If you ask a CFA charterholder which CFA exam level they found the toughest, they are likely to answer either Level 2 or Level 3. CFA Level 3 is especially challenging because the exam format also deviates from the multiple-choice format. The constructed response format, or ‘essay’ section, can be very difficult to master for the CFA candidate used …
The CFA Level 3 essay questions (constructed response) tends to be many candidates’ Achilles heel, even when they accurately self-grade the essay practice questions during practice. However, there is a quick way to substantially improve your constructed response section’s performance. Knowing the best strategies on how to answer essay questions is almost as important as …
CFA Institute previously announced some major evolutions to the CFA Program. Among them is the introduction of Specialized Pathways for CFA Level 3 candidates from 2025. Level 3 candidates will now be able to choose a Specialized Pathway that aligns with their interest and career goals. These three choices are: Additionally, there is also a …
It takes an average of 1,000 study hours to obtain a CFA charter, so it is worthwhile investigating the most efficient way to pass before signing up. While there are no shortcuts nor exemptions, there are things you can do to tip the odds in your favour. Having completed my CFA exams in 18 months …
Note: this cheat sheet is updated for the latest 2024 and 2025’s curriculum. Fixed Income is a central topic in finance, and it increases in importance (topic weight wise) as you advance to CFA Level 3. With so many key concepts to cover, we decided to create our Cheat Sheet series of articles, which focuses …
Congrats on passing Level 1, and welcome to CFA Level 2! Unfortunately, the CFA Level 2 exam is a different beast, with a reputation to be the most challenging exam with the most material to cover. Many candidates failed at this hurdle given the step up in difficulty that is unknown upfront. That’s why we are here: …
If you’re studying for the CFA exam, how do you know if you’re doing OK? How do you know you’re not on the path to possibly failing? Sure, some will say as long as you’re regularly putting in study time, you should be fine. But sometimes it’s helpful to have a quick check to see …
There is understandably a lot of comparison and confusion between different financial qualifications. CFA vs CPA is no exception – they even sound similar! We have had chartered accountants share their CFA experiences before, but in this article we will specifically compare the CPA and CFA charter in all aspects: career paths, exam formats, exam …
Have you ever wondered how is the CFA exam graded? A while ago I actually researched and considered applying to be a CFA exam grader. Although I ultimately decided not to apply, I learned a lot about the CFA grading process and what the CFA Institute goes through to get your results to you. Here’s …
Whether you’re considering the CFA program, or a current candidate tracking your study progress, the question of ‘how long to study for CFA Level 1/2/3’ often pops up along the way. In this article, we look at the average range of CFA study hours clocked by past CFA candidates. However, the feasibility of achieving those …