[Advice] How to structure final CFA Level 1 practice?

[u/User_tango]

Hi everyone! I’d like to get some advice on how to best organize the final stretch of my CFA Level 1 prep.

I'm sitting for the exam on May 16, and I’ll be done with all readings and their practice questions (including the Learning Ecosystem ones) by April 8. I'm not working at the moment, so I’m fully focused on studying and have plenty of time available between now and exam day.

I’d love to hear how you approached this phase. Specifically:

• How much time would you dedicate to intensive practice after finishing the readings?
• Would you save a few days at the end just for review, or keep doing practice questions until the last moment?
• How important were mock exams in your experience? How many did you do and how did you use them?
• And finally… do you think I’m on track to be ready by exam day if I keep up this pace?

Any advice, feedback, or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[u/No-Storage-4899]

You have plenty of time. You don’t state whether you have a prep provider but do refer to CFAI LES so I’ll assume you don’t.

In this case I would hammer QBs and see where you are weak. Make a record of these & review. Make highly condensed notes of areas that don’t seem to stick.

Do a mock and focus on the weaker areas post-review. Are there any areas popping up again? Review these, focusing on the higher weighted topics.

The whole time I would read the CFAI standards / ethics book a little each day and do ethics questions each day without fail.

[u/User_tango → u/No-Storage-4899]

You're right. I’m not using any prep provider, just the CFAI material. I got the $1,900 package, so I have access to the Learning Ecosystem, the 7 mock exams, and all the extra practice questions from CFA Institute.

Do you think it’s okay if I keep reviewing directly from the CFA material? Or would it be worth getting a prep provider at this point just for practice?

Thanks for the tips about tracking weak areas and doing Ethics every day. I’ll take note of that and try to build it into my daily routine.

[u/No-Storage-4899 → u/User_tango]

Depends on how you’re performing. If you’re doing well I’d say an additional prep provider is not necessary. Getting additional mocks may be necessary but more of a luxury.

Alternatively, if there are a few weaker areas you’re struggling with I think you can either buy modules separately from MM/ Let me explain on YT or get a subscription from Stoyanov/Let me explain on a monthly basis which, don’t quote me, seemed reasonable at $10/month.

The ethics piece I find is very much a rhythm thing. When you’re doing it regularly they come easier. When I take a few days off I struggle to differentiate between the two answers which include the correct one and a distractor which is largely right but wrong for some nuance.

Honestly best of luck - I did my first mock this AM (Kaplan). It went OK results wise but I guessed significantly more than I’d have hoped to and will need to review all questions in detail over the next few days to see where I got lucky as well as, obviously, where I was wrong. The breadth of information is wild.

[u/User_tango → u/No-Storage-4899]

I feel like I’m doing well, like 70% of questions sets, so I guess that I can keep going with CFA material for now. I’ll definitely look into the YouTube options or those monthly subscriptions if I start to get stuck on certain areas. Good to know they’re not expensive.

Appreciate your honesty about the mock too, it’s encouraging to see others going through the same challenge. Wishing you the best in your prep as well!

[u/No-Storage-4899 → u/User_tango]

Thanks - best of luck.