Split the Questions & Answer Pages for Morning Section into 2 Separate Booklets!!!!!

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Mattclarkscoop

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Saw a related comment earlier today in another post… Absolutely spot on regarding how stupid it is to have the questions and answer pages all in ONE booklet!!! How ******* hard would it be to have two separate booklets? It can’t cost more or that much more, right? Surprised that they don’t stick to that idiot philosophy by making the scantron unpreforated and hidden randomly in the middle of the MC testing booklet.
I had a friend last year accidentally miss an entire section because one question stuck to the answer pages of another (only realizing it at the last minute when he was casually reviewing his answers). As for me, I had never failed a test in my entire life (until last year), graduated 5th in my high school class of 700+, passed Level 1 in December, Level 2 June right after, and studied my ass off both last year/again this year. I’m hoping that I did enough this year to pass this thing, but definitely know that this setup screwed me up badly last year and some this year. Last year I had to rewrite at least two answers because I got tripped up on which stupid template I was supposed to put my answer in (i.e. wrote on the lined paper instead). Based on my score/band being way lower than I could ever imagine, I know I likely did this in at least one other part of the morning exam. It wasn’t so low because I was completely ill prepared.
By having to flip back and forth, it creates easily AVOIDABLE mistakes (i.e mistranslation of a number over from the case 3 pages back or putting a truly correct response(s) in the wrong box(es) thus worst case senario missing a whole section as a result), as well as, and wastes precious minutes. The morning section is difficult and stressful as it is. By setting the test up in this manner, it only makes me feel like the CFA higher ups care more about tricking well deserving candidates and less about how much of the material they know. I didn’t have a single issue with time during my numerous essay mock exams and you know why?? Because I was less worried about learning how to maneuver through a flip book and more worried about learning the difficult CFA material.
I know some people are going to comment on here and say “too bad” or “everyone has to deal with that”. To those people I kindly ask you to go pound sand. Having two separate booklets would by no means impact you nor disadvantage you in any way. So take your unwarranted comments to another posting.
Thoughts? Comments? Anyone think that this will ever be changed?
 
I couldn’t agree with you more. I had practiced mock exams with a legal pad next to me and wrote out the answers on that legal pad, thereby failing to take into account the havoc so much page flipping would create in writing the actual exam. What a waste of time and I kept worrying and wondering if I was writing down the numbers correctly or not and ended up spending precious minutes rechecking them and may have gotten them wrong anyway. Absurd.
 
Actually, it is much better than in previous years, where you had some questions to fill in the same booklet, and other to do in a separate booklet. At least I am happy with this year’s change.
 
The page flipping didn’t really bother me, can’t remember having to do that much of it that it would get in the way at all.
I thought it was fine…
 
just think about what you are asking for.
2 booklets means twice the # of pages to count - so twice the amount of time for you to wait after the AM session - before the PM session *during lunch*
so do not practice with a legal pad. print out the pages now with the answer pages in between, set it up like the actual exam booklet, staples and all, and practice like that.
 
How would 2 booklets create twice the number of pages???? I’d love to hear that logic. Even if that was the case, why would it take any longer to grade? I mean the question booklet wouldn’t be graded at all, as they would only be looking at the answer booklet for the answers…
The only thing additional they would have to manage is the number of booklets would be multiplied by 2… meaning the proctors would just need to me a little more diligent ensuring that one of the question booklets wasn’t smuggled out of the testing room. That doesn’t seem like an issue currently with the soloey one booklet, thus don’t see any reason why this change would be anything but a positive, fair, and non-advantages result (by non-advantageous I’m meaning that it wouldn’t make he exam any easier content wise)
 
DO NOT MAKE IT ANY EASIER.. once i pass this exam.. i hope the entire curriculum gets reworked and the passing score turns into a firm 80% pushing the passing rate down into the 30s
 
I’d be interested to see a prototype of the 2-booklet exam.
The 2-booklet exam does pose challenges:
1. The answers requiring the filling in of a template might be challenging.
2. Numbering the answers might be challenging. If they let candidates number their own answers, then some candidates may not number them properly. If they require answers for each question on designated pages, then candidates may write it on the wrong page.
3. 2 booklets require more desk space, and would be more paper to juggle at once.
 
WayneINTJ wrote:
I’d be interested to see a prototype of the 2-booklet exam.
The 2-booklet exam does pose challenges:
1. The answers requiring the filling in of a template might be challenging.
2. Numbering the answers might be challenging. If they let candidates number their own answers, then some candidates may not number them properly. If they require answers for each question on designated pages, then candidates may write it on the wrong page.
3. 2 booklets require more desk space, and would be more paper to juggle at once.
Click to expand...
This.
To me 2 booklets would be an awful idea. We already have our exam ticket, passport, calculator, and pencils/sharperners/erasers on our desk, I would prefer the 1 booklet over 2. Also, then you have the potential problem of when people skip ahead to start with later questions, it may be more inconvenient to locate your appropriate answer page.
I think there will always be unhappy people in life no matter what method is used. To me, answering questions on a separate page is not a problem so worthy of complaint, especially considering alternative solutions would pose their own problem.
And to the point of using tablets…yeah I’m sure everyone would prefer doing their math on a keyboard rather than paper, smh. You also run the risk of computer failures during exam. All around terrible idea.
 
i would have rathered two booklets for sure
i also think we should have hooters models as proctors for level 3 test takers that give us messages during the exam (just no happy endings)
 
I would like smaller print and layout with vignette on one side and questions on the other. The print is so large it’seems like a kindergarten book.
 
calvol wrote:
I would like smaller print and layout with vignette on one side and questions on the other. The print is so large it’seems like a kindergarten book.
Click to expand...
+1 that. If I can view questions and my answer area without flipping pages then that’s good enough.
 
I totally agree. I’m left handed so even more difficult had my arm across the question when trying to refer back to it. The. Wrote my answer in the wrong box because I didn’t see it as my hand was covering it. So had to rub it out and rewrite it which led me to panic about time even more. Gave my feedback to CFA so hopefully a few others have also.
 
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