How hard is CFA Level 2 vs Level 1?

Yes, CFA Level 2 is generally considered more challenging than CFA Level 1.

Is CFA Level 2 easier than Level 1?

Not only are Level II CFA concepts generally more complex, but the questions on the Level II exam also require more concentration. Compared to Level I, a candidate will need a higher level of preparation and skill to select the correct answer to a Level II question.

Is CFA Level 2 too hard?

Is the CFA Level 2 Exam Difficult? There is a lot of ground covered in the Level II exam, and it asks you to not only understand the concepts but be able to apply, analyze, and explain your findings. It is considered one of the more challenging exams.

Can you take CFA Level 2 without passing Level 1?

The Level 1 exam involves meeting various verification and eligibility criteria. However, for Level 2 and Level 3, the only additional requirement is having passed the previous level.

Does CFA Level 2 build off Level 1?

CFA Program includes a series of three exams: Levels I, II, and III. Each level of the curriculum builds on the prior level and becomes increasingly complex. The chart below explains the differences between each exam so you can prepare accordingly.

CFA Level 1 vs Level 2

Is passing CFA Level 2 a big deal?

After removing the effect of work experience, we found that on average: CFA candidates who passed Level 2 saw an increase of 34% in total compensation; CFA candidates who passed Level 3 or Charterholders earned 53% more than those who had yet to pass CFA Level 1 exams.

Is 6 months enough for CFA Level 2?

How long do I need to study for CFA Level II? The CFA Institute reports that it will take around 328 hours spread across at least six months to prepare for the CFA Level II exam.

How many people fail CFA Level 2?

Since 2014, the historical CFA pass rates for: Level 1 ranges from 22%-49%, with a 10-year average of 39%; Level 2 ranges from 29%-55%, with a 10-year average of 45%; Level 3 ranges from 39%-56%, with a 10-year average of 50%.

How many people pass CFA Level 2 first try?

Data from the Institute shows that about 20% of candidates who register for level 1 do not even show up to take it. Many of the candidates who fail level 1 the first time leave the program for good. Level 2: In the ten years ending February 2023, pass rates for the level 2 exam have averaged 45%.

Is it common to fail CFA Level 1?

Very few candidates pass all three CFA exams on their first attempt. CFA Institute estimates it takes the average successful candidate four years to complete the CFA Program. So failing one level, if not two, makes you an average candidate.

Can you pass CFA Level 2 with 60%?

CFA Level 2 passing scores 2012-2023 (estimated)

We estimated that CFA Level 2's MPS ranged from 60%-71% from 2012-2023, with an 10-year average of 65%. The latest estimated MPSs for CFA Level 2 are: Nov 2023 = 68%

What is the average age for CFA Level 2?

For Level II, the average age at registration has dropped from 28.6 to 28.1 over the last five years. Meanwhile, the average for Level III has remained very consistent for much of the last half-decade – around 30 years of age – before dropping to 29.7 this past June.

Which CFA level is hardest?

Many CFA charterholders consider the Level 3 CFA Exam the most difficult because of the time and thought needed to answer the constructed responses successfully. While the typical Level 3 CFA Exam pass rates are the highest of the CFA Exams, only around 56% of CFA candidates pass the exam.

What is the hardest topic in CFA Level 2?

Hardest topics by CFA Level

Meanwhile, CFA Level 2 most difficult topics are typically Financial Statement Analysis, Portfolio Management, Ethics and Derivatives. Finally, CFA Level 3 hardest topics are Fixed Income, Ethics, Equity Investments, Alternative Investments and Derivatives.

Is CFA harder than the bar?

Considering their pass rates—approximately 50% for the CPA exams, around 13.5% for candidates completing all three levels of the CFA exams, and roughly 70% for the Florida bar—statistics would suggest that the CFA credential is in fact the hardest.

Is CFA Level 2 or 3 harder?

Is the CFA Level III Exam Harder than Level II? Yes, the Level III exam is harder than the Level II exam because the Level III exam contains a constructed response section, and your knowledge in Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning makes up 35-40% of your score.

What is the average age for CFA Level 3 candidate?

Every exam requires 300 hours of study, which is tough when you also have a job and a family. In 2014, the CFA Institute tells us that the average CFA I candidate was aged 26.5, that the average CFA II was aged 28.2 and that the average CFA III candidate was aged 29.7.

Why is CFA Level 1 pass rate so low?

The CFA exam pass rate is low because it is a challenging exam with three levels. The percentage of people who pass all the levels is small, especially when you consider that the passing rate for Level 1 is less than half.

How many times can I fail CFA?

Candidates are permitted to take the exam a maximum of two times per calendar year (when applicable), but not in consecutive windows or windows that are six months or less apart. Candidates will have a total of six maximum attempts per exam level.

Why do people fail CFA Level 2?

At Level II, we find that numerous candidates underestimate the amount of work required to properly prepare for the exam. Those who studied considerably less than 300 hours at Level I and still passed because they had seen some of the topics before studying are most prone to making this error.

Why is CFA so hard?

The CFA exams test your knowledge in four areas: ethics and professional standards, investment tools, asset analysis and valuation, and portfolio management/wealth planning. The tricky part is that all these areas are interdependent, and you need to know about all of them to pass the exam.

Has the CFA gotten harder?

The CFA Institute reports that historical pass rates for Level I and Level II of the exams are typically between 40% and 50% with Level III having a slightly higher pass rate. However, pass rates were much higher when the exams were first initiated in 1963 and have been trending downward since then.

Is 200 hours enough for CFA Level 2?

No, studying for any CFA exam in less than 6 months will not give you enough time to adequately prepare unless you have a relevant background in the curriculum. According to CFA Institute, candidates study on average 348 hours for the Level I exam, 364 hours for the Level II exam, and 365 hours for the Level III exam.

Is CFA Level 2 worth it?

The CFA is worth it.

In fact, Level 1 and Level 2 combined cover more material than the core courses of a traditional finance bachelor's degree. Additionally, the program includes some accounting and economics topics, providing a comprehensive understanding of finance.

How to cram for CFA Level 2?

1: Take Mock Exams to Learn Which Topics to Focus on

Figure out which curriculum topics you need to focus on during the last few weeks of your Level II prep by taking a CFA mock exam. Make sure the amount you time you use to focus on specific curriculum topics also has heavier topic weights.