Yes, the CFA Institute has removed the 10th and 90th percentile lines from the topic area performance charts in the CFA exam results report, starting with the 2025 administration.
Rather than 10th and 90th percentiles, the second chart shows lines for scores of 70% and 50% of available points for each topic. The Institute considers a score of 70% or higher sufficient mastery of the topic, and a.
The CFA may be down, but it's not out, financial advisors say. A total of 116,727 people sat for all three levels of the CFA exam in the first eight months of 2024, down 2,735 from the same period in 2023, according to the CFA Institute.
Average Age of CFA Candidates
Although many candidates are in their late twenties or early thirties, the Program has a wide age range. Many begin at 35, 40, or even 50. Some of the most thoughtful, determined candidates are the ones who start later. Experience is not a burden.
Is CFA Level 3 harder than CA? Well, the answer to this is CFA Level 3 harder than CA is that there is no clear-cut answer to it. Both are difficult in their own way, as CFA Level 3 focuses on portfolio management and requires strong application skills. However, CA is much more broader.
The Level II CFA exam is widely considered to be one of the most difficult professional exams. Of the three CFA exams–Level II often claims the title of the most difficult level.
3 months can be enough if you're disciplined and can actually put in 20–30 hrs a week. With a math/stats background you'll likely move faster through Quant and FI, so the key is drilling CFAI QBank, EOCs, and mocks once you cover the readings.
Difficulty Level
Some mock exams feel harder than the real CFA exam, incorporating trickier wording and more complex calculations. Others may oversimplify concepts, leading to a false sense of confidence.
A candidate in the 90th percentile performed better than 90% of other TestGorilla candidates who took the same test. This shows their relative strength compared to a broader talent pool.
The CFA Level 1 passing score is not fixed every year, but it usually stays between 65% and 70%. CFA Institute does not publish an official cut-off, but this range is considered the minimum benchmark to pass.
How hard is the CFA Level III exam? Due to the difficulty of the essay format of the CFA Level III exam, it's deemed the most challenging CFA exam to pass although it has a higher pass rate than the Level II exam.
Start Your CFA Exam Level III Prep Early
Starting early to prepare for the Level III CFA Exam means beginning to prepare six-to-nine months before your exam day, and be finished three months out from your exam date. Many successful CFA charterholders credit their study routine for their success in taking the CFA exams.
If you are currently a candidate in the CFA Program:
Include your participation in the CFA Program in the education section of your resume. (For example: “CFA® Program participant, CFA Institute.”) You may also list the levels completed. (For example: “Completed Level I in 2020.”)
On average, allocate 15-20 hours per week for CFA Level 1 preparation. Plan for a longer overall preparation period, ideally around 5-6 months.
Compared to the chartered financial analyst (CFA), a master of business administration (MBA) provides a broader study of business principles. An MBA teaches students valuable analytical and leadership skills that prepare them for opportunities across a number of sectors and careers in finance.
The simple answer here is no. Once you clear all three levels of the exam and you have obtained the CFA certification, it remains with you forever.