Poll: Who takes the time to highlight important text as your read?

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bjacobs77

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I logged 700 hours or studying for level 2. I need to find a more time efficient way of studying. For level 2, I read Schweser Notes highlighting as I read. Since the Schweser Notes are all ready in summary format (a summary of the CFAI books) I end up highlighting most of the text. It takes me longer (maybe even twice as long) to highlight as I read. After I got through all of the books (and CFAI/Schweser EOC’s) I then reread all of my highlighting and reworked all of the probelms. To be more effeicient, I am thinking of just reading the text without highlighting? Once I finish, I would probably reread the Schweser Notes. Thoughts? I have always taken loger than others to study and need to find a way to speed things up.
 
First Read Through:
I underline important notes (see later), and take notes in margins of ideas I have thought of that complement the material and add to my understanding.
I do not attempt any EOCs on the first time through the material.
Second Read Through (skim):
I type up all notes that I underlined and from the margins.
EOCS and Mocks:
Read Topic X from my condensed notes, then attempt EOCs on Topic X.
Mocks when done all EOCs.
This worked for me for the first 2 levels on a somewhat short time frame.
 
I never highlighted anything for the CFA, I always associated this as a thing that uni girls do. I remember in the library trying to study whilst they sat and highlighted virtually every word on the page.
for the CFA i used flash cards to remember key info and found this to be time consuming but extremely helpful
 
Not in the highlighting camp either. I take notes as I go and when I finish a SS I go back and make flashcards before moving on to the next SS. 2nd time through I read the chapters and notes.
I studied for less than 200 hours for L2, definitely not by design, and I would never recommend that was adequate if you want the best chance of passing. But this study strategy gave me enough knowledge within the very little amount of time that I could squeeze in.
 
I don’t highlight anything. I tend to write concepts/definitions/lists/formulas on notecards. Writing things down helps me learn way more than highlighting ever has.
 
bjacobs77 wrote:
I logged 700 hours or studying for level 2. I need to find a more time efficient way of studying. For level 2, I read Schweser Notes highlighting as I read. Since the Schweser Notes are all ready in summary format (a summary of the CFAI books) I end up highlighting most of the text. It takes me longer (maybe even twice as long) to highlight as I read. After I got through all of the books (and CFAI/Schweser EOC’s) I then reread all of my highlighting and reworked all of the probelms. To be more effeicient, I am thinking of just reading the text without highlighting? Once I finish, I would probably reread the Schweser Notes. Thoughts? I have always taken loger than others to study and need to find a way to speed things up.
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To quote Johnny Drama from Entourage, “Never Never Never”
I did not even maintain a formula sheet, let alone highlighting, and the reason was, you are studying so much for the test, that notes and highlighting becomes counterproductive. Not only would it take way too long as you stated, but you are re-reading and re-studying all the material as you go anyway, so why highlight what you already know ahead of time you will see again?
 
Highlighting, note taking, typing up notes, creating flash cards, etc in my opinion is what people do to burn time and make themselves feel like they are studying, when in reality, that is not studying—it is much easier to do, so people gain the study-satisfaction in it
 
clip1989 wrote:Highlighting, note taking, typing up notes, creating flash cards, etc in my opinion is what people do to burn time and make themselves feel like they are studying, when in reality, that is not studying—it is much easier to do, so people gain the study-satisfaction in it
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You’re definitely wrong about taking notes (and, similarly, writing flash cards): writing information has clearly been demonstrated to improve one’s recall of that information. Typing notes has a much smaller effect on one’s level of recall; highlighting has, I’m sure, an even smaller effect.
 
I wrote my own notes. It took a heck of a long time, but forcing myself to condense and paraphrase in my own words really reinforced the material. I tried highlighting a long time ago, but all I ended up doing was painting instead of thinking.
 
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