Why Does No One Use CFAI Materials?

CFA Level I
#1

I’m just reading through the CFAI materials. Why is everyone else using 3rd party study materials?

#2

For L1 the 3rd party materials are enough to pass…If you want to read 300 page ethics instead of 80 with schweser go ahead

#3

I used CFAI

#4

Ok, so the material from thrid party providers are just condensed?

#5

I read both. The CFAI material is really interesting and very well written by some very intelligent people. The topics tend to stick better also from reading the CFAI books. However, as hamada mentioned above, it will def take longer to get thru the material

If you really have a passion for finance (I say that because I really feel you get more out of the CFA when you use their material), and you’re afforded the time, I would def try to use the CFAI books in conjunction with Schweser.

#6

I used the CFAI Texts for Level 1.

#7

I am sitting the Level 1 December 2012 exam and I plan on using the CFAI material. It seems a bit long but it is very well written and easy to follow.

#8

That’s not true. I used CFAI material…way better than other 3rd party material…although more lenghty…

You could use 3rd party materials for the easier more quantitative sections…

#9

I only refered to CFAI when it was required in Level I. But i won’t be doing that for Level II.

#10

I don’t get it. I have so far studied economics, ethics and quantitative methods from schweser and used the CFAI EOC questions. I found schweser to be fine and very well explained. There wasn’t anything that I felt there is a need for extra explanation or that schweser is missing some main points in explaining the subjects.

Although, I heard from many people (even from Doug van Eaton from Schweser) that when it comes to ethics, it is best to study from the actual CFAI material. Or would you say schweser is enough for studying ethics as well?

#11

Study CFAI for ethics regardless of your choice for the other volumes.

#12

Ethics + Corporate governance from the curriculum for sure. Rest from Elan/Schweser and you’ll be fine as long as your get suffifient practice.

#13

I’m using only CFAI material. I paid for the books and might as well use the books by the official test writers.

#14

i used Scheweser only for both level I and level II and luckily passed both first time (although i got greater than 70 in all sections for L1 and just barely scraped by level II…barely). the only area i used the text for was level I ethics and it paid off. i didnt use it for level II although i didnt get above a 70 i still felt it was sufficient… Bottom line is that it doesnt matter what you use for level I because its not an overly tricky or difficult exam. In the end its not about what source you use for studying its about understanding the material and being prepared. good luck

#15

I used only Schweser Notes and passed. However, I would recommend to use Schweser notes for the topics that you understand well (have previously studied on the University) and CFAI materials for those topics which you do not understand well or do not know much at all (Ethics).

As mentioned, I agree that CFAI materials are better written but Schweser Notes are much shorter. You decision also depends on what you prefer. If you prefer spend less time with study, use Schweser Notes. If you prefer better and deeper understanding of the topic, use CFAI materials.

#16

I think it’s fine to use Schweser to help you understand the materials better, but I don’t think it’s such a great idea to use it to cut time. Schweser seems fine for L1, helpul for L2 but not so good for L3.