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Options — Series 7 FINRA practice questions

110 multiple-choice questions and 43 flashcards on Options, about 17% of the Series 7 FINRA bank. Every one carries a written rationale.

Written and maintained by Nick Burton · last updated 2026-08-22 · how we write and review questions

What this chapter covers

Options is one of 9 chapters in CoStudy's Series 7 (FINRA) bank, and it holds 110 of the bank's 630 multiple-choice questions — roughly 17% of the total. That proportion is not arbitrary: chapters follow the certifying body's published exam outline, and the number of questions in each is set by that domain's published weight, so the share of your practice time this chapter takes matches the share of the real exam it accounts for.

Studying by chapter is worth doing once you have a diagnostic score. A single overall percentage tells you whether you are close; it does not tell you which domain is dragging. Working a weak chapter in isolation, and re-testing it in isolation, is the fastest way to move a score that has stalled — and it is why the mock exams in CoStudy report by domain rather than as one number.

Free Options practice questions

10 questions drawn from this chapter, with the full rationale shown — the controlling principle behind the right answer, and why each wrong option tempts and fails.

A long straddle (same strike/expiration) profits when the:

  1. Stock trades sideways near the strike at expiration
  2. Stock rises above breakeven by expiration only
  3. Stock falls below breakeven by expiration only
  4. Stock moves either direction beyond breakeven amt

Answer: D — Stock moves either direction beyond breakeven amt

A) Sideways moves hurt straddle buyers. B) Directional bias would be a single call. C) Directional bias would be a single put. D) Correct — long straddle profits from large moves either way, exceeding total premium.

A market maker earns compensation primarily from the:

  1. Commission on each trade
  2. Underwriting concession share
  3. Bid-ask spread capture
  4. Advisory fee retention

Answer: C — Bid-ask spread capture

A) Commissions are agency comp. B) Concessions are underwriter income. C) Correct — spread is the MM's profit. D) Advisory fees are IA income.

A short (naked) call's loss potential is:

  1. Unlimited above the strike
  2. Capped at premium received
  3. Zero any above strike
  4. Capped at strike price

Answer: A — Unlimited above the strike

A) Correct — losses grow as price rises. B) Premium is the maximum profit. C) Losses grow above strike. D) Not capped at strike.

A covered call writer's maximum profit on the combined position equals:

  1. Just the premium collected on the call
  2. Premium plus strike minus stock cost
  3. Just the strike minus purchase price
  4. Unlimited above the call strike price

Answer: B — Premium plus strike minus stock cost

A) Ignores stock appreciation to strike. B) Correct — max profit = premium + (strike - stock cost) if called away. C) Ignores the option premium. D) Covered calls cap upside at the strike.

A ratio spread uses:

  1. Equal number of each leg
  2. Unequal number of each leg
  3. Only calls at the same strike
  4. Only puts at the same strike

Answer: B — Unequal number of each leg

A) Equal legs define a vertical. B) Correct — different quantities on each leg. C) Same-strike calls is not a spread. D) Same-strike puts is not a spread.

A short put's maximum profit equals the:

  1. Strike minus premium paid
  2. Full option strike price
  3. Theoretically unlimited amount
  4. Premium received upfront

Answer: D — Premium received upfront

A) Strike minus premium is a long-put figure. B) Strike alone is not the max. C) Puts have capped upside for seller. D) Correct — capped at premium received.

An at-the-money call option will generally have a delta CLOSEST to:

  1. 0.00
  2. 0.25
  3. 0.50
  4. 1.00

Answer: C — 0.50

C) Correct — at-the-money options typically show a delta near 0.50. A) Delta near zero describes a deep out-of-the-money option. B) 0.25 suggests an option well out-of-the-money, not at-the-money. D) Delta near 1.00 describes a deep in-the-money option.

A short put's maximum profit equals the:

  1. Strike minus premium paid
  2. Full option strike price
  3. Theoretically unlimited amount
  4. Premium received upfront

Answer: D — Premium received upfront

A) Strike minus premium is a long-put figure. B) Strike alone is not the max. C) Puts have capped upside for seller. D) Correct — capped at premium received.

A long straddle profits when the underlying:

  1. Stays near the strike price
  2. Trades in a very tight range
  3. Moves sharply in either direction
  4. Pays a large special dividend

Answer: C — Moves sharply in either direction

A) Range-bound loses both premiums. B) Tight range is unprofitable. C) Correct — needs a large move up or down. D) Dividends do not drive it.

A protective put pairs long stock with a:

  1. Short call position
  2. Short put position
  3. Long put position
  4. Long call position

Answer: C — Long put position

A) Short call is covered call. B) Short put adds risk. C) Correct — long put hedges the stock. D) Long call adds leverage.

Options flashcards

4 cards from the 43 in this chapter.

What is a debit spread?

Options spread where the long option costs more than the short, resulting in net debit paid.

Max gain for a covered call writer?

Premium + (Strike − Stock Purchase Price). Stock called away if it rises above strike.

Statutory vs. cumulative voting?

Statutory voting: one vote per share per open board seat, votes must be spread evenly. Cumulative voting: shareholders may cast all votes for one nominee, favoring smaller shareholders seeking board representation.

How are non-qualified stock option grants taxed?

At exercise, the difference between market price and exercise price is taxed as ordinary income. Any subsequent gain from selling is capital gain.

Practise the full chapter

These are a sample. The full Options chapter runs 153 items with per-chapter progress tracking, on the web and in the iOS app.

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