Strategy for vignettes

CFA Level II
#1

I haven’t done any mocks yet, only EOC questions.

I’m observing that the order of the information provided in the vignettes mirrors the order of the questions. In other words, that it’s possible to read the first question, then start the reading and answer the first question without reading the vignette all the way through, then read the second question and continue reading where I left off.

Is this true on the mock exams too?

#2

Read the question, then extract the answer.

#3

I wrote an article on how to approach the Level II exam that may be of some help: http://financialexamhelp123.com/how-to-approach-the-level-ii-cfa-exam/

#4

I’ve always joked about how to create the vingettes, all they did was cut the question text from 6 questions, paste it together with transition words, then put the 6 answers at the bottom.

Yes it is a good strategy to read the 1st question, then start reading the vingette, then pause to answer question 1 once you have the relevant information; rinse and repeat. I don’t recall many times them placing relevant information for the questions throughout the entire vignette.

Note though: This is a BAD strategy for level 3 when you get there. Level 3 questions require reading the entire question first.

#5

@S2000magician

thanks for the link. you say “The implication of this uncertainty in the number of questions in each topic area is that you cannot afford to be weak in any area of the curriculum.”

But here on the forum I’m sure you’ve seen many candidates taking the approach of really focusing on a few areas. FRA, Equity, FI and Derivatives seems to be a common game plan while betting that on the other subjects, they would prob get the easy questions correct and the hard questions wrong regardless. Do you agree with this aproach?

I ask because thats what I’m trying to decide. Be really stong with those 4 areas but at the expense of Econ and AI or go for a more “jack-of-all trades approach” and just be really strong in 1 or 2 areas. given the time constraints I feel this exam is a zero sum game.

Thx

#6

I’d say if you are taking that approach…add Corp Finance to the list of areas you want to be strong in, it’s got a relatively high weighting.

#7

I wouldn’t want to be weak in anything at Level II.

Suppose that you’re really strong in FRA, Equity, Derivatives, Corporate Finance, and Fixed Income. At the low end, that could be 50% of the exam. If you’re terrible in the other 50%, your best expectation is 67% (perfect in 50%, ⅓ in 50%). Granted, that’s a worst-case scenario (for topic weightings), but you’re not guaranteed to get 100% even in your best areas.

To me, that’s too big a gamble; I want the probability that I’m going to have to retake this test to be as near 0% as I can get it.

#8

my strategy is im spending the next 10-14 days going through each of the sections (currenting going through fra ) reviewing notes and doing problems to refresh areas i havent seen in months. then for the last 10-14 do practice exams etc.

feel free to share if this is good/bad.

#9

Awesome job!!

#10

Awesome job with this blog!

#11

Thanks.