Cfa Kaplan Level 1 Jun 2026
Before you start, you need to understand the core components of the Kaplan study system.
It is an additional investment on top of the steep CFA Institute registration fees.
The CFA Kaplan Level 1 program offers several benefits to candidates, including:
The CFA Level 1 program is the first step in the CFA program, and it covers a broad range of topics related to finance and investment. The program is designed to introduce candidates to the fundamental concepts of finance, including financial statement analysis, time value of money, and portfolio management. The Level 1 curriculum consists of 10 subjects, including: cfa kaplan level 1
the official CFAI Ethics material (the only section where the original text is preferred). Simulate with at least 4–6 mock exams in the final month. Final Verdict
(e.g., an engineer or liberal arts graduate), Kaplan is dangerous if used alone. This candidate will memorize the answers to the Q-Bank without understanding the underlying economic principles. When the exam rephrases a question or changes a variable, they will fail. This candidate must use the CFA curriculum’s examples and end-of-chapter questions as their anchor, using Kaplan only as a review tool.
Based on the benefits and features of the CFA Kaplan Level 1 program, we recommend that: Before you start, you need to understand the
Kaplan’s weakness, therefore, is not in what it teaches, but in what it assumes. It assumes the candidate has a prior background in finance or accounting. If a candidate does not understand the time value of money intuitively, Kaplan’s shortcut tables for annuity factors will mask a fatal ignorance that will plague them through Level III.
Here is a solid guide on how to maximize Kaplan materials to pass Level 1.
Not all topics are created equal. The CFA exam is weighted by topic. Kaplan structures their books (usually 5 volumes) to cover these. You should allocate your time based on weight. The program is designed to introduce candidates to
Kaplan Schweser simplifies the material, but it does not dilute it. If you can score consistently above 75% on Kaplan Mock Exams, you are statistically very likely to pass the actual CFA Level 1.
Ultimately, the CFA charter is a signal of endurance and rigor. Kaplan Schweser does not eliminate the need for endurance; a candidate must still study 300 hours. But it does reduce the rigor required for comprehension. This is the double-edged sword. Kaplan increases your probability of passing Level I by 30% but may decrease your probability of passing Level II by 20% if used exclusively.