NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Knopman Marks Financial Training, one of the foremost FINRA exam preparation companies, announced today that the industry’s incoming full-time analysts and associates posted the highest pass rates the firm has seen to date, across multiple exams. Knopman Marks–trained exam candidates consistently earn the highest pass rates in the industry, but this summer’s numbers were even higher. In a typical year, 95%–97% of candidates studying for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam pass on their first try with Knopman Marks. This summer, it was 99.9%. Two other exams required for incoming analysts and associates on Wall Street had pass rates of 98.7% (Series 7) and 99% (Series 79).
“In a year where things are really difficult—for professionals, employers, and parents—it’s exciting to be able to share good news,” says Liza Streiff, CEO of Knopman Marks. “Remote learning isn’t easy, but we’ve worked hard to blend elements of remote and hands-on teaching techniques to help this year’s candidate class not only pass, but thrive.”
Knopman Marks’ pass rates for all major exams edged upward this summer, compared with last summer. The Series 63 pass rate was 98.36%, and the Series 66—one of the most difficult exams—had a pass rate of 88.46%. The firm’s overall pass rate across all exams was 99%.
Knopman Marks’ “The Blend” Provides Insight into the Future of Learning
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Knopman Marks shifted classes to a remote environment, and kept candidates and Wall Street firms apprised of FINRA’s remote and in-person exam options, even hosting webinars and Q&As with Prometric, who administers all of FINRA’s exams. The firm also launched “The Blend,” a blended learning model combining pre-recorded lectures with live, digital check-ins and interactive review sessions with faculty.
In a year when millions of students and teachers lamented the difficulties of remote learning, this blended teaching method drove results. In a whitepaper titled “The Future of Learning: Learning to Blend,” the Knopman Marks team illustrates elements of the method—called “The Blend”—that helped boost exam pass rates by increasing student engagement, retention, and mastery; facilitating self-pacing; and providing one-on-one check-ins.
Learn the secrets to record-breaking pass rates by downloading the whitepaper here.
This blended approach “provided a learning environment tailored to my personal strengths and what I needed to improve upon,” says Philip Abularrage, an investment banking analyst who passed the Series 79 this summer. The pre-recorded lectures allow students to rewind or speed up the lessons to learn at their own pace. While students review the pre-recorded material, Knopman faculty are available for questions and to provide one-on-one support for students who need the extra help. “It would have been much harder—frankly, not possible—to do this in a traditional in-person setting,” says Abularrage. In addition, scheduled review sessions with faculty follow the recorded lessons so that students can ask questions and engage in real-time with faculty and fellow test-takers.
“It turns out that real-time interactions between faculty and students are more significant in terms of their exam performance outcomes than being in the same location,” says Dave Meshkov, head of course design. “The time I spent with students wasn’t to lecture but to zero in on topics that they found challenging or confusing and offer additional explanation, and additional opportunities for application of the ideas.”
Knopman Marks has trained more than 8,000 candidates thus far in 2020, including Wall Street clients from the ten largest investment banks based on 2019 revenue. The pass rates enclosed account for those trained between June 23 and September 23, with test dates between June 27 and October 5.
About Knopman Marks Financial Training
With unmatched test results, Knopman Marks Financial Training is the leader in FINRA exam prep. We’ve helped thousands of candidates pass their licensing exams on the first attempt, and our pass rates are consistently above the industry average. That’s why the biggest Wall Street firms trust us to train their new analysts and associates. Our talented instructors have led programs on five continents and prepared more than 100,000 students for various FINRA and other licensing examinations. Visit www.knopman.com to learn more about how Knopman Marks helps financial professionals prepare for their exams— and their careers.
