How I Passed the CFA Level 1 Exam [+95th Percentile Scorer?]
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- 🚨 Updated 2025 L1 materials are now posted 🚨 I'll share exactly what I did to pass the CFA Level 1 Exam on the first attempt and will teach YOU how to pass the CFA Level 1 Exam. I took Level 1 in August 2021 and scored well above the 90th percentile (possibly even over the 95th percentile).
I'll teach you how to study for the CFA Level 1 test and share all my tips, strategies, and methods to improve your chances of passing.
I created a system that will help you plan and study effectively while reducing wasted time. The key component to this system is the CFA Revision Spreadsheet, which uses spaced repetition to optimally schedule when you study each lesson.
Other tools used in the system include:
- 3rd party CFA test prep provider (I used Kaplan Schweser)
- Anki
- Notion
- CFA Institute textbooks and platform
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👨🏫 ACCESS THE CFA REVISION SPREADSHEET🚨🚨🚨:
- Find the CFA Revision Spreadsheet and my course on How to Study for (and Pass) the CFA Level I Exam by using the link below (with a 20% discount):
- bhillbiz.podia.com/?coupon=20...
Note: I'm no longer hosting the sheet or course on Patreon. It's only available through the Podia link above.
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If you are a young professional looking to improve personally, professionally, and financially, be sure to subscribe for content that serves to help you develop in a well-rounded manner!
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🔗 LINKS TO ALL TOOLS AND RESOURCES
- CFAI: www.cfainstitute.org/
- Kaplan Schweser Essentials Package: www.schweser.com/cfa/level-1/...
- Notion: www.notion.so/
- Anki: apps.ankiweb.net/
- CFA Revision Spreadsheet: bhillbiz.podia.com/?coupon=20...
💻 MY BLOG:
- biznessprofessionals.com/
📚 BOOKS AND READING:
- Reading list: Coming soon
- 30-day Audible free trial: amzn.to/3mHYlkS
- Kindle Oasis (the e-reader that transformed my reading): amzn.to/3kPhpuX
🧠 LEARNING NEW SKILLS
- Skillshare - One month free trial for Skillshare premium: skillshare.eqcm.net/EaZPje
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - My CFA Level 1 Exam results
1:02 - What we'll go over in this video
1:28 - Why the CFA test is difficult to pass
2:42 - How I passed the CFA Level 1 Exam
5:20 - Quizzing self, practice questions, and mock exams
5:52 - Timing: How long I studied total and each day
7:06 - Tools and resources used in this system | CFAI & Kaplan
8:12 - Notion for note-taking
9:41 - Anki for flashcards
10:39 - CFA Revision Spreadsheet *Game-Changer*
12:35 - How to get the CFA Revision Spreadsheet
DISCLAIMER: Content on this channel is for entertainment, informational, and educational uses only. There may be affiliate links in this video description, which means I may receive a small commission for any purchases made through links in this description.
Cannot thank Brandon enough for this. Just recieved by result for L1. Passed and just missed the 90th percentile. Very nearly didn't drop below 70% on any topic area. The sheet was also my 'bread and butter' (watched this video so many times). Used the notion template and also anki just as Brandon describes. Worth every penny! Thank you Brandon.
Ah that's so amazing! Congrats on passing, George. I'm happy that the system was able to assist you in passing. Cheers to you!
Hey how did you made the excel
@@Devodrita A lot of trial and error, experimenting with different formulas
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals that's awesome!! In particular which function or formula did you use to determine the next date of revision depending on the 1-10 rating
@@Devodrita just pay for it you cheap ass. it's $12.
I can't believe that you have literally given all details , this is mind-blowing. a perfect video to clear all your prep doubts. Superb. Thanks a lot !
You're very welcome! :)
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge, B! Planning to take the test on Aug 2024.
You're welcome! Good luck with your studying
I passed CFA level 2 :D
I also studied Python for finance
Not sure if I ever want to get level 3
I had no life for 1 year. Work and go home sleep for 1 hour and shower and 15 mins dinner. 2.5 to 3 hours daily. 16 hours studying whole weekend. Exercise and sleeping for brain recovery.
I did 6 mock up exam and 6000 plus questions.
Pass at first time
34 year old
I am single ;(
Edit: I also got my Data Science master degree last year and I got a job pay me very well. I am not going to do level 3. It’s wasting time. I need to spend more time getting friends 😂. (Before I am getting mid age cry sis and feel like I am going to die alone lol)
Congrats!! That sounds like a tough regimen!
yoooo i think you did great 34 is just the beginning take a a trip u deserve it
Is doing the MM mocks necessary ?
@noobwow2009 What all prep providers did you use ? Asking for level 2 .
@@stivemichel8021 this is my 4th time I am studying and I know a thing or two about discouragement. What helped you pass the 3rd time?
Hey Brandon, thanks a lot, these templates have been so useful to me I used them throughout my studies and have just found out that I passed my CFA Level 1!
Congrats on passing! That's great to hear. Cheers!
Thanks for the video. You have explained it in a very calm and composed manner, unlike other videos that try to do everything under the sun. I am going for a L1 attempt in May 2023 and this is really helpful.
Thanks for the feedback! I wish you luck with your studies!
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
@rohitjain1557 Good luck on the exam
Extremely helpful! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Danielle - I'm glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for this wonderfully laid out video Brandon!
I have registered for the CFA L1 program with Kaplan Schweser two weeks ago and you can say I am excited but a bit uncertain at the beginning.
Nonetheless, I hope I can make the most out of the study journey.
Thank you for the compliment and congrats on the start of your journey. Uncertainty at the beginning is normal. You'll find a routine that works after a while and things get easier. Good luck!
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Wow thank you so much for this! I just signed up for the test in November and was feeling a little overwhelmed with where to start. I'll definitely be downloading your excel.
Sure thing Todd! I hope it can help you out. Good luck!
Hey @todd nugget same here I also signed up for November
Same here I also signed up for November
Let’s go Todd! I’m signing up tomorrow!
Thank you Brandom, well explained and helpful:)
You’re welcome! Thanks for the positive feedback!
Thank you so much Brandon! I have passed the CFA level 1 exam!
Congrats!!! That is so awesome to hear
Dear Brandon
Thank you so much for this video! I did everything more or less the same as you and used your spreadsheet to prepare for the CFA Level 1 exam. Today I passed above the 90th percentile, perhaps even around the 95th just as you.🔥Thank you so much for your insights!
Let's go!! I'm so happy to hear about your results. Congrats on passing with flying colors!
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Hey Brandon, I just want to let you know that you are the person who made me pursue the CFA level 1 exam in a systematic and effective way (use active recall, spaced repetition, anki, notion, spreadsheet, etc.). I just sat for level 1 today and after all the study methods and all the recommendations I used from you, I took the exam with the highest confidence and certainty. Thank you so much for all what you did!
Hey Nguyen! Thank you for the kind words and I am so happy that my methods were able to help you. Congrats on taking the exam and I wish you the best of luck on passing. Please let me know if you do pass!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals hey Brandon, I proudly say that I just received my CFA Level 1 Exam, and it's a pass (within the 90% percentile). My result looks really similar to yours. Thank you so much for your content, it makes a big contribution to my result!
@@nguyenhoangtrieuvo2222 CONGRATS! I'm so happy to hear about your results! And I'm happy the content was able to help you out. Be sure to celebrate!
@@nguyenhoangtrieuvo2222 Hi, I want to tell you something
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Thanks man. Definitely will give this a go with my upcoming exams.
Nice, good luck with your exams!!
This was a fantastic video. Thank you for these resources!!!
No prob! Thanks for the compliment. Btw, is that a University of Utah shirt? I graduated from the U in 2018 for undergrad!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionalsyes it totally is! I played soccer at the University of Utah. I graduated in 2016. So we were probably there for a bit at the same time! Crazy-small world! Go Utes 🤘
@@addiejensen6926 That's awesome! Yeah, small world! Go Utes!!
Hey Brandon, I saw your video around a year back, and it was super helpful. I cleared my CFA L1 in my first attempt! (Feb'24).
Congrats!! I'm happy to hear you passed and that the video could help 😄
I should have watched your video 2 months before! I am the one who handwrites all the mistakes from practice exam and eventually spent too much time on it. The way you did is very efficient and smart!!
That's a bummer! Maybe you can use the methods on the next level though. And thank you!
But I feel hand writing helps me to learn tho.
Hi Brandon, thank you so much for this video, I too also bought the study schedule. I passed L1 on my second try just under the 90th percentile :)
That's amazing! Congratulations on your results and thanks for letting me know!
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Brilliant, always be prepared in that long process must feels soooo good 😊
Thanks! Feeling prepared means less stress and less stress does so much for your mental state during the exam
Thank you so much! I bought your spreadsheet template and absolutely love it!! It has helped me organize my thoughts and adjust learning pace day by day. Hopefully i will pass the exam in November!!
Hey! I'm so happy to hear the spreadsheet is helping you out :) Good luck with your exam! You got this
Hi, I want to tell you something
Hey could you provide me the spreadsheet as the transaction is in usd i'm unable to purchase it
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
i have the same problem....@@Devodrita
Thanks for sharing your techniques
Love from India 🇮🇳
Thank you!
Thank you for this!
Of course!
I passed L1 with around 75% percentile. I tried to stick with a schedule. I got way ahead of it at the end of quant. But couldn't keep up when I reached economics. Eventually I just started studying topics randomly and taking tons of mocks and then drilling my worst subjects. I knew I couldn't keep to a strict schedule so I started 9 months early. With covid, it turned to 11 months early. So glad to have passed
Hey, at the end of the day, at least you passed!
How many questions should be right to pass the exam? Approx
@@aminachauhan3532 from where r u taking your coaching?
this is brilliant!!!
Thank you, glad you think so!
this is amzing you are a genuis thank you brother ....
Thank you as well!
Thank You so much!!
Genius! Please make a video for. the 2024 Cfa level 1 plan
You're a beast 💪🏿
Thanks man!
I lost you part way, but I like the 1 hour study blocks.
Brandon, thank you for putting out this video. I will be signing up for the feb. 2025 level 1 exam when registration opens and I was curious when you anticipate updated 2025 material to be available on your website as I definitely plan on utilizing your tools. Thank you!
I can't update my materials until Kaplan releases their 2025 materials, since the spreadsheet uses their structure of Topics, Readings, and Modules. I will update my sheet shortly after Kaplan releases their 2025 materials, which should happen within the next few months
@@bhill-biznessprofessionalsGreat, thanks Brandon!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 *📚 Study System Overview*
- CFA Level I exam is challenging due to vast material and self-directed studying.
- Lack of effective scheduling and study methods can derail candidates.
- Effective study methods, scheduling, and review strategies are crucial for success.
01:28 *📅 Scheduling and Review*
- Scheduled study time needs to be precise, including regular reviews.
- Ineffective study methods like highlighting and rereading can waste time.
- An optimized schedule and review system are essential for mastering exam material.
03:21 *🗒️ Lean CFA Study System*
- Lean CFA study system focuses on eliminating waste from the studying process.
- Utilizes effective note-taking, flashcard creation, and scheduling.
- Incorporates spaced repetition to optimize learning and review.
05:17 *📖 Study Techniques and Tools*
- Efficient study methods save time and prevent forgetting material.
- Consistent use of flashcards, practice problems, and mock exams are beneficial.
- Notion for note-taking and Anki for flashcards are superior to handwriting notes.
07:14 *🛠️ Study Tools Used*
- Utilized CFA Institute materials and Kaplan's Essentials Package.
- Notion for note-taking and organization.
- Anki for creating comprehensive flashcards.
09:39 *📝 Note-Taking with Notion*
- Notion is used for active recall note-taking.
- Toggle feature in Notion is effective for creating flashcards in Anki.
- Notion allows for quick organization and accessibility of notes.
10:08 *🃏 Flashcards with Anki*
- Anki allows for customizable and organized flashcards.
- Organized decks for each topic, reading, and lesson are essential.
- Anki helps in efficient memorization and review of exam material.
11:05 *📊 CFA Revision Spreadsheet*
- CFA revision spreadsheet tracks study progress and schedules reviews.
- Utilizes spaced repetition to optimize study time.
- Spreadsheet is crucial for keeping study sessions efficient and on track.
Made with HARPA AI
Hi Brandon! The spreadsheet looks amazing. I would like to seek some guidance on which subject to start my preparations with from first to last. That would be an amazing start.
I would follow the order than Kaplan recommends
Great system!
Thanks Syeed!
Notion supports LaTeX math notation for equations. Great deal!
Extremely helpful! Thank you for sharing! Can you share your notes.
Hey Brandon. Thank you for the awesome information and content to help everyone! Does your Level 1 spreadsheet include tracking for the pre-requisite readings as well for the new 2024 changes? Thanks again!
Hi David - The sheet is updated for 2024 and contains the Topics, Readings, and Modules that Kaplan structures their course material with. I'm not sure what the pre-requisite readings are, so the sheet does not account for that
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Basically CFAI took out some prerequisite knowledge from the tested syllabus and added it as pre-requisite readings required for learning the the other exam-centric readings. The pre-requisite readings will not be tested in the CFA exams but supplements and is required to learn the tested portion.
Dear Brandon
I used your spreadsheet to prepare for the CFA Lvl 1 exam this February. Thank you so much for the effort, its genius!
One question from my side: what were your schweser mock exam scores before the exam? Would be useful as a guidance after using your strategy for preparation...Kind regards
Sam
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Great stuff and Congrats! Did you really not read any of the CFA textbooks nor smashed thosed CFA Practice Questions in the Learning Ecosystem?? *stunned*
Hey Ameerah, thanks! Honestly, I tried to read through the first book from CFAI and I didn't like it over Kaplan's textbooks. I flipped through other sections of the CFAI books and confirmed my initial judgment. As for the CFAI practice problems, I did the same thing. I tried working on problems for a few readings and did not prefer the platform over Kaplans. However, I did work on the CFAI's Ethics practice problems. It was all personal preference for me. Obviously, the content from the CFA is all you need, but I felt like it was easier for me to learn and practice through Kaplan's platform and textbooks.
Love a good spreadsheet. I’m going to create my own.
2.5 months till I sit Lvl 1 😬
Good ol Excel haha! Good luck with Lvl 1!
Hello Brandon, great video and so helpful. A question regarding the Flashcards - why don’t you sell them and instead just the template?
My notes and flashcards have a lot of text and screenshots from Kaplan's material in them. Selling my flashcards would probably run into legal issues because it could be a re-distribution of their material. So, I do not sell or give them away
Thank you Sir
I'm giving my L1 on this 19th
Sad that found this late, will definitely buy after the result, L1 if fail, L2 if pass. Looks useful
Good luck with your results!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals thank you brandon
Good shit!
Thanks man!
Hello, Brandon! Thank you for sharing your study strategy. I am just at the beginning of my study track, and I am glad to discover your video at the right moment. I just wanted to clarify one particular question. Level 1 exam involves a plenty of math problem solving, especially in the quantitative methods section. Could you please share what tools did you use for that: was it a classic "pen and pencil" combination or a tablet with digital notes (iPad, Pencil and Goodnotes as an example), or maybe it was Notion? Thank you in advance for your attention and response.
Hi Madeira - I took my notes in notion using the method shown in this video here. I'd take screenshots of formulas and create notion notes and flashcards with those screenshots. I'd memorize the formulas using flashcards. When I'd work on practice problems, I'd use my ipad as a scratch sheet of paper essentially, writing out the math to solve the problem. Also, when I studied flashcards and was asked for a formula, I'd write out that formula on my ipad before checking the answer
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thank you for the clear and detailed answer. Have a good week!
@@madeira.forest You too!
Hi Brandon!
I actually just started using notion, how do i customize my notes the way you did it? is there a tutorial somewhere?
Thanks!
Hi Brandon
Thank you for the content. May you share the skillshare course title? Also, I was wondering if such a spreadsheet is available for gmat learning.
I appreciate the diligent and excellent content again.
Thank you again!
Take care
Hey Raffaele - First off, thanks!
Although the video says the course is available on Skillshare, it is actually currently offered through a platform called Podia. The link is in the description of this video.
In terms of the sheet being available for the GMAT, it is currently only constructed for the CFA Level 1 exam, but the whole sheet is editable. You could easily adapt it for the GMAT if you wish. I adapted this sheet for the CFP exam and other areas of study.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thank You Brandon,
I've subscribed to the Podia and purchased the material. I'll be sure to follow up! Thank You again.
All the best,
Tesher before he blew up
Jokes apart, thanks for the insights!
Hey Brandon! I had another doubt. Let's say you complete a learning module and you head towards the practice questions. Do you solve all the EOC questions of the learning module at once and only then you proceed to the next module??... or you leave some questions to be solved for the next time you revise the topic again, as per the spreadsheet (to prevent repitition of questions)
Thank you Friend 🤝
You're very welcome Mohit!
Can you do a deeper dive into your note taking? And how you use Notion
Hey Brandon ! Does the spreadsheet for 2025 only align with the Kapln content?
Like it won’t help me if i just depends on the cfa content or Mark ? Thank you cz I already look forward to it
I bought your spreadsheet and I’m loving it so far! Aside from reading each lesson, making notes on notion, then studying on Anki (doing 2 lessons a day) around when did you start doing the extra problems available on Kaplan?
I would start reviewing the extra problems through Kaplan by creating mini quizzes. After the first or second review of a lesson, I would start creating mini quizzes for that lesson so I could see some new problems and test my competence.
Thank you for the response! Just to clarify, so using the spreadsheet for example if I graded my 1.2 Calculating PV and FV a 3, in 3 days I would not only do Anki flashcards but throw in some Kaplan questions as well? And if I improve my grade to a 5 after then in another 5 days I do both Anki and Kaplan questions? So in general every time I study a lesson I should tackle my Anki cards + Kaplan questions? How many Kaplan questions do you like to do per lesson?
@@nugget895 That's correct. Basically, whenever you feel comfortable with what you have currently studied, that is when you should start doing Kaplan questions. Because at that point, you've mastered the current material you have seen and you need to test with new material (the Kaplan problems). Usually I would make a mini quiz of 5 kaplan problems per lesson. But you can do more if you think you need it / if you have time
@@nugget895
Hu Nugget, I want to tell you something.
Could you please let me talk to you?
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Hi Brandon! I got you material and let me tell you that is awesome! It works great, and I am doing exactly what you did to pass the CFA I. I got the Kaplan prep, the spreadsheet, notion and Anki templates in order to be ready to take it in 2024. I have a question, When you were reviewing all the 10 big units, after finishing the first one, let's say Quant. Did you take all the Masterclasses? Or just skipped them for now and start with Economics? I was curious because I think that would move the 2 lessons per day target in the spreadsheet, right?
Thanks, and again, great video!
Hi Axel. That's exciting! Sounds like you are on the right track. What are the "Masterclasses"? I am not familiar with that term with Kaplan's materials? Maybe it is new, or maybe it is something that has a different name from when I took L1. Could you explain? Then I can try to advise
Thanks for the reply! Yeah. Masterclass are videos that just appeared in my Activities after I was done with the last lesson of Quant (Introduction to Bid Data Techniques). It seems that they are recorded classes of all the 11 Lessons that Quant includes. Each class it is about 60 min average. They are 11 classes.
That was why I was thinking if I should just continue with the 2 lessons per day of Economics now, or, I should start with the Masterclasses about Quants, that would move a little bit the calendar and also the next reviews of the topics that I saw, I guess.
It is just another factor to take into consideration in the study sessions.
@@AxelMartinez-uj3bh Ah okay. I would watch one video and determine the differences between the textbook material for a lesson and the masterclass video. If the material is the same, then I personally wouldn't watch them because I prefer to learn through reading. Watching a 60 minute video (without being able to play it on 2x speed) is too slow for me. I can read faster than they can teach through a video. But that's my learning style. Others are different and learn better through video instruction.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Sounds good! Thank you for the help, Brandon! I will do that, and I am enjoying a lot the studying method with the spreadsheet keep things simple!. Thanks!
@@AxelMartinez-uj3bh Hi Axel, did you end up watching these Masterclass videos? Ended up having the exact same question
Hi Brandon, thanks for the great content. How intense of a review session did you have when the spreadsheet prompted you to review x amount of lessons for the day. In other words, were you going back and reviewing notion notes, doing practice questions/quizzes, or lightly skimming through the past material. I am curios because it seems as though reviewing 14 lessons in a day can potentially reduce the amount of progress made towards a fresh lesson that you were assigned to do that same day as well. Next thing you know, you don't end up getting through all the material. So just curious as to what review strategy I should be following on a daily basis when prompted and any advice of the alike. Thank you!
Good question! When I'd review, mostly I'd go through my flashcard deck and/or I would create practice quizzes on Kaplan for the lesson I was reviewing.
Basically, when you review, your goal is to just prevent yourself from forgetting a concept of formula. Testing yourself quickly with flashcards will prevent you from forgetting. When you study flashcards though, make sure you actually try to generate the answer before viewing the answer. If you simply flip through the question and answers without trying to generate the answer yourself, this won't be effective. Active recall is key.
Only if I didn't understand something would I go back and read my Notion notes, or even the textbook material
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Gotcha, thank you! So it's really just a quick refresher of the key concepts + formulas combined with a few practice questions. However, I assume, this done over and over again (as indicated on the spreadsheet) will produce optimal level mastery come exam time.
@@nirvankhaksarfard3129 Excatly. The first time you study a lesson is when you are LEARNING the material. All other review sessions are refreshers or sessions to learn the last little bits of concepts and formulas you may have not understood the previous study session
Thanks a lot for the info. mate!
You're welcome!
quality content
Thank you, Tamara!
Dear Brandon, thanks a lot for all the brilliant material. I just started to prepare for CFA Level I in May 2024 and purchased your course. One question: did you also watch the videos in Kaplan when learning new lessons? Or did you only read the text and copied them into Notion and Anki? Greetings from Germany, Pascal
Hey Pascal - I only watched the video lessons if I really wasn't understanding something. The videos are too slow and I preferred to only use the textbook material. But if I wasn't understanding something, I'd watch the video to see if it could provide me with more clarity
Awesome, thanks for the quick and helpful feedback Brandon. I was thinking the same since those videos can be > 30 minutes@@bhill-biznessprofessionals
I just bought your 2022 Revision Spreadsheet + the Notion thing! these are great, I'm not sure how to use Anki but i guess ill find something else/ use my own method to replace Anki
I have 104days left but no more full-time work or school, so I think I can do 4 lessons a day (8-10hrs per day 5 days a week + 4-5hrs per day for 2 days I'm working)
Thanks Alex. Yeah, Anki can be a bit weird at first, but after you conquer the learning curve, it becomes effortlessly useful. But whatever works for you is what you should go with. Good luck with your studying!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Dudeee
crushed it btw lol also around 95th percentile
@@WorldWideSk8boarding Let's gooo! That's awesome, Alex. Way to kill it! Congrats on the results
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals thanks man! It was a while ago
Im getting your excel thing for level 2 also! It was so worth it for L1!!
@@WorldWideSk8boarding That's awesome! Good luck with level 2!
Brandon,
Can you create a spreadsheet for other programs? Looking at the RICP and CFP.
Thanks, love the content!
Hey, thank you! Unfortunately, I don't create sheets for other programs.
However, some people in the past have purchased this sheet here and have changed the curriculum text from the CFA to whatever program they are trying to study. The sheet can be easily edited, while maintaining the spaced repetition formulas
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals that sounds like a good idea and a good investment to me. Thanks!
Brandon this was super interesting! Do you have a spreadsheet like this for Level 2? I passed Level 1 on the 11th just touching the 90th %ile line (was probably 87-89th%ile) and I feel if I had something like this I could have done so much better.
Edit: You just got a new sub!
(UPDATE: Yes, I also have a sheet for L2. You can find it through the same link in the description)
Hey Asad! Thanks for the sub. I haven’t started my L2 study yet (I will be really soon). All I’m going to do is take the spreadsheet and change the readings and modules for Level 2! The sheet is easily adapted.
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Ive been studying for 8 months (test in 30 days) and I have been doing ALL of this to a T. Praying I do well
That's commitment! Good luck with your test! Let me know how it goes
Hey, what was the result did you pass the test?
Goodluck
Hey thank you for great advice! Quick question please - how did you change your toggle background colour to be reader friendly (all black and white text)?
It is a setting that is within Notion. You can change it to dark mode
hi i want to ask, im using ANKI too for my language flash card, im curious how many daily repetition cards limit you use everyday for each sub-material? because if it repeated every single day i would assume that every day you will read a tons of flashcard? because in my ANKI deck for learning foreign language it took's about more than 100 cards every day. i assume the CFA material is for sure more than my foreign language deck in ANKI, that means it was a lot of repetition of cards each day right?
Hey Faizal - With the spaced repetition timing, the number of flashcards you study each day is more spread out than you'd think. With that said, I still had some days where I'd have 200 cards to study. But some of the cards would take a few seconds to answer, so it is still doable.
Hi Brandon, I am taking level 1 exam in august. Was wondering if you would do 1 on 1 sessions to go through textbook questions. I just need help with using the calculator (BA II Plus professional) is this something you could maybe help with?
Hey, Brandon! Thank you for such a clear video. I do have one doubt tho. So I'm starting my prep 6 months in advance literally from today. I was wondering what the optimal order of studying would be. I'm thinking of going through all the material for the first time and making notes on Notion. After finishing each chapter (like quantitative methods), I would do some practice questions. Once I've done this for all the 10 chapters, I start doing the full length mock exams.
Not sure where I can fit the flashcard reviewing and mini quizzes into this system. Would love your inputs on this. Thank you
Hi Urvi - Thanks for reaching out. With 6 full months, I believe you can do everything you plan on doing and you will be able to fit the flashcards and mini quizzes into your studies. If you studied on average, 2 hrs per day, over the 6 months, that's plenty of time to complete everything. I do believe that the most important part of the studying process is doing the practice questions, flashcards, and mini quizzes. Not because this is the system I showed in the video, but because it's critical to test yourself with active recall methods so you can remember the material. Taking notes and reading those notes won't be as effective.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thanks for replying! That makes perfect sense.
Just another small question. Would you suggest I start doing the active recall once I've finished studying the entire material once, or?
@@urvijain2823 No, you will implement active recall throughout the whole process. Going through the material will be a cumulative acquiring of knowledge. You don't read all the material once and then study with active recall. You'll learn each lesson and you will review each lesson while still learning new lessons. This is what I talk about in the video. If you read through all the material once and then practice active recall, you will have forgotten everything. Too much time would have passed. The goal as you learn the material is to not forget anything. That is why the spaced repetition is implemented
great vid!
is there any way you could share your flash cards with us
Thanks for the great vid!
I just wanted to know tho, how much of a difference would it make if I used a source of study material other than Kaplan? Is the CFAI material not recommended?
Hey! You can totally use the CFAI material or another test prep provider other than Kaplan. Plenty of people pass using those options. Since I used Kaplan personally, that is why my spreadsheet is tailor-made for Kaplan. But the system of studying that I shared can be used if you use the CFAI material or another provider's material.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Good to know! Thanks a lot for the reply Brandon!
Hi Brandon! Thanks for your video. Did you make use of a learning ecosystem designed by CFA Institute. How would you compare it to Kaplans Platform and resources that you used. Is it worth blending Kaplan with CFAI or just following CFAs content and practising all their questions do it for the students. Thanks again!
Hi Meraj - I did not personally like the learning ecosystem designed by the CFA institute. I tried to use it, but ultimately used Kaplan's. I think Kaplan provides enough info and practice questions to pass the exam
Am absolutely amazing video
Thanks Carter! I appreciate the kind feedback
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Can you share your notes for L3? (Notion ones via some link or something)
Hi Brandon, thanks for the video, been using your tips over the last few months and they’ve worked great. Was wondering if you found the Kaplan QBank and/or Mock questions very reflective of the actual exam or slightly easier? Many people seem to think Kaplan is easier than the exam so curious about your opinion. Thanks!
Hi Isak - I personally didn't find Kaplan to be noticeably easier than the exam. For me, some exam questions were easier than what I had practiced and some exam questions were harder. So yes, I'd say it was pretty reflective of the exam.
95% of the practice problems I worked on to prepare came from Kaplan's Qbank. The other 5% would be the CFAI problems. I tried to work on their problems, but ultimately went back to Kaplan.
With Kaplan's ~4,000 problems, if you can do most of them and understand them, I believe you'll have seen nearly everything you can for the exam. Then nothing on exam day will blindside you. Hope this helps!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thank you!
hello anyone who purchased it could u plz share link free for me because im not affordable this due to my financial situations for level 1 exam also i dont have money to pay but first im preparing for it after that ill took debt from anyone plz hepl me guys to get this excel link for free
Hi Brandon! I'm 1 month into studying and so far its been very enriching journey and your resources made it even better!
I wanted to ask concerning anki and the SRS method you mentioned as I'm a bit confused :(
- Should we review the flashcards as per the days set in the excel SRS?
- Or we review the cards based on what anki sets?
- Or should we review the cards anki set to be reviewed (only the review cards? or the whole deck for a reading?) on the days the days the excel set?
Sorry for the long question!! >.
No worries! I can see how that is confusing. Personally, I studied the flashcards as per the days set from the Excel sheet
@bhill-biznessprofessionals Oh I see! Thank you so much😆
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals does this mean you used a custom study in anki to review all of them still? or u still used the cards that anki set from the 'learning' phases?
@@specterwo1f746 Personally, i used a custom study. That worked best for me
Update! Passed the cfa l1 unfortunately didnt get 90th percentile thoughh very close x.x
Hey Brandon! Should I take My CFA #1 exam right after school in may or should i take it in august ? Or should I even wait after My Degree? I really dont know but your video is pure gold!!!!
Thanks for the compliment! Personally, I think it would be tough to study for the exam while you are still in school. However, if you think you can fit 300+ hours of studying in while you are in school, then go for it. If you choose to do so, I think taking it in August would be a better option because the last two months, and especially the last month, are intense. It'd be nice to have these intense months happen during your summer.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals perfect! thanks for the Quick answer🔥🫶🏻
Hi Brandon, thanks for the vid! Did you have to purchase the CFAI material and then the Kaplan material separately? If so, what was the total cost for those two items
Yes - I purchased both. I bought the essentials kaplan package and the CFAI material came with the enrollment for the exam. Prices may have changed so you can look up the current prices for those two
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thanks!
Will you be able to share notes in Notion ?
Hi Brandon I got the resources you mentioned this week and ready to start! I wanted to ask, concerning the sequence of learning, is it we
1. Read the lessons
2. Copy to notion
3. Create flashcards
4. Learn though flashcards (touch up with Notion)
4. Do the kaplan exercises
And repeat!
Was wondering what you recommend?
Yes, that is generally how I would sequence those events. Here's a little more context
1) Read the lesson, while taking notes in Notion. This happens simultaneously.
2) Do end of chapter problems to test yourself on the material you just learned
3) Create flashcards
4) Review with flashcards
5) Do kaplan exercises
6) Add certain kaplan exercises to your flashcard deck if it'd be useful
@bhill-biznessprofessionals Ohh I see hehe thank you so much! Cant wait to get started😁
@@lavenderrosia01740 Good luck with your studies!
Could you share the Anki decks you built?
Hello Brandon, thank you so much for the video.
I really want to get access to the spreadsheet, none of the payment options work for me. Is it possible to do PayPal?
Hey Brandon! I purchased your revision spreadsheet - since it focuses on doing 1-2 lessons per day, if you were using Kaplan, would you still follow their study plan with the qbanks + chapter summary videos? or did you just focus on doing each lesson and quiz and move on and use the chapter summary videos for review?
Hey Jason - I still completed the mini quizzes at the end of each module. I didn't watch the videos unless I wasn't fully grasping a topic from the text material
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals thanks brandon! Another followup, what about the end of chapter qbank questions, how would you log those on the spreadsheet?
Hello Brandon, I bought your spreadsheet and the system studying course, they are very helpful, thank you! A question about the extra resources you mentioned in system study video, where can I find those links?
Hi! I have messaged you on Podia (where you purchased the sheet and course) with the links
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thank you very much!
@@xiaoyangluo4626 Anytime!
Hi Brandon, thanks for the great content and the study method. I bought the discount package and only got to know it was a monthly subscription through the comments below. How can I cancel the monthly subscription?
Hi - If you purchased today, it is NOT a monthly subscription. I moved the course and sheet from Patreon to Gumroad. If you purchased on Gumroad, it is a one time purchase :)
Would yall say is worth buying the Kaplan materials? I feel like its the same info that cfa provides when you register for the exam... any feedback is greatly appreciated!! I didnt pass lvl 1 and this will definitely be a game changer!! Thank you so much Brandon for taking the time to share this with us
Hopefully, some others will comment and give their opinion as well, but I tried using CFA materials and Kaplan's materials, and Kaplan worked better for me for two reasons.
1) Kaplan's material was more concise and more digestible to read and take notes on. I found that the CFAI material was lengthy. This made it harder to learn from and more intimidating to learn from
2) Kaplan's QBank (bank of practice questions) interface was easy to use. I was able to easily build mini-quizzes and review my answers with the explanation that each question has attached to it
@bhill-biznessprofessionals I agree, the amount of material included was very overwhelming at times:/
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check out Kaplan.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals What do you think of Mark Meldrum's notes? Would you say Kaplan or MM notes are better?
@@dibthedave Unfortunately, I can't comment. I have never used Mark Meldrum's notes. I watched his youtube videos for general CFA content/advice, but I have never viewed his actual notes or materials
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Oh okay, considering I tend to rely more on notes rather than videos, I think I’ll go forward with Kaplan then.
Also, I’m going to be giving Level 1 in February 2025 so will there be any changes made to your excel sheet for 2025 or would you recommend buying it now? I haven’t properly gone through whether there will be any changes in the course plan of Level 1 in 2025 and your sheet is currently for 2024 I believe, so I just wanted to check
Hello! I recently purchased your revision spreadsheet and have a question about balancing new lessons and revising old sections. Specifically, I'm curious about your approach when studying two new sections, 29.1 and 30.1, while also needing to review older sections such as 12.1, 12.3, and 14.1 within the same day. It seems like the revision workload could become quite substantial as you add new lessons. How do you efficiently manage this? Do you focus on reviewing specific areas within those sections that you find challenging, or do you quickly go over Anki and Qbanks? I'm eager to find an effective strategy, and your insights would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your help! :)
Hi, yes the workload can become quite large at some points throughout your studying journey. Sometimes you will have to review numerous lessons in one day, while still studying 2 new ones per day.
The first thing that alleviates this workload is the mastery of a module. As you review modules and begin to rank them as 8, 9, and 10, you will start to see them scheduled less and less for review sessions.
Secondly, most of the time when I reviewed a lesson, I quickly went through my flashcards and worked on about 5 practice questions for that specific lesson. Sometimes, going through my flashcards to review for a lesson would take 2-5 minutes. You'll become quite fast as you master the concepts.
So, if your review sessions are taking 1 hour for a single lesson, that is too long of a review. It shouldn't take that long unless you truly don't understand something. If you don't understand, take your time to learn. But if you are reviewing material that you have learned, but are trying to memorize, then memorize through a quick review of the flashcards and move on.
Hey possible I get that spreadsheet for free? I’m not taking the CFA yet due to financial constraints.
Hi, is the notion template for level 2 updated for 2023 changes? LOS changed to learning modules, thanks
Hi Brandon
Thank you for the content . Regarding the CFA Revision Spreadsheet, I am ambiguous about the process of entering dates in .. Can you clarify it.
Hi Hassan - You simply enter the date that you first studied a lesson. Then you rate your study session from 1-10. Based on that 1-10 rating, the spreadsheet will automatically calculate the next date you have to review that lesson.
For example, if I first studied lesson 3.2 on June 21st, I would enter 6/21 on the spreadsheet. If I graded myself a 4 out of 10, the spreadsheet would schedule me to review lesson 3.2 on 6/25
Hi, I'm not able to purchase the spreadsheet file through your website. there's no check out button.
Hi Brandon, Can you upload your Anki Flashcard? Thank you so much.
Hi Brandon. Can you tell me which template you used for taking notes on Notion?
Hi, I created my own template. I also sell my notes template for an affordable price at this link. bhillbiz.podia.com/cfa-notion-template
Hi Brandon! Does the spreadsheet only work if you're using Kaplan or would it still be useful for someone using another prep provider?
Hi Jude - It is built to be used with Kaplan because they divide the 60 Readings into smaller Modules, but it can be used for any provider. Nothing about the spreadsheet is locked. It is fully editable!
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Thanks Brandon! I just placed my order & I can't wait to start using it!
I bought the study material package! Do you sell the Anki flash card deck you used to study?
Hey Garrhett, that's awesome. Thanks. No, I do not sell the flashcard deck.
🙌🏼🙌🏼
Hi Brandon, thanks very much for this video. I am still trying to decide whether to commit to taking the CFA. As an over 45 year old who has not been at uni for over 20 yrs and not done maths for longer it is quite overwhelming. On the maths side of things, is it worth me doing a maths course before even attempting the CFA? Any recommendations? Dont want to invest in your course and kaplan and the CFA exam to find I am stumped at on the maths side. Cheers
Hey Gary! I appreciate you reaching out. I don't think a math course is necessary. None of the math on the CFA level 1 exam is particularly advanced. And the math concepts you do need to know, you will pick up through Kaplan's textbook material or through the explanations to the answers to the practice questions in Kaplan's QBank (bank of all practice questions).
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Awesome, thanks for prompt reply
I still don’t understand how is the evaluation… from the 240 questions how many do you have to get for passing? Sorry for the question
Hey brandon! Let me ask you, what exactly you did when you were reviewing a topic for the 2nd, 3rd...time? I mean, did you do exercises, read/watch the theory...I did not get this point during the video! Tks so much for the content!
Hey Matheus, when I'd review, I'd study my flashcards for a topic and also run through practice questions for the topic. With Kaplan, I would generate mini quizzes to test myself. During my review, if there was something I came across that I didn't understand, I would refer to my notes, the textbook material, or the video lectures.
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals Got it! And while you were studying the content for the first time, Did you prefer to go through the video lectures or the kaplan’s textbook?
@Matheus Personally, I prefer going through textbooks rather than watching the lectures. I learn better through text and I can read a lot faster than Kaplan's teachers can talk.
Can you make video of how to make such schedule
Hy brandon, I really find your video usefull, i am gona buy the spreadsheet, but need some tips,
1 , we have flash cards and almost 3000 questions on cfa Eco system whats your recommendation about using them?
Register for 2024 May.
Are you referring to the CFAI materials? I personally didn't use the flashcards they offered. As for the questions, I only used the CFAI questions for Ethics. I mainly useds Kaplan's practice questions because the user experience was better for me
Brandon, I'm not able to pay for the spreadsheet as I'm in India. Can you help me get it please?
Can you please release those flash cards
Hi Brandon, thank you so much for your insights! Do you think going through CFAI reading material is critical in addition to Mark Meldum video & notes? Do you think Kaplan Schweser's notes instead of CFAI material are a good bet since it is concise? I intend to subscribe to Mark's videos, do CFAI qbank, blue box, EOCQ & mock tests.
Thank you so much
Gaurav - Level 1
Hi Gaurav - I did not use any of Mark Meldrum's materials, so I can't give you an opinion on that. I only used Kaplan's and that is what I recommend. I tried using CFAI's reading material, but I found Kaplan's to be more concise as you said, and more digestible.
@bhill-biznessprofessionals Sure, thanks for your revert. Really appreciate your input. Best.
Hey Brandon, been using your template for a while now for August - I am wondering what did you do when some days you had over 5 flashcards sets to review? I've been getting 6 and even 7 in some days and I find it hindering the amount of time I could be learning the new material, how would you recommend to work around?
If you are struggling with 5 flashcard sets, your flashcards may be too complex, or you are spending too much time on your flashcards due to understanding. Your flashcards should be for reviewing, not for learning for the first time.
This could be why it's taking so long to get through your flashcards. You could go back to review your original notes to develop understanding first. Then your flashcards will be a review.
Often, I was spending seconds on each flashcard. And I would sometimes have up to 20 sets per day to review. You need to be able to move through flashcards quickly to do that volume obviously.
As you start to rank more lessons 9 or 10, this will alleviate how many flashcard decks you could potentially review per day, since the study sessions are spaced out further.
But somedays are just brutal with the scheduling as the due dates for lessons pile up on one day in particular. For these days, you could lesson the load by studying a few lessons a day or two later, if that day has a light load
@@bhill-biznessprofessionals thank you. I believe its just my cards are too complex. would you recommend to maybe just make the anki card purely just vocab review, like those bolded terms in the kaplan curriculum?
@@specterwo1f746 Vocab review probably won't be enough. You'll need a mix of concepts, vocab, and formulas on your flashcards. Whatever is useful for you
Hi Brandon! I am planning to pass CFA 1 in May 2024. There's also basic package of Kaplan. I wanted to purchase the cheapest one. after your video I'm thinking to buy an essential package. WHat would you suggest?
Hi Balnur - Does the basic package come with the Kaplan textbooks? I'm looking online and it doesn't look like basic comes with the textbook material (but maybe I'm misinterpreting the website). If what I saw is true, I would personally go with the essentials package because of the textbook material. Personally, I found Kaplan's textbook material to be more concise and digestible. Plus, the digital textbooks were essential for me to create my notion notes and Anki flashcards because I was able to copy and paste text into my notes and I was able to take screenshots of certain things in the textbook material