You may have heard some of the “myths” about the CFA exam: Myth: “The item sets are less rigorous than the essays.” The feedback from many Level III candidates is that the item sets were more difficult. In reality, comparing the difficulty of item sets and essays is problematic because they cover different topic areas of the curriculum. In June 2005, the average scores on the essays and item sets were identical. Myth: “New readings are not tested in the CFA exam during the first year they are in the curriculum. They will be tested in the second year, and you should skip new readings in your studying.” This is absolutely not true! New readings are as likely to be tested the year they are first added to the curriculum as existing readings. Myth: “CFA Institute sets a low passing rate so that it can make the most money.” The Board of Governors sets the minimum passing score for the “just qualified candidate,” a score for someone judged to be just qualified to become a practicing investment professional. Candidates are judged against the knowledge, skills, and abilities expected in the profession, not CFA Institute finances. The passing rate is the percentage of candidates whose score is equal to or above the minimum passing score. Myths: “If you don’t know the answer, pick C.” “If you don’t know the answer, never pick the longest answer.” “Never pick the shortest answer.” “Never pick an answer that includes words like ‘never’ or ‘always.’” Don’t waste your time with these games. There are several well-known behavioral idiosyncrasies of exam writers and exam takers. The CFA exam writers are well educated on these and they are written out of the exam. Tricks will not help you pass the exam. Just give your honest, best answer to every question. Myth: “CFA Institute writes the exam questions based on what is, or is not, in the notes prepared by review course providers.” The exam development process begins long before any review course has published its notes. Question writers begin drafting exam questions several months before any review course materials are published. At no time during the development process do question writers or CFA Institute staff consult review course materials. Myth: “There is the right way, the wrong way, and the CFA way.” Although this is a cute saying, it not helpful. The assigned curriculum is academically and professionally sound. (We receive e-mails from candidates on any instance where the curriculum is not tight.) The exam is designed to be sound. The “correct answer” and the “CFA answer” should be the same. Myth: “The key to passing the exam is to get the most points on Financial Statement Analysis. You should skip Derivatives because everyone misses those anyway.” This is bad advice. Statistical analysis of exam results shows that all topics are contributing proportionately to success on the exam. If you decide to skip some of the study sessions, you may be making a mistake. Studying twice as hard on your favorite topics and skipping your least-favorite topics will probably lower your total score. Try to study all topic areas assigned for the exam.
Myth: “Taking a dead aardvark into the examination room will help you pass” Not true. Many candidates have tried to gain an advantage by taking dead aardvarks in with them, but it is a CFA Institute testing policy violation to take any dead animals into the exam. Even aardvarks. Myth: “Having six fingers on each hand is a CFA Institute testing policy violation” This is not correct. Many candidates have an abnormal number of appendages and all are encouraged to register for the CFA program.
Myth: “If your roommate commits suicide during the Spring prior to an exam, you will get an automatic pass to the next level.” We don’t recommend this strategy. While some candidates have advanced through this little-known exemption in the past, we found an unexpectedly high increase in the rate of suicide among room-mates of charter holders. Rather than pursue an aggressive examination of these cases, we thought it best to give the passes and quietly revise the policy.
Myth: “Standing up, taking off your pants and resting your genitalia on the arm of the person seated next to you during the exam is considered a violation of CFA policies and may result in your exam being voided.” Not true. I know for a fact that you can do this and the CFA does not find this practice inconsistent with CFA Institute policies.
Smarshy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Myth: “Standing up, taking off your pants and > resting your genitalia on the arm of the person > seated next to you during the exam is considered a > violation of CFA policies and may result in your > exam being voided.” > > Not true. I know for a fact that you can do this > and the CFA does not find this practice > inconsistent with CFA Institute policies. Are you a woman? i used to think that you are man. I realize that you have talking very sexy lately. But hey if you think is not a violation, I am changing my test center just to be close to you. just kiddy! anyway, you are a man, just forget about it.
I’m a woman. And I want you.
Smarshy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’m a woman. And I want you. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, this is not twiter girl. let Take it slow. Is you husband read that blog? you could be in trouble. I know the stress of the test can cause you to make some mistake. But let you be in the moment so that you could tell that you were so stress and you could help yourself and wait for him. tehrefore, first come, first serve and it could a hour stand only. Don’t force me to do this. DO NOT. Ok:-)
Tibwa sounds like a Sasha Baron-Cohen character
Mandelbrot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tibwa sounds like a Sasha Baron-Cohen character Who the heck is Sasha Baron-Cohen? Sometime you guys treat me like i was an American. Therefore, I know all of your character. Dude I don’t.
Myth: “Candidates that use the restrooms during an exam will be escorted out of the exam room and their exam results will be voided”. The CFA Institute encourages candidates to use all available exam time for exam purposes and recommends that candidates instead release bodily excrements from their seats.
Smarshy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Myth: “Standing up, taking off your pants and > resting your genitalia on the arm of the person > seated next to you during the exam is considered a > violation of CFA policies and may result in your > exam being voided.” > > Not true. I know for a fact that you can do this > and the CFA does not find this practice > inconsistent with CFA Institute policies. ugh. that was you! i didn’t look b/c i was i thought it was a violation!
pimp Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Myth: “Candidates that use the restrooms during an > exam will be escorted out of the exam room and > their exam results will be voided”. > > The CFA Institute encourages candidates to use all > available exam time for exam purposes and > recommends that candidates instead release bodily > excrements from their seats. Pimp, get out here. Ooops by boss just left, let me knock out some problems in my office.
I think Tibwa is Buckwheat from the Little Rascals.
Smarshy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think Tibwa is Buckwheat from the Little > Rascals. Whatever?
Tibwa, you’re not American, but you can use the word “Dude”? I wish I spoke a foreign language as well as you speak English. What is your first language?
French and some Creole sh**t. I used Dude, bro, choudy (that one is hard to write), babe. What the heck? I figure if want to live in this great country, i need to speak the language. This is at least what I can do. Speak the language, eat maccaroni and Cheese, potato & gravy, Apple Pie , hot dog and babercue and Pizza. BUT I don’t want your women:-) They are too fast for me.
Tib buddy, I had you pegged for speaking Hindi. This thread had me rolling.