I just wrote the Level 1 two days ago and am sort of confident that I will get through. But a lot of people have warned me that the L2 is a whole other ball game. Considering the results won’t be out till end of January and considering how everyone’s already started to put in a few hours for the L2, I wanted to know which subject would be a good starting point. if I were to start from mid of December is it too late? I use Schweser and I already ordered the L2 books. I’m just not a big fan of studying the subjects in the order of the volumes.
L1 in December, L2 in June - When do I start?
- Thread starter vijay2990
- Start date
Like…now? Start with your favourite one! 
Ok, seriously, the time you need to pass depends on your background/experience/etc. No general answer here. Loads of different ppl pursue CFA, some w/out any finance related pre-studies, others are holding an Msc in Finanance/Accounting, or have been in the industry for decades. I doubt they spend equal amount of time with heads buried in these books. Also, when would you better start? Depends on how much free time you have in general. If you work full time, it’s safe to start early, because a project might come up before D-day , messing up your study plan and you are pretty much done. Run through the books and you will see how familiar the concepts are. Start early, I’d say, you can read a couple of lessons per day and shift to a higher gear gradually. Plenty of study plans are available, choose one and stick to it or go at your own speed. L2 is really a very different animal.
Ok, seriously, the time you need to pass depends on your background/experience/etc. No general answer here. Loads of different ppl pursue CFA, some w/out any finance related pre-studies, others are holding an Msc in Finanance/Accounting, or have been in the industry for decades. I doubt they spend equal amount of time with heads buried in these books. Also, when would you better start? Depends on how much free time you have in general. If you work full time, it’s safe to start early, because a project might come up before D-day , messing up your study plan and you are pretty much done. Run through the books and you will see how familiar the concepts are. Start early, I’d say, you can read a couple of lessons per day and shift to a higher gear gradually. Plenty of study plans are available, choose one and stick to it or go at your own speed. L2 is really a very different animal.
Krisztina wrote:
Like…now? Start with your favourite one!
Ok, seriously, the time you need to pass depends on your background/experience/etc. No general answer here. Loads of different ppl pursue CFA, some w/out any finance related pre-studies, others are holding an Msc in Finanance/Accounting, or have been in the industry for decades. I doubt they spend equal amount of time with heads buried in these books. Also, when would you better start? Depends on how much free time you have in general. If you work full time, it’s safe to start early, because a project might come up before D-day , messing up your study plan and you are pretty much done. Run through the books and you will see how familiar the concepts are. Start early, I’d say, you can read a couple of lessons per day and shift to a higher gear gradually. Plenty of study plans are available, choose one and stick to it or go at your own speed. L2 is really a very different animal.
fourfourtwo
New member
- Jun 18, 2026
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Do you guys think there is any logic in taking a mock exam and getting a basepoint of your knowledge as it related to level II?
I was thinking this would be a great basepoint. The downside is that there is a lot of sampling error in each individual mock and may give you a distorted view.
I was thinking this would be a great basepoint. The downside is that there is a lot of sampling error in each individual mock and may give you a distorted view.
I hated Econ as well for L1. I hated it because it just kept going on and on forever. It looks to be a lot shorter for L2. There also doesn’t appear to be endless Supply/Demand Deadweigh loss ty[e graphs to go through.
fourfourtwo, I wouldn’t waste you time with taking an exam now if you haven’t even started the material. I’ve had a sneap peak at the practice exam questions, it’s intimidating. I’m pretty sure I’d score 33% if I took the exam now.
fourfourtwo, I wouldn’t waste you time with taking an exam now if you haven’t even started the material. I’ve had a sneap peak at the practice exam questions, it’s intimidating. I’m pretty sure I’d score 33% if I took the exam now.
BrightStar
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- Jun 18, 2026
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Schweser and Elan offer quite of material for free so you can start studying now without having to make a purchase.
Schweser offers its study guides for Ethics QM and Econ plus QBank. Elan offer videos and study guides for QM and FRA
Schweser offers its study guides for Ethics QM and Econ plus QBank. Elan offer videos and study guides for QM and FRA
Happened to me a year ago.. Advice is to start SOON. I started with Quant and got really bored with it and waited till the results. The fact is if you are confident and did a lot of sample exams with narrow variability of your results, then start in a week or so. You might have a desire to prove that you did well, BUT give yourself a week off - forget about CFA at all it will prevent burnout later on. After rest start with something you like more. I would advise to start with economics, corpfin, FRA or Equity. Knowing the latter 2 better would be a great advantage EVEN if you fail unexpectedly. To my taste quant is too dry. Deriv, fixed and portfolio are quite difficult.
abhishek1992
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- Jun 18, 2026
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Thanks a lot alex very helpful
No offense to the poster but you just wrote the exam and already changed your status to CFA Level 2 Candidate. I don’t think you’ve read up on your Ethics CFA Candidate, Member, Charter responsibility. You’re over stating your qualification before even getting your result
investmentrookie
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- Jun 18, 2026
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Wow, unbelieveable! C’mon original poster, and your so confident you passed? That was stressed so much in ethics, change it dude.
ddrobinett
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- Jun 18, 2026
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Remember this–about 50% of the exam is Accounting/Corp Finance/Equity. These three actually blend in together so well that it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. They borrow very heavily on each other.
If HALF OF THE EXAM is in these three sections, maybe you should focus on these three. And don’t skimp on the accounting!!! Just because it’s annoying doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study for it.
Just my two cents, of course.
If HALF OF THE EXAM is in these three sections, maybe you should focus on these three. And don’t skimp on the accounting!!! Just because it’s annoying doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study for it.
Just my two cents, of course.
Accounting especially is really really difficult for most candidates. I too think that 17 weeks is too less a time for Level 2.
I like FI, Quants and Accounting (even though I am not a finance student) and there is so much to cover there.. So if you are confident, start now with the preps..
Equity, Ethics, Accounting and Corp Fin/FI are really really important..
Good luck!
I like FI, Quants and Accounting (even though I am not a finance student) and there is so much to cover there.. So if you are confident, start now with the preps..
Equity, Ethics, Accounting and Corp Fin/FI are really really important..
Good luck!