bpdulog

I used strictly Schweser for Level 1 and passed on first attempt.
I used strictly Schweser for Level 2, did about 1800 Qbank questions, 6 full schweser mocks and a cfai mock and ended up with a band 5.   I studied for 6 months, and did well over “300 hours”, but they were apparently not the right kind of hours.  Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect. I did not do anything in CFAI text, which in my case appears to be a huge mistake.  I spent too much time memorizing facts and formulas versus actually putting a pencil to paper and working practice problems.  IMO Qbank will prepare you for the easy questions, but not the more challenging ones.  For 2014, I will be focusing on working a ton of CFAI Blue Boxes and EOC, only referring to Schweser or the text when I am stuck.  All the reading I did was useless as I retained very little.
Side note: the note cards I purchased from Schweser aren’t worth a god damn.  Foolish purchase.
I work as a financial advisor at a brokerage.  My experience is more in financial planning.

genuinecfa

You don’t have to read the CFAI texts cover to cover to pass..
Having Schweser in your toolbox is fine BUT don’t depend 100% on it.
Do the CFAI EOCs and mocks at a minimum.

luckygiftvn

Schweser + EOC + EOC for a second time will do it.

Kapie

long may your chimney smoke…a scottish blessing apparently..

anshultongia

No finance background or experience.  Schweser only was fine for me.

needhelp1700

Schweser + CFAI book EOC questions will do the job

Wendy01

In my experience, Schweser is fine for Levels I and II. I never opened a single CFAI book for those two levels. I do, however, have many years of buy-side experience.

lunarfollies

In Level I it will for most people.
In Level II it will not for most people - there is another recent thread here that discusses this.  I used it but HAD TO complement it with CFAI EOC and LOS and Bluebox examples to pass.  No background in finance here.