The one number that all candidates know is 300. CFA Institute publishes this number as a guideline for how many hours a candidate needs to prepare to pass the exam. Forums and review providers and coaches pass on this number as a foundation to planning for success.
But candidates have much going on in life beyond their study hours. Those hours can be scheduled by-the-numbers as well to increase chances of success.
(Been studying already? Get your Ready Score 30-second survey. )
Day by Day, Step by Step
In 3 months you have 2,208 hours of life. You have to eat and sleep. You have responsibilities to spend time for your employer, family, and friends. Many candidates also have leadership responsibilities to Boards or teaching or coaching Little League. You find some time for recreation and entertainment.
Out of that already-full life, you have to carve out a hard-edged 300 hours (minimum) of intense study and serious review. The study hours demand your focus and attention; the study is physically and mentally exhausting.
And that fact means that how you plan those remaining 1,908 hours impact on how well you can study. Sleeping 8 good hours a night, eating clean and healthy, spending time with family, and exercising all add up to improved chances of passing. Why? Because a healthy, well rested candidate will make more of each hour of study. A junk-food stuffed, over caffeinated, and hung over candidate will not necessarily fail the exam. But this latter state of being means it will take many more hours to learn and master the same amount of material.
A Quick Review for You
Would you like to have these facts next to your study materials? Download the infographic, print it out, and put next to your study plan. Add in even a few of these steps to your plan and goals and habits and bit by bit your prep gets better and you increase your chances to pass.
The one number that all candidates know is 300. CFAInstitute publishes this number as a guideline for how many hours a candidateneeds to prepare to pass the exam. Forums and review providers and coaches passon this number as a foundation to planning for success.
But candidates have much going on in life beyond their studyhours. Those hours can be scheduled by-the-numbers as well to increase chancesof success.
Day by Day, Step by Step
In 3 months you have 2,208 hours of life. You have to eatand sleep. You have responsibilities to spend time for your employer, family,and friends. Many candidates also have leadership responsibilities to Boards orteaching or coaching Little League. You find some time for recreation andentertainment.
Out of that already-full life, you have to carve out a hard-edged300 hours (minimum) of intense study and serious review. The study hours demandyour focus and attention; the study is physically and mentally exhausting.
And that fact means that how you plan those remaining 1,908hours impact on how well you can study. Sleeping 8 good hours a night, eatingclean and healthy, spending time with family, and exercising all add up toimproved chances of passing. Why? Because a healthy, well rested candidate willmake more of each hour of study. A junk-food stuffed, over caffeinated, andhung over candidate will not necessarily fail the exam. But this latter stateof being means it will take many more hours to learn and master the same amountof material.
A Quick Review for You
Would you like to have these facts next to your study materials? Download the infographic, print it out, and put next to your study plan.
Been studying already? (Want to know how effective your current study approach is? Take a 2-minute survey and get your score.)
Add in even a few of these steps to your plan and goals and habits and bit by bit your prep gets better and you increase your chances to pass.
(Want to know how effective your current study approach is? Take a 2-minute survey and get your score.)
(Candidates who study together pass together. Try our free matching service to find your passing partner.)
