I took the exam yesterday and was rather surprised by how difficult it was. I passed L1 in one go, and I have to say that in comparison to L1, L2 is much more difficult. I also put in a lot more hours into preparing for the L2, but the mere fact that they test on ANYTHING in the curriculum makes it difficult for the test taker (no emphasis on highly weighted topics as per my expectations). I was tested quite heavily on topics that didn’t have high weightings and they even appeared on the essay portion. I used Kaplan Schweser for both L1 and L2. Schweser prepared me well for L1. However for L2, Schweser material was not enough, and I don’t think I passed the exam this time around. I am wondering if Uppermark is any better? Or, what would be the best way to prepare for the L2 exam going foward… any recommendations on how to prepare for the March 2011 exam?
I read the CAIA text. There were still questions that I did not recall from studying the material. I think the CAIA needs to re-think the way they test L2 candidates. So much of the material is relevant, but they test on information that just is not. I think I passed, but will have to wait like everyone else.
Agreed on the accounts, but at this point I’ve dumped over 3 grand into taking these tests and countless hours of studying. If it wasn’t such a big money commitment I’d drop out, but I feel like I’ve come this far. Well at least to retake is onnnllllyyyy 350$, which is a ton, but nothing compared to what I’ve spent.
How is the technology for the essay Q’s? Is it easy to enter formula’s?
sircorn Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How is the technology for the essay Q’s? Is it > easy to enter formula’s? It’s easy. You have to type everything out to “show your work”.
Thanks.
I used Uppermark, did my exam this morning. I didnt use Schewser for CAIA therefore can’t compare. Uppermark was quite good. If you do all the MC questions in the testbank, that should be sufficient for the exam. The MC questions in Level 2 exam is not as similar as those in testbank compare to L1, but the testbank is still enough to allow you to get a good handle of all the possible questions they could ask. If I have to retake this exam, I will spend more time on the key calculation questions. One of the essay questions in the exam was not in Uppermark at all, but I guess it is quite impossible for any study guide to guess all the right essay questions.
It seems that many people found L2 unexpectedly hard. Still, CAIA has to award a PASS to at least 45/50% of candidates, so they might just adapt the grading to obtain a proper pass rate. Many people here passed several designations and know how to take an exam so it is strange to see this not-so-long curriculum being that much of a problem! => Not too many good feedbacks, anyone thinking he made it?? For what its worth: I had a very hard time on L2, specially on MC section. Background: within the last ten months I passed FRM, CAIA1 and CFA2 (and a 780GMAT, but that is not finance) My conclusion is that if multi-designation holders had such a hard time, we can easily imagine that “newcomers” wont do better. Let’s just hope they will not reduce the pass rate too much! Ps: again, I would really be interested in feedback from those who think they made it: preparation time, preparation provider … Thx! Greg