Level 1 – Exam Experience

Yea I’m surprised at that @mattyc, normally they are really strict about these things and candidates are pretty obliging. When I had my exams years ago, their sound system failed momentarily and it was funny trying to see the man shout out instructions to a room full with thousands of people.

Wow that sounds really draconic.

I would expect nothing less 🙂

I’ve always wondered if by discussing a specific question straight after the exam with another candidate, is that a violation of the standards? Technically your not revealing anything about the exam as they also know what was in the paper. But you are discussing the exam outside of the exam room. Hmmm, I think I will refer to the wording (I think this is that CFA gap that people are referring too…)

Hey,

You all seemed like yall had little sleep the night before. I couldn’t sleep too well myself. For me, I got a bit flustered during the afternoon session (I took Lvl 1 btw) and found it much more difficult than the morning session

> @mattyc said:
> Overall the day went pretty much as expected however there were a few things that made the day interesting. First of all let me tell you that I had one of my best friends weddings the NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM! I was a groomsman and the grooms oldest friend so there was no option to bail out. I didnt drink and got home after Midnight but at least I was able to have a little fun and I dont think it impaired my performance on the actual exam.
>
> About 30 mins into the morning session we had an electrical blackout in the test center for about 20-30 seconds which felt like an eternity. What would’ve happened if it had been longer? Or worse yet, they couldnt get the lights back on at all? All that work, postponed or canceled until the December exam? Luckily it was a relatively minor distraction if you were mentally focused enough to forget about it.
>
> Also, I was amazed at some of the canditates behavior just prior to and following the exams. Two guys behind me were discussing specific sections directly following the exam. Another guy brought his cell phone into the exam and before the PM session was openly texting. Proctors came around while he was texting and didnt say a word becuase they seemed only to care about your admission ticket and passport. Thankfully he put this phone away for the test.
>
> Anyway I think/hope I did pretty well, took the full 3 hours in the morning but finished in 2 hours in the afternoon. We shall see in July. Anyone else have an intersting story about their exam day experience.

This happens whenever we want everything to go perfect, things mess up! Lol.

Wow, my test center stated instant disqualification for anyone whose cellular phone entered the building. We had to check them in, they were placed in plastic bags, and we were given a paper stub with a number on it. Many testing sites use volunteers and workers from local testing centers. Several charter holders were present at my site. They made sure the site ran a tight ship. I finished the first section 1 hour and 5 minutes early, and the PM section 50 minutes early. They allowed me to leave after taking my materials. However, I was forced to leave the building and could not re-enter. My cellular phone was returned to me outside. I slept about 4 hours the night before, but had surprising mental clarity. I felt good after the exam, and hope my results match 🙂

@mattyc which test center were you at? Proctors sound incredibly chilled out.

Whoa. Those are really easy going proctors.

For the first time in my life, I had problems sleeping the night before an exam. I know this one’s different, but I did not have this problem when I wrote it in Dec. I slept at 10 15 because I had to wake up at 5. Unfortunately for me, I woke up at 12 15 and couldn’t fall asleep again. I called my girlfriend (who happens to be studying psychology and is totally made for that stuff) who gave me certain tips on how to fall asleep. Didn’t happen right away, thanks to my wandering mind, but I finally fell asleep at 1 10.

When I woke up in the morning, I felt surprisingly fresh and ready. The exam went fine, i found the PM session much better than the AM. Dot at 5 when the exam ended, it started pouring! Luckily, there was a pizza place in the cafeteria of the exam centre, where me and my CFA buddies decided to eat as much as we could. Finally, I left the centre at 6 15 when the rain slowed down a bit. 37 km ride, on the bike, got drenched to the bone (yes, it started pouring again), but I couldn’t care less. Apparently, this was the 2nd most rainiest day in my city in the last 150 years! What a way for this day to end, but meh, I was home soon enough and dry.

@clwcain Alas, yes. I suppose what goes around comes around, though!

Wow, my test center stated instant disqualification for anyone whose cellular phone entered the building. We had to check them in, they were placed in plastic bags, and we were given a paper stub with a number on it. Many testing sites use volunteers and workers from local testing centers. Several charter holders were present at my site. They made sure the site ran a tight ship. I finished the first section 1 hour and 5 minutes early, and the PM section 50 minutes early. They allowed me to leave after taking my materials. However, I was forced to leave the building and could not re-enter. My cellular phone was returned to me outside. I slept about 4 hours the night before, but had surprising mental clarity. I felt good after the exam, and hope my results match 🙂

Wow that sounds really draconic.

I was on the DLR home from the ExCel centre in London and I heard one guy behind me admit to his friends that he wouldn’t have passed Level I without his friend next to him letting him copy his answers in the exam because the arrogant SOAB thought it would be a piece of piss. The guy is now (somehow) on Level III from what I could gather.

Anyone else find this thoroughly distasteful, or is it just me?

@djwestwood not just you. But it’s also part of life. *shrug*
Perhaps he was shocked by the state he found himself after L1 and elected to actually prepare for 2 & 3. I don’t know.