overall: I think schweser MOCKS and maybe a qbank by either stalla or schweser might have helped. I was super interested in the material thats not what I meant by dry, I meant that it did not aid in retention, they threw facts, gave you an example but didn’t drill. For L1 i studied all schweser first, then did some CFAI and then solved everything I had from both. BUT, i was amply warned not to touch schweser for L2 and that is why i chose CFAI only. I dont blame the books, i blame my method.
Schweser was good enough for me…Read all the books once, watched all the videos twice, read the Secret Sauce book enough times to know it by heart, didnt practice a single question until 1 week before the exam…did 3 Schweser mocks and 1 CFAI mock…basically did the exact same things i did in L1 for december and swore i wouldnt do for L2…still managed a pass. I think the key is understanding the material…use whichever works in explaining it to you better in the least amount of time. Never opened CFAI L1 text books and they sit pretty on my deskshelf collecting dust, for L2 I ordered e-curriculum and didnt even download it, will not look at it for L3 either…its way too much paper to go through for me.
i personally don’t think reading schweser ONLY is sufficient as it covers maybe just 80% of the curriculum. it may work for some, but i really don’t recommend it to other candidates. i do agree that the textbooks are just way too long, and do not point out the important sections just as much. i do recommend reading both txtbooks and schweser. the latter tells you the important concepts and what to look out for, but it’s not as comprehensive
If you find the curriculum too dry i would ask yourself if pursuing the CFA designation is right for you. I have only ever used the CFAI textbooks for both level 1 and 2 and find them to be excellent (never touched any 3rd party material). I also really enjoy reading them.
L2 Guys, after reading a few posts from you guys, I am planning to do a few subjects from CFA texts completely and a few from Schweser, Quant, Economics, Corporate Finance, Derivatives, AI- Schweser + EOC from CFA Equity, Ethics, FRA, Fixed Income - CFA Texts +Some practice problems from Schweser This is apart from the various mocks, Is this combination fine?
After all that you end up in BAND 4??? Clearly you are not made for this programme!!! sungirl27 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Posting this to share my personal experience. > > I studied 100% from the curriculum & curriculum > only, worked through every single EOC and > shuddered away from 3rd party when had the chance > and failed Band 4. > > Not sure I will re-attempt, but I have this to > say: Curriculum is too dry, 600 pages will put you > to sleep, go through third party, review and do > EOC from CFA but must have more questions to > solve. > > I felt EOC were way too little, theres only so > many times you can repeat the same question. > > The last 3 weeks i did around 7 mocks, 6 from > third party and 1 CFA Mock. > > > my 2c
I’m curious to know if you took a week or two off work/school before the exam to review? I took the last two weeks off in May and I know for a fact I would have failed L2 if I didn’t. Locking myself in my house and avoiding distractions really pulled all the material together…I think that was probably my most important study tool. I used Schweser and did EOC questions from CFAI for ethics
I agree that the taking the last week off is almost a necessity. But I will also repeat what one of the Schweser instructors said; this exam has a marathon portion and a sprint portion. But the sprint will not replace marathon. So in my opinion, always take a week off, but you have to have reached a certain level before entering that last week. Otherwise panic can set in and ruin your mind set. Just my 2c
escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you find the curriculum too dry i would ask > yourself if pursuing the CFA designation is right > for you. I have only ever used the CFAI textbooks > for both level 1 and 2 and find them to be > excellent (never touched any 3rd party material). > I also really enjoy reading them. Amen, brother! Amen! I loved reading my CFA books! This sounds kinda strange, but I loved it too!
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the Band. There is a very fine line between passing and not passing as evidenced by some of the score reports. If you take it enough times you will pass. It is very common to go from a low band to passing the next year.
i took 2 weeks off before the exam for those who were curious…
sungirl27 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > i took 2 weeks off before the exam for those who > were curious… There’s something to be said about having the info fresh in your mind. I think taking 2 weeks off is fine, so long as the week before the CFA you’re constantly refreshing your memory. This stuff fades away over time if you relax too much. If you must take 2 weeks off, then I would suggest: 7 weeks before exam | Comprehensive Review 6 weeks before exam | Comprehensive Review & Mock Exams 5 weeks before exam | Comprehensive Review & Mock Exams 4 weeks before exam | Comprehensive Review & Mock Exams 3 weeks before exam | BREAK 2 weeks before exam | BREAK 1 week before exam | REFRESH REVIEW
My plan… 29 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 1 | Ethical & Professional Standards 28 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 2 | Ethical & Professional Standards 27 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 3 | Quantitative Methods 26 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 25 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 4 | Economics 24 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 5 | Financial Reporting & Analysis 23 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 6 | Financial Reporting & Analysis 22 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 21 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 7 | Financial Reporting & Analysis 20 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 8 | Corporate Finance 19 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 9 | Corporate Finance 18 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 17 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 10 | Equity Investments 16 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 11 | Equity Investments 15 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 12 | Equity Investments 14 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 13 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 13 | Alternative Investment 12 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 14 | Fixed Income 11 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 15 | Fixed Income 10 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 9 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 16 | Derriveratives 8 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 17 | Derriveratives 7 Weeks Until Exam Study Week Session 18 | Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning 6 Weeks Until Exam Break Week 5 Weeks Until Exam Review Comprehensive Review 4 Weeks Until Exam Review Comprehensive Review 3 Weeks Until Exam Review Comprehensive Review + Mock Exams 2 Weeks Until Exam Review Comprehensive Review + Mock Exams 1 Week Until Exam Review Refresh / Light Review
escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you find the curriculum too dry i would ask > yourself if pursuing the CFA designation is right > for you. I have only ever used the CFAI textbooks > for both level 1 and 2 and find them to be > excellent (never touched any 3rd party material). > I also really enjoy reading them. That’s too hard! I didn’t knew that passing two levels using ‘just’ CFAI text gives anybody the qualification to decide who is fit for CFA designation. She just clarified few posts above yours that the CFAI books were interesting to her and her ‘dry’ comment was all about retaining it to her memory. PS: Before you prepare yourself to drill through my throat, please note that most of my L1 & L2 preparation was based solely on CFAI text.
RF Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > L2 Guys, after reading a few posts from you guys, > I am planning to do a few subjects from CFA texts > completely and a few from Schweser, > > > Quant, Economics, Corporate Finance, Derivatives, > AI- Schweser + EOC from CFA > Equity, Ethics, FRA, Fixed Income - CFA Texts > +Some practice problems from Schweser > > This is apart from the various mocks, Is this > combination fine? I would suggest you to shift Derivatives & Corp Fianance (may be except Corp Governance) from Schweser to CFAI. Don’t get depressed by bulkiness of Derivatives book. Start it first. Take it slowly, and when you are done with it, you wont need to memorize even a single formula. It just flows. Like Cheese Burst Pizza.
arunprasath Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- Like Cheese Burst Pizza. [Insert Home Simpson Beer Noises] Mmmmmmmmmm
escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If you find the curriculum too dry i would ask > yourself if pursuing the CFA designation is right > for you. I have only ever used the CFAI textbooks > for both level 1 and 2 and find them to be > excellent (never touched any 3rd party material). > I also really enjoy reading them. That’s too hard! I didn’t knew that passing two levels using ‘just’ CFAI text gives anybody the qualification to decide who is fit for CFA designation. She just clarified few posts above yours that the CFAI books were interesting to her and her ‘dry’ comment was all about retaining it to her memory. PS: Before you prepare yourself to drill through my throat, please note that most of my L1 & L2 preparation was based solely on CFAI text. i have just noticed her clarifications but my response was based on her initial post. I guess my general point is that a lot of people seem to avoid the cfa textbooks for being too long / too detailed / time consuming / too dry yet they cover all the key aspects about the profession they are hoping to pursue (not to mention everything required to get 100% in the exam). I would have thought that those best suited to the profession would enjoy reading the books. I loved reading all of them, it was like christmas to me when they arrived through the post.
escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- I loved reading all of them, it was like Christmas to me when they arrived through the post. Me too! I actually flagged down my UPS driver and blocked traffic for 10 minutes so that he could rummage around the truck and hand my books to me. I basically called the dispatcher and intercepted the UPS guy in transit on his route so I could get my books 8 hours earlier. My UPS driver had refused to leave the books at my door the day before without a signature since he thought the boxes contained handgun ammo (apparently they look, feel, and have the same weight as the CFAI texts) P.S. This sounds extreme, but I had just started studying for Level I around 2/14/2011 so every day mattered. In hindsight, I should have purchased the eBook to go with the text.
Santa must be proud
escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > escape-from-alcatraz Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > i have just noticed her clarifications but my > response was based on her initial post. I guess > my general point is that a lot of people seem to > avoid the cfa textbooks for being too long / too > detailed / time consuming / too dry yet they cover > all the key aspects about the profession they are > hoping to pursue (not to mention everything > required to get 100% in the exam). I would have > thought that those best suited to the profession > would enjoy reading the books. I loved reading all > of them, it was like christmas to me when they > arrived through the post. Couldn’t agree more. I’m don’t know how much Schweser covered about how pathetic is the disclosure quality of some of the globally acclaimed organizations. For somebody who wish to be in this profession, who needs to know left and right of annual reports, who needs to understand all the accounting game played by management, it is important they read CFAI texts for FRA & Equity at least in their free time after exams. Just like you would read an article in pink papers.