CFA Level 1 Exam Pattern 2023 - Mode, Weightage, Passing Score
CFA Level 1 Exam Pattern 2023 - The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute prescribes the CFA level 1 exam pattern on its official website. Aspirants preparing for the exam must also know the official examination dates for CFA level 1 exam 2023. The CFA level 1 2023 exam dates for February 2023 session are February 14 to 20, 2023. . Candidates preparing for CFA level 1 exam should carefully look into the exam pattern and devise their study plan accordingly. Details such as mode of exam, number and type of questions asked, time duration of CFA level 1 exam, marking scheme and related are mentioned under the exam pattern of CFA level 1.
Related: Check CFA level 1 exam date 2023 and register for the upcoming sessions.
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In recent times, significant changes related to the exam duration, number of questions asked in the exam pattern of CFA exams have been introduced by The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute. Read this article to understand the basic details concerning what pattern to adapt while preparing for the CFA level 1 exam.
Overview of CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2023
Those candidates who are registered for the CFA® Level 1 exam for February and May session can check the given table to have a better understanding of the CFA exam pattern 2023. Whereas, candidates who want to register for exam can fill the CFA level 1 application form for May 2023 session till January 31, 2023.
Exam Pattern of CFA level 1
Particulars | Details |
Frequency of the exam | Four times - February, May, August, and November |
Exam level | Post graduate |
Question format | Multiple choice questions |
No. of questions asked | Total 180 MCQs
|
Time duration of CFA® Level 1 exam | Total 4.5 hours |
Sessions | Split into two sessions - each of 2 hours, 15 minutes |
Medium of exam | English |
Marking scheme | No negative markings |
CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2023
As mentioned above, The CFA Institute has already given details related to the CFA level 1 exam pattern on its official website. Along with it, preparatory tips and tricks are also available on the website. The total appointment time is 5.5 hours; whereas the overall time duration of the CFA level 1 exam is 4.5 hours. Candidates have to give the CFA® Level 1 exam in two sitting as shown in the table below. It is mandatory for candidates to appear in both sittings to receive the CFA level 1 result 2023.
CFA level 1 exam schedule for both sessions
Sitting | Time Duration | No. of Questions | Topics Included |
Morning | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 90 Multiple choice questions |
|
Afternoon | 2 hours, 15 minutes | 90 Multiple choice questions |
|
Total | 4.5 hours | 180 Multiple choice questions | - |
Total CFA level 1 Exam Length
30 minutes time allotted to pledge, tutorial, as well as survey
135 minutes for session 1 as mentioned in the above table
30 minutes for optional break
135 minutes for session 2 as mentioned in the above table
Total testing time is 4.5 hours
Total appointment time is 5.5 hours
Candidates preparing for the CFA level 1 exam can also refer to the previous year CFA level 1 question papers and study material to have better understanding of the paper pattern.
Topics Wise Weightage of CFA® Level 1 Exam
Even though the candidates have witnessed number of changes in the CFA level 1 exam pattern due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the institute has not made any changes in curriculum and topic-wise weightage. The CFA® Level 1 exam covers the following 10 areas.
CFA level 1 exam weightage
Topics | Weight % |
Ethical and Professional Standards | 15-20% |
Financial Reporting and Analysis | 13-17% |
Equity Investments | 10-12% |
Fixed Income | 10-12% |
Corporate Finance | 8-12% |
Quantitative Methods | 8-12% |
Economics | 8-12% |
Portfolio Management | 5-8% |
Derivatives | 5-8% |
Alternative Investments | 5-8% |
CFA Level 1 Subjects 2023
Along with the knowledge of the paper pattern, it is vital for candidates to carefully look into the topics and subtopics included in the CFA level 1 exam 2023. Complete information related to the topics, subtopics and concepts covered in the paper are provided under the subjects of CFA institute on its official website. By having an insight of the syllabus, candidates can prepare for the exam and devise their preparation strategy accordingly.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - CFA Level 1 Exam Pattern 2023 - Mode, Weightage, Passing Score
Question: What is the time duration of CFA level 1 exam?
Answer:
The overall time duration of the CFA level 1 exam is 4.5 hours. Candidates have to give the CFA® Level 1 exam in two sittings of 2.15 hrs each. There will also be an optional break of 30 minutes between both sessions.
Question: Will there be any changes in the CFA level 1 exam fee due to changes in paper pattern?
Answer:
No, there is no changes in the CFA level 1 exam fee due to changes in exam pattern.
Question: How many times in a year can I appear in CFA level 1 exam?
Answer:
You can give the CFA level 1 exam twice in a year in a gap of 6 months.
Question: What is the mode of CFA level 1 exam?
Answer:
Since February 2021, all CFA exams are being conducted in computer based mode.
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Questions related to CFA Exam
how to clear CFA exam in first attempt
Hi,
Try preparing smartly and efficiently.
- Be very disciplined with your study schedule. The output is more when you give 2 hours daily for 7 days then 14 hours on only weekends (generally).
- Study with the sense of doing questions and clearing exams. It will help you to clear L1 but may prove harmful for L2 as it demands deep inter-topic clarity.
Just a tip, in case you have less time and you are good to grasp new concepts - try preparing from Schwezer Notes and Videos for Level 1. But for Level 2 and 3 you have to put in the required efforts.
It is not difficult to crack CFA Level 1 without coaching. You just go through the curriculum topics one by one and do practice a lot of questions. Also in case you do not have much time, you can go through Schwezer notes for Level 1 through and practice the papers on CFA website.
In case you do not understand any particular subject, there are coachings available for particular subjects. You can opt for that rather than going for all the subjects. Plus there are video lectures available which help a lot.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
CFA exam curriculum book 2020 for level 1 is showing on the website of career360 but when I click on that its showing unavailable . Will you please send the link from which I could download the pdf version of CFA book for level 1 2020
Sorry to say but we now don't have that collection,you would be talking about this links given in this (https://finance.careers360.com/articles/cfa-level-1-study-material), you might now search fee materials on google,i am providing a name(soleadea.org) i am not sure whether it is a safe site or not,get on your own risk.
Thank you ,hope it might help you
what about CFA registration and fees payment , as CFA exam is an US exam. what will have to do ??
Hello Aspirant,
As you wanted to attempt cfa examination as it is a designation that certifies competence and integrity of financial analysts as the registration can be done from march 26 to August of 2nd week and registration fee is USD 650 with discount and it is fee for the level 1 and level two will be in December so work for it and get good certification and it can be done from online also for USD 450 so study well and work hard to get good marks and ALL THE BEST for your future and i think my suggestions and knowledge may be helpful to u.
I need to know about cfa part 1 exam details such as fees, registration date, syllabus,exam date, exam pattern,etc.
The Level1 CFA exam is conducted in two sessions each 3 hours long. It consists of 240 multiple choice questions in two sessions of 120 questions each.
When you register for the Level 1 CFA exam you will pay a one time enrollment fee of $450 USD.
Then you will have to pay an additional registration fee to sit for the exam at each of the three levels.
Depending on when you register, you can pay anywhere from $1950 to $4140 USD total to take all three levels assuming that you pass each exam the first time.
Add the $450 USD enrollment fee, and the total CFA exam fees range from $2440 to $4950 USD.
The CFA level 1 syllabus focuses on the basic knowledge of 10 topic areas and simple analysis using investment tools.
Based on the percentage of marks distributed there are 6 most important topics that you have to focus on.
- Financial reporting Analysis
- Ethics and professional standards.
- Quantative Analysis
- Equity Investment
- Economics
Cfa exam centre name in pune and mumbai
Hello Sumit,
CFA exam centres are only in 7 cities in India and Pune is not one of them, however, Mumbai has centre for this exam.
In Mumbai, the exam centre is Thakur college in Kandivali east.
Sometimes when the candidates are too many, the other centres may be Nesco Goregaon and also somewhere in Worli.
You can find these locations on the maps.
Hope this helps.