AuthorTopic: Recapping my exam day strategies
maya1995
@2019-08-09 09:55:33
It is here. I wish I could give you some Oscar-winning game time speech before you run into battle. Your eyes are wide, and you are staring down the tunnel onto the field at the Rose Bowl. The adrenaline is flowing as you walk into the testing center, but you need to fight it. You cannot waste energy today, no distractions. You have studied for a long six months – blood, sweat, tears, pain, suffering, the bruise on your nose from when you smashed your head into the FRA book after reading the about Pensions for the fourth time. You are prepared, you are ready to go, you are ready to perform. Execute and leave no questions in your mind you are going to pass. Positive thoughts bring positive actions. You can do it. Now .. Just do it.

Strategy. I did not read the material in order; I am better at some topics than others. I choose to start with the topics I know I am going to excel in first, so I can get the momentum and confidence I need to finish the sections I am not great at. I believe this is why I passed the CFA exams. If I ran into questions I was not great at, and then ran into more questions I was not great at, how do you think my confidence level is when I run into questions I am good at? If you are going to do this, do not mess up your bubble sheet.

Hitting the fucking wall. Sometime during the test, you will hit the wall. Moreover, when you do, you will know what I mean. I remember sitting for Level I in the afternoon section on FRA. I lost focus, I could not think straight, and I was sure I had gotten the past ten questions wrong. I got up, splashed water on my face in the bathroom, and skipped the FRA section for derivatives which I am more comfortable answering. That saved me from getting below 70% on FRA because with my mind refocused later on in the test and I was able to think clearly.

Keep to yourself. You have come this far and do not want to ruin your day with a PCP Investigation. I keep my head down and don’t socialize with others. Save the pleasantries for the bar after the test. Proctors are walking around and are amongst you posing as students. You do not want to be overheard or interpreted as talking about the test or cheating, so for one day shut up and do your job. When you are finished and waiting for time to be called, play heads up seven up and put your head on the desk or look at the ceiling. Wandering eyes produce many investigations.

I do not know the answer. Move on and come back to it. Some of the questions are on the same topics, so it may help you remember later. Whatever you do, do not sweat not knowing an answer. It is a long test. Guessing does not hurt you either so do not leave anything blank.

Timing. I have never had an issue with time usually finishing in just over 2 hours for each section. If you are prepared and timed yourself during the practice exams, you should not have an issue either. If you come up against the clock, when the time is called, drop your pencil. If you do not, it is an automatic PCP investigation.

CFA Discussion Topic: Recapping my exam day strategies

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I passed! I did not get a chance to tell you before the exam - but your site was excellent. I will definitely take it next year for Level II.
Tamara Schultz

Tamara Schultz