If you're thinking about a formal Series 3 prep course, Varsity Tutors can set you up with private Series 3 classes to help you improve your study skills. The Series 3 - National Commodities Futures Exam is a National Futures Association (NFA) exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that investment professionals must pass in order to legally trade in commodities and securities. It's considered more challenging than the Series 7 exam, which only covers securities. If you feel that you could benefit from a Series 3 course, reach out to us today to learn more about how we may be able to assist you!
One of the first things discussed in most Series 3 courses is the formatting you can expect on exam day. The Series 3 is a standardized test administered at testing centers across the country. A calculator is provided for your use, as are a pair of dry erase boards you may use as scrap paper. Both of these items must be returned to the test center at the conclusion of your testing session. The chart below provides additional information about the Series 3 test:
Question Format | # Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
Multiple-Choice | 120 | 2 Hours and 30 Minutes | 70% |
You might think that the Series 3 is easy because it utilizes a multiple-choice format, but some of the questions may be deceptively worded. You might want to take practice exams during your Series 3 class to get a feel for the way questions are worded. Since it is a timed test, taking practice exams under realistic conditions may help you develop effective time management strategies as well.
Once you understand the exam's formatting, you can move on to more specific content areas in your Series 3 prep class. The bulleted list below includes some of the topics you might want to go over:
Series 3 Major Subject Areas
- Futures trading theory and basic functions
- Futures margins, option premiums, price limits, futures settlements, delivery, exercise, and assignment
- Types of orders, customer accounts, price analysis
- Basic hedging, basis calculations, hedging futures
- Spreading
- Speculating in futures
- Option hedging, speculating, spreading
- Regulations
Private Series 3 prep classes allow students to concentrate on their unique areas of opportunity to improve study efficiency. For example, a test-taker who lacks a firm grasp of pertinent regulations may focus on them during their test prep. Likewise, you can spend your class time on futures if you don't completely understand them. Any questions you have may be answered promptly, as you are your instructor's sole pupil during your Series 3 prep courses.
A private instructor may also be better able to accommodate your individual learning style during your Series 3 course. If you are a visual learner, charts and graphs may be utilized to help illustrate key concepts. If you are more of an auditory learner, a lecture format may be used to help you better retain information.
We also strive to make Series 3 test prep as convenient as we can. All instruction takes place on our mobile-friendly Live Learning Platform, facilitating remote study sessions anywhere with a stable internet connection. We also try to match you with a tutor who meets your scheduling needs for added flexibility.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of taking a Varsity Tutors Series 3 class, contact an Educational Consultant today for more information. We look forward to helping you reach for your academic goals!

Olatorera: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...of academic excellence, practical expertise, and a passion for teaching. Teaching is not merely a profession; it's my calling. I derive immense satisfaction from helping learners grasp complex concepts, demystify supply chain intricacies, and develop practical skills. I believe in fostering an interactive learning environment. Through case studies, simulations, and real-world examples, I encourage students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Beyond supply chain expertise, I have ventured into other facets of business. My...
Education & Certification
- Universidada De Murcia - Masters in Business Administration, Business, General
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- COTA / NBCOT - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- NCSF - National Council of Strength and Fitness
- AAI - Accredited Adviser in Insurance
- +347 subjects

Pamela: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...work professionally in the Financial Services industry and have experience in professional speaking, presentation skills and Train the Trainer classes. I enjoy making a connection with my students (regardless of subject matter or age of learner) and thoroughly understanding their needs and objectives. I think mutual learning can occur from either a teacher or student position and I firmly believe that we should always be learning something new! I am huge proponent of continually improving...
Education & Certification
- University of Colorado Boulder - Bachelor of Science, International Marketing
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Series 52
- Series 26
- +73 subjects

Gary: Irving Series 3 course instructor
I tutor securities licensing exam prep courses for NASAA & FINRA registrations (Series 6,7,63,65,66 and a few others). I own a financial practice, hold the Series 65 and a CRPC designation, and my experience, knowledge and research are current and relevant.
Education & Certification
- Columbia College - Bachelor in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 9
- Series 26
- Series 47 - Japanese Module of the General Securities Exam
- +72 subjects

Andrew: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...I have worked for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, investment banks, and a private equity firm; so, I have experience in the applied application of academic theory. I am adept at teaching economics and finance, as well as topics in math, statistics, business administration, and standardized testing including several of the Series Exams. My teaching philosophy begins with understanding a student's goals and helping them achieve success both inside and outside of the classroom....
Education & Certification
- UNC Chapel Hill - Bachelors, Economics & Psychology
- Georgetown University - Masters, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- CPA
- Series 56 - Proprietary Trader Qualification Exam
- Series 63
- +70 subjects

Hal: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...years of teaching experience at the college and university level in addition to having served as a national educator in investments for a Fortune 20 firm. My background includes having been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Trust and Investment Advisor, Regulation 144 Specialist, Retirement Planning Specialist, Certified Senior Advisor, and a variety of other qualifications. In 2019, as I began tutoring and realized that it had been decades since I...
Education & Certification
- Frostburg State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Business Management
- Frostburg State University - Master of Science, Management Science
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Real Estate License - New York
- CFA
- Series 22
- +171 subjects

Kevin: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...of teaching methods, including practice questions and topical computer related tools. I often ask for feedback and appreciate candid communication. I try to be flexible with my time. To ensure that we have a quiet and comfortable study space, I work with the student to help select mutually convenient locations. In my spare time, I enjoy biking, hiking, swimming, tennis, reading, movies, traveling, spending time with my family and our dog. I look forward to...
Education & Certification
- Truman State University - Bachelor of Science, Accounting
- Washington University in St Louis - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- CPA
- Series 66
- SIE
- +41 subjects

Daniel: Irving Series 3 course instructor
Learn from a finance industry professional with nearly 2 decades of experience. Formally trained in Economics with an MBA in Finance. I am also a CFA Charterholder. My talent in explaining difficult concepts easy to understand!
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 6
- CFA
- Series 7
- +10 subjects

Ben: Irving Series 3 course instructor
Experienced portfolio manager, strategist and published author with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Asset Management, Equities, Bonds, Investment Strategies, and Capital Markets. Strong finance professional with a MBA focused in Finance, General from University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business. Series 65, 7, 63, 24, CFA, FRM
Education & Certification
- University of Amsterdam - Bachelor of Economics, Economics
- University of Southern California - Masters in Business Administration, Economics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- Exam IFM - Investment and Financial Markets
- CPA
- +39 subjects

Michael: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor at a local airport where I teach ground school and flight to student pilots. I really like teaching in general, and enjoy when I can learn something and then pass it on to others. That is what brought me to earn my PhD and my flight instructor certificate, allowing me to teach various areas in finance, such as corporate finance, personal finance, and securities markets, and anything dealing with aviation....
Education & Certification
- Capella University - Doctor of Philosophy, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- FAA - Federal Aviation Administration examination
- SIE
- FINRA - Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- +16 subjects

Peter: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...me to elect me to two different FINRA offices. One was regional office and the other a national position. I sat in on the meetings when FINRA changed the Series 7 test from a single 6 hour exam to the present two exams being the SIE and the Series 7 top off. I passed the Series 3 exam, the National Commodities Futures Exam. If you want to obtain the SIE license, you probably are in...
Education & Certification
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Bachelor of Science, Materials Engineering
- California University of Pennsylvania - Master of Science, Mathematics and Statistics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 86
- IBEW - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- SIE
- +42 subjects

Jonathan: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...a concentration in finance, I am well acquainted with many of the various subjects taught by varsity tutors. The courses I have taken in financial derivatives, business statistics and corporate financial analysis have given me a broad base knowledge, as well as a forum for exploration. My personal goal is to use the knowledge I have gained combined with my experience teaching others to be a great tutor and overall resource for students.
Education & Certification
- St Johns University-New York - Bachelor of Science, Finance
- St Johns University-New York - Masters in Business Administration, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Insurance License
- GRE Verbal
- Intermediate Accounting
- +75 subjects

Michael: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...Coffee, Sugar and Cocoa exchange's trading floor at a young age, then moved upstairs to run Bear Stearns's energy futures desk using my options knowledge and learning the energy complex. So wearing the sales/trader/strategist hat I built a team to assist oil companies hedge using futures and options. We designing customized hedging strategies for the largest oil refiners, oil transportation and exploration, airlines and trucking companies. These strategies used futures, options and OTC swaps. During...
Education & Certification
- Long Island University-C W Post Campus - Bachelor of Science, Finance
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College - Master of Science, Finance
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7
- Series 63
- Series 55
- +14 subjects

Paul J : Irving Series 3 course instructor
- 25 years of seasoned option trading involvement across diverse sectors. - Proven track record in investment banking and commodity exchange settings. - Insightful CFA exam grader with deep understanding of exam requirements. - Successful stint in hedge fund environment, enhancing market insight. - Former Head of Trading Risk at major clearing house, overseeing significant operations. - Aims to mentor CFA candidates, combining rich industry background with exam expertise. Marine engineering degree MBA in business CFA
Education & Certification
- Pace University-New York - Masters in Business Administration, Business, General
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 32
- CFA
- Series 5 - Interest Rate Options Exams
- +58 subjects

Chi-Sun: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...how to apply formulas and do well on tests. Although they may get good grades, this will be useless later in life. In my teaching experience, when students actually learn the concepts and logic, not only does their math vastly improve, but they also learn to enjoy math, which is the ultimate goal. My qualifications include excelling at all high school math competitions including finishing second at the 1989 Colorado Math Olympiad. I also graduated...
Education & Certification
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative Exam (Stockbroker)
- Exam P - Probability
- Series 63
- +112 subjects

Gregory: Irving Series 3 course instructor
...Financial Mathematics at The University of Chicago (Masters Degree.) I have 20 years experience using complex concepts in finance (stats, linear algebra, calculus) at JPMorgan and UBS. I teach stats, finance and programing in a user friendly way. I don't repeat the dry methods of text books. MATLAB is my main scripting language; I also use R and SPSS. I enjoy math and science, and I tutor my own children (7 and 10)
Education & Certification
- Wesleyan University - Bachelor in Arts, Economics
- University of Chicago - Master of Science, Financial Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Series 3
- Series 63
- Exam FM - Financial Mathematics
- Series 31
- +48 subjects