How do you feel after taking level II exam?

I was helpful that they provided a *few* formulas or didn’t make you do the entire set of calculations from scratch (e.g. the binomials) in several instances…
 
Feedback is helpful guys. Enrollment starts from today for March 11 exam so I am going to do it before 15th Nov last date.
How about curriculum? Official curriculum just has 2 books. Has anyone studied just from there? Do these books have any practice problems?
 
When I took level one it was a mirror of the test bank. When I took level two as one poster commented, CAIA took the smallest item and blew it up into a full 10 point essay question. The randomness of the exam makes it extremely difficult to learn every single aspect in detail. I will def have to resit this one in March.
 
Just wanted to add my two cents worth. I too thought it was quite a tricky exam. But I don’t think it’s a Schweser vs. Uppermark vs. Official curriculum thing. We’ve got people on this forum using all three saying they found it difficult.
Personally I primarily used uppermark but I had also read the core topics curriculum book. I think where I tripped up is thinking that some points were major when they were minor and vice versa, a sentiment shared by others on this topic.
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Official curriculum:
Advantages: The Real Thing. Is offered at the same time as the study guide is published.
Disadvantages: Lack of practice questions.
—————–
3rd Party prep guides:
Advantages: Consolidated notes. Lectures and flashcards (optional). Loads of practice questions (end of chapter, QBank and sample exams). Support from lecturer.
Disadvantages: Can’t read examiners’ minds (who can?), lag time between release of curriculum and publishing of new materials
 
Well how were your results. What worked? What did you wish you did differently?
 
I’ve always thought that if you simply try to master the material in the actual curriculum (as opposed to a prep course) you’ll get the double benefit of giving yourself a very good shot at passing the exam and also learning the subject.
 
Captain Windjammer Wrote:
——————————————————-
> I’ve always thought that if you simply try to
> master the material in the actual curriculum (as
> opposed to a prep course) you’ll get the double
> benefit of giving yourself a very good shot at
> passing the exam and also learning the subject.
I’m not so sure about that. I use the prep material since I learn though application. If I read it, I’ll forget it. I need the variety of questions to challenge me. The variety of questions through the Qbank helps me drill into weak areas and review where I need to. If the official curriculum had something similar, I would be all over it. Until then, I’ll stick with some of the 3rd party materials.
 
Practice questions certainly can be useful; I was referring more to using prep materials to get the substance in place of the actual curriculum materials, which seems like a silly idea to me absent extenuating circumstances.
 
I feel you pain friend..
I took level 2 in March 2020 (waived for level 1 under the CFA designation) and failed.
I passed CFA , FRM, CMT and CFP easily and am employed in a profession that covers multiple CAIA topics.
I used Schwesers top of the line package and had 325 hours invested in prep for the exam.
The exam was more difficult than the test bank schweser provided. There was not enough time to finish the essay portion of the exam.
I am retaking for the spring of 2020 but will not be using schweser as i feel for all the exams shweser provides prep material for the CAIA exam is the weakest. I will be using uppermark based on the comments on this site and others
I will emphasize more prep for current and integrated topics as i think that was the difference maker.
The exam was not necessarily more difficult than other types of exams but was more cryptic in design and what they were looking for as far as answers.
Just Knowing the learning outcomes will not guarantee you passing the exam in my opinion.
It was somwhat humerous getting the phone call from CAIA person trying to console me on failing the exam and encouraging me
to spend more money to retake the exam. My favorite comment was ” you are not alone ,many people fail the exam” LOL :)
 
did you re-sit in September 2019 SeekingAlpha? If you did, how did you find it?
 
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