2-Week CFA Level 1 Preparation Plan (What to Study, What to Skip and How to Pass)

The clock is no longer ticking politely. It is loud now. Relentless. Fourteen days out, the CFA Level 1 exam is no longer an abstract future problem. It is a fixed seat, a fixed date and a very real reckoning with how much of the curriculum actually stuck.

If you are being honest, you are not looking for motivation. You are looking for control. You want someone to tell you, plainly and without theatrics, what still matters, what no longer does and how to extract maximum points from the time you have left.

This is exactly what this 2-week CFA Level 1 study plan is designed to do.

This is not a feel-good roadmap. It is not a full reset. It is a late-stage, high-pressure CFA Level 1 last 2 weeks study plan built for candidates who have already covered most of the material and now need a ruthless way to prioritize. Think of it as a survival guide that turns scattered familiarity into exam-day precision. A structured CFA Level 1 14-day study schedule that acknowledges reality: you cannot learn everything now, but you can still learn what counts.

If you are looking for a CFA Level 1 exam cram plan that tells you exactly how many hours to study, which topics deserve your energy and which ones you should consciously ignore, you are in the right place. This article provides a disciplined CFA Level 1 revision plan and CFA Level 1 final review strategy built around score efficiency, not syllabus completion. It assumes you are under time pressure, mentally fatigued and unwilling to waste another study session on low-return effort. If you are starting from zero, this plan will not work. But if you are trying to salvage, stabilize and optimize what you already know, it was written for you.

Can You Really Prepare for CFA Level 1 in 2 Weeks?

The honest answer

You cannot learn the CFA Level 1 curriculum from scratch in 14 days. Anyone promising that is selling false hope. What you can do is convert partial knowledge into exam-ready performance. Level 1 rewards recognition, pattern recall and single-step logic. It does not require essay-level explanations or multi-step reasoning.

Why Level 1 is still salvageable late

Level 1 is uniquely forgiving compared to Level II and III. There are no vignettes, no multi-layered problem chains and about 90 seconds per question. Most candidates fail not because of intellect but because they misallocate time: poor topic weighting, weak exam technique and lack of structured revision are the real killers. With a focused CFA Level 1 final review strategy, there is still a path to a respectable score.

CFA Level 1 14-Day Study Schedule – Quick Reference

Day	Focus	Key Tasks	Hours / Notes
1–3	Foundation Reset	Identify gaps, rebuild calculator confidence, reinforce TVM & accounting logic	3 hrs review, 3 hrs practice, 1–2 hrs error analysis
4	High-Weight Topic Domination	FSA summary review, Equity drills, Portfolio Management formulas	Heavy Q-bank drilling, formula recognition
5	High-Weight Topic Domination	Fixed Income summary, FSA & Equity Q-bank	Rotate topics, automation focus
6	High-Weight Topic Domination	Equity + Portfolio Management	Short timed sets, formula recall
7	High-Weight Topic Domination	FSA + Fixed Income	Ensure automaticity, heavy practice
8	Integration & Speed Training	Mixed-topic questions under timed conditions	Introduce elimination & flag-return strategies
9	Integration & Speed Training	Mixed-topic practice, timed mini-tests	Focus on speed + accuracy
10	Integration & Speed Training	Mock sections or Q-bank mix	Minimize notes, maximize question volume
11	Ethics + Weak Spot Repair	Standards reread, focus on conflicts & disclosure	Review only recurring weak areas
12	Ethics + Weak Spot Repair	Ethics practice, targeted weak-topic drills	Maintain accuracy under pressure
13	Final Review & Exam Conditioning	Light mock or sections, skim formulas	Focus on speed, Ethics, and recall
14	Exam Day Prep	No heavy study, light recall only	Rest, hydrate, sleep early

How Many Hours Per Day You Actually Need (Reality Check)

Minimum viable daily commitment

This is where many underestimate the task. A realistic CFA Level 1 exam cram plan requires 6–8 hours per day, non-negotiable. Anything less will leave you underprepared. Split your day into three blocks: mornings for learning and recall, afternoons for practice, evenings for review and error logging.

Total hour expectation

Expect roughly 90–110 focused hours over the 14 days. This is intense, but achievable if you stick to the plan. This is not casual studying; it’s a disciplined sprint.

The Core Principle of the 2-Week Plan (Score Efficiency)

Why “finishing the syllabus” is the wrong goal

Finishing all readings is a vanity metric at this stage. CFA Level 1 is weighted, not linear. Spending time on low-weighted topics does not increase points; it just increases fatigue.

The only goal that matters

Convert the highest-weighted, most testable concepts into fast, accurate answers. If a topic appears often on exams, mastery is mandatory. If it rarely shows up, it deserves minimal time.

CFA Level 1 Topic Weighting (What Deserves Your Time)

Coverage matters less than depth in the last two weeks. Break the curriculum into three tiers.

Tier 1 – Non-negotiable (High weight, high ROI)

• Ethics
• Financial Statement Analysis (FSA)
• Equity
• Fixed Income
• Portfolio Management

These topics are the backbone of your score. Weakness here cannot be offset by low-weighted topics.

Tier 2 – Medium priority

• Quantitative Methods
• Derivatives
• Corporate Issuers

Functional competence is sufficient; do not let these consume your high-energy periods.

Tier 3 – Low priority (study lightly)

• Economics
• Alternative Investments

Understand the basics only. Depth here is rarely rewarded in the final two weeks.

The 14-Day CFA Level 1 Study Schedule (Day-by-Day)

This CFA Level 1 14 day study schedule is your backbone. Treat it as a flexible framework.

Days 1–3 – Foundation Reset (Stabilize Weak Areas)

Goals: Identify gaps, rebuild calculator confidence, and lock in TVM + accounting logic.

Daily focus:

• Time Value of Money
• Basic Financial Statements
• Calculator mastery (BA II Plus or HP 12C)
• Short practice blocks

Daily structure: 3 hours review, 3 hours practice, 1–2 hours error analysis

Days 4–7 – High-Weight Topic Domination

Rotate through FSA, Fixed Income, Equity, and Portfolio Management.

How to study:

• Review summaries only, skip full readings
• Heavy question drilling
• Focus on formula recognition, not derivation

Key rule: High-frequency topics must become automatic.

Days 8–10 – Integration & Speed Training

Focus: Mixed-topic practice, recognition, and time pressure.

• Reduce note usage, increase question volume
• Introduce elimination strategy and flag-and-return discipline
• Start thinking in exam language

Days 11–12 – Ethics + Weak Spot Repair

Ethics focus: Conflicts, disclosure, suitability, client vs employer duties.

Weak areas: Revisit only repeatedly failing topics. No new topics.

Days 13–14 – Final Review & Exam Conditioning

Day 13: Light mock or mock sections, Ethics reread, skim formulas
Day 14: No heavy study. Light recall, rest, hydration and sleep

How to Use Practice Questions Correctly in the Last 2 Weeks

What most candidates do wrong

• Endless question drilling without reflection
• No error tracking
• Passive re-reading of explanations

The correct loop

1. Attempt question
2. Diagnose mistakes
3. Write takeaways
4. Reattempt similar questions later

This transforms mistakes into points instead of stress.

Mock Exams – How Many and When?

The right number

2–3 full mocks maximum. More leads to diminishing returns.

When to take them

• First mock: Day 8 or 9
• Last mock: Day 11 or 12

How to review a mock properly

• Spend more time reviewing than taking it
• Categorize mistakes: knowledge gaps, misreads, formula confusion, time pressure

What to Ignore in the Final 2 Weeks (Critical)

• Reading textbooks cover to cover
• Watching full-length lectures
• Making new notes
• Memorizing obscure formulas

Focus on high-yield topics. Everything else is wasted effort.

Exam-Day Strategy That Saves Points

Time management

• First pass: easy + medium questions
• Second pass: flagged questions only

Guessing strategy

• Always eliminate options
• Never leave blanks
• In Ethics, trained intuition often pays off

Common 2-Week Mistakes That Lead to Failure

• Studying everything equally
• Panicking and switching strategies daily
• Over-mocking
• Ignoring Ethics
• Underestimating fatigue

Final Checklist (48 Hours Before the Exam)

• Calculator ready + spare
• Ethics skimmed
• Formula list reviewed
• Sleep schedule adjusted
• No new material

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pass CFA Level 1 with only 2 weeks of study?
Yes, if you already have partial knowledge and follow this CFA Level 1 final review strategy. Beginners will struggle.

How many hours per day should I study?
6–8 focused hours per day. No excuses.

Should I still do mocks this late?
Yes, limit to 2–3 and prioritize reviewing mistakes over volume.

Is Ethics really that important?
Absolutely. Ethics is high-weighted and often decisive.

What if I feel underprepared?
Stick to this CFA Level 1 revision plan, focus on execution, and avoid chasing perfection.

This 2-week CFA Level 1 study plan is about strategic triage, disciplined execution, and converting what you already know into exam points. It does not promise miracles, but if followed rigorously, it maximizes the potential for a strong result under intense time pressure.

Important links

• About CFA Level I exam
• CFA Level I Study Package
• Levels I, II & III Lifetime Package
• Video Lessons
• Study Notes
• Mock Exams
• Practice Questions