CFA Syllabus 2024: Level 1, 2, 3, Topic Wise Weightage, Books

Hafsha Qureshi
Hafsha Qureshi

Updated on - Jan 17, 2024

CFA syllabus 2024 for all the three levels are available on the official website. The topics included in the CFA course curriculum are the same for each of the three exam levels, but the weightage and degree of difficulty vary and get advanced with each level. The CFA exam curriculum includes lessons that aid in the development of portfolio management and investment analysis skills.

The CFA curriculum focuses on adopting contemporary financial practices to prepare students for the dynamic economic climate. All of the levels administered by the CFA Institute must be passed by the candidate to get certified.

Also Read: CFA Vs CA

Read More: CFA Vs MBA

Table of Contents

CFA Syllabus 2024: Important Facts

The important facts related to the CFA syllabus 2024 are listed below.

  • The CFA course is intended to certify professionals in the field of financial analysis. it is not a set semester course. Organizations all across the world recognize the course and trust charter holders with their financial planning expertise. If candidates pass all three levels of the CFA test on their first try, they can become charter holders in about 1.5 years.
  • The core objective of the CFA curriculum is to provide fundamental and important knowledge of investment analysis and portfolio management. The general public will need the ability to financial planning as the economy expands. In the upcoming years, wealth management companies are anticipated to see tremendous growth with the aid of CFA professionals.
  • Three levels of the CFA course are available through the CFA Institute. To advance to the second level of the CFA course, candidates must pass the first level. The level 3 exam is also open to CFA level 2 qualifiers.
  • To enrol in a CFA course, candidates must have a bachelor's degree in an area that is relevant. Candidates who are in their final year of study have the option of taking the Level 1 exam, but they won't be permitted to take the Level 2 exam until they have earned their degree. Alternatively, the applicant qualifies for a CFA course if they have 4000+ hours of relevant job experience.

CFA Exam Syllabus 2024

A CFA, or Chartered Financial Analyst, is a person who has successfully completed all three levels of the CFA test. Students are taught in up to 10 core CFA subjects, following the course syllabus. There are no elective subjects offered in the CFA program. Candidates must study all of the above-mentioned core subjects, regardless of their course level.

CFA Syllabus Core Subjects

Following are the core subjects of the CFA Syllabus 2024.

  • Economics
  • Derivatives
  • Ethical and Professional Standards
  • Fixed Income
  • Corporate Issuers
  • Alternative Investments
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Equity Investments

CFA Level 1 Syllabus

Students can refer to the table below for the topics covered in the syllabus for CFA Level 1.

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

Candidates must not skip any topics listed below in the syllabus for CFA Level 2.

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 CFA Level 3 syllabus is outlined below. Students must cover all the topics listed in the table below.

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)

Complete CFA Syllabus in Detail

The CFA exam syllabus 2024 includes lessons in accounting, investment, and economics. A higher weightage implies a higher chance of the topics appearing for the exam. The CFA exam topic weightage for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 is shown in the table below.

Levels  Subject Weightage 
CFA Level 1 Syllabus Ethical and Professional Standards 15 to 20
Corporate Issuers 8 to 12
Economics 8 to 12
Financial Statement Analysis 12 to 17
Quantitative Methods 8 to 12
Equity Investments 10 to 12
Fixed Income 10 to 12
Alternative Investments 5 to 8
Derivatives 5 to 8
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning 5 to 8
CFA Level 2 Syllabus Financial Statement Analysis 10 to 15
Economics 5 to 10
Quantitative Methods 5 to 10
Ethical and Professional Standards 10 to 15
Corporate Issuers 5 to 10
Fixed Income 10 to 15
Equity Investments 10 to 15
Derivatives 5 to 10
Alternative Investments 5 to 10
Ethical and Professional Standards 10 to 15
CFA Level 3 Syllabus Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning 10 to 15
Derivatives 5 to 10
Equity Investments 10 to 15
Fixed Income 15 to 20
Economics 5 to 10
Alternative Investments 5 to 10
Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning 35 to 40

CFA Best Books

When applying to a difficult course like the CFA course, students should always make sure they spend money on the best CFA books. They can learn more about the tests and the course by rfering to reference books and preparation books. The following is a list of beneficial CFA books

Books Authors
Fundamentals of Accounting D.G Sharma
CPT Grewal’s Accountancy M.P Gupta & B.M Aggarwal
General Economics S.K.Agarwal
Quantitative Aptitude Dr T.Padma and K.C.P Rao

CFA Study Material & Books

The books for each course level are provided by CFA Institute. The applicants get access to a number of study resources and tools as soon as they sign up for the CFA program. CFA books aid applicants in getting ready for the test.

Candidates have immediate access to the following CFA registration.

  • Official program syllabus
  • Personalized study schedules created particularly for you
  • Each level's study sessions
  • Curriculum-wide practice questions 
  • Tips and study resources
  • Mock exam, replicating the atmosphere of the test day

FAQs

Where to find the official CFA syllabus?

The official CFA syllabus is available on the official website at www.cfainstitute.org.

What are the important topics in CFA exam syllabus?

Some of the core topics of the CFA syllabus include Economics, Derivatives, Ethical and Professional Standards, Fixed Income, Corporate Issuers, Alternative Investments, Quantitative Methods, Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning, Financial Statement Analysis, and Equity Investments.

What are the important topics for CFA Level III syllabus?

The important topics of the CFA Level III syllabus include Portfolio Management and Wealth Planning, Fixed Income, Equity Investments, etc.

What are some of the best books for CFA exam preparation?

Some of the best books include Fundamentals of Accounting by D.G Sharma, CPT Grewal’s Accountancy by M.P Gupta & B.M Aggarwal, General Economics by S.K.Agarwal, and Quantitative Aptitude by Dr T.Padma and K.C.P Rao

LIVE APPLICATION FORMS

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Popular Exams

Latest News on CFA

Loading...