I logged 700 hours or studying for level 2. I need to find a more time efficient way of studying. For level 2, I read Schweser Notes highlighting as I read. Since the Schweser Notes are all ready in summary format (a summary of the CFAI books) I end up highlighting most of the text. It takes me longer (maybe even twice as long) to highlight as I read. After I got through all of the books (and CFAI/Schweser EOC’s) I then reread all of my highlighting and reworked all of the probelms. To be more effeicient, I am thinking of just reading the text without highlighting? Once I finish, I would probably reread the Schweser Notes. Thoughts? I have always taken loger than others to study and need to find a way to speed things up.
Never.
First Read Through: I underline important notes (see later), and take notes in margins of ideas I have thought of that complement the material and add to my understanding. I do not attempt any EOCs on the first time through the material.
Second Read Through (skim): I type up all notes that I underlined and from the margins.
EOCS and Mocks: Read Topic X from my condensed notes, then attempt EOCs on Topic X. Mocks when done all EOCs.
This worked for me for the first 2 levels on a somewhat short time frame.
I never highlighted anything for the CFA, I always associated this as a thing that uni girls do. I remember in the library trying to study whilst they sat and highlighted virtually every word on the page.
for the CFA i used flash cards to remember key info and found this to be time consuming but extremely helpful
Not in the highlighting camp either. I take notes as I go and when I finish a SS I go back and make flashcards before moving on to the next SS. 2nd time through I read the chapters and notes.
I studied for less than 200 hours for L2, definitely not by design, and I would never recommend that was adequate if you want the best chance of passing. But this study strategy gave me enough knowledge within the very little amount of time that I could squeeze in.
I don’t highlight anything. I tend to write concepts/definitions/lists/formulas on notecards. Writing things down helps me learn way more than highlighting ever has.
To quote Johnny Drama from Entourage, “Never Never Never”
I did not even maintain a formula sheet, let alone highlighting, and the reason was, you are studying so much for the test, that notes and highlighting becomes counterproductive. Not only would it take way too long as you stated, but you are re-reading and re-studying all the material as you go anyway, so why highlight what you already know ahead of time you will see again?
Highlighting, note taking, typing up notes, creating flash cards, etc in my opinion is what people do to burn time and make themselves feel like they are studying, when in reality, that is not studying—it is much easier to do, so people gain the study-satisfaction in it
You’re definitely wrong about taking notes (and, similarly, writing flash cards): writing information has clearly been demonstrated to improve one’s recall of that information. Typing notes has a much smaller effect on one’s level of recall; highlighting has, I’m sure, an even smaller effect.
I wrote my own notes. It took a heck of a long time, but forcing myself to condense and paraphrase in my own words really reinforced the material. I tried highlighting a long time ago, but all I ended up doing was painting instead of thinking.
I wrote my own notes + highlighted. Do what works for you.
+1
I did all these - Highlight, writing in my own words in the text or sometimes in separate notes on some concepts which CFAI is ***ing about (english is not my native language, may be thats the reason), formulae booklet - what not. I am always comfortable reading things in my own writing and words 
I am old and needed these to pass the exam - as Former Trader said, doesnt matter what others do. Only matters whether you do everything you can to help yourself to pass the exam mate! Good luck.
S2000, I appreciate all of your help when I was studying for the CFA exams, but I completely disagree.
Note cards only work if they are done well in advance, otherwise they are too time consuming and the bang for your buck is not there. Please show me someone working about 50 hours per week, while being a CFA candidate (can add a family to the mix too) that has “extra” time on their hands to write note cards instead of doing problems and reading material.
Writing your notes may help you learn, just as reading something a second time will help, and a third time even more, and so on and so on…but with so much material to cover, I feel picking your battles is important, and for CFA purposes, the time can be better spent
That’s why there are horse races.
Yours truly.
I worked about 50 hours a week, with a wife and three kids, wrote note cards (several times), and passed each exam on my first attempt.
Of course, what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. I’m certainly not saying that mine is the only approach. But it’s certainly one to consider.
Everyone should find his own way to be best prepared for the exam. Some guys ask, other guys give advice, certainly without praising that advice as sole solution.
For me (50 hours+, family etc), own note cards worked well, esp. on topics I didn´t catch with the first read or I discovered as knowledge gap in mocks…
OP, I did exactly the same thing as you for L1 and L2 but it didn’t take that long. I logged about 300-350 for each of them doing the read and highlight technique and I used the regular text rather than Schweser. Must agree with you on Schweser, I tried it once for a few weeks and highlight technique is no good on that. Like you said, it’s already an abbreviated version so you end up highlighting everything.
I am a strong believer in the highlight approach and then reading highlights. Highlighting actually saves time rather than wastes it if you’re going to do a second pass through the material. On the second pass, if you read just the highlights, even a long chapter can be read in 20 mins or less.
Yes, especially the days leading up to the exam where you don’t have time to read every page again.
I did. Since I would re-read the material multiple times, it helped to cue me in to the important material after the initial pass-through.
And I did too. Wife with a young kid and work was 60+ hours a week. Except I failed L3 with a Band 10 once and passed it in 2014.