Low Practice Scores. I better give up? through, related, better, average, practice

karoliukas

Each time I come here and i see people talking about scoring >70 in their practice tests or mock, i get discouraged. I have read my study notes(Schweser) twice and kicked off on the Schweser practice notes in May. I am scoring really low - late 40's and its really discouraging.

I work (in a non financial related firm) an average of just 60hrs a week and reads at night and dawn. I am taking a two weeks plus leave as from 19th to focus on practice questions and a final dash through the readings.

Can I still make the 70's required to pass L1? Is is still possible to raise my scores by a 100%? Please i need help! I really do.

studyn

Do you feel that you really KNOW the material. Are you making careless mistakes, forgeting formulas, or do you just not know how to get through the practice test questions?

sdada

Oh, its beatthecfa! Great guy!

Yeah, more of forgetting the formula or inadequacy of depth especially in Quant,FI,PM & Derivatives. I have a feeling that I could dramatically improve if I really have time to 'dig the trenches' but I dont know if the time left can be enough.

I also started with Shweser Practise Volume 2, not 1 and i learnt yesterday that the Volume 2 is more difficult than usual.

Any help and advice would do.

draz

dont give up ..try and identify your mistakes in the tests and read those again and again , whenever you are reading news papers (markets) etc try to relate especially economics , fixed income .

you have scope to improve your score till the day before the exam so keep pounding questions and make sure you are not making careless mistakes

leadcfa

Hi Damoch,

Don't give up.

1st of all, there are still 25 d left until the exam. That's plenty of time to get from your 40's scores to the 70's and 80's, especially if you're planning to take time off from work.

If you have the Schweser notes as well as the CFA books, you should be pretty much set.

And if worst comes to worst and you do fail, then you already have a solid (40%) base for the December exam. Waiting half a year is not the end of the world.

kd26gioi

By the way, you talked about studying at dawn. How do you manage to get out of bed that early and concentrate on your studies? I've been wanting to do it, too, but without success.

suyash1989

There is enough time for sure. You can't let your head drop at this stage. I had a student once who scored less than 50% overall on her first practice test and went on to pass the test.

I am not going to lie to you- it's NOT going to be easy. But it has been done before and there's always hope. Otherwise, as Lara said, waiting 6 months is not so bad plus you'll have a better foundation for Level II.

smartpants

I have to say i was in the same boat (40's-50's)...and really freaking out.

I got a level head and kept doing practice questions after question and i am see my scores increasing each week. I am almost to the point of not having to reference equations/notes maybe once or twice in a 60 q quiz. That was about 2 weeks ago and now I am in the 70-75 range.

I know it sounds silly but have that can do attitude and do question after question and things just fall into place.

invic

Which practice test do people commonly refer to?

My Schweser pack has 6 practice exams but I haven't started it yet. I am still doing CFAI and Schweser end of chapter practice questions.

leadcfa

Jose Mourinho!! haha I guarantee 90% of the people reading this post wont have any idea about the 'special one'. You a Chelsea fan?