CFA Level 1 Dec 2010 - Exam Day Experience

I have chilled out for 10 days now. Just forgot all about it, stowed away my books and calci, read a number of Mills and Boon, caught up in Mafia Wars and Farmville. Now is the time to relate my exam day experience I guess.

My centre was Sunway Lagoon Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur. i arrived nearabout 8 am to find the lobby more or less packed. Stowed away my study notes and surveyed all. It looked to me there were a lot of young people. 21-22 year olds made up almost 90% of the examinees would be my guess. There were around 550 people appearing at that center. i actually counted the tables ;-) - but I forget the exact number.

These are some of my observations, most contrary to what i had expected

• Hardly a dozen seats went empty in the hall - ie very few no-shows
• Majority of examinees looked to be just graduates...very very young
• I have been reading at some forums that many of the young people didnt have focus. However all around me could only see serious determined faces. The study notes got put away at the last moment!

Now coming to the exams - my hopes hang by a slender thread - ie if any hope is there this time! I was pretty happy after the first session. However a glance at the second session's paper told me I was in big trouble!

Timewise the papers were not at all a problem. i guessed I could have finished both sessions 30 mins early if I had not dawdled quite a bit towards the end.

After Exams feelings

Like I said before I was around 100hrs short of preparation

Forming a study group or being part of one would have been good. Any takers for June 2011?

Quants killed me. So they get more attention next time

Most irritating After Exam experience is that Analyst Notes has killed my account! Cant even participate in forums unless I re-register for the next session exams! Isnt that bl##dy unfair? I really had not idea that that is how there system worked!

And finally - is there any point giving the CFA???

Please join in and comment if you find this blog through the SE!

CFA Level 1 - Tips Before the Exam

Just less than 24 hours remain before the CFA Level 1 Exam. So how does one prepare the day before the exam?

CFA Exam is by far the toughest exam I have prepared for. The volume and diversity of the study material ensures that only the brave, motivated or desperate venture into it.

So what should one do the day before the exams?

Remember the stakes? The stakes include a waste of 200 odd hours of effort, high cost of re-examination, opportunity cost of spending time reading for the exams all over again, doubtful motivation level - if you have to appear for the exams all over again!

So is desperation and pulling your hair out the answer to pre-exam preparation?
No way!

Here is a small list I have made to do today

• Sharpen my pencils
• Keep my admit card and passport in place
• Check my Texas BA II Plus
• Collect the eraser and sharpener from my children
• Re-check the destination (exam center) and the route to it
• Dont think about what will happen if I dont pass. For me the stakes are even higher. Age... only 5-7 % of candidates are above 35 years!
• Sleep at least 8-9 hours the night before
• Be positive
• Remember there is no negative marking. Only judiciousness, commonsense and a nice reading of the questions will enable one to answer a third of the questions.
• Do a bit of meditation in the morning. It should help me through a long 8-9 hours exam schedule
• Glance at the CFA formula sheet for two hours or so. Go over the strengths. I plan to ignore my weak points. Not enough time to cry over spilt milk.

I have the feeling that my efforts have been 100 hours short. Well, there is always the next time!

So All the Best for tomorrow!