I’m covering everything and not taking too many chances - but what do people feel are likely topics for 2011?
Currency (hedging, risk etc)
ethics…will definately be on there and will likely get an entire item set, maybe even 2.
builders Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ethics…will definately be on there and will > likely get an entire item set, maybe even 2. 
Surely not - it came up last year!
is GIPS considered part of the 10% ethics weighting, or is considered a stand-alone topic?
No, 10% for Ethics (tested in the afternoon) and 5% for GIPS (tested either morning or afternoon) GIPS is giving me gip…
GIPS is horrible. Pure memorization…
IPS IPS IPS…better know all the parts and how to create/write them up
SkipE99 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > IPS IPS IPS…better know all the parts and how to > create/write them up Agreed, Individual IPS and Institutional IPS are guaranteed to be the top items on the exam, in addition to being the first items on the exam. Ethics (including Asset Managers Code) will be important too; especially Readings 3/4/5/6. GIPS will be up there too. Things get unpredicable after that. But if you can avoid bungling IPS, Ethics, and GIPS, it should be smooth sailing.
You should NEVER get into thinking you can “game” this exam…It is crucial that you have a phenomenal grasp of the L3 body of knowledge, espcially how to quickly integrate topics and concepts in order to answer the questions.
only two things are certain, death and IPS.
castle123 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You should NEVER get into thinking you can “game” > this exam…It is crucial that you have a > phenomenal grasp of the L3 body of knowledge, > espcially how to quickly integrate topics and > concepts in order to answer the questions. Disagree. If you are writing L3 just for the learning, then by all means strive for that phenomenal grasp of all elements of the L3 curriculum. However, if priority #1 is passing the exam, you would be wise to recognize that CFAI has favorite topics (IPS in particular) that are tested disproportionately heavily every year, and that you should devote a disproporionately large portion of your preparation time to those topics.
Why wouldn’t I be taking the CFA for learning?
This is a short-term investment, about 2 months. We may have some heuristic biases, but the goal is clear. IPS: Goal Is PasS (GIPS)
WENDY…that’s correct (and no doubt that IPS is key!! duh) as you put it: “you would be wise to recognize that CFAI has favorite topics (IPS in particular) that are tested disproportionately heavily every year, and that you should devote a disproporionately large portion of your preparation time to those topics.” But, to pass this puppy I would strongly suggest the L3 candidate be familiar with (and preferably have a phenomenal grasp) of all the readings and not try to guess/“game” this thing. The exam time pressure is !@#$% unbelievable, and greater “LEARNING” will give you awesome confidence that day…plus, the pass/fail margin is often in those less “favorite topics” you mention!