How close to failing?

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blitzraider

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At first, I didn’t plan to make this post so soon after the release of results to avoid pouring salt on the wounds of those who did not pass. I changed my mind because I believe my situation and results will help anyone regardless of their exam result.
I would like input from anyone on the following:
1. How close do you think I was to failing? I know it’s all a guess but anything helps (ie how many questions, points etc.)
2. Was my ethics score the difference maker in my results?
Here are my pass results breakdown:
Less than 50% Alt Inv, Port Fin, Quant
50% to 70% in Econ, FRA
More than 70% Corp Fin, Deriv, Equity, Ethics, Fixed Inc
I used the 300 hours exam results analysis and my estimated 40/60/80 score was 69% and I am in the 56th percentile. Theoretical max/min is 58.3%/84.2%
Here was my study strategy:
I studied using Kaplan Schweser and began late December. As I studied through the chapters, I wrote out flashcards of key concepts/formulas and did all the Kaplan EOCs. I finished doing this around the beginning of May. This was my “1st go-around” of all topics. I spent the rest of the time reviewing/memorizing my flash cards, skimming Kaplan for the difficult concepts, and doing the CFAI EOCs. I took 2 weeks off from work before the exam to focus studying.
At around 1.5 weeks before the exam, I realized that I would not have time to finish all the CFAI EOCs and review all the topics in a “2nd go-around”. I sped up by skipping the Kaplan EOCs that were not multiple-choice exam format questions, anybody who has looked at the CFAI EOCs will know what I mean.
When I had 5 days left before the exam, I still didn’t finish the CFAI EOCs yet. I knew I needed to do at least one mock, so I spent 1 day doing that and reviewing my answers and results. The rest of the time I spent reviewing my flash cards and trying to do as many CFAI EOCs as I can. I took ample rest (ie at least 8 hours of sleep each day), but I was studying up until exam day.
On the day before the exam, I did not have time to do all the Fixed Inc, Deriv, Alt Inv Port Fin CFAI EOCs, and I was struggling with concepts those chapters because I didn’t have enough time to fully understand them. I resulted to skimming what I can and relying on my flash cards.
On exam day, I was really worried about my performance because how shaky I was with those last 4 topics (Fixed Inc, Deriv, Alt Inv and Port Fin). Between the AM PM section I had to guess/educated guess about 30 questions. I continued studying during lunch time based on what topics appear/did not appear in the AM section.
I felt right after the exam that:
I was either going to fail really badly because of those last 4 topics and other variables throughout the exam. OR
If I passed, it was going to be close. That is why I am making this post. Thank you for your time
I’ll make a TL:DR if needed…
 
I scored 59% on Wiley mock and 63% on CFAI mock. I knew i was going to fail, but I passed. If you average all my CFAI topic tests and mocks for the last week my average was 62.9%, so very little standard deviation in my scores. I suck at ethics and somehow made over a 70% there and I think that was the difference maker. I feel so lucky right now because there are plenty of others with better matrices than mine who failed. I estimated my score before the results at 62%-64% so I honestly believe that’s the MPS right there.
40/60/80: 64% with a minimum of 56.7% and max of 75%. 31st percentile
Matrix:
Less than 50% Alt Inv and, Quant
50% to 70% in Derivatives, Economics, Equity, FRA and PM
More than 70% CF, Ethics, FI
 
45.8% min - 60% estimated 40/60/80 - 71.7% max - 17th percentile - most likely ethics boost pass
 
Your Grade:
Fail - Band 10
Your estimated 40/60/80 score:
66%
Estimate only - not your actual score
Your theoretical maximum and minimum scores:
56.7%
Minimum 79.2%
Maximum
What about this
 
nilithakkar wrote: Your Grade: Fail - Band 10 Your estimated 40/60/80 score: 66% Estimate only - not your actual score Your theoretical maximum and minimum scores: 56.7% Minimum 79.2% Maximum What about this
Click to expand...
What is your 40/60/80 breakdown by topic?
 
nilithakkar wrote: Your Grade: Fail - Band 10 Your estimated 40/60/80 score: 66% Estimate only - not your actual score Your theoretical maximum and minimum scores: 56.7% Minimum 79.2% Maximum What about this
Click to expand...

small weights (Alternative Investments/PM/Quants) might be abovr 70% inflated the number. or min 40% is overstated. Show your breakdown
 
I’m pretty sure I got the lowest possible score to pass
50 or less: PM, Quant, Equity, Economics
51-70: Alts, FRA, Corp, Ethics
> 70: Derivatives, Fixed Income
If i had the high score in each of those ranges (i.e 12/12 in Fixed Income, 3/6 in Quant, 9/18 in Equity etc) my score would have been 81/120 = 67.5%
I’m confident I aced Derivatives and Fixed Income on the exam - it was probably my strongest area. I’m a little surprised I did so poorly in Equity.
 
Infidel Cash Flo wrote: What is 40/60/80?
Click to expand...
It’s the score based on the 300 hours CFA analysis tool. It’s an estimate of your score based on your results from CFAI.
 
Passed L2 with 68% estimated score 40/60/80 with a range of 58% to 82.5%. I thought I squeaked by, but from the sounds of it there are lower scores that mine. Granted, the 40/60/80 estimated score is merely a best estimate.
<50% Ethics Quant
50%<>70% CF, Derivatives, Econ, Port
>70% Alt, Equity, FRA, FI

Don’t let failed mocks get you down. I never passed an AM & PM mock based on the combined scores. I only had 3 of the 12 half sessions even score above 70%.
 
I passed on my first attempt. I do not know how I passed compared to some Band 8/9/10 matrices and 40/60/80 scores already posted.
Estimated 40/60/80 Score: 58%
Min: 42.5%
Max: 69.2%
 
LTNKidd wrote:
Passed L2 with 68% estimated score 40/60/80 with a range of 58% to 82.5%. I thought I squeaked by, but from the sounds of it there are lower scores that mine. Granted, the 40/60/80 estimated score is merely a best estimate.
<50% Ethics Quant
50%<>70% CF, Derivatives, Econ, Port
>70% Alt, Equity, FRA, FI

Don’t let failed mocks get you down. I never passed an AM & PM mock based on the combined scores. I only had 3 of the 12 half sessions even score above 70%.
Click to expand...
OMG, I missed it by a hairline, we have almost similar matrix
Q#
Topic
Max Pts
<=50%
51%-70%
>70%
-
Alternative Investments
18
-
*
-
-
Corporate Finance
36
*
-
-
-
Derivatives
36
-
-
*
-
Economics
36
-
*
-
-
Equity Investments
54
-
-
*
-
Ethical & Professional Standards
36
-
*
-
-
Financial Reporting & Analysis
72
-
-
*
-
Fixed Income Investments
36
-
*
-
-
Portfolio Management
18
-
-
*
-
Quantitative Methods
18
*
-
-
 
@tau281290
Was in the same boat like you last year. Don’t worry you’ll clear it 100 percent next time…this time you probably just missed it by one question.
Sucks now but you’ll definitely crush the test 2017.
Good luck.
 
@tau281290 i have the same estimated score i.e 68% and i am in band 10 too.
 
Band 10, I was not sure of passing but either way the matrix seems to be very annoying
FI, Corp Fin, Equity, FRA > 70
Ethics, Derivatives - 50 - 70
Eco, AI, Quants <50
This matrix is devasting. I wonder how much I actually failed by. I think one move up in any one of the subjects would mean a pass.
—–
Looking at some of the matrix that the people have provided I am just not sure what went wrong with me.
 
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