A deeper analysis reveals that Kaplan’s approach is philosophically aligned with the reality of Level I, even if it contradicts the idealism of the CFA Institute. The Institute claims to test "real-world" skills, but Level I tests FRA (Financial Reporting & Analysis) with a rigidity that resembles a CPA exam, not an investment management decision.
CFA Level 1 candidates often spend too much time reading and not enough time solving. Use the Kaplan materials to enforce this split:
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.
They strip away the academic jargon found in the official text.
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: