(e.g., an engineer or liberal arts graduate), Kaplan is dangerous if used alone. This candidate will memorize the answers to the Q-Bank without understanding the underlying economic principles. When the exam rephrases a question or changes a variable, they will fail. This candidate must use the CFA curriculum’s examples and end-of-chapter questions as their anchor, using Kaplan only as a review tool.
The official CFA curriculum is famously dense, spanning thousands of pages across six volumes. Kaplan’s primary value proposition is . They take the complex Learning Outcome Statements (LOS) and translate them into digestible, exam-focused content. 1. The SchweserNotes™ cfa kaplan level 1
Kaplan’s weakness, therefore, is not in what it teaches, but in what it assumes. It assumes the candidate has a prior background in finance or accounting. If a candidate does not understand the time value of money intuitively, Kaplan’s shortcut tables for annuity factors will mask a fatal ignorance that will plague them through Level III. This candidate must use the CFA curriculum’s examples
A deeper analysis reveals that Kaplan’s approach is philosophically aligned with the reality of Level I, even if it contradicts the idealism of the CFA Institute. The Institute claims to test "real-world" skills, but Level I tests FRA (Financial Reporting & Analysis) with a rigidity that resembles a CPA exam, not an investment management decision. They take the complex Learning Outcome Statements (LOS)
These topics make or break your exam.
The CFA Level 1 program is the first step in the CFA program, and it covers a broad range of topics related to finance and investment. The program is designed to introduce candidates to the fundamental concepts of finance, including financial statement analysis, time value of money, and portfolio management. The Level 1 curriculum consists of 10 subjects, including:
Kaplan Schweser's CFA Level 1 program is designed to help candidates prepare for the Level 1 exam in a structured and efficient manner. Some of the key features of the program include: