Suggestions pleeeaaaaaase (December candidate)

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baseballaddict

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Hi all,

I was wondering if you guys can point me in right direction here...

I started studying to the level 1 in january when i thought i was going to take it in june...i ordered the CFAI books (the 4 volumes), got through vol1 and 2 and then freaked out (i know, such a wuss! there's no crying in finance!)

I decided to take it in December instead.
So here's my scenario, due to various family related causes, i was unable to start studying till 2 weeks ago. I am currently studying volume 3 (corporate finance and equity). However, having studied vols 1 and 2 so long ago, i know i have to go back and restudy.

We have exactly 4 months left till the test. If you were me, how would you approach this?

Also, what do you think about analyst notes .com here? For $69 is it valuable? should i use it?

Also, i see CFAI has a package for level 1 for $50 with
5 exams available
60 multiple choice questions per exam
All assigned topics covered
Similar level of difficulty and weight per topic as on the actual exam
Immediate feedback

Anyone used this? Do they solve the problems for you or just give answers???

Please give me any suggestions you can.
Right now i just have the CFAI books (the 4 volumes).

Do i have enough time? What should i buy?

My background is: BS in Engineering, minors Math and Econ.
Currently doing MS in Financial Engineering.
Work as Analyst in consulting firm (business and finance unit).

Thanks!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at Friday, August 4, 2006 at 07:53AM by baseballaddict.
 
you should do a search most of these questions are answered.


1. with four month you have plenty of time go back do some problems and refresh your memory you will be suprised how much you rememberl.

2. analyst notes is ok, you get what you pay for... i like it because i do questions and review stuff at work.... it is not a be all end all solution

3. cfai tests are absolute garbage, do a search on them i dont think one person thinks they are worth the money.
 
Buy Schweser, put in 20 hours/week and you'll be fine. Your quant background will help you through that section. Work on FSA, that appears to be your weakness.

Remember, there are still nearly 4 months left! It's not like the exam is in a few weeks. Time is still on your side.

Then again, I'm a lvl 1 candidate myself. I'm going off co-worker's feedback who've taken/passed the exam.
 
The @#$%&.com tests are worth way more then the price because of the dearth of other options. It's not an incredible service it's just light years beyond anything else you can get. The CFAI tests are awful. You basically get one abridged test for the price of the entire analyst notes service. The Stalla and other organization tests are too easy (I was getting 80%+ on the Stalla tests and got less then 40% on my first analyst notes test ... analyst notes was much closer to the real deal too).

I was scoring around 50-60% on analyst notes tests before the CFA 1 and passed by a healthy margin (doing 40/60/80 method I received 73%). I would recommend reserving th 6 practice tests until 2-3 weeks before the actual exam. After you take a test go over all the questions in detail and brush up on sections where you're weakest.

Analyst notes cannot replace studying. It's just the best way (I've found) of practicing what you know. I highly recommend it.
 
Four months is a lot of time. I would suggest studying off your CFAI books, and buying Schweser practice exams book ($99).

Do all the practice exams, review them, and you'll be fine.
 
JAgozzino, what dot com site were you referring to that offered the tests? AF blocks domain names in messages so just spell it out using separators or something.
 
I second deuce - use the search function!

Funny how people think others have the fabled "master plan" for how they should study... Can someone on the internet (or in person for that matter) tell you how much time you'll need to study based on the degrees you've earned in the past??!
 
I agree with CFAHouston...

Toss the CFAI Books and buy the Schweser material...

Four months is enough time...
 
thanks for all the suggestions!

I will get schweser.
does anyone know of any coupons or discounts? the materials are kind of c$stly :-/
 
baseballaddict Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thanks for all the suggestions!
>
> I will get schweser.
> does anyone know of any coupons or discounts? the
> materials are kind of c$stly :-/


Get them from eBay - you can save a ton. In fact, I have mine on auction at the moment, ending in about 5 hours (look for item #230014647566).
 
Baseballaddict-

Just want to add to the list saying, chill, you have time to do this. You need to be disciplined about your studying, but there's no reason you cant absorb the material in 4 months, especially if about 25% is review of stuff you read in January.
 
Don't buy the CFAI practice exams...too easy and not worth it. Buy the extra exam book from Schweser. 4 months is plenty of time, read for 1 month and review for the next 3. Practice exams timed are key...You'll need to know the info inside and out as there are tons questions where you'll easily eliminate 2 answers but will struggle with the remaining 2 answers....
 
With Ibenavides - 4 months is loads. And hide the CFA books... I didn't pick a book up until mid April, then just spent about 2 hrs a night and 6 hrs a day at weekends going through notes compiled by a UK firm, BPP (Schweser equivalent?) - read through every chapter highlighting the important stuff, doing the sample questions at the end of each section and then eventually took the last week off to go through exam papers (MOST IMPORTANT PART).

Honestly, if I can anyone can - and you have half the course in your head somewhere... so don't panic - just give it a go
 
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