CFA Syllabus

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CFA Syllabus

Established in 1947 and recognised globally, the CFA Institute’s benchmark program, The Chartered Financial Analyst or the CFA course provides credentials to aspiring professionals in the field of Financial & Investment Management. Counted amongst one of the toughest exams in the world, the syllabus of the CFA program is very vast and evaluates your knowledge on various fronts like Accounting, Economics, Corporate Finance, Equity Investments, etc. Moreover, the difficulty level increases with the increase in the level. So, here is a blog that will familiarise you with the topics included in the CFA syllabus. 

Exam NameChartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
EligibilityBachelor’s degree in a relevant
discipline or experience of four years
Exam FrequencyLevel 1: Conducted  Twice in a
year [June & December]

Level 2 & 3: Conducted only once (June)
Conducting AuthorityCFA Institute
Duration1.5 – 4 years
Examination ModeComputer-Based

CFA Exam Pattern

To obtain the CFA certification, you have to clear all three levels or phases of the examination conducted by the CFA Institute. Though the number of questions varies as per the level, all the phases are of 6 hours. Furthermore, there is a specific weightage assigned to every subject at various levels of the course. Tabulated below are the important attributes of the CFA exam, number of questions, duration, and time.

ExamLevel I
Morning Session120 Questions
Afternoon Session120 Questions
Duration3 hours for each session
Question typeMultiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
ExamLevel II
Morning Session60 Questions in 10 case studies
Afternoon Session60 Questions in 10 case studies
Duration3 hours for each session
Question typeMCQ’s based on caselets
ExamLevel III
Morning SessionEssay type
Afternoon Session60 Qs in 10 Case studies
Duration3 Hours for each session
Question typeEssay + MCQ

What does the CFA Exam assess?

The CFA syllabus is designed to impart skills in benchmark subjects like Economics, Accounting, Security Analysis, Money Management, etc through three levels namely, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. The CFA syllabus of Level 1 lays emphasis on ethical standards, professional ethics, and investment tools. However, when it comes to Level 2, your ability to apply the principles of asset valuation is assessed. For CFA Level 3, concepts related to Portfolio Management will be focused on. Enlisted are the topics from which questions will be framed in the CFA exam.

  • Equity Investments
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Ethical and Professional Standards
  • Fixed Income
  • Economics and Derivatives
  • Financial Reporting and Analysis
  • Alternative Investments
  • Corporate Finance
  • Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning

CFA Syllabus Level 1

The very first stage of the CFA exam is considered as a foundation for the rest of the two levels. The CFA syllabus of Level 1 encompasses the basic aspects of investment analysis and financial analysis. It comprises a total of ten topics whose weightage has been given a rundown below. 

Topic AreaLevel I
Equity Investments11%
Ethical and Professional Standards15%
Quantitative Methods10%
Fixed Income11%
Economics10%
Derivatives6%
Financial Reporting and Analysis15%
Alternative Investments6%
Corporate Finance10%
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning6%

CFA Syllabus Level 2

Upon qualifying the first level, you will be eligible to apply for the level 2 exam. With topics more or less the same, the difficulty level increases in the 2nd level. Tabulated below is the topic-wise weightage for the CFA syllabus level 2. 

Topic AreaLevel II
Equity Investments10%-15%  
Ethical and Professional Standards10% to 15%
Quantitative Methods5% to 10%
Fixed Income10% to 15%
Economics5% to 10%
Derivatives5% to 10%
Financial Reporting and Analysis15% to 20%
Alternative Investments5% to 10%
Corporate Finance5% to 10%
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning10% to 15%

CFA Syllabus Level 3

Considered as the last milestone in obtaining the CFA certification, the CFA syllabus of this level encompasses the concepts related to the field of Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning, and associated analytical methods. Enlisted is the topic-wise weightage for this level. 

Topic AreaLevel III
Equity Investments10%-15%
Ethical and Professional Standards10% to 15%
Quantitative Methods
Fixed Income15% to 20%
Economics5%to 10%
Derivatives5% to 10%
Financial Reporting and Analysis
Alternative Investments5% to 10%
Corporate Finance
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning35% to 40%
Total100

Tips to Ace CFA Exam 2023

Passing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam is a tough nut to crack and needs rigorous practice and preparation to gain mastery over the topics.

  • Focus your efforts on the CFA Institute’s curriculum
  • Identify your strengths and weaknesses and formulate a time table accordingly.
  • Keep up-to-date with the CFA syllabus.
  • Understand the format.
  • Plan the logistics of the exam day.
  • Time management is key.

FAQs

What is the CFA Exam?

The Chartered Financial Analyst or the CFA course provides credentials to aspiring professionals in the field of Financial & Investment Management.

What is the CFA Level 2 for?

CFA Level 2 assesses your ability to apply the principles of asset valuation.

Can I take the CFA Exam after 12th?

You must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or experience of four years to take the CFA Exam.

As seen, the CFA syllabus is very vast. Dedication and hard work are what will help you sail through this exam! Exploring Finance courses abroad? Not sure about how to get started with it? Then reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu who will help you pick the most suitable university and will also provide guidance throughout the admission process!

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