Which level of CFA is most difficult?

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.

Which is harder CFA Level 1 or 2?

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.

Which CFA level is the hardest?

CFA Level II vs Level III Difficulty

Candidates should expect the Level III exam to be more difficult than the Level II exam. The primary reasons Level III is more difficult than Level II are: Level III covers fewer topics which increases the weight of each topic, especially Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning.

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.

Which is the easiest CFA level?

Level 3 of the CFA exam is considered the easiest of the three levels. However, compared to other major financial exams like the CFP and CPA, it is still brutal. The pass rate is just 52%.

Ranking CFA Exam Topics on Difficulty

Is passing CFA Level 1 a big deal?

It all depends on the company you keep. If you work with a bunch of people that failed the level one and never retried, it's a big deal. If you work someplace where most employees are charterholders it's not a big deal. To HR managers who don't fully grasp the CFA program passing any level is insignificant.

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.

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.

What is the fail rate for CFA Level 3?

Recent CFA Level III Exam Pass Rates

The August 2023 Level III exam pass rate was 47%, which continues the low pass rate trend we've seen in 2022. Previous pass rates for CFA Level III have been as high as 56%.

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%.

Why do so many people fail CFA Level 1?

Failed to Study Enough Hours

It is often hard to manage the work, social life, and study balance. And, of course, the discipline needed to maintain your studies is one of the key reasons the CFA charter is so highly valued by employers. Level I is a foundation level based on core finance principles and concepts.

Why is CFA Level 2 so 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.

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 3 the easiest?

CFA Level 3 is especially challenging because the exam format also deviates from the multiple-choice format. The constructed response format, or 'essay' section, can be very difficult to master for the CFA candidate used to multiple-choice questions.

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 CFA harder than college?

Oh, and I know you have heard this before, but CFA exams are a lot harder than you think, and not like college/university. And Level 2 and Level 3 are significantly harder.

Is CFA harder than CPA?

As clearly seen in the passing rates CFA is more difficult in comparison to CPA. On an average about 50% of the registered candidates clear CPA exam whereas about 7% of the candidates clear all the 3 levels of CFA. In terms of course also, the course of CFA is much more lengthy and detailed in comparison to CPA.

How many people pass CFA on first try?

Level I, II and III pass rates equaled 36%, 44%, and 48%, respectively. Since the CFA began administering the program in 1963, Level I, II, and III pass rates have averaged 41%, 46%, and 56%, respectively, with a total of 2.1 million, 963,594, and 543,322 separate exams taken at those respective levels.

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.

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 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 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.

What is the hardest subject in CFA Level 1?

Based on historical pass rates, the hardest topics for the CFA Level I exam are: Financial Reporting and Analysis: This topic has consistently been one of the most challenging for candidates, with a historical pass rate of around 45-55%.

What is the hardest topic in CFA 1?

Why is CFA so difficult?

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.