CFA Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CFA exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 CFA Exam Format at a Glance

180
Questions
270 min
Time Limit
70.00%
Passing Score

📚 CFA Topics to Study (167)

✍️ Sample CFA Questions & Answers

1. During initial assessment of a potential recruit, which factor is MOST critical to evaluate?
The candidate's access to targeted information and susceptibility to recruitment

Access to targeted information and susceptibility to recruitment are the two foundational criteria that determine whether pursuing a candidate is operationally worthwhile.

2. Which economic concept explains why some countries specialize in producing certain goods even if they are absolutely less efficient than their trading partners?
Comparative advantage

Comparative advantage shows that countries benefit from specializing in goods where they have the lowest opportunity cost, even if a trading partner is better at producing everything.

3. The ACFE defines corruption as occurring when an employee:
Uses their influence in a business transaction to violate their duty to their employer for direct or indirect personal gain

Corruption involves an employee misusing their positional influence in business transactions to gain personal benefit, breaching the duty owed to their employer.

4. Which padding device is most effective for protecting heels and preventing pressure injuries during prolonged supine positioning?
Gel heel protectors

Gel heel protectors conform to the heel's contours and distribute pressure away from bony prominences, reducing pressure injury risk during lengthy procedures.

5. What is the PRIMARY purpose of continuing education requirements in Quantitative Methods & Statistics for CFA professionals?
Maintaining current knowledge and competency as the field evolves

Continuing education in Quantitative Methods & Statistics ensures professionals maintain current knowledge and skills as standards, technologies, and best practices evolve in the Certified Financial Analyst field.

6. Put-call parity states that for European options, the relationship is:
Call price + Strike price (PV) = Put price + Current stock price

Put-call parity: C + PV(X) = P + S, where C = call price, PV(X) = present value of strike, P = put price, S = current stock price.

🎯 Free CFA Practice Tests

📖 CFA Guides & Articles

Your CFA Study Path
1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation