Why can't we talk about the test?

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Justin Case

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I get the Standards and what it says… but I just don’t fully see the reasoning behind this oathe of secrecy. At the end of the day, these tests are given once a year and change EVERY year - past exams are never made available, the volume is massive and the amount of formulas to know is massive. Most of us walk away remembering a few questions here and there… so what harm does it cause to discuss the test beyond vagueries and sentiment?

I see a lot of people come on here, and the moment someone gets too close to making a specific comment on exam material, they jump all over them as if this instinct to defend the sanctity of the test is embedded in their DNA. Do you REALLY feel that way, or are you just doing it cause every one else is doing it and you don’t want to get in trouble with CFAI?
I’m not trying to cause trouble… just to better understand the incentive. I mean.. I kind of do, and in a way I am playing devil’s advocate, but I was wondering if there was more to it than I can think of. I also understand that it will make it harder for CFA to produce tests in the future, but it will also force them to produce better tests.
Does this rule apply to other charters/professional credentials (i.e. CA, CAIA, FRM…)?
 
Just my 2 cents, but I don’t think most AF members here who may bring up the code and standards when someone posts about an exam question are looking to “defend the sanctity of the test”. I’d bet most are genuinely interested in helping other members avoid a potential sanction, assuming that whomever authored the post isn’t fully aware of the rules. You can bet that the CFAI reads these forums after an exam looking for violations that may be blatant enough to pursue. Or, it’s at least safer to assume they do. Why put in all those hours to potentially have your exam disqualified, or have it happen to one of your fellow candidates?
As far as the “why” question goes, only the Institute can answer that. I’m sure they review their policies periodically and would change it if they felt the rule was too strict or detrimental to the process in some way. In the end, they obviously feel it helps preserve the integrity of the examination process, so we just have to go with that and abide by it as candidates.
 
Rule #1 about fight club….don’t talk about fight club.
Same concept here.
 
JayWill wrote:
Just my 2 cents, but I don’t think most AF members here who may bring up the code and standards when someone posts about an exam question are looking to “defend the sanctity of the test”. I’d bet most are genuinely interested in helping other members avoid a potential sanction, assuming that whomever authored the post isn’t fully aware of the rules. You can bet that the CFAI reads these forums after an exam looking for violations that may be blatant enough to pursue. Or, it’s at least safer to assume they do. Why put in all those hours to potentially have your exam disqualified, or have it happen to one of your fellow candidates?
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Absolutely true JayWill.
 
JayWill wrote:
Just my 2 cents, but I don’t think most AF members here who may bring up the code and standards when someone posts about an exam question are looking to “defend the sanctity of the test”. I’d bet most are genuinely interested in helping other members avoid a potential sanction, assuming that whomever authored the post isn’t fully aware of the rules. You can bet that the CFAI reads these forums after an exam looking for violations that may be blatant enough to pursue. Or, it’s at least safer to assume they do. Why put in all those hours to potentially have your exam disqualified, or have it happen to one of your fellow candidates?
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True… guess maybe I was being too cynical…
 
Justin Case wrote:I just don’t fully see the reasoning behind this oathe of secrecy.
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I encourage you to e-mail CFA Institute and ask them.
It beats all of the idle speculation here.
 
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