Level 3 vs level 2

First off, sorry to trespass… =) I’m awaiting my level 2 results, and its really driving me nuts… Thinking if i passed, failed… and IF I passed how hard level 3 is… There are a lot of posts about how difficult level 2 is vs. level 1 (e.g.: http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/read.php?12,1015512) but we don’t hear as much about how difficult level 3 is vs. level 2. So I thought I would get some feedback from you guys on what you guys thought. Some people have voiced that level 3 is the hardest exam… and some have said level 2 is… What are your throughts? And also what makes level X more difficult? Thanks!

Level II was more difficult in my opinion because of the accounting. Accounting blows and isn’t particularly applicable to much that I do on a day to day basis. I found Level III much more interesting and applicable. Still haven’t found out if I passed yet, so maybe my opinion will change, but I doubt it.

sigh here they come …july 26th

The material in L2 is more difficult but the test format in L3 makes it harder.

bpdulog Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The material in L2 is more difficult but the test > format in L3 makes it harder. This quote should be a sticky come July 26 when the L2 passers inundate the L3 board

of course none of us here know if we passed L3, but I’ll agree with big ML. I didn’t feel like the essay test format was all that tough; in some ways it is easier than multiple choice. Level 2 felt like the gauntlet, in terms of volume of material and involved calculations. And all that dreaded accounting. But I don’t want to imply that L3 is easy. I thought L1 was easy. I went into L2 thinking it would be more of the same, and got a band 8. Since then, I’ve approached the curriculum with a more serious mindset, which I think is important to maintain. Good luck.

Thanks guys for all your response. I was kind of half expecting to get yelled at for posting something so similar. I know there were other posts similar to this, but I really wanted to gauge to main difference in the difficulty between the two. I’m kind of looking forward to the essay part myself. NOT to say that I feel more comfortable with essays… Well, I wish all of you guys best of luck and let’s hope that we all passed!

lvl 2 is hard in terms of information volumes you have to memorize, but the exam is mostly plug and solve… lvl 3 has more tricky questions and requires more thinking and deep understanding of the concepts… requires more practice

this has been discussed before–just do a search, OP. http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/read.php?13,1171442 mods, i’ll gladly volunteer to become a mod to merge and sticky threads (e.g., Schweser vs CFAI, qbank or no, results countdown, etc.).

what number of duplicate threads you reckon we will see come July 26…how many " hey i heard the format of the exam is different " kind of threads?

MK514 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- >Thinking if i passed, failed… > and IF I passed how hard level 3 is… Did you think L2 was difficult?

Yes… more in depth and more materials… but honestly… it was CRAZY as everybody made it out to be… I can’t say that I passed or failed… tho… I just hope that i did so that I don’t have to ever look at that again. I really don’t think I have the motivation to study all those hours… and look at the same material again =P

MK514 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes… more in depth and more materials… but > honestly… it was CRAZY as everybody made it out > to be… > > I can’t say that I passed or failed… tho… I > just hope that i did so that I don’t have to ever > look at that again. I really don’t think I have > the motivation to study all those hours… and look > at the same material again =P I agree. Level 3 was a pain in the arse to study for. L2 was easier in that there was much more plug and chug. L3 (studying) seemed to have so many drawn out answers, especially the EOC questions in the CFAI books. GD I’ll be so pi$sed if I have to retake this thing.

The EOC questions for Level III were a horror show. So frustrating. I frequently found myself saying that their answers would have taken me a half hour to write. To me, the fact that the EOC’s weren’t more indicative of what we would actually face on exam day was a major flaw in the books. I know the academics out there would say the books are only concerned with getting you to learn the material, but in reality we are all here to pass a test and that should hold a higher weight.

MK514 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks guys for all your response. > > I was kind of half expecting to get yelled at for > posting something so similar. I know there were > other posts similar to this, but I really wanted > to gauge to main difference in the difficulty > between the two. > > I’m kind of looking forward to the essay part > myself. NOT to say that I feel more comfortable > with essays… > > Well, I wish all of you guys best of luck and > let’s hope that we all passed! essay part <> long answer. More like short answer or “Show calculation” answers. If you’re writing paragraphs, you will likely run out of time.

morning paper is a unique experience

pimpineasy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > morning paper is a unique experience So is starring in a hillbilly-reality show based on ‘Deliverance’.

Level 3 is just as hard, if not harder… don’t let up. Study as hard as you did for level 2, and then add a little bit more. The CFAI blue box exampls and EOC problems are key in this level.

this guy said it best about level 2 QuantJock_MBA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 1 - 2 girls > 2 - 2 girls one cup

L2