How much time did you have left???

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joshdm_94

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I am taking Level I December 06 for the first and hopefully only time. I've read on the board that many candidates run out of time or finished just in time. So I thought it would be beneficial to all if people who have taken the test, could tell us how they've done on other timed test and how much time they had left on the CFA exams.

I've taken the series 7 / 66 and many of the insurance licensing tests; and of course all the exams in college, and I've never had a problem with time. So for everyone who has taken Level I or all 3 levels: How much time do you usually have left after all the other exams you've taken in your life? And how much time, if any, did you have left after Level I?

Thanks in advance!!!
 
Josh,

I am taking Lev1 in Dec. '06 as well, so I cannot comment on the time it took me. However, I can relate a couple things that may help. I also took the S7/66 and insurance exams, and had plenty of time left (took less than 60 minutes on each part of the S7).

However, I also took the CFP(r) exam, and in each of the three sections, I finished with only about 5-10 minutes left to the period. That gave me just enough time to make sure all my little black dots were filled in, and to go back and reconsider one or two questions where I wanted to go back over my answers.

My approach to the L1 will be similar to the CFP(r) exam. I plan to practice, practice, practice before the exam. If there are questions that look like they may suck up too much time, I will bypass them and come back to them. On the CFP(r) there were only two like that, but it's a lot easier to work on them when ther eis still 20 minutes to go than when you are trying to pace yourself at 90 seconds per.
 
Re: Josh's response, I'd say the CFA will be closer to the CFP as far as time is concerned. I also took the Series 7/66/insurance exams and those were a joke (both material and time to complete) compared to the CFA (and I'm assuming the CFP is also tough). However, like both of you I'm a 1st timer for lvl 1 in December so I can't comment from first hand experience. However, several coworkers who've taken it are fairly uniform in their response to this question: If you know the material cold, you'll probably have time left because answers tend to jump out at you. If you have to really think things through or stall on questions, time will be your enemy. Just plan on knowing it cold. That's the advice that's given to me by my coworkers (CFA Charterholders).
 
i finished the morning session about 40 minutes early and the afternoon session 55 minutes early. when i say finished, i mean i went through every question once. but my strategy is different than most. i fly through the questions. if i dont know the answer virtually immediately, i mark it and move on. then after i finish, i go back and think through the ones i was unclear on
 
I passed LI this June on first try.

In AM session, I finished in the last minute. Most people in this session at my center took entire time to finish.

In PM session, I finished 10 minutes earlier. Several people finished even earlier in this session.

I had not done any practice tests before the exam so I felt rushed. I was especially ambushed by double-barreled questions in FSA.
 
Somewhat unrelated, but the guy sitting in front of me for L2 this year finished both sections in about 2 hours, turned in his test and left. I finished each part in about 2:20, but I figure I'm going to spend every damn second I can with that test, so I reviewed questions until time was up.
 
CFAAtlanta Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I had not done any practice tests before the exam
> so I felt rushed. I was especially ambushed by
> double-barreled questions in FSA.

OK, I have to ask.......

If it doesn't violate anything, can you describe what a double-barreled question is? I only lived in Dallas for a year when I 7yo (circa 1959-60), so my Texan is rusty.
 
Okay, I'll answer to this one and then ask a question as well. Took L1 in Dec. of 04 and passed (1st time).

Time was very critical for me. I finished both session right on the bell. DO NOT WASTE TIME, make sure you also keep some concept of time as you are taking the test. For me it was something like: after 1 hr I should have done x amount of questions.... etc

My question is this. One of my colleague is sitting for L1 Dec. 06. He ordered also Schweser as I did, but his books look a lot thiner as mine did!!! Kind of aggravating!!! Any idea if Schweser decided to condense even more the text?

Thx,
 
StealthPlanner Wrote:
--
>
> If it doesn't violate anything, can you describe
> what a double-barreled question is?

SP, it is when you have to evaluate two conditions for each multiple choice option. E.g.

A. X is true and Y is true.
B X is false but Y is true.
C. Both X and Y are false.
D X is true and Y is false.

and questions of similar structure. It can double up the time required to answer the question because sometime X and Y might refer to completely different things. Also, it increases the probability of making a mistake.
 
I probably finished both sections with 30 mins to spare, but I usually mark the questions that I'm not very sure about and I took about 15 mins more to review those, after that I just sat for the remaining 15 mins.
 
CorvetteMan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i finished the morning session about 40 minutes
> early and the afternoon session 55 minutes early.
> when i say finished, i mean i went through every
> question once. but my strategy is different than
> most. i fly through the questions. if i dont know
> the answer virtually immediately, i mark it and
> move on. then after i finish, i go back and think
> through the ones i was unclear on


I approach tests the same way, it helps me to see where I am after the first run through. But that's defintely a concern of mine. Usually I fly through once, hoping to answer 1/2 the questions immediately, then the 2nd run I hope to know 1/2 of the remaining 1/2 right off the bat, and then the final quarter are basically educated guesses or a very in depth time consuming question that I know, but knew it would take considerable time and thought (don't want to fatigue my mental state on a couple of questions). But I'm wondering if I have enough time for 3 runs. I usually finish test in less than 1/2 the time alloted at the most.

So when you say you had 40 mins and 55 mins left; did you have any time left after going back through and answering all the questions?

Thanks for the response.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 01:06PM by joshdm_94.
 
I was left with 3-4 minutes left in both AM and PM sessions in the June level I exam, which I passed. I developed my rhythm for testing through GMAT and I felt the most important thing is to keep focus on the problem at hand, one at a time. Don't panic or think about skipping ahead. If you can't solve a problem, but you think you can recall later on, flag it and come back later. If you can't solve a problem for the life of you, guess and move on. Don't waste time having flashbacks of your study sessions, it almost never helps. I'm sure you guys have heard this approach before, but it tastes countless standardized tests under time pressure to be comfortable with it. Good luck, all. See you guys next Summer in Level II
 
I was the first to finish in Chicago in nearly every session that I sat (I, II, III)...I never reviewed my answers as I think there is limited upside in doing so. I'm sure I didn't get the highest score - but, from a time spent per result I was number 1!!!
 
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