Review Methodology

How we test, evaluate, and rank Series exam prep courses

Our Promise

We don't sell prep courses - we help you find the best one. No provider can pay for better rankings. Our reviews are honest, our methodology is transparent, and our rankings are merit-based only.

Our 5-Step Review Process

1

Anonymous Purchase

We purchase all courses anonymously at full price. No special treatment, no review copies, no promotional access. We experience the exact same onboarding, content, and support as you would.

2

Real-World Testing

Our team of exam-takers (people who have actually passed Series exams) tests each course for 2-4 weeks. We complete study modules, take practice exams, contact support, and use the mobile app. We test on multiple devices and platforms to identify any issues.

3

Objective Scoring

We score each course on 18 objective criteria (see below). No gut feelings or personal preferences. Each criterion has a defined scoring rubric with specific benchmarks. Two reviewers score independently, then compare results for consistency.

4

User Feedback Integration

We aggregate user reviews from Reddit, Trustpilot, and other platforms to validate our findings. If real users consistently report issues we didn't catch, we re-test and update our review. User sentiment is a key data point, not the only data point.

5

Quarterly Updates

Prep courses change: they add features, update content, adjust pricing. We re-review every course quarterly to ensure our rankings reflect current quality. Major changes trigger immediate re-review. Every page shows "Last updated" date.

18 Scoring Criteria

Each course is scored on these 18 criteria. Final score is a weighted average based on what matters most to passing the exam and modern learning effectiveness.

Criterion Weight
Question Bank Size & Quality 15%
Practice Exam Accuracy 15%
Adaptive Learning & AI Features 10%
Content Comprehensiveness 9%
Explanation Quality 9%
Flashcards 6%
Study Plan & Progress Tracking 5%
Mobile App Quality 5%
User Interface & Experience 5%
Video Content Quality 5%
Value for Money 4%
Customer Support Responsiveness 3%
Money-Back Guarantee Terms 3%
Gamification Features 2%
Content Update Frequency 1%
Instructor Credentials 1%
Additional Resources 1%
Pass Rate Data (if available) 1%

How We Score Each Criterion

Each criterion is scored on a 1-10 scale using specific benchmarks. Here's exactly how we evaluate each factor.

1. Question Bank Size & Quality (15%)

Practice questions are the most critical study tool for Series exams. We evaluate both quantity and quality.

What We Count:

  • Total unique practice questions
  • Question variety across all exam topics
  • Question difficulty distribution
  • Real exam similarity (validated by exam-takers)
  • Answer explanation depth

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: 3,000+ questions, exam-realistic, detailed explanations
  • 7-9/10: 1,500-3,000 questions, good variety, solid explanations
  • 4-6/10: 800-1,500 questions, adequate coverage, basic explanations
  • 1-3/10: Under 800 questions, limited variety, weak explanations

2. Practice Exam Accuracy (15%)

How closely do practice exams mirror the real exam format, difficulty, and content distribution?

What We Test:

  • Question format matches real exam
  • Topic distribution matches NASAA blueprint
  • Difficulty level reflects actual exam
  • Scoring methodology accurate
  • Timer and exam conditions realistic

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Indistinguishable from real exam, validated by recent test-takers
  • 7-9/10: Very similar, minor format differences
  • 4-6/10: Similar content, but format or difficulty differs
  • 1-3/10: Significantly different from real exam experience

3. Adaptive Learning & AI Features (10%)

Does the platform use AI to optimize your study time and target weak areas automatically?

What We Test:

  • Adaptive quiz difficulty adjustment
  • AI-powered weak area identification
  • Personalized question selection
  • Spaced repetition algorithms
  • AI tutor or chatbot availability

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: AI-driven adaptive quizzes, spaced repetition, AI tutor
  • 7-9/10: Adaptive difficulty, weak area targeting, basic AI
  • 4-6/10: Some adaptive features, limited personalization
  • 1-3/10: Static quizzes, no adaptive learning or AI

4. Content Comprehensiveness (9%)

Does the course cover 100% of the NASAA exam blueprint with appropriate depth?

What We Verify:

  • All NASAA topics covered
  • High-weight topics get more content
  • Recent regulatory changes included
  • Real-world examples provided
  • Supplementary resources available

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: 100% blueprint coverage, deep dives on key topics, current
  • 7-9/10: 95%+ coverage, adequate depth, mostly current
  • 4-6/10: 85-95% coverage, some gaps or shallow areas
  • 1-3/10: Under 85% coverage, significant gaps or outdated

5. Explanation Quality (9%)

When you get a question wrong, do the explanations actually teach you why?

What We Evaluate:

  • Explanations for both correct and incorrect answers
  • Concept breakdowns, not just facts
  • Examples and context provided
  • Links to relevant study materials
  • Clarity and readability

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Detailed, teaches concepts, addresses all answer choices
  • 7-9/10: Good explanations, covers most points clearly
  • 4-6/10: Basic explanations, correct answer only
  • 1-3/10: Minimal or confusing explanations

6. Flashcards (6%)

Are digital flashcards available to reinforce key concepts and definitions?

What We Test:

  • Number of flashcards available
  • Coverage of key exam concepts
  • AI-powered or adaptive features
  • Usability and interface quality
  • Mobile app integration

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: 1,000+ flashcards, AI-powered, comprehensive coverage
  • 7-9/10: 500-1,000 flashcards, good coverage, user-friendly
  • 4-6/10: 200-500 flashcards, basic coverage
  • 1-3/10: Under 200 flashcards or no flashcards available

7. Study Plan & Progress Tracking (5%)

Does the platform help you stay on track and identify weak areas?

What We Test:

  • Personalized study schedule
  • Progress dashboard and analytics
  • Weak area identification
  • Exam readiness score
  • Customizable study goals

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: AI-driven plan, detailed analytics, adaptive practice
  • 7-9/10: Good tracking, helpful insights, basic personalization
  • 4-6/10: Basic progress tracking, limited insights
  • 1-3/10: No study plan or minimal tracking features

8. Mobile App Quality (5%)

Can you study effectively on your phone during commutes or downtime?

What We Test:

  • iOS and Android app availability
  • Offline mode functionality
  • Feature parity with web version
  • UI/UX on mobile devices
  • Sync across devices

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Full-featured app, offline mode, seamless sync
  • 7-9/10: Good app, most features available, minor limitations
  • 4-6/10: Basic app or mobile-responsive web only
  • 1-3/10: No app or very limited mobile functionality

9. User Interface & Experience (5%)

Is the platform intuitive and pleasant to use for hours of studying?

What We Evaluate:

  • Navigation clarity and logic
  • Visual design and readability
  • Loading speed and performance
  • Accessibility features
  • Overall user satisfaction

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Modern, intuitive, fast, accessible, delightful
  • 7-9/10: Clean interface, easy to navigate, minor quirks
  • 4-6/10: Functional but dated or occasionally confusing
  • 1-3/10: Frustrating navigation, slow, poor design

10. Video Content Quality (5%)

Are video lectures engaging, clear, and effective for learning?

What We Assess:

  • Instructor presentation skills
  • Video production quality (audio, visuals)
  • Content pacing and engagement
  • Total video hours available
  • Searchability and organization

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: 40+ hours, engaging instructor, HD quality, well-organized
  • 7-9/10: 20-40 hours, good quality, covers all topics
  • 4-6/10: 10-20 hours, adequate quality, some gaps
  • 1-3/10: Under 10 hours, poor quality, or no videos

11. Value for Money (4%)

Is the price justified by the quality and features you receive?

What We Compare:

  • Price relative to feature set
  • Price relative to competitors
  • Additional costs (extensions, upgrades)
  • Included study materials
  • Access duration (3 months, 6 months, unlimited)

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Exceptional value, premium features at fair price
  • 7-9/10: Good value, price matches quality
  • 4-6/10: Slightly overpriced or missing key features
  • 1-3/10: Poor value, significantly overpriced for what's offered

12. Customer Support Responsiveness (3%)

When you have a question or issue, how quickly and effectively does support respond?

What We Test:

  • Initial response time (email/chat)
  • Support channels available (email, chat, phone)
  • Quality and helpfulness of responses
  • Issue resolution effectiveness
  • Support availability hours

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Under 1 hour response, multiple channels, expert help
  • 7-9/10: Same-day response, helpful and knowledgeable
  • 4-6/10: 1-2 day response, adequate but basic help
  • 1-3/10: Slow responses, unhelpful, or limited availability

13. Money-Back Guarantee Terms (3%)

Can you get a refund if the course doesn't work for you?

What We Review:

  • Refund window length (days)
  • Conditions and restrictions
  • Ease of requesting refund
  • Pass guarantee (if offered)
  • Extension policies if you fail

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Pass guarantee + 30+ day refund, no hoops
  • 7-9/10: 14-30 day refund, reasonable terms
  • 4-6/10: 7-14 day refund or restrictive conditions
  • 1-3/10: No refund or very limited guarantee

14. Gamification Features (2%)

Does the platform use gamification to keep you motivated and engaged?

What We Look For:

  • Achievements and badges for milestones
  • Streak tracking for daily study habits
  • Leaderboards for competitive motivation
  • Progress visualization and rewards
  • Study challenges or goals

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Comprehensive gamification with achievements, streaks, leaderboards
  • 7-9/10: Multiple gamification features, well-integrated
  • 4-6/10: Basic gamification (badges or streaks only)
  • 1-3/10: No gamification features

15. Content Update Frequency (1%)

Does the provider keep content current with regulatory changes?

What We Check:

  • Last content update date
  • Response time to regulatory changes
  • Update notification system
  • Content version history
  • Commitment to ongoing updates

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Updated within weeks of regulatory changes, proactive
  • 7-9/10: Quarterly updates, current content
  • 4-6/10: Semi-annual updates, mostly current
  • 1-3/10: Infrequent updates or outdated content

16. Instructor Credentials (1%)

Are instructors qualified, experienced, and credible?

What We Verify:

  • Securities licenses held
  • Years of industry experience
  • Teaching experience and credentials
  • Professional background
  • Reputation in the industry

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: 10+ years industry experience, multiple licenses, known expert
  • 7-9/10: 5-10 years experience, relevant licenses, solid reputation
  • 4-6/10: Some experience, licensed, adequate credentials
  • 1-3/10: Limited experience or unclear credentials

17. Additional Resources (1%)

What extra study tools are included beyond the core content?

What We Look For:

  • Formula sheets and quick references
  • Exam strategy guides
  • Community forums or study groups
  • Supplementary readings or resources
  • Physical study materials (books, guides)

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Comprehensive extras, multiple formats, community support
  • 7-9/10: Good selection of supplementary materials
  • 4-6/10: Basic extras (flashcards or formula sheet)
  • 1-3/10: Few or no additional resources

18. Pass Rate Data (if available) (1%)

Does the provider publish verified pass rate statistics?

What We Consider:

  • Publicly disclosed pass rates
  • Third-party verification (if available)
  • Sample size and methodology
  • Comparison to national average
  • Transparency about data collection

Scoring Scale:

  • 10/10: Verified pass rate well above national average
  • 7-9/10: Published pass rate above national average
  • 4-6/10: Published pass rate near national average
  • 1-3/10: No pass rate data available

Note: Most providers don't publish pass rates, so this criterion has minimal weight. We prioritize verifiable quality metrics instead.

Final Score Calculation

Each course receives a score from 1-10 on all 18 criteria. We then calculate a weighted average based on the percentages above. For example:

Final Score = (Question Bank Score × 0.15) + (Practice Exam Score × 0.15) + (Adaptive Learning Score × 0.10) + (Content Score × 0.09) + (Explanation Score × 0.09) + (Flashcards Score × 0.06) + (Study Plan Score × 0.05) + (Mobile App Score × 0.05) + (UI/UX Score × 0.05) + (Video Score × 0.05) + (Value Score × 0.04) + (Support Score × 0.03) + (Guarantee Score × 0.03) + (Gamification Score × 0.02) + (Updates Score × 0.01) + (Instructor Score × 0.01) + (Resources Score × 0.01) + (Pass Rate Score × 0.01)

The final score (out of 10) determines the course's ranking. Scores are recalculated quarterly to reflect any changes in quality, features, or pricing.

What We Don't Consider

  • ✗ Affiliate commission rates: We earn different commissions from different providers, but rankings are based solely on merit.
  • ✗ Sponsorships or partnerships: Providers cannot pay for better placement or positive reviews.
  • ✗ Personal relationships: We have no financial relationships with course providers beyond standard affiliate programs.
  • ✗ Marketing materials: We test the actual product, not what the sales page promises.

Affiliate Disclosure

Transparency is important to us. When you purchase a prep course through our links, we earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our reviews free and independent.

Here's what this means:

  • We earn different commission rates from different providers (some pay more, some pay less)
  • Our rankings are not influenced by commission rates
  • We will never recommend a worse product just because it pays higher commissions
  • If the best course for you pays us nothing, we'll still recommend it

Our goal is to help you pass your exam, not to maximize our commissions. We believe honest, helpful reviews build long-term trust, which is worth more than short-term commission optimization.

Questions About Our Methodology?

We're committed to transparency. If you have questions about how we review courses, reach out.

Contact Us