Passing the exam with only a few weeks to study - how I did it

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EvanHouston

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Last year I passed level III despite only getting a chance to study for a few weeks before the exam. In order to pull it off while working full time and being a dad, I had to do things differently than previous levels. I felt like the things I learned could have helped me a ton in the previous levels, so I wrote this post:
http://www.evanvanness.com/post/144767932386/prepare-effectively-for-the...
Hope it helps others.
 
Impressive to pass with so little studying….what was your score matrix like if you don’t mind me asking? Decent or bordeline pass?
 
Congrats to you for passing, though I’m pretty sure you were probably fortunate to have been tested in the materials you knew best. I’d caution anyone to think L3 doesn’t require a ton of effort and anyone can skirt by with a few weeks at most
 
S666 wrote:
Impressive to pass with so little studying….what was your score matrix like if you don’t mind me asking? Decent or bordeline pass?
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it wasn’t a flawless victory where all subsections were over 70%. On the other hand, without digging up previous score matrices, I believe this was the most comfortable pass of the three.
 
Impressive but doesnt suprise me..
Level 3 is set up so that a competent-experienced portfolio manager/industry pro/ college professor could step up and pass on a whim. the fixed income /derivatives/risk management sections are laughable to people who work in that area day to day. Im sure you would need to review the overall format and some of the IPS stuff but level 3 is intuitive overall.. level 2 is harder in this respect because there are more random formulas that are not used everyday.
BTW.. i also took CAIA level 2 and that exam is no joke so the 60 hours prep is a bit of an understatement.. That exam covers many of the topics in CFA level 3 ..not just alternatives..
 
Why would you ever run before lifting weights? Good luck with the max gainz bro.
6 cups of coffee before the exam? Lunacy.
 
ltj wrote:
Why would you ever run before lifting weights? Good luck with the max gainz bro.
6 cups of coffee before the exam? Lunacy.
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I ran to the (free) neighborhood gym because it’s about as fast as driving. The point was just to clear my head and put myself in condition to absolutely maximize my brainpower for every moment that I studied.
And yeah, I don’t really recommend drinking as much coffee on exam day as I did. I probably overdid it. But I know that I always have troubles in the morning session.
 
onlysimon wrote:
schweser have a lot of 2016 books to shift?
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You realize that I recommended buying old Schweser books? That’s hardly what a Schweser shill would do.
I don’t work for Schweser. For all I know there are better prep books, but I haven’t tried them. I think the easiest books to get used and cheaply are Schweser.
 
EvanHouston wrote:
I’m in Texas. Shiner.
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Man that stuff is tasty for an American lager. Was driving between SAT and HOU and nearly took the detour to check that town out…
 
qhaydenk wrote:
EvanHouston wrote:
I’m in Texas. Shiner.
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Man that stuff is tasty for an American lager. Was driving between SAT and HOU and nearly took the detour to check that town out…
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It’s not that far away if memory serves. However, when I did the tour 10 years or so ago, it was only at 9am on two weekdays. Rather strange.
 
itera wrote:Congrats to you for passing, though I’m pretty sure you were probably fortunate to have been tested in the materials you knew best. I’d caution anyone to think L3 doesn’t require a ton of effort and anyone can skirt by with a few weeks at most
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Nah. As indicated in the post, this was the best prepared I’d ever been. I had less holes in my exam prep this time than any other time I’d taken the exam.

Maximizing productivity in the last week is key. Particularly, making sure you shore up your weak points.
IsThereAny wrote:
^ agreed. Should have bought a lottery ticket that day instead.
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You clearly didn’t read the post.
 
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