LOS says describe but the questions make you calculate

CFA Level II
#1

LOS 20 C. says only describe the components of pension cost. But there is a question where we have to calculate the pension cost under GAAP and IFRS. What to do? Does CFAI know this?Should I memorise that formulas containing small and arbitrary details for pension costs

#2

any formula they show you in the book can be asked to be calculated in the real exam regardless of what the LOS says.

#3

I strongly disagree with that. Sometimes questions are there just to facilitate your learning, and not something you may expect to see on the exam.

#4

i can’t say anymore because ill probably break the code…

#5

but the way most people work - LOS does not say calculate - so let me ignore this section … not an LOS … and lo and behold the precise calculation in either a blue box or in the white text shows up on the exam. Go figure.

#6

Poorly written LOS, but I would play it safe and understand that calculation as pensions are such a big section.

That said, I’d really like to know how other people here approach this kind of situation in general (i.e.- when the LOS says “describe/explain” but then walks through numerous calculations, formulas and/or blue box examples). I would have to go back and look, but I recall there being other similar LOS in Quant and a few other topic areas.

#7

Poorly written LOS, but I would play it safe and understand that calculation as pensions are such a big section.

That said, I’d really like to know how other people here approach this kind of situation in general (i.e.- when the LOS says “describe/explain” but then walks through numerous calculations, formulas and/or blue box examples). I would have to go back and look, but I recall there being other similar LOS in Quant and a few other topic areas.