Well, if I had to take two of three exams again, Level III would not be one of them. Fairly confident I would pass I and II, not so sure about III. Wrestling match from start to finish. There is a “dragon” post somewhere that sums this up well.
Take two essay practice exams in one day, and then tell us how you are feeling. I passed all three exams on the first try. Level III essay practice was what made me realize this whole thing is not for balanced people or fit for average human consumption. I think the best word I can use to describe practicing the morning session is “despair”. Ha ha, good luck! Practice will make you a hardened intellectual cage fighter! Afternoon is a cakewalk IMHO. I was averaging 71% AM and 82% PM on my practice tests (self graded) the week before the exam. I think I did 6 or 7 total.
I’ve personally found it to be the easiest so far. That said, I think someone who knows minimal about finance and hasn’t taken any of the exams would find it to be the hardest. IMO, levels 1 and 2 taught new concepts and now 3 pulls them all together. Accordingly, if you actually took a lot away from those levels and didn’t simply squeeze by by the skin of your teeth- you shouldn’t find it 'that" bad. I honestly think a big part of the low L3 pass rate is people letting off the gas because they feel home free and/or just generally becoming less motivated to finish for various reasons. Just my $.02. I also have a good amount of the curriculum left to change my mind, I’m just refering to what I’ve read so far.
While i think L3 is easier to study, especially now they deleted some harder sections? i do think it’s hard to pass still because you don’t know how do you in AM.
Cfa L3 easier?
Look at it this way, the pass mark lead to 49% of candidates passing in 2013.
Call it 50/50, it’s the last level and everyone has got through levels 1 & 2.
For L 1 & 2, if you put the hours in and study well, you should pass…
For L3, going back to the 50/50 shot at passing after study…If you passed, it was easy, if you were band 8,9 or 10, then it clearly wasn’t easy.
How many marks differentiate those bands?..a small but significant margin.
I was band 9 and obviously need to study more, but I can tell you looking at the material again, I haven’t really found anything that I wish I’d known on exam day.
On that basis I don’t think the L3 exam is neccesarily easy!
I think this will be the hardest of the three. S2000 Magician any tips for us. I am struggling with this one more than the first two.
I am definitely a little less motivated. Level 2 took a lot out of me.
the burnout!!!
it’s like running a marathon just to realise the elevator to your building is broken and you still have to walk up 20 floors…
Here’s a short write-up I put together: http://financialexamhelp123.com/how-to-approach-the-level-iii-cfa-exam/. Maybe it’ll be of some help.
nice mustache there, Bill!
Thanks S2000 or shall I call you Bill from now on. That helps!
sounds about right. Not complaining though, everyone has the same issues here I am sure or even worse circumstances to try and finish this thing.
cant believe i have been asking him qns for months and not know his name…i say again…this guy knows his stuff & is a great help to me passing L3 in 1 try