Schwesser: In or out? only, received, search, someone, best

anshultongia

I'm trying to search for the answer to my questions but have had no luck.

I just received my L2 books in the mail and am trying to figure out a study plan. I used Schwesser for L1 but then reverted back to CFAI to fill in the gaps during the final months.
It doesn't sound like that will work with L2. At best it'll be an easy read.

1) Has anyone passed or known someone who passed using only CFAI? A lot of people are saying that you will use more of CFAI than you did in L1. So would Schweser even be worth it? How intense was your studying?

2) I felt like L1 tested only 40% of what we read (if that). With L2 drilling deap into topics, will it only test a few topics too?

tarunajwani

Wait, so you already got your new L2 material? I'm still waiting on mine to get shipped.

b_sea93

I passed L1 never opened my CFAI books (all Schweser), passed L2 and I used the CFAI books for the EOC's (85% Schweser).

Don't let people tell you that Schweser does not cover it all they do cover it all you just have to study your ass off.

My biggest @#$%& is between Schweser and CFAI there are not enough difficult FSA questions to cover the material. Especially Multinational Operations and SS 7 the Schweser questions on this subject were easy and for me it took doing the questions to learn it.

Everyone got their ass kicked in the AM of the L2 last year for this reason. I did over 5000 questions last year and I almost walked out in the AM that is how hard the curve balls are. Get your hands on any high level FSA, Corp Fin and Equity question you can find because there is going to be 3 item sets that are set out to destroy you.

Newhuman

me.tega Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>Now
> that you are at L2, you should know how you
> prepare for the exams already.

well.. L2 is a much tougher dragon than L1..

Swanand

For what it's worth, I passed Level II first try using CFAI and EOC questions for the majority of my study plan to solidify concepts. However, during the last month or two of prep, Schweser notes and practice exams were key in helping me review concepts and tie the information together.

Schweser was a valuable review tool, but I believe I would have failed miserably if I had relied on them solely. Use CFAI, and do the EOC questions, all of them, multiple times.

Just my 2 cents.

kingstongal

I passed level 1 on first try with Schweser. Failed level 2 band 6 with Schweser & EOC CFAI questions.

This time so far is is only CFAI Text, although DANG are they LONG!

bolligerallstar

I too have sought an answer to this query. But mine was more of schweser vs stalla and their efficacy in preparing of the exam. Most people say schweser is too brief and shallow only giving you tools to pass rather than understand. While for stalla it is too wordy and they conjure their own equations that at times tend to confuse someone.

With this in mind, my strategy will be to read CFAI books from cover to cover, attempt all EOC questions and hopefully be through by begining of April. From there I shall reinforce what i already know with either schweser or satlla, whichever is cheaper.

yalo

I passed both L1 and L2 using CFAI only and some people did it using Schweser alone or Stalla alone. Just use the best technique for you. Now that you are at L2, you should know how you prepare for the exams already. What is good for the goose may not necessarily be good the gander.

maryli

I'm not particularly smart and I'm not using the CFA curiculum day in day out like a lot of other people, so I don't really trust any of the guides to fully prepare me. Because I see these things primarily only when studying the CFA I get good at answering questions the way the guides are written. On test day the questions are written a lot differently.

So, I find its very good to studying whatever guide you want. But that you need to reinforce it with questions from other sources, mock tests, and old tests.

This has gotten me to Level 3 even though, as I said earlier, I'm not really smart at finance nor do I work in a traditional analyst job.