CFA Syllabus and Subjects
Chartered Financial Analyst course syllabus is divided into Level I, Level II, and Level III with subjects including economics, portfolio management, corporate finance, and the professional and ethical standard of business. Chartered Financial Analyst job scope has a extensive range of job roles in various areas/fields such as business consultancy, investment industry, research and education, etc. in both private and public sectors.
Level Wise CFA Syllabus
The CFA course syllabus varies depending on the level of study. The CFA Level I test consists of 240 multiple-choice questions and takes 6 hours to complete. This exam is administered twice a year, first in June and again in December. The Level II test takes place once a year in June and comprises of 120 multiple-choice questions divided into 21 mini-case studies.
The final Level III test includes both essay and multiple-choice questions, which are graded with great care by some of the best specialists in the area. The CFA course is meant to assist students in passing their tests. The following is the CFA course syllabus:
CFA Level 1 Syllabus
The table below contains the subjects of the CA Level 1 Syllabus:
| SI.No | CFA Level 1 |
| 1 | Economics |
| 2 | Financial Reporting and Analysis |
| 3 | Quantitative Methods |
| 4 | Asset Classes |
| 5 | Alternative Investments |
| 6 | Derivatives |
| 7 | Equity Investments |
| 8 | Fixed Income |
| 9 | Portfolio Management & Wealth Planning (total) |
CFA Level 2 Syllabus
The table below contains the subjects of the CA Level 2 Syllabus:
| SI.No | CFA Level 2 |
| 1 | Investment Tools (total) |
| 2 | Corporate Finance |
| 3 | Economics |
| 4 | Financial Reporting and Analysis |
| 5 | Quantitative Methods |
| 6 | Asset Classes (total) |
| 7 | Alternative Investments |
| 8 | Derivatives |
| 9 | Equity Investments |
| 10 | Fixed Income |
| 11 | Portfolio Management & Wealth Planning |
CFA Level 3 Syllabus
The table below contains the subjects of the CA Level 3 Syllabus:
| SI.No | CFA Level 3 |
| 1 | Investment Tools (total) |
| 2 | Corporate Finance |
| 3 | Economics |
| 4 | Financial Reporting and Analysis |
| 5 | Quantitative Methods |
| 6 | Asset Classes (total) |
| 7 | Alternative Investments |
| 8 | Derivatives |
| 9 | Equity Investments |
| 10 | Fixed Income |
| 11 | Portfolio Management & Wealth Planning (total) |
CFA Subjects
The subjects of the CFA course are determined by the level for which students are applying. CFA courses are a broad field of study that focuses on equipping students with investment and financial management skills and knowledge. This certificate programme was first offered by the Association for Investment Management and Research.
The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA) still offers it to effective finance analysts, and they've even put out the CFA course syllabus. The following are some of the most important CFA subjects, organised by level:
CFA Level 1 Subjects
Below, are some CA Level 1 subjects:
- Derivatives
- Economics
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
CFA Level 2 Subjects
Below, are some CA Level 2 subjects:
- Alternative Investments
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Corporate Finance
CFA Level 3 Subjects
Below, are some CA Level 3 subjects:
- Portfolio Management & Wealth Planning (total)
- Fixed Income
- Quantitative Methods
CFA Exam Format
Let's take a look at the overall format and structure of the three levels of the course before we get into the specifics of CFA.
| Level | No. of Questions | Types of Questions | Duration |
| CFA Level 1 | 240 | Multiple Choice Questions | 6 hours |
| CFA Level 2 | 120 | Combination of Questions and Essays | 6 hours |
| CFA Level 3 | 120 | Essays | 6 hours |
How To Prepare For CFA Level 1
One of the most crucial strategies to prepare for the CFA Level I exam is to give yourself ample time to study. Candidates can personalise their CFA programme preparedness to their own demands and circumstances. Keep the following fact in mind as you construct your methodological approach for the CFA Level I exam:
- CFA level I test is self-contained, the candidate is only available for research if the survey date is approaching. For example, if a candidate were to study for CFA level testing for a year, they would be expected to work about 25 hours per month.
- Candidates who pass all three tests take 4 to 5 years to complete.
- Candidates claim that CFA level tests take 303 hours, CFA level II takes 328 hours, and CFA level III takes 344 hours, with CFA level III exams taking around 300 hours to learn.
CFA Course Structure
The CFA course syllabus in India is designed to help students pursue their dream to gain the CFA certification. The course has core subjects and internships, which help students build a career in their direction. The course structure is as follows:
- Core Subjects
- Internships
CFA Teaching Methodology and Techniques
The teaching methods and tactics used by CFA are similar to those used in traditional classrooms. The subjects are organised around the several topics that pertain to the tests. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a broad branch of study that focuses on developing investment and financial management skills and knowledge. Because CFA is a self-study programme, candidates are not required to attend regular classes.
- Core subjects centred around the CFA exam papers
- Traditional Classroom-based teaching
CFA Reference Books
Students should always make sure that they invest in CFA books PDF when they are applying for a competitive course such as the CFA course. Investing in books can help them get a better idea about the exams and the course. Below is a list of CFA books that are useful:
| Books | Authors |
| CPT Grewal’s Accountancy | M.P Gupta & B.M Aggarwal |
| Fundamentals of Accounting | D.G Sharma |
| General Economics | S.K.Agarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Dr T.Padma and K.C.P Rao |
