I took level 1 four years ago. Since then, I haven’t used the calculator, and i’ve been doing practice calculations for level 2 exclusively through Excel. Does anyone have either: 1) advice on calculator tips / tricks for level 2? or 2) any good resources for getting up to speed on using a calculator quickly during the exam? The coolest thing to see in any answers would be any shortcuts for dividend discount model problems!
Thanks in advance for any help.
Practice, practice, practice!!! You still have time!!!
If you’re using Schweser, they have pretty useful BA II+ steps for stuff like CF, NPV/IRR etc - really useful. Or Google it - there’s lots of calculator help on CFA forums like AF.
Tip #1: If you’re trying to value a perpetuity, use something huge for N in the CF worksheet, e.g. 1,000. It works surprisingly well.
Tip #2: For annuity problems, always check BEG vs. END and P/Y & C/Y. Change each to match your problem.
Tip #3: If trying to calculate a continuously compounded rate using ICONV, put in something huge for FREQ, e.g. 525,600. It should be very close to using ln(1+i)
. . . grabbing a random number out of the air.
Because the calculator won’t accept
“In daylights, in sunsets In midnights, in cups of coffee In inches, in miles In laughter, in strife?” 
Don’t whine at me when you bought the wrong calculator.