How will you change your strategy? Retakers Edition

Schweser and 7 mocks again. I’m going to cut out the Schweser questions and do CFAI EOCs after I read. I’ll start in October or as soon as Schweser comes out with the materials.
I refuse to read the CFAI materials as I know so many people who passed with just Schweser…
 
CFALOBO wrote:
Schweser and 7 mocks again. I’m going to cut out the Schweser questions and do CFAI EOCs after I read. I’ll start in October or as soon as Schweser comes out with the materials.
I refuse to read the CFAI materials as I know so many people who passed with just Schweser…
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Take a break and start in January. You will burn out otherwise.
 
CFALOBO wrote:
I refuse to read the CFAI materials as I know so many people who passed with just Schweser…
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What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for the other. Seems a little foolish to make a blanket statement like this, especially if you are struggling with a 3rd party reading… seeing it from another angle (especially from the people who write the exam!) could be immensely helpful.
For instance, I thought the CFAI derivatives readings were much more in depth but also clearer and helped me understand the calcs and valulations far better than Kaplan did.
 
ltj wrote:
CFALOBO wrote:
I refuse to read the CFAI materials as I know so many people who passed with just Schweser…
Click to expand...
What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for the other. Seems a little foolish to make a blanket statement like this, especially if you are struggling with a 3rd party reading… seeing it from another angle (especially from the people who write the exam!) could be immensely helpful.
For instance, I thought the CFAI derivatives readings were much more in depth but also clearer and helped me understand the calcs and valulations far better than Kaplan did.
Click to expand...
Time is my main issue. I don’t have time to read all the CFAI materials. I’ll take my chances with just Schweser until I pass…
 
I passed Level 1 June 2014 and Level II June 2015 using CFAI materials only. Not about to shell out $1000 or however much it is for a 3rd party package when CFAI provides all the material you need. And you know nothing will be tested that isn’t in there.
I read through the material once, highlight important stuff, then tried to read through everything I highlighted one more time. I do all EOC questions as I get to them.
I haven’t gotten to any mock exams for either level, but reading helps me more than doing practice problems. Everyone is different.
I think for Level III I’ll start a bit earlier so I can work on some practice exams.
 
I failed the June 2015 level 2 exam…I was in band 5. So far I have been in shock, especially since I thought the actual exam was much easier/less confusing than the Schweser mocks ans walked out feeling pretty confident.
Between putting in 400-500 hours of stuyding, taking CFA classes in my city on weekends (which I’ll admit were kinda useless), going through both Schweser and CFAI books, doing EOC questions from both, 70% of the q-bank, 6-7 mocks, I am not sure where I went wrong. What really scares me is that I thought if I failed, I would be in band 9 or 10, not anything as low as band 5. And to make it worse, the topics I bombed were FRA, Equities, Derivatives, Fixed Income and Port Mgt. So this tells me that all the time I invested in studying, I didn’t really learn anything in those topics. I thought I did but apparently, this was totally delusional.
So I am most likely re-taking in June 2016. I will go over the CFAI books (EOC and examples as well) Dec-Feb, review tough concepts in March, start working on mocks from April to May. I would love any advice, if anyone has any.
 
Band 6 to band 10 fail here. I found 2015 more straight forward than 2014 and even than most of the mocks I had done. Questions where pretty much straight out of the text books and some big areas not even on the exam. So was very disappointed yday.
I thinkk I need to focus on some of the lighter weighted topics to pick up points round the edges that could have been the difference this time round I think. Mainly port management and economics. Both big chapters for one case study but might be worth spending the time!
 
Joe_83 wrote:
So you are recommending reading all the CFA text only to go back and hammer away with condensed review version of Wiley then go back to the text and do EOCs?
My study plan is the opposite
Hit the review material first, then do CFA EOC as i go through the schweser/wiley review material - then work a crapload of questions, mocks, and videos if time permits
Original cfa text readings on weak areas
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That is exactly what I did for this year’s exam prep. Wiley study guide/videos and CFAI EOCs after each reading. I’ll have time to read through the CFAI books and pull some notes first this time so I’m going to do it.
Keep in mind that everyone is different and what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. The most important thing is that you develop a plan that works for you and stick to it. All the best in your studies all.
 
@abby

I know exactly where you’re coming from. Band 7 only because I got over 70 in Ethics (dont ask me how). I left the exam feeling pretty good, and got slapped in the face yesterday when I was told I scored under 50 in 4 subjects. I studied at least 400 hours, took 4 mocks (scoring low 70s) and did a couple intense review classes. I think my results came from 2 problems
1) Studied from Jan-May. Alot of ppl pass with only 4-5 months studying, but for me, it was enough time to absorb the info.
2) I Heavily relied on 3rd party material (wiley). Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy with Wiley, but I think part of my problem was my unfamiliarity with the CFAI language. Aside from being unprepared, I think that explains why I felt confident leaving exam and then getting slapped upside the head. I was def delusional
Anyways, I”m going to incorporate CFAI material much more. I think I’ll start studying in Sept. Nothing crazy. Just going to get a much earlier start.
best
 
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