A Comprehensive Guide on Princeton Review CFA

“My tutoring session went very well. I was pleased with all of the tips and personalized information given to help my specific needs.” Arianna

Passing all three levels of the CFA exam isn’t easy. It’s notoriously the world’s most grueling exam series, with an under 50% average pass rate for each of the three levels. As such, you need a review course that will guide you to the finish line.

If you’re looking at CFA review courses then The Princeton Review CFA should be one of the courses you take a look at. Princeton Review’s Level 1, 2, and 3 prep courses have made a massive splash despite being relatively new to the CFA prep space. Their review course is backed by Princeton Review’s decades-long exam prep experience and abundant resources. When Princeton Review puts their name on something, it’s high-quality.

This post will examine everything you need to know about Princeton Review’s CFA prep courses.

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Princeton Review CFA: Pros and Cons

Pros


  • Loads of practice material
  • Live-class & Expert tutor options (Level 1 only)
  • Money-back guarantee

Cons


  • No live options or tutors for Levels 2 & 3

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Princeton Review CFA Discount Codes

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Overview of Princeton Review CFA Prep

You might have heard of Princeton Review from your high-school days while prepping for the ACT or SAT exams. Princeton Review’s CFA program applies the same tried and true prep model from notable examinations like the ACT, SAT, LSAT and GMAT. However, it goes a step further to employ the input of top-drawer CFA experts, including CFA charter-holders, university professors, and finance top dogs from leading companies.

The prep course covers CFA Levels One, Two, and Three. Let’s have a look at what each course level offers:

The Princeton Review CFA is among the most robust and expansive offerings. It comprises more than 50 video lesson hours, 24 live class hours, full-length mock examinations, over 1,500 practice questions, flashcards, and more. The course didn’t spare any expense in creating a special package.

What’s Included in The Princeton Review CFA? 

The course is designed to offer adequate preparation for the CFA exams. The offering comprises:

  • Video lectures
  • Mock exams
  • Study notes
  • Practice questions
  • Progress reports

Video Lectures

With The Princeton Review, on-demand video lectures will be your primary study method. Each lesson breaks down the complex topics into smaller, easy-to-understand segments.

Alternatively, you can leverage the numerous live-stream studies in Level 1 to help identify your knowledge deficiencies and benefit from interactive learning.

Practice Questions 

The Princeton Review CFA offers loads of practice questions at each exam level. They also offer detailed answer explanations, which go a long way to helping you understand why you got a question right or wrong.

The course also tracks your performance so you can easily identify the topics where you’re performing well on and the ones where you need improvement.

Study Notes

This course also includes detailed study notes that condense individual lessons into short, understandable bits. You’ll get study note slides for each video lecture.

These are perfect for reinforcing the knowledge gained in previous classes, so you don’t have to rewind and re-watch completed video lessons.

Mock Exams

Realistic practice sessions will significantly help your CFA exam prep. The Princeton Review CFA prep course includes multiple mock exams for each exam Level.

From our review, the mock exams do a nice job of mimicking the format and structure of the main exam, so you’ll feel comfortable on exam day.

Progress Reports

Lastly, the prep model provides updated reports pinpointing the areas you need to improve. The reports align with the practice tests to offer a concise prep road map.

Pros of Princeton CFA

Here are the stand-out features of the Princeton Review CFA:

  • Numerous practice tests and questions – The program has thousands of practice questions and quizzes to help you prepare adequately for each level of the exam
  • Expert instructors – 11+ highly qualified instructors will lead Princeton Review’s CFA prep course
  • LiveOnline class options– The Level 1 course features a live classroom option, which enables interactive learning and adds accountability
  • Straightforward website – The site is simple and easy to navigate, making the learning experience enjoyable.
  • Money-back guarantee – The Princeton Review offers a money-back guarantee. Learners can get a refund if they score less than before the test program. But a test practice is mandatory.

Cons of Princeton Review CFA

Here are some drawbacks of this prep course:

  • Outdated dashboard – The prep platform’s dashboard is relatively sparse and lacks some crucial features you’d find in similar programs. But this isn’t a deal-breaker since course content is what matters most. 
  • Fewer practice questions – The practice questions aren’t as many as you’d find in rival prep platforms. 

Princeton Review CFA Pricing

Princeton Review CFA Level 1

For the CFA Level 1 exam, Princeton Review offers three pricing options to choose from:

  • Essential On-Demand – The plan currently goes for $799. For this, you’ll enjoy access to any on-demand study material the platform offers.
  • Ultimate LiveOnline – This course plan is available for $999. It includes all the elements of the Essential plan and adds one-on-one Q&A sessions and live sessions with your tutor.
  • Private tutoring – This plan goes for $200 per hour.  

Course info as of Jan 2023

Any option can work fine, but for the best overall value consider choosing the Ultimate LiveOnline course. Many find the added cost is well worth the extra accountability that will keep you on track.

Reviews for Princeton Review’s private tutoring are mixed, as it ultimately comes down to value and how much assistance you need. If you only need a few hours of expert guidance then the $200/hr. price might be worth it, otherwise you’re better off saving your money and finding a study group or other cost-effective option.

Princeton Review CFA Levels 2 & 3

For the CFA Level 2 & 3 exams, Princeton Review only offers its Essential On-Demand course at a base price of $799 each. If you’ve made it past Level 1, then your probably sharp enough to self-study through the other two levels 🙂 .

Similar to Level 1, the Level 2 & 3 courses include a nice suite of on-demand features to choose from. Let’s have a look at each:

Course info as of Jan 2023

Course info as of Jan 2023

Notably, these plans will regularly go on sale, and waiting for a sale before subscribing could save you hundreds of dollars. Regardless, this course is affordable, and you’ll still get good value even with the standard asking price.

Bottom Line

The CFA prep course by the Princeton Review is worth your money and time. Besides the incredibly designed materials and a work schedule you can count on, the platform also links you to experienced tutors. All these, combined with a pass guarantee, make this prep course an easy recommendation.

Princeton Review CFA® FAQs

Does the Princeton Review Offer Tutoring?

Yes, the Princeton Review offers tutoring for students. But the teachers charge an hourly rate of $200.

How Long Do I Need to Wait for My Test Scores?

The Princeton Review CFA avails scores from each practice exam immediately after you complete the test. This includes a complete breakdown and analysis for insights into the content areas that require your attention.  

Can I Extend My Course Access Period?

Yes, you can extend your course access period. This extension is for scholars who can’t complete the course within a year (12 months).

Does Princeton Review CFA Offer a Money-Back Guarantee?

Yes, Princeton Review CFA can refund your money if you get a lower score than what you got in the practice test at the beginning of the prep program.

About the author

Colin is a practicing CPA with over 14 years of experience in various accounting and finance roles. After reaching the Sr. Manager level at a Big-4 firm, he now works as a freelance consultant while helping others pass their professional exams.

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