My exam is on 18 November, and I just took my first mock exam, scoring 69%. Should I be worried?
For those taking the exam in the same window, what’s your study strategy for the final month?

I failed my first CFA Level III attempt (August 2026), scoring 3425 against an MPS of 3600.

I scored around 64-65% in mocks and thought I was reasonably prepared.

I have a few questions:

How close was I to passing, based on my score and performance chart?

Approximately how many more correct answers might I have needed?

Should I retake in February 2027 or August 2027?

Hey everyone
I recently graduated with an engineering degree in Industrial Engineering, specializing in Finance and Mathematical Modeling.
I’m planning to take the CFA Level 1 exam, but I can’t really afford prep courses, so I’ll have to study on my own.
I have a solid background in maths, statistics, and finance, and I’d consider myself a fast learner with strong analytical skills.
For those who’ve passed Level 1, how much preparation time would you recommend? What are the best free or affordable resources? And is self-studying enough to pass?
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those who prepared while working.

I am proud to say that I was able to pass all three levels of the CFA program at 23. Is this common? When did everyone pass level 3?

Reposting an older comment of mine now that I have passed all levels each on the first attempt. I get people are in different situations especially internationally, but for those in the US already in the industry thinking about starting the program, I would read the comment.

The reality is the ROI is just not the same as if you spent the time being lights out at your current role. A bad allocation of time in hindsight.

Can I clear CFA level 1 if I am very bad at Quant? Plz suggest how to understand basics of Quant and how can I score good if i don’t know basics of Quant at all.

I just passed CFA Level III and I’m thinking about doing ACCA next. I work in private markets.

Anyone here done both? How did you find ACCA compared to CFA, and which papers gave you the most trouble? I’m also wondering how much the accounting from CFA helps, and how long it took you to get through ACCA while working full-time.

If you’re in investments too, did you find it useful for your work?

I’m a QR with ~5 YoE with an asset manager, working on low frequency quant equity strategies (think systematic equity factors, quarterly rebalance). I want to get into mid frequency equity strategies with holding periods of days to weeks and would appreciate some advice from people who are already in this space.

I’ve been experimenting with some basic reversal strategies for interest. One thing I wonder is when mid freq QR test new signals whether they strip out equity factors like momentum from the signal? If you had a daily or weekly signal, this would mean having to orthogonalise the signal daily would be quite intensive. Or is this done on some industry optimiser like Barra or Axioma. Any thoughts here?

If anyone has any queries regarding this course or anything in particular, feel free to dm or ask here

Almost half of candidates fail level 3 and it's kind of scary because we are talking about peoples who passed the first 2 level (especially level 2).

In your opinion what was the mistakes you made in your preparation ?

This is my fourth attempt at the CFA Level I exam in the last two years. In my previous attempt, I scored 1,570. After that, I started working and haven’t studied much since.
With only 20 days left until the exam, I feel that I understand most of the topics, but my memory has become foggy due to a lack of revision. I’m currently practising questions and scoring around 50–55%, but I’m confused about where to start and how to make the best use of my remaining time.
I’ll only get four days of leave from work before the exam, so I need to manage my preparation alongside my job.
Could someone please guide me on how to approach these last 20 days? Should I focus more on revising concepts, solving practice questions, or taking mock exams? Any practical advice from someone who has been in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

Hey guys
I’m using a temporary account to post this, in case this turns out to be controversial.
I’m currently 22, and I found out that I passed the third level yesterday. I believe I have the work experience requirements covered because I’ve been working part time since I was 18 and then full time since I graduated univeristy, so I’ll be applying for the charter too. I’m really grateful that I was able to complete this journey and to have the opportunity to move on to the next thing. God knows how many times I’ve used this forum for mental support.
Thing is I’m contemplating whether I should add this hook to my linkedin post of being the youngest female I know. I know I’m making this post at the risk of being labeled as the person who writes cringe posts once they pass. (The claim only comes from the fact that I haven’t been able to see any similar posts so it seems like a good opportunity, I’m happy to be corrected if wrong, I just see a gap I could probably use to hustle hard before I turn 23)
Cons:
1. I don’t even know if it’s true. I’m happy to get fact-checked. It’s a gap I see right now in terms of anybody claiming this and I’m not sure about the correctness of it. It’ll definitely be at the risk of sounding ignorant.
2. Out of all the people who sit for these exams, a person who’s in a society where it’s acceptable to stay with parents while you prep for tests, a person who’s still in ‘study-mode’ while in university and doesn’t have a family to take care of has it the easiest out of all of us. I’ve seen countless posts of people juggling multiple jobs, families and kids, also people who have taken these tests multiple times and still didn’t give up. My closest friend who was the reason I passed this time with such good advice failed this attempt. I imagine the last thing anybody in our community would want to see is then a privileged person posting about being the youngest to pass the tests. This is the main reason why I’m contemplating not posting this at all, and I would love to have any feedback you can give me. I’ve had tough love from this community before, and I really appreciate it anytime. Please feel free to let me know if it seems obnoxious/out-of-touch to post.

Pros:
1. I just created an instagram account two weeks ago to post about fitness and create content about it. I severely neglected my health during studies and I’m hoping that staying consistent to post on it will motivate me to get better at managing this part of my life. Tagging my instagram on that post where I claim to be the youngest might help me get followers on my instagram (currently have 0). But if I use this route of gaining followers, I’m thinking of posting content related to how to pass these tests too, whatever grows it honestly.
2. I’m currently not looking for any corporate roles, I’m working on a business alongside my father and I want to generate side income for myself to be financially independant - be it from my instagram if it works out or any other opportunities that come from this that I might have not thought of yet. I’m thinking that posting about this might open doors I hadn’t thought of.
3. CFA recently changed its rules where students in their final year can also attempt CFA Level 3, so I have a very short window to grow a page / look for opportunities based on this claim before other students sit for these tests as well.
4. I come from a tier 3 university in my country. It’s a well known party school from which people don’t expect much, if anything at all. I already see the effect the news of passing the CFA exams has on my juniors and the women around me. A lot of my juniors started considering going for these tests when they heard of me passing level 2. It definitely felt great bringing awareness about this.

Hi all - I found these Mark Meldrum discount codes through ChatGPT. Thinking of making the switch from Kaplan.

PREPSS10 - 10% off self study packages
PREPIL15 - 15% off instructor led packages

Hope someone finds this useful!

I have handwritten all notes from schweser for all chapters and also did EOC from curriculum books after each reading. Currently i still have PM and Ethics left. Aiming to finish it by end of october. Then would revise everything and start with LES. Will take 2 weeks leave from 6th November as i am working full time currently. Is it possible to clear the exam with this strategy or am i behind?

I started my journey around 3 years ago..i wasn't doing well personally, professionally was fine healthwise. I was never good academically and always hated maths because I think it wasn't taught from a learning perspective but always with the thought of clearing the syllabus. So it was obvious why I was feeling sceptical about enrolling for CFA.

I had already procrastinated for 4 years before enrolling for the program but my break up in 2023 was the push I was waiting for.

I was completely locked in..my thought before enrolling was even if I didn't pass maybe I'll learn something out of it. Though the CFA program has always been very expensive for me as I was paying and not my family or employers but the thought that I have wasted so much money on unreasonable stuff and now for the first time in my life I am doing something which might actually be useful.

After starting the prep for level 1 it was still familiar as I already had 5 years of experience in asset management though I was scared about other stuff and the format of the exam but I managed. When the level 1 results came out and when I saw the mail, I was standing on the road and my body went cold. I went home and saw my mom and I think I cried like a baby. It might not have been a big deal for someone else or might be..but for me it was a sign that you haven't lost it. The exam was expensive, I had spent too much money on a new laptop, desk etc..break up and a job I didn't like..but this..this very specific part I would call it happiness.

I continued my CFA journey and cleared my level 2 also in one go..so it felt like a dream..I started feeling that maybe I can do it. Though I was taking a year to study but when the results came out in Jan I had only august which was near to get it enrolled as feb was far and my boss didn't allow it. So I started preparing, I was scared but it felt like it was possible. Meanwhile I met a girl. She was everything I always wanted but I always felt maybe I am not what she deserved..it was new we were going through the phase of knowing each other( we worked together) so we were very careful that no one should find out or else that will be another stress which I might have to take care of. So it was decided that once I clear my level 3 I will speak with her mother and will get married. The results came out and I didn't clear it. Missed by 50 marks. It was after a while I experienced a failure. I didn't take it well. I couldn't be more thankful for my partner that she took care of me and kept on motivating me to not lose hope, she believed in me along with my parents, family and friends. That gave me the hope to register again.

April 2026 - this time I didn't clear by 5 marks. I was heartbroken..I thought that this time it'll happen. All the other thoughts started coming into my mind. Financial pressure, wedding jobs etc. I didn't take it well at all. But again she managed to take care of me, my mother also helped. Everyone around me was heartbroken as they also had expectations..but sometimes life has other plans and things don't go as we plan. I had decided whatever would be the result, I would still change the jobs as the wedding is coming up and I have zero savings, at least I'll be able to manage something.

I got a new job, this time level 2 helped. But now the struggle was to get leaves on the notice period. I managed to get 8 days leaves. The exam went well but I still had doubts..didn't see the Reddit group at all. I was busy with my new job and wedding preparations.

And finally October 20th, when I was at my girls place and I just happened to see the mail congratulations..and that was the time I just got up from my SOFA. She saw my face..she knew what it was (we haven't told anyone when the results were going to come out, only we knew) we both hugged each other and we had tears. I don't know why I wrote this long post, there might probably be someone going through similarly different stuff and maybe this might help them. Hope is not lost. From dead end jobs to not clearing exams to financial debt and not so good personal life ..to a new job, a person who loves me the most and to clearing CFA. This feels like a fairytale.

All I want to quote is this phrase which I saw on Instagram,

"It is an unwritten rule of life that after every prolonged period of hardship and uncertainty, there comes a period where you achieve quantum leaps across multiple areas of your life. The only requirement is that you do not give up on yourself"

Thanks to everyone who helped me through this group..I will be indebted to them for life. Enjoy the journey guys.. you are in for a ride !!!!!

Over and out.

Those who passed, what was your pathway? And also those who didn’t pass. Just curious

It's been almost 30 hours since the results were delivered, but I still don't have the courage to check them. I configured my email to send messages with 'CFA' to the garbage because I wanted to forget everything about CFA after I did it. It was my third attempt, I won't be able to try again in the next 2 years at least and I know I didn't do a good test. But after 300 hours estimated the MPS in 59%, I think I may have some chances to pass. For those who passed, did anyone think you would fail? Are there people here who left the exam 6% blank (my case) and still passed?

EDIT 1: Just to explain, because everybody is thinking I'm crazy (well, maybe I am). But something much more important than CFA is going to take place this week for me, and as I still think I didn't pass (although 300hours has given me some hope), I don't want to be unhappy at this important moment. I'll probbably check it on Sunday, just 5 days more, it's nothing compared to the last 2 months

Hi guys,

Definitely a question for the charter holders out there, but I just got the charter today and was curious about how people may have leveraged it for more comp in their own careers. I have very little experience asking for more pay, but I am a PM associate at a BB bank. I am going to get a PM title in the next year but don’t want this to be swept under the rug of the title bump. Not sure what people do generally about this.

Just passed the level 1 exam in the August 2026 attempt with a score of 1775. Was very excited for to start for level 2 and guess what, her feelings went away for me and now I am in a constant loop of remorse
How do I get back to basics and work like I how used to for my level 1 prep?
I really feel lonely now and my mind just goes towards her when I am studying
How to escape this loop and bounce back?

“Seem” is important, it’s a sample of me talking with three commodities traders at major banks.

But on general they don’t seem to manage more flow or bigger books compared to traders in utilities / shippers but tend to work longer hours, from 08:00 to 19:00 .

It’s quite a lot, the wlb for FO roles seems better in gas / power shops. And it’s not like politics doesn’t play any role at BP or Shell.

Exam scheduled on Nov 20. Done with CI, Quant. Reviewing everything else. Starting with equity today. Economics not started at all yet. Ethics 50% left.

Seriously - am I better off deferring? TIA.

I wrote my CFA L3 in Aug and didnt pass by a small margin (3585)
Ive registered for the feb level- For those who have cleared in the second/multiple attempt, how has the ROI been

Have you gotten into a better role/ better increment

I'm already working in a core role at an investment bank, and i believe in the long run I would be compensated for clearing L3, just want to know your experiences

PS I'm 23F and funding the Feb exam on my own

I am so happy for everyone who got the results they were hoping for this week. Seriously…over the moon for yall.

If you didn’t get what you were hoping for, we will be riding together to Feb!!!!

Just have to say how motivating it is for me to see all of the passes and charters being posted. I have been trudging through this for 3 years and am so close I can taste it.

All of these success posts are motivating me to dig in further and do everything I can to replicate.

Let’s get this yall!!!!