CFA® Level 1 Study Guide
Free Study PlansElevate your CFA Level 1 preparation to a state of effortless excellence with our exclusive study plans, yours to enjoy for six months, two months, or one month – free of charge! Nothing better than a customized study plan tailored to your unique style. So take your pick of the plan that suits you best and experience the sheer joy of seamless learning without burning a hole in your pocket.
CFA Level 1 Study Schedule and Preparation Plan
Designed to help you pass Level 1 of your exam on the first attempt, our platform is tailored to provide expertly-crafted content that mirrors the exam-level difficulty. Created by subject matter experts, our platform offers challenging questions to enhance your knowledge and help you prepare for the actual test. We've outlined various study plans based on when you start studying. But, we do align with the CFA Institute's recommendation of 300 hours per level and starting 6 months prior to the exam. However, if life intervenes and you begin closer to the exam, we provide guidance on where to concentrate your efforts.
To prepare for the CFA Level 1 exam, it is recommended that you create a 6-month study plan, which will provide sufficient time to prepare yourself adequately. It is advisable to review the CFA Institute’s material alongside the corresponding UWorld CFA QBank and tools. Further, it is recommended that all candidates invest a minimum of 300 study hours, regardless of their background, experience, or degree, to increase their chances of success.
This study planner provides detailed information about how to dedicate 300 hours over six months (25 weeks), which translates to studying for approximately 12 hours per week. While it is possible to shorten the study plan, it is essential to allow enough time for mock exams, revisiting difficult topics, and accommodating unexpected events.
Contrary to the 6-month study plan, you have a higher chance of not passing if you only have two months left to study. However, it is still possible to succeed if you manage your time effectively within this limited time frame.
Use the provided planner to allocate a reasonable number of hours for your study schedule, focusing on prioritizing tasks for the two months leading up to the exam. If you find yourself falling behind during the final month, prioritize working through the UWorld QBank to cover all ten topics. It is recommended to take as many mock exams as possible, with at least two completed.
If you start studying for an exam within 30 days of the actual exam, your chances of success may be low because of the large amount of content and low overall pass rates. However, if you find yourself in this situation, there are steps you can take to manage your time and improve your chances of success.
To effectively manage your time, you should follow the steps listed here, which are based on the time you have available. If you find yourself falling more behind in the last month, prioritize taking mock exams. It is highly recommended that you complete at least one mock exam, but if possible, take as many as you can. These mock exams will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and allow you to focus your studying on the areas where you need the most improvement.
Discover the Secrets of Passing the CFA Exam on Your First Attempt
CFA Level 1 Study and Preparation Tips
Now that you know what to study, we'll focus on how to study it. In the context of the CFA Level 1 exam, having a grasp of the material is only one part of the equation. The other half involves mastering the most effective methods for preparing for the exam format.
To this end, we offer the following recommendations for optimizing your CFA Level 1 study strategy:
UWorld's CFA Level 1 Study Tools
Here's How We Help YouWhen you choose UWorld for your CFA Level 1 study guide and planner, you leverage the knowledge of CFA charterholders with decades of experience in CFA-specific teaching, content creation, and financial training. Some of our professionals even have exam-development experience with the CFA Institute. We can help you understand what to expect from the CFA Level 1 exam and what you need to do to achieve success.
All UWorld products are built on the core concepts of Active Learning, thus making it easy to retain concepts.
We understand that each candidate is unique. Our CFA exam prep tools are designed to work for all learning styles.
Our smart flashcards "hack your brain" by repeating complicated topics at strategically timed intervals using spaced repetition.
Our CFA mocks feature new questions outside our Question Banks, and mirror the format of your exam.
All of our problems reflect the latest CFAI LOS to ensure you review what candidates are expected to know.
Our SimpleSheets contain the basic formulas for all disciplines where formula-based questions are expected.
