This is why I was clear to mention that I’m basing what I said on personal experience and the experience of people I know. It’s definitely possible we’d get different opinions from our own “sampling” of exam takers.
The problem with this is that many tests aren’t pass/fail and you can’t really compare the CFA exams with them. It’s a hard argument to make, in my opinion, especially because the CFA program closely tracks an undergraduate Finance curriculum for the most part with a bit of “de-mathed” MS level material (again from my experience and the opinion of others who took it that I’m friends with). Can you give any examples of exams you’ve taken that are harder to pass than the CFA exams (or less difficult)?
I don’t remember stating a theory. The only (arguably) opinionated part I offered was that my observations regarding exam performance among peers was congruent with their general feelings about the test. Again, I received two kinds of advice from people further in the program or charterholders. First, “…don’t worry just study and you’ll be fine…people are too worked up about it…it’s not that bad…” or second, “…ohhh, you better study man, it’s about 4 months out. You’re playing with fire. I remember when I did that and had to retake…” Most often, the former kind of advice came from people who did well and didn’t struggle.
Again, I don’t it’s been ruled out that his experience was less than described and he feels as though it was a lot of hype (I didn’t read all the replies between yours and the end, so maybe this was clarified). I think that your hypothesis of Infinity never actually completing the program is no more likely than mine where he felt it was too much bark and not enough bite.
