CFA Level I Books

CFA Level I books facilitate faster, easier study sessions that keep you motivated and reduce the likelihood of experiencing burnout. However, not all CFA Level I books are created equal, so here we’ll discuss what to look for as you evaluate CFA books.

• CFA Level I books assist in studying for the Level I exam by summarizing key information and making the CFA Curriculum material easier to understand.
• The best CFA Level I books offer complete LOS coverage.
• Wiley CFA books are less expensive than the print version of the CFA Curriculum and other CFA prep books.
• Wiley CFA books come with extra features like a LOS tracker, practice questions and mock exams, test-taking tips, case studies with in-depth explanations, and more!

The Level I CFA exam is often considered the easiest of the 3 CFA exams, but it has the lowest pass rate. Why? Many CFA candidates underestimate the sheer volume of content the Level I exam covers, and they either don’t study enough, don’t practice enough, or don’t use the right study materials.The best CFA Level I books will sufficiently cover all Learning Outcome Statements (LOSs) and all 10 CFA Program exam topics.

CFA Exam Topic Areas	Level I Topic Weight (%)
Ethical & Professional Standards	15-20
Quantitative Methods	8-12
Economics	8-12
Financial Statement Analysis	13-17
Corporate Issuers	8-12
Equity Investments	10-12
Fixed Income	10-12
Derivatives	5-8
Alternative Investments	5-8
Portfolio Management & Wealth Planning	5-8

Study with practice materials like a CFA Level 1 mock exam that present information in a manageable way so you can stick to your study plan without burning out.

When you register for the Level I CFA exam with CFA Institute, you automatically get access to a digital copy of the Official CFA Level I Curriculum. You can use this as your main study text, purchase a print edition of the CFA® Program Curriculum, or invest in CFA books and study guides from CFAI Approved Prep Providers.

The best study books for CFA Level I exam prep condense the sometimes overwhelming CFA Curriculum into an easy-to-understand format. They are designed to help you understand the content needed to pass the exam in the easiest, most efficient way possible.

The Best CFA Level I Books Offer Complete LOS Coverage

Alternative CFA books are easier to understand than the Official CFA Curriculum, and they are considerably shorter. But that can sound too good to be true and you might wonder, “If it’s shorter and easier to understand, how do I know I’m being adequately prepared to pass the exam?”

That’s a good question. And that’s why the best books for CFA Level I preparation offer complete Learning Outcome Statement (LOS) coverage.

LOSs describe how CFA candidates are expected to apply the knowledge and skills outlined in the CFA Curriculum. So, if your CFA Level I books cover all LOSs and you perform well on the prescribed skills, you can be confident that you have adequately prepared for the exam.

Wiley CFA Level I Prep Books actually come with a Learning Outcome Statements tracker, so you never have to wonder if you’ve mastered the most essential subject matter. And if you still need help mastering a LOS, the tracking tool tells you exactly where every single LOS is covered in the CFA Program Curriculum.

Whenever you feel you require more background information you can easily flip to the exact page on which the relevant concept is discussed in the curriculum.

CFA Level I Curriculum

Using the Official CFA Level I Curriculum as your main study text is a big undertaking—it’s 3,712 pages long! It is divided into a 6-volume box set that goes into detail explaining everything you could see on the exam. But this level of comprehension does come with a downside; it’s dense and difficult to understand for many candidates.

This can quickly lead to a lack of motivation and burnout. So, use the digital copy of the CFA Curriculum or buy the print edition, but to keep your studies moving, also look into alternative CFA Level I prep books.

Alternative CFA Level I Prep Books

The best CFA Level I prep books summarize the CFA Curriculum into an easy-to-understand guide of everything you need to know to pass the exam. But not all CFA books are created equal, and Wiley CFA Level I books stand out amongst the rest because they present material in a concise, well-organized, and user-friendly format.

Wiley CFA Level I Prep Books (eBook and Print)

Wiley CFA books are the best CFA Level I study books because they cover a vast amount of information as succinctly as possible without missing any important concepts. In just 1,300+ pages (one-third as many pages as the full CFA Curriculum), you cover all 10 topic areas and every LOS. The material is color-coded by concept, easy to ready, and easy to understand.

With Wiley CFA Level I prep books, you get:

• 5 volumes covering all 10 CFA topic areas
• Condensed, easy-to-understand summary of the full Level I CFA Program Curriculum
• Color-coded concepts for easy, organized studying
• Learning Outcome Statements tracker so you know you’ve fully covered each LOS
• Practice questions and mock exams
• Expert advice on test-taking strategies, time management, and more
• Case studies with in-depth explanations
• Financial statements and explanatory graphs

Wiley CFA Level I prep books are competitively priced when compared to other CFA books and the print edition of the Official CFA Curriculum. Wiley books are the least expensive option, priced at $235 for the CFA Level I ebook or print edition. The print edition of the CFA Curriculum is $250 and other alternative CFA books typically cost over $300.

Purchasing additional study materials can add up, but so can retaking the exam because you didn’t have the right study materials the first time. With that in mind, we recommend studying with the easy-to-understand Wiley CFA Level I exam test prep books and supplementing your studies with the free digital copy of the CFA Curriculum (if needed).CFA Curriculum Books Level I Cost

Where can I get CFA Level I books?

The Level I CFA exam covers an extensive amount of information, so it’s wise to supplement your digital copy of the CFA Curriculum with additional study materials like the Wiley Study Guide. But when does it make sense to invest in a full-blown CFA review course?For the Level I exam, you will need to learn the material and then practice, practice, practice. So, the additional practice materials that come with a full review course might be worth the investment. Or, if you want extra help, some review courses also come with professional online mentoring.

From our condensed 11th Hour Final Review Course to our robust CFA Level I Platinum Course, Wiley has a course and extensive practice materials to help you ace the Level I CFA exam

Level I CFA books summarize the CFA Curriculum into an easy-to-follow study guide so you can make your study sessions easier and more efficient. However, some CFA books are more user-friendly than others, and not all CFA books have full LOS coverage. Make sure you are studying with the most concise yet comprehensive CFA Level I books on the market by studying with Wiley.Wiley CFA books are color coordinated by concept for easy studying, they have full LOS coverage so you can rest assured you are fully prepared, and on top of that, they are less expensive than other CFA books on the market (including the print edition of the Official CFA Curriculum). Start studying with our Platinum Review Course to get the most out of our CFA books and learn with instructors who motivate you to not just memorize the information needed to pass, but understand.