Are study partners/groups helpful ? i think not !

CFA General
#1

would love to hear what you guys think of the whole study group thing, i find it very strange how some people have their minds set on the idea that studying in groups or with someone is a boost to performance, and having tried it both ways i can easily say that studying alone is way better than the distractions of having fellow candidates involved and around you when studying. I would even go to the extent of saying spending time on the forum is not very healthy during exam prep and this is also something i implemented this year and i stayed away from the forum till after the exam was over

#2

Very useful for LEVEL 3.

I worked in Hong Kong and I have a study parter in UK. I find it’s helpful!

#3

why do you think this is helpful for L3? I studied alone in L1 and L2 tbh cruised by those tests. what advantage do you think studying with a partner has for L3?

#4

L3 has essay session and you need to know how to hit the point in a very short period of time. Having a study partner can help you improve this part.

I studied alone for L1 and L2 but thanks for here I passed without failed.

#5

Depends on if you are a loner, I study better on my own and found study groups to be distracting and not very productive.

#6

I was never one for study groups. I’m a loner, Dottie. A rebel.

#7

I know you are, but what am I?

#PWBA1985

#8

Never used study groups. Neither at university nor for CFA. I prefer to study alone.

But there’s definitely a “one fits all”. It depends on yourself what you prefer and what’s the best way for you to learn.

#9

I always liked to have a study partner. Especially for L3, I found that me talking about the subject and taking sessions for each other helped.

First time i failed Band 10 and I struggled because I got stuck at points where I searched for “key terms”… But the second time around, I had these little sessions with my study partner. I used to take sessions for him about topics I found difficult and vice versa. This to a very large extent helped me come out of that “key terms” search issue which I had previously.

#10

I am a loner. Don’t like having people around when I study. Screw them.

#11

I don’t do study partners, think it’s a waste of time mostly. Ideally, you do most of the studying alone, and you get together with someone to discuss something you are stuck on. that’s it.

the only other benefit of study partners is for mutual motivation.

#12

^ Of course Itera. I am also definitely against studying together, not sure if it ever works.

  1. Discuss issues and tough topics.

  2. Mutual motivation

  3. Discuss mistakes made in the different tests taken.

#13

I presume.

#14

Thank you!

#15

Personally I don’t see the value.

#16

i just studied by myself. I won’t be taking the exam with anyone so might as well chug along by myself.

#17

I am not against study groups.

But I come from American education system, whereas Germans - in the country I am in right now - always make some comparisons to their system, and it is extremely annoying and useless to add that step for me during the CFA review. That would hold for any person with a different education background BTW. In theory I do not mind a study partner but only if he/ she comes from the Anglo-Saxon finance education background and does not run comparison lists in his/ her mind.

#18

To each his own. I prefers studying alone. For L3 I did final mocks with friends and we marked each other’s test and had some decent discussions. That turned out to be quite useful.