The Series 6 covers a number of topics the representative needs to be know. These include how investments work, including mutual funds, variable annuities, insurance products and basic market trends. Make sure you have a solid understanding of these topics as well as the regulations affecting these securities. Since many of the products offer tax benefits toward retirement savings, you will also want to be well-versed on retirement plans and how they are different from non-qualified plans. There will be sections on understanding you customer, placing orders and how accounts need to be opened.
Most books or computer study program have a practice test at the end of each section topic. These are short tests of 5 to 20 test questions to review the information just learned. Make a master copy of this test with at least three copies for practice. Don't go on to a new topic until you can answer all of these correctly. For those you miss, go right back and review the question, answer and evaluate the reason you missed it. These test questions are previews to the questions that will be on the test. When you have finished all topics, place all practice tests together and go through them one after the other. If you review incorrect answers as you go along, you should have an easy time with the actual test.
The exam itself tests more than just quality comprehension of securities information. It is a test of mental stamina. Questions are asked in a manner to see if you are really reading the question or jumping to assumptions. Sitting there for more than two hours is a difficult task. This is what you need to practice. Set aside the time to take practice exams. Review your results and take a break. Take practice exams until you are passing with at least an 85 percent. Take practice exams several times a day with breaks in between for the week prior to the exam. Computer simulations are great---they prepare you for taking the test on a computer which creates eye fatigue.