisors to pass three different exams to sell financial products. These are the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 6 and 63 exams, as well as a state life insurance test. The standardized tests are administered by test centers. FINRA tests require a passing grade of 70 percent, while some state insurance licensing exams, such as California's, only require 60 percent or higher.

Prelicensing Class

There are prelicensing classes that help prepare you for the exams. For the FINRA exams, the classes are merely there to help you navigate the mass of information and prepare for the test. With the life insurance class, you must complete 20 hours of prelicensing before you can sit for the test. This is a requirement and can't be avoided.

Primerica offers online video training to help you prepare for the exam. There are other vendors that hold live classes and other online courses that review the material, doing test prep similar to an SAT test prep course.

One Test at a Time

Study for one test at a time. Many industry professionals recommend taking the life insurance test first, since it is shorter and considered easier by many. This helps give you confidence when moving on to a lengthier test and gets you in test-taking mode. The life insurance test has 75 questions, and you have 90 minutes to complete it. The FINRA Series 6 has 105 questions that must be completed within the two-hour and 15-minute time limit. The FINRA Series 63 has 60 questions to be completed in 75 minutes.

Learn Test-Taking Skills

Your prelicensing class should cover the types of common questions that come up on the exam. All three exams are multiple choice. However, there are often double negatives and multiple answer options that can confuse someone reading through too fast. Understanding how test writers set up questions and answers that could "trick" a test taker is as fundamental as knowing the information inside and out.

Arrive Prepared

The tests are proctored. You will need a valid photo ID when you arrive. Proctors will make you remove large baggy sweatshirts that can hide cheat materials. Prepare yourself to empty your pockets and leave your purse in a locker provided for you at the test center. While you can go to the restroom during the exam, your time continues to tick, and you are timed as to how long you can be outside of the test center before your exam is cancelled with a "fail." Knowing these details helps get you in the right mindset and avoid surprises the day of the exam. Most test centers provide results within minutes of completing your exam, so you leave knowing whether you passed.