Using a formula sheet on mock exam

CFA Level II
#1

Hi Everyone,

I finished 2 passes of the curriculum and have done a fair amount of EOC and Q-Bank Questions. I want to break into the Schweser Mock exams in the next couple days, but have still not committed all formulas to memory yet.

Are any of you going to attempt your first couple mock exams with a formula sheet? I plan on doing all 6 mocks provided by Schweser, plus the CFAI mock, but not sure if I should wait until I can fully recall the key formulas from memory.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts/strategy.

#2

I wouldn’t do it.

You won’t have such a sheet on the real exam.

#3

I agree with magician

The point of a mock exam is to simulate the real exam. As magician said, you won’t have such a sheet on the real exam, so no point in doing the mock.

#4

You should certainly keep the formula sheet handy, for at least the first 1 or 2 Schweser mocks. Definitely not for the CFAI mock.

You can commit everything to memory much easier over the next 8 weeks by just doing mocks, rather than sitting reading a formula sheet with little intake.

#5

You can do EOC questions with open book, but when it comes to full length mocks you should try to immitate exam conditions, and that includes timing and one hour break as well. Do one mock and see what happens. It’s all about feedback. The more problems you find in your preparation the better, because at this stage it’s all about addressing weaknesses.There is no reward for scoring high in mocks.

#6

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input!

#7

I agree with others. Don’t use it on mock to get better feetback since you have create conditions similar to real exam. Rather, quick read several times formula sheet before exam and maybe between AM and PM session (you would be able do it on real exam day, too).

#8

I think you have to pick when to use it. I will use it for most topic tests … but i keep it hidden away and accessible so i try to remember.

I think there’s a tonne less value in doing a set of topic tests if you forget half the equations. it’s wasted time.

That said, I think you also have to pick moments where you go to a place where assistance is impossible – like writing a mock in hardcopy in a library withour notes or a cell phone. that kind of pure benchmarking is critical, in my view, because you’ll start freaking out 3-4 days before and trying to cram memorization of formulas. My plan at any rate is to get done 2 full-test-experience mocks (like, everything but the passport and calculator inspections) using meeting rooms at my office on the weekend, 4 weeks out and 2 weeks out. So there should be three chances for a “test effect” to take hold force memorization (the third being for realz).