Guys,
I am a bit confused about what prep provider i should go for , for level 2
I did my level 1 using schweser and partly the curriculum.
But, for level 2 i am finding the curiculum a but overwhelming.
I’d like to know about your opinions and experiences with the different prep providers and their notes.
Also, how much different are the prep providers compared to the curriculum?
i agree, it is indeed overwhelming. I have decided to go with Schweser and watch the Irfanullah videos on youtube. Schweser has the chapter by chapter videos where are good and the Qbank is really great.
I agree with the IFT videos they are amazing, helped me a lot for level 1.
About schweser though, i have read people’s posts saying that the schweser doesnt cover everything.(They were basing this on a comparison between the number of pages in schweser and the curriculum)
However the curriculum is very wordy so i am a bit confused. But regardless, schweser is my backup plan for now.
I’d stick to the same technique as in level 1 but double the time and efforts. There is no shortcut. If it existed everyone would be hoarding to the same source of study.
I’m using Wiley program with Schweser Qbank. Either provider is good. Wiley more aligned with CFAI curriculum in my opinion.
I would agree with that. Someone loaned me their L2 Schweser books until I got my results. Now that I have the Wiley books and the CFAI books; comparing all 3 side by side was an eye opener. Wiley follows the CFAI curriculum the closest and I would be nervous, based on some of the gaps I saw, to use Schweser books exclusively.
Schweser does have a great Qbank and practice exams though…
I passed CFA lvl 1, CAIA lvl 1 & 2 with just Kaplan/Schweiser notes. I tried the same for CFA lvl 2 last year, and failed. I felt a lot of topics weren’t covered in enough detail in K/S to fully prepare you for the exam. This time around, I’ve started much earlier, and am working through the CFAI curriculum slowly.
I echo what others have said, their is no shortcut. I don’t think K/S alone is sufficient.
Good luck.
I used Wiley last year and missed a pass (Band 9, not the fault of the study material), and I’m going straight from the CFAI books this year.
After getting deep into the readings this year, I’ve decided nothing beats reading straight from the CFAI source material, and supplementing around that where needed. The level of detail the CFA books go into really allow for a deeper understanding of each LOS and I find it easier to put everything together and make connections that I wasn’t able to make last year using Wiley alone.
So, for me, the following is the optimum way to approach Level II …
CFAI books for readings, blue boxes and EOC practice sets
Wiley for Video lesson supplements and the 11th Hour Guide
Schweser for additional mock exams
Of course, if you’re crunched for time, condensed study guide readings may be your only option.
Thanks guys, I think i have a better view of what to expect.
Also, since i will be giving level 2 in june 2017, I guess the CFAI curriculum will be my primary source for readings.
Benjamin,
Have you figured out your plan yet? I am planning on taking level 2 in 2017 (passed level 1 back in Dec 2012). Any advice is appreciated. I am wondering if i should use CFAI first to get a detailed understaning and then supplement with either Irfanuallah or Elan videos.
I hope starting now is not too early. I’ve been reading starting in the Nov/Dec timeframe is ideal. Thoughts?
i am expecting a band 10 fail this year, and I used Schweser exclusively. To be honest, I think schweser prepared me very well for the exam, and its quite alarming to me to hear so many people talk about the “gaps” in schwesers information. even though I will pobably fail, I do not think by any means it was Schwesers fault…
Are you guys really that down on Schweser? The CFAI text for level II is just sooooo damnnnnn thickkkkkk. I dont think its feasible when you have a 60 hour/week job
I disagree with the notion that Schweser is not complete/has gaps. On both level I and II I specifically remember 1, yes only 1, question that was not covered in the Schweser material. If you go through these books cover to cover a few times you will get 99% of what you need and learn things more efficiently than with CFAI alone. I have used Schweser and will continue to do so - I am a bit of a Schweser homer though so make of it what you will. I have always felt very prepared when using their materials.
Hey I did some research and started studying with the CFAI notes as the prep provider notes are not out yet.
But i have decided to start properly once they come out because i dont want to burn myself out yet.
So, I plan on starting in August/September. I did go through Quant, FRA, Economics, Corp from the Curriculum back in March/April but i found it very vast in the sense that i couldnt pick out the important parts especially for the 2nd reading of Economics.
Right now, I am reading books, Watching Aswath Damodaran videos just so that i do not completely forget about CFA.
Also, if you have the time, id highly recommend you start going through important readings from Level 1. Especially FRA and equity as a lot of it is continued in L2
As for what i am planning on going for, Here is a list of the things im planning on getting:
Wiley Self study + Video lessons ( I saw the wiley video lessons for quant and i must say i understood quite a lot because of how comprehensive they were and was able to answer EOCs for all the 3 readings)
Schweser Q bank + Practice exams ( I think i want to practice more than i did for level 1 for which i only used Schweser)
Also, I am planning on making copies of all the blue boxes and EOCs.
All these preparations are merely tools and i think nothing can beat hardwork and time dedicated.
Hope this helps, Good luck!
I plan on going for Wiley because of what everyone seems to say here. However,I have seen a lot of people say that they passed L2 with only Schweser including S2000Magician.
Besides, I always make my own notes .
Thanks for the response & tips.
I started watching Irfanuallah (IFT) trial videos and really like his style of teaching. I need to decide which one to choose - Wiley or IFT for videos. I learn so much better through videos as a starting point.
I agree with you - I am going to wait till the curriculum comes out to start studying.
Its going to be an intense journey over the next 1 year!
For level 1 i relied a lot on IFT videos and i thought they were great. I remember just watching 1 wiley video and thought it was very long and comprehensive. Then again i believe that the efforts and time spent on level 2 should be more so i will go with wiley just because of how much more detailed they are. If i feel like i need more help then i may purchase the IFT videos. But wiley is my first preference for now.
I used shweser for L1 2013 exam, and am getting the feeling that Wiley is better for L2. I plan to sit the exam in June 2017. I looked at the wiley website and there are a few courses - i.e. silf study, silver, gold platnium. Which course do you guys think is good, I just want the books and don’t care for videos. How about the link below, is that enough?
http://www.efficientlearning.com/cfa/products/level-2/study-guide/
What did you use for level 1 in terms of study materials (Notes, QBank, mocks)? The link you posted is just the study guide (like SchweserNotes). I find practice questions and mock exams really valuable in retaining information and grasping the concepts. So I’d recommend a study package that includes some additional material, like the ‘Self Study Course’ offered.
I also plan on taking L2 in June 2017. What I wanted to know is as far as the written notes go, which one is better? Schweser or Wiley? I do plan on focusing on the CFAI curriculum first though. Also, are the Wiley ebooks fully printable? And do the Schweser guys send the printed versions of the 5 books? Thanks!
I recommend schweser, they are very condensed and that is all you need to pass. If you want to truly understand the material, go with the cirriculum.