CFA Montreal | CFA Charter and Program (2024)

FAQs

How many questions do you need to get right to pass the CFA? ›

The exam is composed of 90 questions in the first session and 90 questions in the second session. To pass this exam, aim for correctly answering at least 75% of the questions. That means you need to correctly answer at least 180(0.75) = 135 questions total, or about 68 questions in each session.

The CFA curriculum is comprehensive and covers the topics adequately. The CFA Institute® Candidate Survey reports that the most commonly used study material was the CFA Institute curriculum (75%). That makes sense since the CFA Institute includes these materials when a candidate registers for the exam.

If you're aiming to work in roles such as financial analysts, portfolio managers, or investment bankers, the CFA designation can be a valuable asset. However, if you want to pursue careers in other areas of finance, an alternative certification or qualification may be more relevant.

Many CFA charterholders consider the Level 3 CFA Exam the most difficult because of the time and thought needed to answer the constructed responses successfully. While the typical Level 3 CFA Exam pass rates are the highest of the CFA Exams, only around 56% of CFA candidates pass the exam.

To pass CFA Level I, you probably need to target 70% in as many topics as possible... In other words, you don't have to get more than 70% in everything to pass. Some say you can get as low as 65%, or even 63%. You don't even need to get more than 51% in everything to pass.

Passing Scores

Candidates must get a minimum passing score (MPS) of 70% on the multiple-choice questions on the CFA Level I exam, a minimum score of 65% to 70% on the multiple-choice questions on the CFA Level II exam, and a minimum passing score (MPS) of 60% on the multiple-choice questions on the CFA Level III exam.

No, studying for any CFA exam in less than 6 months will not give you enough time to adequately prepare unless you have a relevant background in the curriculum. According to CFA Institute, candidates study on average 348 hours for the Level I exam, 364 hours for the Level II exam, and 365 hours for the Level III exam.

Very few candidates pass all three CFA exams on their first attempt. CFA Institute estimates it takes the average successful candidate four years to complete the CFA Program. So failing one level, if not two, makes you an average candidate.

Based on historical pass rates, the hardest topics for the CFA Level I exam are: Financial Reporting and Analysis: This topic has consistently been one of the most challenging for candidates, with a historical pass rate of around 45-55%.

According to one Canadian survey, CFA charter holders earned an average of $280,454 in 2014 compared to a $239,215 average in 2011. The average income jumped a little over $41K in three years—that's the kind of growth to be expected with a CFA certification.

Is CFA harder than CPA? ›

CFA vs CPA Exam difficulty

Both are challenging and require gaining skills and knowledge in complex topics. However, the CPA Exam generally requires less studying - around 80 to 120 hours per section compared to 300 hours per section of the CFA Exam, and the CPA Exam also has a higher pass rate.

While there is no question that the curriculum and the process is rigorous and demanding, in the last couple of decades, much of the profession's investment process is drifting away from the CFA curriculum's approach of traditional analysis and portfolio management and the overall demand from the industry is declining ...

Scoring high enough on the MCAT to gain admission to a U.S. medical school (MD program not DO) is more difficult than passing the CFA. For some candidates not schooled in finance, passing the CFA could be more difficult than a respectable MCAT score.

With a pass rate of less than 11% for all three levels, the CFA passage rate is lower than most state bar exams. Virtually everyone who has taken all three exam levels will tell you it is one of the most time intensive and difficult exams they have ever sat for.

Career aspirations: While there is certainly overlap in how business school graduates and charterholders apply their expertise, MBA programs are generally ideal for professionals who want to pursue management positions in any industry. A CFA designation suits professionals dedicated to working in the finance industry.

Focus on What You Can Accomplish

There are a total of 88 questions in the CFA Level II exam: 44 questions in the first session and 44 questions in the second session. To pass this exam, aim to answer at least 75% of these questions correctly.

Understand the Middle Ground: The majority of candidates fall within the range of 2000 to 5000 questions. This indicates that a moderate amount of practice questions is common and might be effective for many candidates. Action: Aim for a balanced approach with around 3000 to 4000 practice questions.

If you can be 100% sure of the answers to half of the questions, and correctly guess at a 50% rate for the other half, you've just passed the exam!

The Level I exam consists of 180 multiple choice questions, split between two 135-minute sessions (session times are approximate). There is an optional break between sessions.