United States
Hong KongA one-week cram plan
A week is triage. Secure the timeframes, the six calculations and the state content, sit one timed mock midweek, and accept that broad coverage is no longer available.
This is not a study plan. It is triage, and it is written for someone with an appointment they cannot move.
If you can move it, move it. Rescheduling is free until 11:59pm Eastern two business days before, and a fortnight beats this.
The principle
Secure marks that are cheap and certain. Give up on marks that are expensive and uncertain.
That means timeframes, calculations and state content. It means not attempting to master the whole of origination practice in three days.
The week
| Day | Work |
|---|---|
| 1 | TRID timeline and the three-day rules until you can draw them |
| 2 | The six calculations, drilled until each takes under a minute |
| 3 | Uniform state content - small, finite, quick to secure |
| 4 | Full timed mock |
| 5 | The two weakest areas from the mock |
| 6 | Ethics prohibitions and predatory patterns |
| 7 | Light review of your own notes, then stop |
Eleven percent of the paper, four subtopics, a handful of stable numbers and almost nothing that resembles anything else. It is the best return on a day available anywhere in the syllabus.
The mock is not optional
Even in a week. Without one you are guessing about your pace, and pace is what decides a paper you are under-prepared for.
On the day
Answer every question - there is no penalty for a wrong guess. Bank the quick recall items early and flag the calculations to return to.
If scratch material is allowed, write out the formulas and the TRID timeline in the first minute.
Be realistic
A week of triage after little preparation is likelier to fail than pass. Knowing that changes how you use the 30 days afterwards, which is worth something. Move it if you can. Triage, not study.
Common questions
Can you pass the NMLS exam in a week?
It is possible with prior knowledge but unlikely from a standing start. A week is triage rather than preparation.
What should I focus on with one week left?
The TRID timeline, the six calculations and the uniform state content, which are the cheapest and most certain marks.
Should I still sit a mock?
Yes. Without one you have no idea of your pace, and pace decides an under-prepared paper.
Should I move the exam instead?
If you can, yes. Rescheduling is free until 11:59pm Eastern two business days before.
What should I do the day before?
Light review of your own notes only. Nothing new.