Study guides & exam tips
Free, in-depth guides for the hardest finance exams — written by the team behind Certus.
July 24, 2026
How Hard Is CFA Level 1, Really? (2026 Pass Rates & Honest Answer)
How hard is CFA Level 1? The honest answer, backed by real pass-rate data: ~39–45% pass, why most failures come from too much reading and too little practice, and how to prep smart on a budget.
Read the guide →July 9, 2026
How I Studied for the CFA While Working Full Time (Without Losing My Mind)
A real, honest account of passing CFA Level 1 with a 9-to-5 — the schedule that worked, what I wasted time on, and how to stay consistent when you have almost none.
Read the guide →June 17, 2026
The Complete CFA Level I Study Guide (2026): How to Pass on Your First Try
An in-depth CFA Level I study guide — how the exam works, a week-by-week study plan, every topic area explained, the concepts that actually get tested, common mistakes, and the free resources to use.
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