Question for level III candidates

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3rdyearinlevel2

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Hello,
I started reading about level III exam and getting myself familiar with the topics and exam. I plan to study around November and take it slow and try to understand each topic very well. However, I’m wondering are their specific topics in which you will get essay questions and other topics for item sets? Or you’re supposed to study all topics as if everything can be tested as essay or item sets?
 
Everything can be tested in AM or PM, looking at past exams you can see there are some recurring themes in the morning eg Wealth Management IPS but it is not a guarantee it will appear on the day of the exam
 
I think it’s safe to say Ethics will be tested as an item set, not as an essay question….at least it has never been tested as an essay question before (I guess TECHNICALLY they could switch that around but I’d bet my last 2 cents they wouldn’t).
There are definitely some sections that WILL be tested on the essay section (as good as guaranteed) but you can never tell the WAY in which they will be tested. I think it’s also safe to assume there will be an individual portfolio management question and an institutional portfolio management question in the AM.
Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess.
 
Not sure if this alone is reason enough to chose a third-party provider, but Wiley’s videos break down section by section of what will *most likely* be on the AM. Note this is only an educated guess; nobody that can discuss this knows for sure. In this YouTube video, within 30 seconds Darren Miller tells you this subject is heavily-tested in the AM.
Off of the top of my head, you can most likely expect at least two questions: One question is IPS for individuals and the other is IPS for institutions. What exactly they’ll ask or what type of institution they’ll ask about is beyond me.
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams. You can use this to get a feel for what’s asked. Additionally, I’d worry about learning the material first before even thinking of your test strategy. There’s plenty of time to do that in March, April, and May.
 
Thanks all for the feedback it was really helpful. The only reason I’m worrying is that Level III is definitely different than I and II. I’m not sure if I should start “reading” only the books and then start studying by Late November.
 
It helps to get familiar with the essay format early on by looking at one of the old AM papers CFAI provides. Just keep in mind that the guideline answers are way more than what they would expect you to write - you should just keep to bullet points and not write whole sentences.
 
I found one blank sample of old AM exam on CFAI portal. Is there any kind of AM session tests among portal topic tests, portal Mocks, EOCs or Schweser material?
 
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
 
They provide two PM sessions mocks. They provide three (or four) past year AM papers. This is an important distinction, those are not mocks, those are the actual exams that candidates took.
 
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
Click to expand...
I’m willing to wager reading comprehension was a reason it took you three times to pass L2.
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams.
Click to expand...
Additionally, these aren’t mocks, they are actual exams – big difference.
More broadly, though, L3 favors the type of people that do their own research. In the time since I’ve posted and you responded with your “wish” for the data to be presented in a nice, spoon-fed manner, some other L3 candidate found all 10 AM exams by searching here or on Google and has printed or saved them to their computer. In L3, approximately one out of every two sitters pass, which of you two would you put your money on right now?
Be motivated or be angry from this post – your choice. This choice says more about you than you think.
 
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
Click to expand...
I’m willing to wager reading comprehension was a reason it took you three times to pass L2.
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams.
Click to expand...
Additionally, these aren’t mocks, they are actual exams – big difference.
More broadly, though, L3 favors the type of people that do their own research. In the time since I’ve posted and you responded with your “wish” for the data to be presented in a nice, spoon-fed manner, some other L3 candidate found all 10 AM exams by searching here or on Google and has printed or saved them to their computer. In L3, approximately one out of every two sitters pass, which of you two would you put your money on right now?
Be motivated or be angry from this post – your choice. This choice says more about you than you think.
Click to expand...
Careful, next thing you know you will end your posts with hashtags and come torment next year candidates ^^
 
Ugggh, I am angry at your post on his behalf. So you wont be able to infer anything about him from his (non)choice.
ha ha ha. ha ha
 
Grrreg wrote:
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
Click to expand...
I’m willing to wager reading comprehension was a reason it took you three times to pass L2.
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams.
Click to expand...
Additionally, these aren’t mocks, they are actual exams – big difference.
More broadly, though, L3 favors the type of people that do their own research. In the time since I’ve posted and you responded with your “wish” for the data to be presented in a nice, spoon-fed manner, some other L3 candidate found all 10 AM exams by searching here or on Google and has printed or saved them to their computer. In L3, approximately one out of every two sitters pass, which of you two would you put your money on right now?
Be motivated or be angry from this post – your choice. This choice says more about you than you think.
Click to expand...
Careful, next thing you know you will end your posts with hashtags and come torment next year candidates ^^
Click to expand...
Oh god! I’m turning into one of those charterholders that comes on only to be snarky, crush dreams, and offer nothing of value! And I don’t even have the charter! Apologies to 3rdyearinlevel2, I’m a little tense about next-weeks results. #Sorry
 
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
Grrreg wrote:
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
Click to expand...
I’m willing to wager reading comprehension was a reason it took you three times to pass L2.
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams.
Click to expand...
Additionally, these aren’t mocks, they are actual exams – big difference.
More broadly, though, L3 favors the type of people that do their own research. In the time since I’ve posted and you responded with your “wish” for the data to be presented in a nice, spoon-fed manner, some other L3 candidate found all 10 AM exams by searching here or on Google and has printed or saved them to their computer. In L3, approximately one out of every two sitters pass, which of you two would you put your money on right now?
Be motivated or be angry from this post – your choice. This choice says more about you than you think.
Click to expand...
Careful, next thing you know you will end your posts with hashtags and come torment next year candidates ^^
Click to expand...
Oh god! I’m turning into one of those charterholders that comes on only to be snarky, crush dreams, and offer nothing of value! And I don’t even have the charter! Apologies to 3rdyearinlevel2!
Click to expand...
Like Greenman?? He used to go on the L1 forum every year and write/repost the longest rant ever about how candidates were all stupid and wasting their time, and would never make it…..etc, etc, etc.
Guess he quit trolling this site….or has a new handle.
 
Topperharley wrote:
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
Grrreg wrote:
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
I wish CFAI provide all previous mock exams instead on just the year’s mock. Would be really helpful!
Click to expand...
I’m willing to wager reading comprehension was a reason it took you three times to pass L2.
CFAbeatmeup wrote:
You do know the CFAI provides last-year’s AM tests, right? With a quick google search you can probably find the last 10 years of exams.
Click to expand...
Additionally, these aren’t mocks, they are actual exams – big difference.
More broadly, though, L3 favors the type of people that do their own research. In the time since I’ve posted and you responded with your “wish” for the data to be presented in a nice, spoon-fed manner, some other L3 candidate found all 10 AM exams by searching here or on Google and has printed or saved them to their computer. In L3, approximately one out of every two sitters pass, which of you two would you put your money on right now?
Be motivated or be angry from this post – your choice. This choice says more about you than you think.
Click to expand...
Careful, next thing you know you will end your posts with hashtags and come torment next year candidates ^^
Click to expand...
Oh god! I’m turning into one of those charterholders that comes on only to be snarky, crush dreams, and offer nothing of value! And I don’t even have the charter! Apologies to 3rdyearinlevel2!
Click to expand...
Like Greenman?? He used to go on the L1 forum every year and write/repost the longest rant ever about how candidates were all stupid and wasting their time, and would never make it…..etc, etc, etc.
Guess he quit trolling this site….or has a new handle.
Click to expand...
Going into the L1 forum to crush dreams is akin to this. Lol. But if we assume he passed L1 on the first attempt, three years into L2 is working on your fifth year. At some point the idea of google had to pop into your head, right? Anyway, six more days left.
 
CFAbeatmeup

wow.. what a nice reply thanks dude!! first of all, yes it took me three years to pass level II and do you want to know why? well, the first year I had personal issues thus I was not able to study at all, however I did sit for the exam just to get a feel of it. The second year one of my close family members passed away in May, which erased everything I worked for. The third year, in which I passed, I studied for around 2-3 months and managed to passed :) and FYI, I passed level I with two months of studying and got all topics above 70%. So, no, you don’t get to “bully” me here and make jokes about me. ALSO, FYI, I did google search the CFA mocks and the pages did not open, I believe CFAI removed them or maybe because I did not register yet. This being said, we will see next week how well the genius did in his level III exam ;)
 
3rdyearinlevel2 wrote:
lol jediknerd he’s too pathetic so it’s ok.. poor guy has no life but to make jokes on these forums.
Click to expand...
Don’t be so harsh, it’s a difficult time for us and he did apologize in hashtag format in his net post. CFAbeatmeup is definitely a positive force around here. Understand that most of us had to find the past mocks by ourselves and we are currently answering/helping 2017 lvl III candidates while being on edge for our own results.
 
Grrreg … well, judging someone by the number of CFA exam attempts is not positive at all. We all now the circumstances that we face during the months of CFA exam preparation. I do my own search and by searching about the exam I found out about these forums in which people would share their thoughts about the exam preparation, so I did nothing wrong by asking you guys for advice :)
 
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