I’d use the best quality provider I could get, not switch from Sch to Sta or from Sta to Sch only because it’s a different author or unfamiliar layout. There’s different types of learning other than simply rereading, that many people are better suited to - visual charting, mind mapping, video, listening, rewriting, one on one chats, group discussion, tutoring, classroom, practice questions, etc. Find out which one really works best for you. Generally I read or watch lectures because I’m introverted and it’s hard to find people who are at the same level (not too slow, not too fast). This year I’ll push myself to explore the topics in more depth and maybe find an occasional study group and answer more questions on the board. Having other peoples’ perspective helps a lot in seeing the big picture.
I think he means this is his 6th “CFA exam,” not his 6th “Level 3 exam.” He failed L3 once, not 5 times. Hello Mister Walrus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > AFJunkie Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I am probably going to prepare the same way. I > > mean, I knew the material. No doubt about it. I > > just lost it on exam day. Cant explain > it…but > > this time around should be even easier since i > > will have retained some of the information. > > Um, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but if > you prepared in that same way and failed five > times in a row, doesn’t that imply that you’re not > doing it right? People can be kind and say it’s > just luck, but 5x is not a statistical fluke. You > are doing something wrong.
After you get your CFA I would switch firms and start with a clean slate as “the smart guy with the CFA.” Good luck, I hope you pass!
Just keep at it. Some people have a tough time during the examination and can have a genuine bad day. Keep working hard and it will pay off.
It takes some guts taking the CFA exam for the 6th time. You da man!
> > I usual overcome academic obstacles with brute > > force. I don’t think I am naturally very > > intelligent, but extremely tenacious in my > > approach. CRAZIEST thing was that I knew the > > material backwards and forwards, I put in a ton > of > > effort. I took all 6 Schweser exams, all the > CFAI > > practice and previous CFAI essay exams and the > > Boston CFA exam. I passed all multiple choice > > sections in the 70-80% range and thought i did > > well in the essays…then I failed the real > > thing, band 9. I actually did much better on > the > > essays than the multiple choice on the actual > > exam. Every time I fail its by a hair. I think > I > > am cursed. > > How are you going to study differently this time > around? I was thinking about simply over-preparing > too and then spend a few weeks working on essays. I prepared exactly the same way. Only difference is that I was in band 10! I still cannot accept that I failed after so much effort!
Like many of yous, I feel ‘cursed’ repeating the L3 exam for the 8th time. I do about 3-5% better each year, but the minimum passing score usually goes up slightly higher. I still remember when the mps was about 55% with the 40/60/80 rule in the early 2003. I was a band 10 in 2008 with a mps of about 63%. in 2009, I was in band 9 with about 60% mps. I still kick myself for thinking pension WACC was not a CALCULATE LOS. This CFA level 3 exam is so frustrating. I also have an infant and a 2 yr old toddler to take care off. I spent nights 10pm-2am doing countless practice items sets. I think I did at least 1,500 item sets before the exam. Either way, I really am ‘unhappy’ about how the passing rates are being ‘manipulated’ by the CFAI. Any ideas?
sh34, what were your 2009 am and pm scores?
sh34, I’m in the same boat. I have an 11 month old and a 2 year old and am about to take LIII for the second time. Put in a massive effort my first attempt and finished band 8, still can’t believe it. Any advice for those with young kids and very little time…I’m all ears.
Level III has become a personal multi-year nightmare though this past attempt, I was finally at peace with how I prepared and my approach. I’m in absolute shock I did not pass and that I wasn’t apparently close. For the first time, I had no anxiety over the summer. I wasn’t even worried about the pass rates being low. The most frustrating part is my results simply don’t make sense to me and there is no way to reconcile it. Right now, I’m in the process of possibly sitting out next year. I gave it everything last year. In previous years, I could always be honest and say “I could have done this or that.” I have never felt better about any CFA exam - even I and II. I still don’t understand how I passed Level II so long ago - my scores seemed pretty bad and the pass rate was pretty low. I guess I got a break but I can’t catch one on III over 5 years? I want to and probably will eventually finish - maybe - but I don’t believe in the program anymore. There should not be a total disconnect in the way you feel about an exam and your scores. There has to be more correlation and transparency in my opinion. The essay grading is getting much tougher and that is the subjective part of the exam. Sure I’m bitter to a large degree but the pass rates have gone way down and the fees have gone way up. It’s much harder than it used to be - I know because I have been in the program long enough to know. I had colleagues several years ago that were passing with 2 and 3 year old hand me down notes. I should have studied harder and better on the early tries with higher pass rates but the last three attempts I gave it nearly everything and sacrificed a lot of family and health. I’m done making it a priority. I might study a lot in the future but it will not take the place of more important things that come up like it once did. Kudos to those that passed and enjoying Memorial Day once again. I might be there with you in 2010 by sitting out. Even if I pass and get my charter, it will never be worth it to me - doesn’t matter how much money I make or what it does for my career (which will probably be nil) - the only motivation is to finish something I started.
Shco5235, if I fail in 2010 I’m right there with you. Wishing I never started out on the program… Shocked I didn’t pass after leaving it all on the table this year. Switching tactics and giving it another 100% effort to see if I can get it behind me.