CFA Level I Study Guide

200+ High-Yield Concepts for the CFA Program Level I Exam (All Ten Topic Areas)

A focused, high-yield concept review for the CFA Program Level I exam — 200+ high-yield concepts (215 total, each with key facts, a strategy tip, and an original example) organized in 22 sections across all ten topic areas in exam-weight order: Ethics (30), Quantitative Methods (22), Economics (22), Financial Statement Analysis (28), Corporate Issuers (18), Equity Investments (22), Fixed Income (22), Derivatives (15), Alternative Investments (14), and Portfolio Management (22). Includes a verified exam snapshot sourced from cfainstitute.org on 2026-09-18: 180 multiple-choice questions, two 135-minute sessions of 90 questions each, ≈90 seconds per question, all questions equally weighted with no penalty for incorrect answers, results typically in 5-7 weeks, exams four times a year (usually February, May, August, November), approved calculators (TI BA II Plus or HP 12C), valid international travel passport required, and a ≈300 hours per level study recommendation. Fees cited from cfainstitute.org: from USD 1,140 per exam, program total USD 3,520-4,570 for all three levels, USD 250 rescheduling fee. Honesty note: the minimum passing score is NOT publicly disclosed by CFA Institute — this guide states no passing score, pass rate, or historical minimum anywhere, and any source that quotes a passing score is not speaking for CFA Institute. Eligibility is determined by the official "Check eligibility requirement" tool at cfainstitute.org, not stated here. Independent study companion — not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by CFA Institute. 'CFA' and 'Chartered Financial Analyst' are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. This guide reproduces no CFA Institute curriculum, learning outcome statements, or exam content. Confirm current exam format, topic weights, fees, and eligibility at cfainstitute.org before registering.