Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Cfa Level 1

By Author: Sushri Panda
Total Articles: 1
Comment this article

The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation, offered globally by CFA Institute, is the most respected and widely recognized certification in finance. The program focuses on portfolio management, financial analysis and asset valuation.

CFA certification is awarded after a candidate has passed three rigorous exams (Level I, II and III) and demonstrated four years of relevant work experience. Candidates must take all the three exams sequentially.

Exam Format
CFA Level 1 has 240 independent, multiple-choice questions - all information required to answer the question is contained in the question. The exam is divided into two sessions, with 120 questions asked in the three-hour morning session and 120 in the three-hour afternoon session.

CFA Level I Topics & Weights
There are 10 topics areas in Level I. Topic areas are further organized into 18 Study Sessions which are divided into 60 readings.

Level I focusses on Tools and Concepts and thus gives more weightage to Quantitative Methods, Economics and Financial Reporting and Analysis.

Topic Weight
Ethical and Professional ...
... Standards 15%
Quantitative Methods 12%
Economics 10%
Financial Reporting and Analysis 20%
Corporate Finance 7%
Portfolio Management 7%
Equity 10%
Fixed Income 10%
Derivatives 5%
Alternative Investments 4%

Important Dates & Fees
CFA Level I is offered twice every year - on first Saturday of June and on first Saturday of December.

Jun 2017 Exam Fee
Date Fees
Enrollment
(payable once on initial registration) $450
Early registration Sep 21, 2016 $650
Standard registration Feb 15, 2017 $930
Late registration Mar 15, 2017 $1,380
Test center change
request deadline Apr 18, 2017
Exam Date Jun 3, 2017
Dec 2017 Exam Fee
Date Fees
Enrollment
(payable once on initial registration) $450
Early registration Mar 15, 2017 $650
Standard registration Aug 16, 2017 $930
Late registration Sep 13, 2017 $1,380
Test center change
request deadline Oct 9, 2017
Exam Date Dec 2, 2017
The exam registration fee covers the cost of:

The eBook (contains the complete curriculum you need to study)
An interactive study planner to guide and track your exam preparation
Topic-based practice tests
Mock exams
A mobile study app with access to everything listed above.
Study Materials
CFA Level I Books We highly recommend this collection of gems collated by CFA institute itself. This beats every other study material on the market hands down, except the next one.
CFA Level I eBooks The only thing better than the CFA Level I Books are the eBooks - easy to carry anywhere on your phone or tablet, easy to highlight, easy to review your highlights and they're way cheaper.
Schweser Study Package for CFA Level I 2017
Wiley Study Guide for CFA Level I 2017
Practice Materials
Successful candidates cite Practice as more important than studying. Too many smart and hard-working candidates fail these exams due to lack of adequate practice. Regular practice is the biggest differentiator between successful and unsuccessful candidates.

2017 CFA Level I Practice Exam Based on a sample of questions from previous CFA Exams, this full-length practice exam is representative of the questions candidates will see in the 2017 CFA Level I Exams. Highly recommended.
PrepSmarter is the most advanced, continuously adaptive, learning engine for CFA and FRM exams. It is a great supplement to your favorite instructor or study material while preparing for these tough exams.
Prep Providers
While the CFA is a self-study program, some candidates may prefer more hands-on guidance in their studying. Exam Preparation Providers are third-party services that assist with exam preparation. Here is a list of 2017 Exam Preparation Providers

Our take: To conquer CFA, all you need is great study material and grit. CFA institute consists of great study material. You need to have your own grit. No prep provider can help you with either of these.

CFA is a great credential to have and it is very straightforward to obtain. Just follow a study plan, complete the readings on time, enroll in a practice platform and you're good to go.

PS: If there are any resources we've missed, do let us know in your comments.

Best of luck.