Essay Questions - Which sections?

CFA Level III
#1

Hi Everyone!

Long time lurker, going for level 3 this summer and (as other posts have mentioned before me) I’m loosing my mind about the open-ended questions.

I am trying to find some strategic approach and I have been wondering if there are certain topics that are (at least usually) NOT tested with essay questions? Alternatively, always or more likely than not to be tested in in such way? I haven’t been able to find any guide/info about that. I am expecting the following sections are likely to be tested in the essay portion:

  1. Behavior Finance 2. Private Wealth 3. Institutional Investors (?) 4. Asset Allocation (?) 5. Alternative Assets (?)

Looking at the practice exams, it looks like Trading, Fixed Income, GIPS and other show up too. Is it really possible that EVERYTHING can be in that portion? Are there any sections I should particularly focus on if i’m worried about the open-ended questions?

Thanks,

#2

Since 2007, the most common topic areas in the morning session have been, in order:

  • Individual Wealth Management
  • Institutional Wealth Management
  • Derivatives/Risk Management
  • Economics
  • Fixed Income
  • Asset Allocation
  • Individual/Behavioral
  • Equity
  • Trading/Monitoring/Rebalancing/Execution
  • Performance Evaluation
  • Alternative Investments

Other topics are possible, of course, but this gives you a great idea of CFA Institute’s proclivities.