Final days - the right approach

CFA Level I
#1

Okay, so here’s the thing

I read schweser books two times and now going through all CFAI EOC questions and simultaneously reviewing material from the summaries and my flashcards.

It’s pretty okay I would say - at least 83 % up to 95% on all those questions

I did some Qbank questions but something like 500-600 (not like 2000-3000) of them

So my question is - how to approach the final 30 days - assuming I can spend ~ 10 hours a day on studying:

(1) Finish all those cfai eoc questions while reviewing the material from flashcards and summaries

(2) I have 2015 Schweser Practice exams book - how many of those should I make ?

(3) Should I go back to Qbank or just simply do mock exams ?

(4) What should I do - (mocks/qbank/reviewing/anything)

  • 3 weeks out

  • 2 weeks out

  • 1 week out

before the exam to be prepared

Help much appreciated smiley

#2

10 hours a day, wow that’s a lot of studying smiley

It looks like you are in great shape. If you can do 6 or more practice exams, mock exams from CFA Institute, go through all blue box and EOC questions from the curriculum, and memorize the important formulas, you should be golden.

Here’s a short YouTube video on last month preparation strategy that you may find helpful: https://youtu.be/C3QY2edKgdA

Good luck on the exam!

BullishBear Finance

#3

3weeks out: Do all the schweser mocks. Learn from each one and do Qbank for the questions you have been getting wrong.

2weeks out: Do all finsh the rest of Qbank and focus hard on Ethics

1week!: Review the mock exams again and memorise your flash cards.

Let us know what your mock scores are like. You should be getting c.70% to get a pass.

#4

if you can commit 10 hours studying per day, i think you can re-read all the books…

but honestly i would start doing mock exams as soon as you feel comfortable, IN EXAM ENVIRONMENT, go lock yourself in a room that is UNFAMILIAR to you, bring a bottle water and minimal distraction with you and just sit through 6 hours (with a break in between of course) and experience the exam setting.

your body needs to be adjusted for concentrating for such long period of time.

#5

  1. mock exams

  2. no fap

#6

Studying 300 hours in the final month, while admirable, is completely unnecessary to pass L1 unless you know nothing about finance and have not studied at all for the exam up to this point.

You’ve already studied a lot and presumably know at least a little finance so it’s really overkill. Most people study for 300 hours total for L1. In any event, if you really do study even close to that amount, you should most certainly pass. But you could probably study a lot less than that and still pass.

#7

There is no single right approach. If you have the opportunity, you might as well put in your hours. Just don’t get burnt out.

BullishBear Finance

#8

Great ! Thanks for the input :slight_smile:

#9

sounds like you are in good shape. some good advice… the mock for level 1 is very very very helpful on the test. I would suggest really breaking down each question and understanding it. I’ve heard many people year after year say they wish they reviewed the mock more.

#10

Okay, so I did the first mock and got ~ 75 % (excluding derivatives/alt investments - covering it right now)

would have been higher had I not done some stupid mistakes like not reading a question till the end

But I had the weirdest feeling - doing the exam and in some cases not being 100 % sure if the answer is correct - is that supposed to happen ?

I mean, i narrowed it down to 2 choices or used some concepts that I’ve learned but not sure if that was luck or use of the knowledge - I didn’t just guess but had an idea or sense that this answer would be correct