Four ABSOLUTELY MUST-HAVES for the exam

CFA General
#1

I should hope by now that everybody taking the exam has read the policies and procedures. However, I know that there are some out there who didn’t. And there are some who will read this and will still mess it up. But hey–at lieast I tried.

When you arrive at the test center, there are four things that you ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE in order to take and pass the test. They are (in no particular order):

  • Your exam ticket - printed on clean, unused paper
  • Your passport - It cannot be expired. And no other ID will do (driver’s license, military ID, etc.)
  • Your calculator - it must be either an HP-12C (or one of its iterations) or the TI BA-2 (or one of its iterations). No other calculator will be allowed in the exam.
  • Your pencil (and pen for Level 3) - Make sure it is a #2 pencil. If it is a mechanical pencil, then make sure it is filled with HB lead (not B or 2B or 2H).

Of course, there are other things that you CAN bring with you, like earplugs, candy, or a pencil sharpener. But these four are imperatives. If you have all four of these, then you have a fighting chance of passing the exam. If you don’t, then you might as well sleep in on Saturday morning.

#2

What in the world is HB lead? If I’m filling my mechanical pencil with #2 lead, that should suffice, right?

#3

Your Brain

Your Soul

Oxygen

Neurotransmitters

#4

HB refers to the softness/hardness of the lead. Hard lead=light writing, and vice versa.

The scale goes from 4H (the hardest possible), to 4B (the softest possible). HB is right in the middle, and is the same as a #2 pencil.

#5

By candy I assume they mean any type of sucky sweets? Surely these are very noisy in the exam hall, removing packaging and whatnot?

I find myself getting extremely hungry during the three hour period, particularly during the morning session…would anyone have any advice? As far as I gather the only possible remedies to this are water and sucky sweets?

Thanks in advance,

Heathcliff

#6

So, is #2 the same as 2B?

#7

No, #2 is the same as HB. 2B is different.

#8

~Noted~

#9

Bump, for those taking the exam next week.

#10

ps. make sure the name on the exam ticket is the same as the name in your passport!!!

(super important)

#11

cheat sheet

#12

Terrible advise. Anyone who follows this will get an automatic fail 100% of the time.

#13

Are shoes required?

#14

I think he was kidding.

#15

I’m a big advocate of carrying 2 calculators.

#16

^

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/calculator-in-the-urinal-during-cfa-exam-2013-11

PS: Bring food, i read too many taco bell horror stories.

#17

dont feed the troll…shes been waiting 4 days to say that!

#18

Just check my stationary , I have five 2B pencils :|. Oh, so HB is softer, isn’t it? Ok. Gonna buy two tomorrow. How about an eraser and a sharpener. Are we allowed to bring them with us? Will they provide some water? I am always thirsty when doing practice exams so far.

#19

Yup. I actually had a calculator fail in the morning of L3. Went to Staples on the break and bought another so I had two for the afternoon.

I see people with a screwdriver and batteries but really, that’s a big waste of time. I’m not spending time to fix a battery during an exam. Don’t cheap out. Go buy another calc. It’s like $50. Money well spent considering the time put into this beast.

#20

I just have extra batteries, but 2 calculators seem a bit much to me.