When to do practice questions

CFA Level I
#1

Hi all,

So I am new here and am just starting soon for June (later than ideal I know but I am going to be going harrrrddd).

From what I have read here on this forum, the Elam brand is good for mock exams. But I have also read that one should do as many practice problems as possible.

Therefore, I have two questions.

  1. What is the the best (or a best few) brands for practice questions?

  2. When should I be doing practice questions for each section? I would imagine that the answer to this would be to do practice questions for a topic section after I have finished the reading, but I just want to make sure.

Thanks!!

#2

You’re probably looking for guidance from someone who has taken it already, but as a fellow Level I candidate using Schweser, I’m doing the summary questions at the end of each section (the ones found in the reading materials), and I just finished the first Schweser book over the weekend and went through a lot of the practice questions in the electronic question bank for the first book material. I’ve moved on to book two now, but I still plan to take time every few days to go back and take more practice questions for the material I’ve already read.

I think the answer you’re going to get from most everyone is to take as many practice questions as early as possible, and if you run out, then go back and do them again. That’s what I’ve heard at least.

#3

Time management is essential to succesfully complete any level on the CFA exam. Its especially important on the Level 1 as you have 200+ questions to answer.

We recommend going with the Schewser practice exams and practice questions to adequately prepare yourself for the exam.

However, it is important that you do all the practice questions at the end of each study session at least once when you are studying the material for the first time. Take note of the questions that you get wrong.

Then when you are going to be closer to the exam date, you should redo all the questions once again and focus on the ones you got wrong. This will help you see if you are making progress in your understanding of the material or not. You should then focus on your “weak spots” to make sure everything is covered

Also, make sure to do as many practice exams as possible (in addition to the end of chapter questions). Practice exams are great because they test you on all topics, not just topics related to the material you are studying now.

Finally, practice exams also provide you with a more realistic representation of the exam day. You will feel less stressed when you are actually writing the exam.

We hope this helps.

Financial Analyst Warrior

#4

You do practice questions right after you read the section and also few weeks after the section and then again in a month… until you write the exam!

You will likely do questions more than once!