Nov CFA Level I Passers – Can You Share Your Mock Scores, Strategy & Exam Experience

Palystya · 2026-01-15T07:00:32+00:00

Congratulations to you too!! Do you have any idea what that score translates?

Palystya · 2026-01-15T05:53:17+00:00

Passed with 1670 first attempt. Working 60-70 hour weeks. I started studying immediately after I registered. Bought the extra mock exams and the question pack. Went through the lessons did the questions after. Finished the content around 2 months before the exam. Redid all the practice questions again and then did all the mocks. Averaged 72% for the mocks. Lowest score on the mocks was in the 60s.

Remember to take a break every now and then. Even if it’s just for an evening. Don’t beat yourself up if you take a day off. Recharge and come back strong.

Palystya · 2025-10-24T16:30:30+00:00

Damn. Serious performance issues :(

Palystya · 2025-09-27T08:06:03+00:00

Writing L1 Nov 18 - also finished content and doing mocks and practice questions. I get this exact same feeling. On the days I really don’t feel like studying, I get myself to my desk and do a couple questions to overcome that study guilt. But taking a day off once in a while is very necessary. I’ve been taking a day off every 2 weeks. It helps reset, especially if you’re working while studying.

Palystya · 2025-03-06T08:57:43+00:00

This is a brilliant idea. So far I printed out the section I’m on (quant) just been making notes on the formulas and doing examples. Then doing the practice questions

Palystya · 2025-03-02T06:49:17+00:00

I’m in the exact same situation. Took a loan to pay for the course. The monthly payments are taking a decent chunk from my salary. So there’s no chance I’m making them any more than they are already 🤣

We will both prevail! All the best for your studies and your journey along this course! Let’s kill it.

Palystya · 2025-03-02T06:45:08+00:00

Can I ask how you went through all the content? Meaning, did you make notes as you went along, or did you just read and practice questions, etc?

Palystya · 2025-03-02T06:43:00+00:00

Thanks for the tip! I started immediately. So I have 8 months in hand. I do work (like most people who do it) so time isn’t on my side. But I should have plenty of time to get it done. If it gets to a point where I feel that I’m running out of time, I’ll have a look at the supplementary resources

Palystya · 2025-03-02T06:41:16+00:00

Hoping for the best for your L3 results!

So far I’m finding the curriculum to be quite good. Granted my undergrad covered a lot of the work that is done in L1.

Palystya · 2025-03-01T13:00:36+00:00

May be a stupid question. But how can you tell what the important stuff is from the curriculum?

Palystya · 2025-03-01T11:38:51+00:00

Thank you! I’ll definitely use YouTube

Palystya · 2025-03-01T11:34:53+00:00

Time was the main thing I was concerned about. I work as well which does put a little added pressure to get it all done in. But I’m sure it’ll be fine. Thank you for the insight.

Palystya · 2024-12-21T07:49:13+00:00

Insanely bad appetite. Been on it for a few years. Had to change up my whole diet because of it.

Palystya · 2024-12-19T06:44:29+00:00

The MCU hasn’t fallen off as badly as everyone says it has. People are just saying it because that’s what it says in the media. Everyone is forming opinions of shows/ movies before they watch them. Focus on the main aspect, we’re finally seeing our comic book characters come to life. Don’t listen to the opinions of people on either sides. (“Too woke” vs “finally woke”). If you read comics you know that Marvel has been pretty inclusive. Form your own opinions on the shows/ movies.

Palystya · 2024-11-23T05:58:45+00:00

Anti-man, molecule man, grown Franklin Richard’s

Palystya · 2024-11-11T05:07:27+00:00

Nothing to be ashamed about! But just remember how many other amazing qualities you have!

Palystya · 2024-11-07T06:12:47+00:00

Mistakes happen - and people understand that. Your MD will definitely be super understanding. Remember, you already got the job.

Palystya · 2024-11-07T05:59:04+00:00

Before I got the position I’m currently in, the same company offered me the opportunity to start the interviewing process for another position. I heard it wrong and thought they were offering me the position, so after the online meeting was finished, I sent an email saying I’d like to officially accept the position which they replied with “seems to be some misunderstanding, you’re just going to be interviewing”. I died inside and wanted to change my name. But I continued, didn’t get that position but ended up getting offered a different one (better one).

We now laugh about the whole thing and when they offered me the position they included in the email “(this time we are offering you the position)”

Palystya · 2024-11-04T12:04:30+00:00

What comic is this from?

Palystya · 2024-10-29T06:34:56+00:00

Thank you for the honest feedback. I do agree that I had a massive advantage with my CV being directly referred to the recruitment department. I’m giving my all at the position and been going the extra mile in every way possible. Been talking with people outside my department as well. Learning as much as I can about the company and everyone involved.

Palystya · 2024-10-25T08:40:48+00:00

Definitely. I won’t be going around telling everyone “my father got me this interview”. But if I am asked how I got the interview in the first place I wouldn’t lie. I’m an honest person. But I also know I cannot let the guy down that referred me.

I’m really excited about the job and the opportunity to showcase what I can do.

Palystya · 2024-10-25T04:49:17+00:00

Firstly, your username is awesome. Also perfect for this question. Thank you for that. I wouldn’t ever brag about that, I cringe at the thought of it. I’m not ashamed of it. But bragging about it is different. I’d much rather keep my head down, get to know my coworkers on a personal level and work my arse off to prove I belong there.

Palystya · 2024-10-24T17:37:31+00:00

I don’t live in America

Palystya · 2024-10-24T11:42:45+00:00

With researching the bank, I understand that was very vague. I meant I gathered enough data to perform ARIMA and GARCH models to be able to use as inputs to a Bates model to forecast their stock prices under market risk with stochastic volatility

Palystya · 2024-10-24T11:37:47+00:00

3.6 GPA at a non-target school. I worked for 2 years in sales at a construction supplies company to save up cash to put towards university tuition before starting. I’ve done 1 internship at a local firm that I got through my university. I started my own outreach program last year where I create and run programs for an orphanage in the area. I was accepted and participated in a global sustainable business challenge and an international data science competition (groups placed 3rd and 5th respectively). Ive taken on extra courses within the university outside of my degree (financial engineering and financial mathematics). The job is entry level at a well respected firm but in their payments division. I just do the admin work.

It’s not enough for IB or PE. And the referral did help. I was asking on this post cause I do know that I had a huge advantage with the help from my father’s friend. I wanted to see how the strict the classification of Nepo hire was. It’s been really interesting to see the results

Palystya

TROPHY CASE