Starting to Study too Early--Is it Possible?

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Gouman

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Can you folks think of any risks a person might face from starting to study too early besides burning out?

I ask because I registered for June 2008 today. I plan to begin the readings as soon as the curriculum arrives even though I could wait until January to begin reading and still probably pass.
 
Gouman, there's no generalized response to this question b/c folks learn this material at different rates, using varying approaches.

I'll wager the only common properties of every successful strategy are

1) An initial, thorough reading of the material (as long as this takes)
2) Review and repitition, which often includes flash cards, QBank, re-reading areas of the CBOK that one finds problematic
3) Practice exams

If you decide to begin studying prior to six months before the exam, my only word of caution is that you not allow for breaks in continuity. For example, don't casually read a book, take a few weeks off, then try ease back into a studying mind-frame again.

Whether you consider this grueling process more of a marathon or a sprint, I don't think excessive water-breaks along the way will serve you well.

Good luck next June.
 
I think you guys have already highlighted the mein risks of starting too early:

1.) burning out
2.) losing focus

For me it worked well (in LI and LII, waiting for LIII) to start early with initial readings of the material that I liked and found interesting. This way it is more pleasure than pain in the beginning with a lower risk of burning out.

I then started to commit the way to and from work (each a 20 min commute) three months before the exam and read the remainder of the material.

Two months before I started learning on weekends and then took 2 weeks off immediately before the exam.

My two cents
 
I started August 1 of last year and put in on average 2 to 3 hours per day. I passed L1 in June. I think the advantage of starting early and simply being consistent on your studying is the ability to really digest the material and having the option of being able to take a week off about every 6 weeks.

But the bigger issue to consider is how YOU study and react. I know that I couldn't have crammed for a short period of time. I need time to chew and digest the material. Look at your past studying efforts and work habits and figure out a plan that works for you.

I think even putting in 30 minutes to an hour a day starting now can really put you ahead of the curve when it comes down to crunch time.
 
Chad:

Did you use any study course (Stalla, Schweser)? I bought the Stalla self Study course a month ago with the assumption that I would be taking it in December. However, now with scheduling problems, I am not able to take it until next June.
 
2007 Stalla notes and Passmaster and 2006 Schweser PDFs of notes. Took one CFA practice exam. Also purchased used finance and accounting texts.
 
Cool. Thanks for your insight.. Looks like I am in the same boat you were. No way can I cram for December and expect to pass. I'll start now for June & take my time. 6 months later doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
 
I think there is one advantage studying for the December exam though. If you pass Level I in December and then Level II in June, you save a year. If you fail in December, you will know what to expect in June and will most likely do really well then.
 
Maratikus:

Good point. However, my schedule doesn't permit me enough time to take December's test. I actually strongly considered that but rather than walk in there half prepared, I decided to wait until next June.

Thanks
 
I think it doesn't matter how early you start if you don't revise it well, in my experience the downside of starting too early is it makes you think you know the material well and makes you complacent and delay revising the material, the period before the exam actually counts a lot. Make sure you have two weeks of vacation before the actual exam. That's the period when you are completely focussed.

Things which worked for me to Pass L1.


Practice as many ethics questions possible just before the exam(most of the questions asked are similar in nature).
FSA is very very crucial, looked quite formidable in the begining but nailed it as I read through the stalla study guides 2-3 times. The stalla self study cds were very useful, view them at least 3 times (spent a day on each of them before the exam, viewing them and solving the pass master).
Portfolio management(makes sure you revise the Quant well) and Alternate Assets are the simplest and have a combined weight of 10%.
Quantitative analysis: Revised the formulas night before the exam. Plug in values kind of questions will be there. Don't overthink the questions.

Economics:Don't spend too much time on it(unless you have lot of time to spare). Focus on the main points. Stalla cds include the important concepts, think and practice in terms of charts (e.g suppy and demand curves). Couldn't do very well as I was more focused on covering the material instead of focusing on important concepts and formulas.

Derivatives: Again think and practice in terms of charts.
Did ok on this.

Fixed Income Analysis:
Screwed up. Didn't practice enough.

Equity Analysis. Master the CAPM, DDM very very Imp.

Hope this helps.
 
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