CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 - Mode, Passing Score, Weightage, Syllabus
CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021: The Chartered Financial Analyst® Institute has displayed the CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 for the new computer-based examination on its official website. Candidates aspiring for the CFA® level 1 Feb 2021 exam can refer to the CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 to understand the changes in the system. There have been significant changes in the duration of the exam and number of questions asked while the curriculum will remain the same. CFA® Institute has changed the format of the exam to complete computer-based testing. As per the Level 1 Exam pattern 2021, the exam will be conducted in two sessions of 2.25-hour each. Each session will have 90 questions. The candidates can also refer to the CFA® level 1 2021 exam dates and register for the exam which will be conducted in four sitting sessions starting from CFA® level 1 Feb 2021. Check out the complete article on CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 to understand other important aspects of the exam in detail.
CFA® Level 1 Exam 2021 Overview
CFA® level 1 Feb 2021 registration will begin on 16 June 2020. While the CFA® level 1 fee for registration will remain the same, there will be some changes in the CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021. An overview of the exam pattern is given below.
Name of the exam | Chartered Financial Analyst® (Level 1) exam |
Frequency of the exam | Four times in a year (Feb, May, August, November) |
Exam level | Postgraduate |
Medium of exam | English |
Mode of exam | Online (Computer Based) |
Number of sessions | 2 (2.25 hours for each session) |
Type of Questions | Multiple Choice |
CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021: The CFA® Institute has already given information on the CFA® level 1 2021 dates along with the preparation tricks for this computer-based exam. The information on the website includes the new schedule to be followed for the exam, the change in the number of questions, the change in exam duration and how the marking scheme will be used. The candidates are advised to go through the CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern thoroughly as this will help them score better in their exam and plan their studies. The exam Level 1 2020 will be different from the CFA® level 1 exam date 2020. The changes in exam pattern and other important aspects of CFA® Level 1 exam has been given below:
CFA® Level 1 2021 Exam Pattern
Mode of exam | Computer-Based |
Medium of exam | English |
Type of questions | Objective |
Number of questions | 180 (90 in each session) |
Marking scheme | No negative marking |
Exam Schedule for both sessions
One major change introduced by the CFA® Institute starting from the first exam on CFA® level 1 Feb 2021 is the duration of the examination. The sessions will be conducted as follows:
Sitting | Time Duration |
Morning | 2.25 hours |
Afternoon | 2.25 hours |
Total | 4.5 hours (attending both sittings is compulsory) |
Topics Wise Weightage of CFA® Level 1 Exam:
CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 has not changed much in terms of curriculum and topic-wise weightage due to the Covid19 situation. The 10 core topic areas and their weightage range is given below:
Topic | Exam Weight |
Ethical and Professional Standards | 15-20% |
Quantitative Methods | 8-12% |
Economics | 8-12% |
Financial Reporting and Analysis | 13-17% |
Corporate finance | 8-12% |
Equity Investments | 10-12% |
Fixed Income | 10-12% |
Derivatives | 5-8% |
Alternative Investments | 5-8% |
Portfolio Management | 5-8% |
CFA® Level 1 Syllabus
One more thing is important for the CFA® aspirants apart from the CFA® Level 1 exam pattern. It is always good to have a pre-hand knowledge of the topics and concepts that the exam is going to cover. The CFA® Level 1 syllabus also helps the candidates to find
appropriate study material and give their mock exams. The CFA® Level 1 syllabus is available through the official CFA®Institute website. Candidates should also refer to the topic-wise weightage and devote appropriate time to each topic as per its importance.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - CFA® Level 1 Exam Pattern 2021 - Mode, Passing Score, Weightage, Syllabus
Question: Will the last paper-based exam be conducted in December 2020?
Answer:
Yes, from February 2021, all exams will be computer-based. The candidates can give the exam twice in a year in a gap of 6 months.
Question: Are there any plans to change the pattern of the Level 2 and 3 exams to CBT as well?
Answer:
Yes, as per an announcement dated 3rd August 2020, CFA institute has announced that Level 3 and Level 2 exams will also be computer-based 2021 onwards.
Question: Will the exam fee be reduced for the new model of testing?
Answer:
No, the examination fee will remain unchanged.
Question: Will the results be announced quickly for the new format of testing?
Answer:
Yes, the candidates can expect to get their results more quickly due to the new examination format.
Question: Can I skip questions in the exam and attempt them later?
Answer:
Yes, this will be allowed in the new format.
Question: What will be the new test locations of CFA level 1 computer-based exam?
Answer:
The new test centres will be announced by the institute during the registration process.
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