Wondering if people can advise best way to prepate for the afternoon multiple choce part of LEvel 3 exam? Would you just focus on the CFA EOC questions and the CFA Q bank?
thanks
G
Greetings friend! Depends how far out your exam is, in my opinion. If you’re taking it in November then it would be a great move to practice all the CFA learning ecosystem MCQs in their candidate resources section.
But during the final 4-5 weeks, I would prepare using prior CFA mock exams from within the past 2 years, as well as a several other mocks from other prep providers as well. The more actual mocks you do, the better you’ll be prepared for AM and PM too - again at least in my opinion. You can buy mocks a la carte from prep providers and these are study gold for L3.
Kaplan additionally offers a CBT mock before the exam for about 30 bucks I think, definitely try that one too. I felt it mimicked the actual CBT experience more than I expected it could/would.
My exam prep consisted of doing all the learning ecosystem questions on the CFA website, and doing many mocks (AM/PM) from a variety of providers. I typically didn’t do both AM and PM in a single day, I split them apart so I wouldn’t burn out. The only one I did all on one day was the Kaplan CBT the week before my test.
Then for both parts I flagged all the questions I got wrong and studied them only, coming into the final stretch, with additional time each day reviewing general topic notes. Everyone has their own pattern and style of course. But that was mine and I kind if felt over prepared after taking the L3 exam which was the first time I ever felt like that on a CFA test. It was a good feeling. I hope whatever approach you take, that you will have this feeling too and that you’ll smoke your test.
Cheers - good luck - you got thisđź‘Ť
Thank You for getting back to me.
I am May 2021 repeater for Nov. Started last week and trying to refresh the material again before the level up bootcamp in sept (I did not use Levelup for May exam) by going through Blueboxes and EOCs more than I did before but I always felt a little undercooked for the PM exam.
Can I ask whether you passed the May 2021 computer based exam or passed in the previous written format? I did CFA exams for 2013 - 2019 as well as Kaplans mock exams but felt the May exam was different (at least for me) hence I think the official CFA Q bank may be a good option.
Blueboxes taking me a while so I think i will use the Q bank after bootcamp so end of Sept onwards. if its the best prep for PM exams
Greetings again friend! I passed May 2021 CBT. My process was what I descibed above but everyone has their own process that works best for them of course.
I’d bang out all the candidate resources MCQs on the Institute’s website if you can, as soon as you can. And take a lot of notes during your boot camp so you can have those to study with mocks in October/November. Pay special attention to Brinson Model and Taylor Rule since my Schweser versions screwed those formulas up a bit.
Cheers - good luck - you got thisđź‘Ť
Many thanks for replying. Got tied up with revision for a few days there myself.
OK great so you did the CBT exams, how did you find the transition from the past CFA papers to CBT exam personally i found it tricky with the wording but maybe I was not as prepared as you. Also did you do the Boston CFA mock before the May exam?
Does he record the Bootcamp and upload it as videos to rewatch later as standard - would be super helpful.
Lol, damn Schweser. I caught their error on the Taylor rule but not the Brinson model - scored pretty low in that topic general.
Greetings again friend - good luck with your revisions!
My exact preparation model was:
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Chalk & Board videos were about 60% of my prep. I took copious notes on them. They are in a video library.
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Two essay exam writing and grading sessions (2 different Saturdays) with Nathan Ronen. You can sign for these as separate paid tests, without being a Chalk & Board student, via their website. And I think those are also recorded too. At least the answers are circulated separately.
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I did the 4 Schweser mock exams that came with my study package from my original June 2020 test date that was deferred to May.
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I did 2 CFA Institute mock exams, the one from 2020 Boston CFA Society and the 2021 which I think was also Boston CFA Society. The 2020 mock had errata in it, so I didn’t look at it as closely as the 2021 one.
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I took the Kaplan CBT exam which they gave out about 1 month before the May 2021 exam.
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I did about 80-90% of the MCQ questions in the learning ecosystem section, within our candidate resources of the CFA Institute website.
All in all, whatever you end up doing, I would advise perhaps doing some videos with someone good - outside of Schweser. And take mock exams outside of Schweser too, in addition to the Schweser ones. The 2020 Boston Mock was “so-so” from the institute, the 2021 version was better. If you’re doing LevelUp or Meldrum, I don’t have experience with them but I am sure they are super. I am sure Bill Campbell’s mocks and study program are super too. They key is to get something better than mass market quality level - I ended up with Chalk & Board due to a friend’s recommendation so they are the service I can talk about.
The key here, I would think, is to sharpen up on a few concepts and also to take enough mock exams to pick up on the CFA trigger words and phrasing. Then you should smoke your test. Cheers - good luck - you definitely got this 
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Many thanks for the all info here.
Yes agreed about getting better than the mass market quality which I have with Levelup.
Will definitely supplement with either MM, Bill Campbell or Chalk & Board mock exams .
I do hope exam exam goes better this time round, will report back I get results.
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Levelup will probably be great
Good luck with your exam, if you take many mocks such as the ones you described above, you should be in a very, very strong position
I have my first PM mock exam in review now. It should be available in the next couple of weeks.
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First of all, congrats for reaching out… I spent in tal 25 days full time, I followed Kaplan for everything from L1 to 3 plus CFA I questions plus EOC and blue box questions
I never did even single mock as i didn’t have time. Neither is my style,as hat demotivates me. I read past yearsbquestions and the read answers…doesnt waste lot time to resolve when wou have limited time.I believe everyone has their style of working,
It’s time we just have troll alert button in AF. Somebody’s jumping my nerves no ends
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I’m currently doing LevelUp as well for Nov. Marc warned about the curriculum and formulas changing and some providers aren’t catching them. Best of luck to you!
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