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CFA Level 3 Exam Pattern 2024 - Duration, Question Format, Passing Score

CFA Level 3 Exam Pattern 2024 - Duration, Question Format, Passing Score

Edited By Sumeet Sudarshan | Updated on Dec 22, 2023 11:31 AM IST | #CFA Exam

The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute provides details related to the CFA Level 3 exam pattern on its official website - cfainstitute.org. The exam pattern of CFA Level 3 guides candidates on major exam details such as how the exam will be conducted, cfa level 3 number of questions, the overall time duration of CFA Level 3 exam, marking scheme etc.

By knowing these details, candidates can devise a proper preparation strategy and score good marks. CFA Level 3 exam for the February 2024 session will be held from February 15-18, 2024. The CFA level 3 format has undergone a few changes beginning from the February session. As per the CFA level 3 new format, item sets and constructed response (essay) sets will be mixed within each of the two exam sessions, so each session will have either 6 item sets and 5 essay sets or 5 item sets and 6 essay sets. Previously, the first session was all essay sets and the second session was all item sets. Overall, there will not be much change in CFA level 3 paper pattern: 11 essay sets and 11 item sets, for 12 points each.

Related: Take a look at the CFA Level 3 exam date 2024 before starting your preparation for the upcoming CFA Level 3 exam.

CFA® Level 3 Exam Pattern 2024 - Overview

Before commencing their preparation, candidates should check the CFA Level 3 exam pattern.

Exam Pattern of CFA Level 3 2024

Particulars
Details

Frequency of the exam

Twice - February and August

Question format

  • Vignette supported Essay questions

  • VIgnettes followed by MCQs

CFA® Level 3 exam duration

4 hours and 24 minutes

Sessions (2)

2 hours and 12 minutes (each)

Medium of exam

English

Marking scheme

Each question is worth 3 points

CFA® Level 3 Exam Pattern 2024

Along with the CFA Level 3 exam pattern 2024 on its official website, CFA Institute also provides tips on how to prepare for the exam and CFA level 3 exam format. As per the paper pattern, the CFA Level 3 exam exam duration is 4 hours and 24 minutes. This CFA level 3 duration will be further divided into two equal settings as shown in the table below.

Note- To qualify for the CFA® Level 3 exam, it is mandatory to appear in both sittings as the CFA Level 3 result 2024 will be based on both sessions.

CFA Level 3 exam schedule for both sessions

Sitting

Time Duration

No. of Questions

Morning

2 hours, 12 minutes

  • The first session will be vignette-supported essay sets that have items with three different methods of entering a response: essay, numerical entry, and multiple choice.
  • A multiple-choice question format may occasionally be used in the essay portion of the exam and it is possible that there may be more or less than 3 answer choices.
  • Essay set vignettes will begin with a statement of the topic and total point value

Afternoon

2 hours, 12 minutes

  • The second session of the CFA Level III exam is comprised of 44 multiple-choice items, each worth 3 points. Each item set on the CFA exam consists of a vignette followed by 4 multiple-choice questions.
  • Item set vignettes will begin with a statement of the topic and total point value.
  • Each item set will have four multiple-choice items in the set and each one is worth 3 points

Total

4 hours and 24 minutes

  • Essay questions
  • Multiple choice questions

CFA Level 3 Essay Questions 2024

As mentioned above, candidates have to solve vignette-supported essay questions in the CFA level 3 exam. Hence, understanding the core concepts of solving the questions is very important. Each essay question consists of two or more related items. There are mainly 2 categories of CFA® level 3 essay questions 2024 - word based responses and calculation-based responses. Candidates have to answer the questions in a concise manner.

CFA® Level 3 Sample Papers 2024

The CFA Institute also releases sample papers to help candidates in their preparation. The sample papers act as a guide and provide pre-hand knowledge on how the exam day questions will be. By going through the CFA level 3 sample papers, candidates can easily understand the exam pattern in a better manner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the mode of CFA Level 3 exam?

As per the exam pattern, all CFA exams will be conducted in computer based mode only.

2. Will there be any changes in the CFA Level 3 exam fee due to changes in the exam pattern?

No, exam fee of CFA Level 3 will not change.

3. What is the time duration of CFA Level 3 exam?

The overall time duration of the CFA Level 3 exam will be 4 hours 24 minutes. This will be divided into two equal halves of 2.12 hrs each.

4. What type of questions will be asked in CFA level 3 exam?

As per the paper pattern, candidates have to solve vignette supported - Easy questions or Multiple choice questions only.

5. How long is CFA level 3 exam?

The overall CFA level 3 exam duration is 4 hours and 24 minutes.

6. Is CFA level 3 multiple choice based exam?

No, the CFA level 3 exam will have both essay-type and multiple-choice-type questions. 

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