Schweser practice exams vs CFA real thing

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woollycat

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Do you think the practice exams in schweser are harder or easier than the real thing?
 
Almost every post I've ever seen on AF regarding this issue has said that the Schweser tests are easier than the real CFA exams.
 
In my opinion

The Schweser 2007 Level I tests were more difficult than the real thing.

The Schweser 2008 Level II tests weren't easily comparable. Schweser had more of a calculation/formula focus, but there was clearly a correct answer. CFAI's tests weren't as calculation intensive, but the answers were much more ambiguous.
 
I thought the CFAI published sample and mocks were harder than the real thing.

Didn't use schweser, but most people have said those exams were easier than the real thing.
 
I don't agree.

My experience on level I & II was that the schweser tests were in fact a fair deal more complicated, and they do prepare you well for the exam.

The mock exams are good to do as well, but if you're only going to use one I'd stick with schweser book 6 & 7.
 
Schweser exams are all of the following, relative to the real thing:
-- more complicated
-- more calculation-oriented
-- more predictable
-- less comprehensive in coverage of curriculum concepts
-- more time pressured
 
"CFAI's tests weren't as calculation intensive, but the answers were much more ambiguous."

correct
 
newsmaker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Schweser exams are all of the following, relative
> to the real thing:
> -- more complicated
> -- more calculation-oriented
> -- more predictable
> -- less comprehensive in coverage of curriculum
> concepts
> -- more time pressured

Exactly for LII, however, LI was less intense; LIII was totally different.
 
jpm351 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "CFAI's tests weren't as calculation intensive,
> but the answers were much more ambiguous."
>
> correct


+2
 
jpm351 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "CFAI's tests weren't as calculation intensive,
> but the answers were much more ambiguous."
>
> correct


+3!

I strongly agree. I took level 1 yesterday and was surprised how many times I had it down to two choices and couldn't decide which it was. This never happened with Schweser.
 
agree with T2. CFAI mocks were much closer to the real thing than Schweser.
 
I think the Schweser exams from Book 2 are harder than the real thing. I used them for all three levels and went 3/3.
 
Personally, I think Schweser practice exams are harder than real thing. I was under time pressure on most of schweser practice exams, but I finished 1.5 hour earlier in AM session and 1 hour earlier in PM session on Saturday. I could think better when I dont have time pressure, but might not score better. I had similar scores on schweser practice and CFAI mocks/samples.
 
I thought LI and LII Schweser mock exams were more difficult than the real thing, especially for LI.
 
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