Which is the toughest financial exam?
CFA. CFA or Chartered Financial Analyst is one of the most challenging exams in the world. Every year about a lakh apply from various different countries. The CFA exam is a harrowing 6 hours of 240 questions.
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam is the financial world's ultimate challenge, demanding an investment of 300-400 hours for preparation.
The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam is recognized as one of the most rigorous exams globally. Annually, more than 100,000 candidates undertake this comprehensive assessment.
1. UPSC (Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination) UPSC is the toughest exam in India. It is an exam to select the candidate for various civil services of the government of India like Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Toughest Exams in the World 2024 | ||
---|---|---|
Rank | Exam Name | Country |
1. | Gaokao | China |
2. | IIT JEE Advanced | India |
3. | Civil Services Exam (CSE) | India |
The Chartered Financial Analyst credential is one of the most demanding exams on Earth when it comes to preparation and study time required. The average pass rate for the CFA Level 1 is only 41%. For Level 2, you're looking at a passage rate of 45%. And Level 3 is not much easier at 52%.
The CFA Institute reports that historical pass rates for Level I and Level II of the exams are typically between 40% and 50% with Level III having a slightly higher pass rate. However, pass rates were much higher when the exams were first initiated in 1963 and have been trending downward since then.
CFA vs CPA Exam difficulty
Both are challenging and require gaining skills and knowledge in complex topics. However, the CPA Exam generally requires less studying - around 80 to 120 hours per section compared to 300 hours per section of the CFA Exam, and the CPA Exam also has a higher pass rate.
The CPA Exam. You've heard the horror stories: It's derailed the careers of promising professionals. It's definitely harder than the BAR exam and maybe even some medical board exams. And it's nearly impossible to pass once you're a working professional.
The ACA qualification involves three years of on-the-job learning. This is also combined with the requirement to pass 15 exams. It is considered the most challenging of the three qualifications.
Which is the world toughest exam USA?
- Feb 5, 2024. 10 Toughest Exams in the World. ...
- US - California Bar Exam. The California Bar Exam in the US is a challenging test that assesses legal knowledge, analytical skills, and professional responsibility. ...
- US - USMLE. ...
- India - GATE. ...
- US - CCIE. ...
- US/Canada - CFA. ...
- US/Canada - GRE. ...
- England - Mensa.
Ans. Medicine, engineering and nursing are considered to be the most difficult courses in the world. These courses require students to dedicate 8-10 hours to studying daily along with getting continuous hands-on practice on the topics learnt.
- SSC Multi-Tasking Staff.
- SSC CHSL.
- IBPS Clerk Exam.
- SSC Stenographer.
- IBPS Specialist Officer Exams.
- Central Teachers Eligibility Test (CTET)
- LIC Apprentice Development Officer (ADO)
- State PSC Exams.
IIT Guwahati conducted the exam and the paper that year was considered both difficult and controversial.
- Computer Engineering.
- Chartered Accountant (CA)
- Master of Philosophy (M.Phil)
- Medicine.
- Engineering.
- MBA (Master of Business Administration)
- Architecture.
- Law.
Scoring high enough on the MCAT to gain admission to a U.S. medical school (MD program not DO) is more difficult than passing the CFA. For some candidates not schooled in finance, passing the CFA could be more difficult than a respectable MCAT score.
If you're aiming to work in roles such as financial analysts, portfolio managers, or investment bankers, the CFA designation can be a valuable asset. However, if you want to pursue careers in other areas of finance, an alternative certification or qualification may be more relevant.
A survey carried out using a sample of 50 CFA Level I candidates reveals an average IQ of 105. Assuming that IQs are distributed normally, carry out a statistical test to determine whether the mean IQ is greater than 100.
Career aspirations: While there is certainly overlap in how business school graduates and charterholders apply their expertise, MBA programs are generally ideal for professionals who want to pursue management positions in any industry. A CFA designation suits professionals dedicated to working in the finance industry.
Considering their pass rates—approximately 50% for the CPA exams, around 13.5% for candidates completing all three levels of the CFA exams, and roughly 70% for the Florida bar—statistics would suggest that the CFA credential is in fact the hardest.
Does CFA have a lot of math?
The CFA® program does not require a lot of 'sophisticated' math, but there are a lot of formulas to memorize and know how to apply. Almost all topics have some basic math and simple algebra. Except for Quantitative methods, what you took in high school/college is probably enough.
CFA Charterholder vs. CPA Salary. Salaries can vary widely for both CFAs and CPAs based on location, experience level, and company size. That being said, according to Payscale the average salary for a CFA is $102,000 and the average salary for a CPA is $94,000.
CFA vs CPA Salary: Everything You Need to Know. The average salary for a CFA charterholder ranges anywhere from $51,000 to over $274,000, while CPAs may earn an annual salary ranging from $50,000 to upwards of $240,000.
– The CFA Institute says a CFA charter holder can earn between $126,000 and $177,000. – Comparably.com data from Feb. 2023 shows the average CFP salary in the U.S. is $121,099. The total range is between $39,300 and $187,200.
The CPA exam is significantly harder.