Series 3 Exam Practice Quiz Questions

How does making $76,900 per year in a career growing twice as fast as the average job in America sound to you? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this is true for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents.

One way to join them? Master the Series 3 Exam questions and pass with ease.

This Series 3 exam guide is your go-to resource for understanding the types of questions, the topics covered, and—most importantly—how to pass. I’ll also throw in some insider tips to help you ace those tricky multiple-choice and true/false questions. Let’s dive in!

Key Takeaways

• Series 3 Exam Structure: The exam has 120 scored questions split into two parts, with a 70% passing score required on each.
• Math Questions Matter: Many test-takers are surprised by the number of calculations, so memorizing contract sizes and practicing math is crucial.
• Question Types: The exam includes multiple-choice and true/false questions, so mastering elimination strategies and time management is key.
• Time Management Is Critical: With 2.5 hours for 120+ questions, you need to pace yourself and avoid getting stuck on tough calculations.
• Study Smart: Use practice exams, flashcards, and trusted prep courses like The Securities Institute of America, STC, and Kaplan to boost your chances of passing.

What You Need to Know About the Series 3 Exam

Before we get into strategy, let’s break down what you’re actually up against when it comes to the National Commodities Futures Examination, or more commonly, the Series 3 exam.

The National Futures Association administers this exam, and it’s required for anyone who wants to trade futures and commodities professionally.

Now that you know what’s at stake, let’s talk about how to crush this exam.

Breaking Down the Two Parts of the Exam

The Series 3 exam is split into two sections:

Part 1: Futures Trading Theory and Basic Functions Terminology

This section tests your understanding of:

• Futures trading theory (how futures work and why they exist)
• Margins & options premiums (how much money you need to put down)
• Price limits & settlements (how prices move and settle)
• Order types & customer accounts (how trades are placed and managed)
• Basic hedging & speculation (risk management and profit strategies)
• Option hedging & spreading (advanced trading techniques)

Part 2: U.S. Regulations

While I couldn’t track down the official name for this section, I can tell you that it covers everything you need to know about the rules and regulations in the futures market, including:

• Who regulates what? (NFA, CFTC, exchanges, etc.)
• Compliance & reporting requirements
• Ethical trading practices
• Customer protections & disclosures

The bottom line? Part 1 is about trading, and Part 2 is about the rules.

Types of Questions & How to Tackle Them

You’ll face two types of questions on the Series 3 exam: multiple-choice and true/false. Here’s how to handle each:

1. Multiple-Choice Questions

These can be tricky because they often have multiple “correct-sounding” answers. Here’s how to get them right:

✅ Eliminate wrong answers first. Cross out anything that’s obviously incorrect.
✅ Watch out for tricky wording. Words like “always” or “never” often indicate a wrong answer.
✅ Think like the test-makers. What’s the “most correct” answer? If two seem right, pick the most comprehensive one.
✅ Don’t overthink it. Your first instinct is often correct!

2. True/False Questions

At first glance, these seem easy, but they can be sneaky. Keep these tips in mind:

✅ If ANY part of the statement is false, the whole thing is false.
✅ Look for absolute terms. Words like always, never, and must are usually red flags.
✅ If you’re unsure, go with your gut. You have a 50% chance, so don’t leave it blank!

Series 3 Practice Quiz Questions

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1
What is a futures contract?
A) A legally binding agreement to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a future date.
B) A non-binding promise to trade an asset when conditions seem favorable.
C) A derivative that requires no collateral or margin.
D) An option to purchase an asset in the future with no obligation to follow through.

✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A futures contract is a binding agreement that sets the price and date for the future exchange of an asset.

Question 2
Which of the following best defines a margin call in futures trading?
A) A notification to add funds when the account equity drops below the maintenance margin.
B) A reminder that the account has reached its profit target.
C) An automatic closure of all open positions.
D) A request to lower the initial margin requirement.

✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A margin call occurs when the account balance falls below the maintenance margin, prompting the trader to deposit additional funds.

Question 3
What does the term “open interest” refer to in futures markets?
A) The total number of contracts traded in one day.
B) The volume of contracts that are closed by the end of the trading session.
C) The total number of active contracts that have not been offset by an opposing trade.
D) The difference between the highest bid and the lowest ask prices.

✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Open interest represents the number of outstanding contracts that remain active and unsettled in the market.

Question 4
A trader buys one gold futures contract at $1,200 per ounce. Each contract covers 100 ounces. If the price rises to $1,225 per ounce, what is the profit on the contract?
A) $2,500 profit
B) $1,250 profit
C) $2,000 profit
D) $3,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Profit is calculated as (New Price – Purchase Price) × Contract Size = ($1,225 – $1,200) × 100 = $2,500.

Question 5
A trader sells two crude oil futures contracts at $70 per barrel. Each contract represents 1,000 barrels. If the price declines to $68 per barrel, what is the profit?
A) $2,000 profit
B) $4,000 profit
C) $1,000 profit
D) $3,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For a short position, profit equals (Selling Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts = (70 – 68) × 1,000 × 2 = $4,000.

Question 6
Which statement best characterizes hedgers in the futures market?
A) They seek to profit from short-term price fluctuations.
B) They use futures contracts to reduce or manage price risk in their underlying assets.
C) They trade based solely on technical analysis without any exposure to the physical commodity.
D) They avoid using margin in their trading strategies.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Hedgers use futures contracts as a risk management tool to offset potential losses in the underlying asset’s price.

Question 7
What does the term “tick size” mean in futures trading?
A) The overall value of one contract.
B) The smallest allowed price movement of the contract.
C) The minimum margin required for a trade.
D) The maximum fluctuation range for a single day.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Tick size is the minimum increment by which the price of a futures contract can move.

Question 8
In futures trading, what is meant by “mark-to-market”?
A) Settling all gains and losses only when the contract expires.
B) Adjusting the value of open positions daily to reflect current market prices.
C) Ignoring intraday price movements until the end of the trading week.
D) Setting the initial margin based on the closing price.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Mark-to-market involves recalculating and adjusting the profit or loss of open positions at the end of each trading day.

Question 9
Which order type turns into a market order when a specified price is reached, helping to limit potential losses?
A) Limit order
B) Stop order
C) Fill-or-kill order
D) Good-til-canceled order

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A stop order becomes a market order once the trigger price is hit, which can help cap losses during rapid market movements.

Question 10
Which of the following is true regarding physically delivered futures contracts?
A) They are always settled in cash.
B) They require the actual exchange of the underlying commodity upon contract expiration.
C) They eliminate the need for a clearinghouse.
D) They are exclusively used for financial instruments.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Physically delivered futures contracts involve the actual delivery of the commodity at expiration if the position isn’t offset.

Question 11
What does it mean to “roll over” a futures contract?
A) Exchanging one contract for a contract of a different commodity.
B) Closing an existing position and opening a new one with a later expiration date.
C) Increasing the size of an open position.
D) Converting a cash-settled contract into a physically delivered contract.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Rolling over means closing out a near-term contract and simultaneously opening a position in a contract with a later delivery date.

Question 12
Which agency is primarily responsible for regulating U.S. futures markets?
A) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
B) Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
C) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
D) Federal Reserve Board

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The CFTC is tasked with overseeing and regulating futures and commodity markets to maintain fair and efficient trading.

Question 13
What is the main role of a clearinghouse in futures trading?
A) Providing margin loans to traders.
B) Acting as the counterparty to both sides of a trade to guarantee performance.
C) Setting daily price limits on contracts.
D) Executing trades on behalf of investors.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A clearinghouse reduces counterparty risk by becoming the buyer to every seller and the seller to every buyer.

Question 14
Which factor typically leads to tighter bid-ask spreads in a futures market?
A) Low trading volume
B) High liquidity
C) Increased volatility
D) Reduced market participation

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: High liquidity generally results in more competitive pricing, which narrows the difference between bid and ask prices.

Question 15
How is a short position established in futures trading?
A) By selling a contract without first owning a long position.
B) By buying a contract with the intention of selling it later at a higher price.
C) By simultaneously buying and selling the same contract.
D) By borrowing funds to increase the contract size.

✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation: A short position is created when a trader sells a futures contract without an offsetting long position, expecting the price to drop.

Question 16
What does “contract size” refer to in a futures contract?
A) The number of underlying units or quantity of the asset represented by the contract.
B) The smallest price increment of the contract.
C) The total dollar value of the contract at inception.
D) The margin required to open the position.

✅ Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Contract size specifies how many units of the underlying asset are included in one futures contract.

Question 17
Which of the following is not a typical factor in determining the margin requirements for a futures position?
A) Price volatility of the underlying asset
B) Market liquidity
C) The trader’s personal details
D) The contract size

✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Margin requirements are based on market factors like volatility and contract size, not on the trader’s personal characteristics.

Question 18
What advantage do options on futures contracts provide?
A) An obligation to enter into the underlying futures contract.
B) The right, but not the obligation, to take a position in the futures contract.
C) A guaranteed profit regardless of market movement.
D) Automatic conversion to a futures contract at a fixed rate.

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Options on futures offer flexibility, allowing traders to decide whether or not to enter the corresponding futures position.

Question 19
What is the purpose of the initial margin in a futures trading account?
A) To cover current losses only
B) To serve as a performance bond that covers potential future losses
C) To pay for transaction fees
D) To determine the final settlement price of the contract

✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The initial margin is a deposit that acts as collateral, helping to cover potential losses as the market moves.

Question 20

Which of the following is true about initial and maintenance margin requirements for futures contracts?
A) Initial margin is always lower than maintenance margin.
B) Maintenance margin is the amount required to open a position.
C) If an account balance falls below the maintenance margin, a margin call is issued.
D) Futures traders are never required to post margin.

✅ Correct Answer: C
Explanation: If an account drops below the maintenance margin, the trader must deposit additional funds to bring it back to the initial margin level.

True/False Questions

Question 1
True or False: A long hedge is used to protect against falling prices.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: A long hedge is implemented to protect against rising prices, while a short hedge is used to protect against falling prices.

Question 2
True or False: A margin call is triggered when an account’s equity falls below the maintenance margin requirement.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: When the account balance dips below the maintenance margin, the broker issues a margin call, requiring the trader to deposit additional funds.

Question 3
True or False: The initial margin is the deposit required to open a futures position as a performance bond.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: The initial margin acts as collateral to cover potential losses and must be posted when a position is opened.

Question 4
True or False: Mark-to-market is the process of settling gains and losses on futures contracts only at expiration.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Mark-to-market adjusts the value of open positions daily, reflecting the current market prices, not just at expiration.

Question 5
True or False: Open interest represents the total number of contracts traded in a single day.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Open interest is the number of active contracts that have not yet been offset by an opposite trade, not the daily trading volume.

Question 6
True or False: The clearinghouse acts as the counterparty to both sides of a futures trade to guarantee contract performance.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: The clearinghouse interposes itself between buyers and sellers to manage counterparty risk, ensuring the trade’s integrity.

Question 7
True or False: Physically delivered futures contracts are settled in cash at expiration.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: With physically delivered contracts, the actual commodity is exchanged upon contract expiration if the position is not offset.

Question 8
True or False: A stop order becomes a market order when the specified trigger price is reached.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Once the stop price is hit, the stop order is activated and becomes a market order to fill at the current market price.

Question 9
True or False: Rolling over a futures contract involves closing an existing position and opening a new one with a later expiration date.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Rolling over is the process of moving a position from a near-term contract to a later-term contract to avoid physical delivery or expiration.

Question 10
True or False: Options on futures contracts obligate the holder to take a position in the underlying futures contract if exercised.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Options on futures grant the right—but not the obligation—to enter into a futures position, providing flexibility to the holder.

Question 11
True or False: High liquidity in a futures market typically leads to narrower bid-ask spreads.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: When many buyers and sellers are active, competition increases, which generally tightens the bid-ask spread.

Question 12
True or False: A short position in futures is established by selling a futures contract without an existing long position.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Initiating a short position simply means selling a futures contract, expecting to buy it back later at a lower price.

Question 13
True or False: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is responsible for regulating the U.S. futures markets.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: The CFTC oversees the futures markets in the United States to promote fair trading practices and protect market participants.

Question 14
True or False: Position limits are imposed to prevent any one trader from having an excessively large influence on market prices.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Position limits help maintain orderly markets by restricting the number of contracts a single trader or entity can hold.

Question 15
True or False: The maintenance margin is always higher than the initial margin requirement.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Typically, the initial margin is higher than the maintenance margin, which allows some room for daily fluctuations before a margin call is triggered.

Question 16
True or False: The tick size of a futures contract represents the smallest allowed movement in its price.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Tick size is the minimum price increment in which the futures contract can trade.

Question 17
True or False: In a futures trading account, gains and losses are only recognized when the contract is closed.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Due to the mark-to-market process, gains and losses are settled daily, regardless of whether the contract is closed.

Question 18
True or False: Basis risk is the risk that the cash price and the futures price of an asset will not move in perfect alignment.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Basis risk occurs when the difference between the spot price and the futures price changes, which can affect hedging effectiveness.

Question 19
True or False: Hedging is used by speculators to increase their exposure to market volatility.
✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 Explanation: Hedging is a risk management strategy employed to reduce exposure to adverse price movements, not to amplify risk.

Question 20
True or False: Futures trading requires posting margin because contracts are leveraged, meaning traders only need to put up a fraction of the contract’s value.
✅ Correct Answer: True
👉 Explanation: Margin is necessary to cover potential losses since futures contracts allow traders to control large positions with a relatively small amount of capital.

True or False: A long hedge is used to protect against falling prices.

✅ Correct Answer: False
👉 A long hedge protects against rising prices by taking a long futures position. A short hedge, on the other hand, protects against price declines.

Sample Calculation-Based Multiple-Choice Question

Question 1
A trader buys five crude oil futures contracts at $75.50 per barrel. Each contract represents 1,000 barrels. If the price rises to $76.25 per barrel, what is the trader’s profit or loss?
A) $3,750 profit
B) $750 profit
C) $3,750 loss
D) $750 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $3,750 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Selling Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (76.25 – 75.50) × 1,000 × 5 = $0.75 × 5,000 = $3,750.

Question 2
A trader sells two gold futures contracts at $1,200 per ounce. Each contract represents 100 ounces. If the price falls to $1,180 per ounce, what is the trader’s profit or loss?
A) $4,000 profit
B) $2,000 profit
C) $4,000 loss
D) $2,000 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $4,000 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Selling Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (1,200 – 1,180) × 100 × 2 = $20 × 200 = $4,000.

Question 3
A trader buys one silver futures contract at $15.75 per ounce. Each contract represents 5,000 ounces. The tick size is $0.005 with a tick value of $25. If the price increases by 10 ticks, what is the profit on one contract?
A) $250 profit
B) $500 profit
C) $125 profit
D) $1,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $250 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = Tick Value × Number of Ticks
👉 Calculation: $25 × 10 = $250.

Question 4
A trader sells three wheat futures contracts at $5.20 per bushel. Each contract represents 5,000 bushels. If the price increases to $5.35 per bushel, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $2,250 loss
B) $2,250 profit
C) $750 loss
D) $1,500 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,250 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (New Price – Selling Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (5.35 – 5.20) × 5,000 × 3 = $0.15 × 15,000 = $2,250.

Question 5
A trader buys four corn futures contracts at $3.45 per bushel. Each contract represents 5,000 bushels. If the price drops to $3.35 per bushel, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $2,000 loss
B) $2,000 profit
C) $4,000 loss
D) $4,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,000 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (Buying Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (3.45 – 3.35) × 5,000 × 4 = $0.10 × 20,000 = $2,000.

Question 6
A trader enters a long position in a natural gas futures contract at $3.00 per MMBtu. Each contract represents 10,000 MMBtu. If the price rises to $3.10 per MMBtu, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $1,000 profit
B) $1,000 loss
C) $10,000 profit
D) $100 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $1,000 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (New Price – Entry Price) × Contract Size
👉 Calculation: (3.10 – 3.00) × 10,000 = $0.10 × 10,000 = $1,000.

Question 7
A trader sells six copper futures contracts at $4.20 per pound. Each contract represents 25,000 pounds. If the price falls to $4.15 per pound, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $7,500 profit
B) $7,500 loss
C) $15,000 profit
D) $15,000 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $7,500 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Selling Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (4.20 – 4.15) × 25,000 × 6 = $0.05 × 150,000 = $7,500.

Question 8
A trader buys two platinum futures contracts at $900 per ounce. Each contract represents 50 ounces. If the price rises to $910 per ounce, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $1,000 profit
B) $500 profit
C) $1,000 loss
D) $2,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $1,000 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (New Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (910 – 900) × 50 × 2 = $10 × 100 = $1,000.

Question 9
A trader sells one live cattle futures contract at $130 per hundredweight (cwt). Each contract represents 400 cwt. If the price increases to $132 per cwt, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $800 loss
B) $800 profit
C) $400 loss
D) $1,600 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $800 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (New Price – Selling Price) × Contract Size
👉 Calculation: (132 – 130) × 400 = $2 × 400 = $800.

Question 10
A trader buys three coffee futures contracts at $1.20 per pound. Each contract represents 37,500 pounds. If the price increases to $1.22 per pound, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $2,250 profit
B) $2,250 loss
C) $750 profit
D) $1,500 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,250 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (New Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (1.22 – 1.20) × 37,500 × 3 = $0.02 × 112,500 = $2,250.

Question 11
A trader enters a short position on four sugar futures contracts at $0.18 per pound. Each contract represents 112,000 pounds. If the price falls to $0.16 per pound, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $8,960 profit
B) $4,480 profit
C) $8,960 loss
D) $17,920 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $8,960 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Entry Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (0.18 – 0.16) × 112,000 × 4 = $0.02 × 448,000 = $8,960.

Question 12
A trader buys ten soybean futures contracts at $9.50 per bushel. Each contract represents 5,000 bushels. If the price drops to $9.40 per bushel, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $5,000 loss
B) $5,000 profit
C) $10,000 loss
D) $1,000 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $5,000 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (Buying Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (9.50 – 9.40) × 5,000 × 10 = $0.10 × 50,000 = $5,000.

Question 13
A trader sells eight live hog futures contracts at $45 per hundredweight. Each contract represents 40 hundredweights. If the price declines to $43 per hundredweight, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $640 profit
B) $640 loss
C) $1,280 profit
D) $320 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $640 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Selling Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (45 – 43) × 40 × 8 = $2 × 320 = $640.

Question 14
A trader buys five natural gas futures contracts at $2.50 per MMBtu. Each contract represents 10,000 MMBtu. If the price decreases to $2.45 per MMBtu, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $2,500 loss
B) $2,500 profit
C) $5,000 loss
D) $500 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,500 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (Buying Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (2.50 – 2.45) × 10,000 × 5 = $0.05 × 50,000 = $2,500.

Question 15
A trader sells seven copper futures contracts at $4.30 per pound. Each contract represents 25,000 pounds. If the price rises to $4.35 per pound, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $8,750 loss
B) $8,750 profit
C) $17,500 loss
D) $4,375 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $8,750 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (New Price – Selling Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (4.35 – 4.30) × 25,000 × 7 = $0.05 × 175,000 = $8,750.

Question 16
A trader buys two gold futures contracts at $1,250 per ounce. Each contract represents 100 ounces. If the price increases to $1,260 per ounce, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $2,000 profit
B) $1,000 profit
C) $2,000 loss
D) $1,000 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,000 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (New Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (1,260 – 1,250) × 100 × 2 = $10 × 200 = $2,000.

Question 17
A trader sells three silver futures contracts at $16.00 per ounce. Each contract represents 5,000 ounces. If the price rises to $16.10 per ounce, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $1,500 loss
B) $1,500 profit
C) $500 loss
D) $3,000 loss

✅ Correct Answer: A) $1,500 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (New Price – Selling Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (16.10 – 16.00) × 5,000 × 3 = $0.10 × 15,000 = $1,500.

Question 18
A trader buys four crude oil futures contracts at $65.00 per barrel. Each contract represents 1,000 barrels. If the price falls to $64.25 per barrel, what is the trader’s loss?
A) $3,000 loss
B) $3,000 profit
C) $750 loss
D) $750 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $3,000 loss
👉 Explanation: Loss = (Buying Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (65.00 – 64.25) × 1,000 × 4 = $0.75 × 4,000 = $3,000.

Question 19
A trader sells five wheat futures contracts at $5.50 per bushel. Each contract represents 5,000 bushels. If the price falls to $5.40 per bushel, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $2,500 profit
B) $2,500 loss
C) $500 profit
D) $5,000 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $2,500 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (Selling Price – New Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (5.50 – 5.40) × 5,000 × 5 = $0.10 × 25,000 = $2,500.

Question 20
A trader buys six soybean futures contracts at $10.00 per bushel. Each contract represents 5,000 bushels. If the price rises to $10.15 per bushel, what is the trader’s profit?
A) $4,500 profit
B) $4,500 loss
C) $9,000 profit
D) $450 profit

✅ Correct Answer: A) $4,500 profit
👉 Explanation: Profit = (New Price – Buying Price) × Contract Size × Number of Contracts
👉 Calculation: (10.15 – 10.00) × 5,000 × 6 = $0.15 × 30,000 = $4,500.

Study Tips: How to Prepare for the Series 3 Exam

Want to pass on your first try? Follow these study strategies:

1. Take Practice Exams—A LOT of Them

The best way to prepare? Practice, practice, practice. Simulate actual testing conditions with full-length practice exams to build endurance and confidence.

Where to find excellent practice exams:

• The Securities Institute of America (Highly recommended!)
• Securities Training Corporation
• Kaplan Financial Education

These companies offer the best Series 3 prep courses, practice questions, and study materials to help you pass.

2. Use Flashcards for Key Terms & Concepts

You’ll need to memorize a ton of terminology for the Series 3 exam. Flashcards can help you drill important concepts like:

• Margins & premiums
• Hedging strategies
• Order types
• Regulatory bodies & their roles

You can make your own or use apps like Quizlet to find pre-made decks.

3. Understand, Don’t Just Memorize

Sure, memorization is important, but the Series 3 exam isn’t just about regurgitating facts—it’s about applying concepts. Make sure you:

✅ Understand why specific trading strategies work
✅ Know how different rules apply in real-world scenarios
✅ Can recognize trick questions and apply logic

4. Manage Your Time on Exam Day

You’ve got a time limit of 2 hours and 30 minutes to answer 120+ questions. That’s a little over 1 minute per question.

Time management tips:

• Don’t get stuck. If you don’t know an answer, mark it and move on.
• Answer every question. There’s no penalty for guessing!
• Review your answers. If time allows, double-check tricky ones.

Don’t Underestimate the Math!

A common mistake students make? Underestimating the number of calculation questions on the Series 3 exam. Many test-takers report being surprised by how much math is involved.

Here’s what students have said in a Reddit thread on the exam:

“I was surprised by how many calculation questions there were and by their complexity. I worked as fast as I could, but I only barely finished in the 2.5 hours. If I could go back, I would have studied the calculations a lot more.”

“Way more calculations than I expected, and I pretty much ran out of time at the end.”

“If you master the T chart, you will ace the math questions. The key is being able to do it all quickly.”

How to Prepare for the Math Questions

✅ Get a math tutor to give you tips and tricks to solve the questions.
✅ Practice time management—math problems can slow you down!
✅ Learn the T chart method (if you know what it is, use it!).
✅ Use a calculator efficiently—you’ll need to be quick.
✅ Buy a prep course with live classes to ask math-specific questions (like STC).

If you’re not confident in your math skills, dedicate extra study time to futures pricing, margin calculations, and hedging strategies. Mastering these will give you an advantage on exam day!

What Happens If You Don’t Pass?

First of all, don’t panic—you’re not alone! If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam, but you’ll have to:

1. Wait 30 days before trying again
2. Pay another $140 to take the test
3. Refocus your study efforts on weak areas

The good news? With the proper prep, you can pass on your next attempt.

Final Thoughts

The Series 3 exam is challenging, but it’s totally doable if you prepare the right way. Remember:

• Know the two main parts: Trading strategies & regulations
• Practice like crazy with top-tier prep courses
• Master multiple-choice & true/false question techniques
• Manage your time wisely on exam day

And most importantly—believe in yourself! With the right study plan, you’ll be well on your way to passing the Series 3 exam and launching your futures trading career.

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