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EthicsCFA L1Q1 of 6

According to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics, which of the following is a member's PRIMARY obligation?

A. Clients
B. Employers
C. Capital markets
D. The profession
ANSWER: A — Explanation

Standard III(A) requires members to place client interests above all others, including employer interests.

Fixed IncomeCFA L1Q2 of 6

A bond with a modified duration of 6.5 will experience an approximate price change of _____ if yields rise by 75 bps.

A. −4.875%
B. +4.875%
C. −6.5%
D. −0.875%
ANSWER: A — Explanation

Price change ≈ −Modified Duration × ΔYTM = −6.5 × 0.0075 = −4.875%. Prices fall when yields rise.

EquityCFA L1Q3 of 6

Under the constant-growth DDM, which factor will NOT affect the intrinsic value of a stock?

A. The risk-free rate
B. The company's logo
C. The dividend payout ratio
D. Expected earnings growth
ANSWER: B — Explanation

The Gordon Growth Model: V = D₁ / (r − g). Dividends, required return and growth affect value; a logo does not.

DerivativesCFA L2Q4 of 6

A long forward position on a stock with no dividends has a value at expiration equal to:

A. F₀ − Sₜ
B. Sₜ − F₀
C. Sₜ × F₀
D. F₀ / Sₜ − 1
ANSWER: B — Explanation

A long forward profits when the spot price at expiration (Sₜ) exceeds the agreed forward price (F₀). Value = Sₜ − F₀.

Portfolio MgmtCFA L1Q5 of 6

An investor's utility function is U = E(r) − 0.5 × A × σ². With A = 3, E(r) = 12%, σ = 20%, what is their utility?

A. 0.06
B. 0.09
C. 0.12
D. 0.03
ANSWER: A — Explanation

U = 0.12 − 0.5 × 3 × (0.20)² = 0.12 − 0.06 = 0.06.

FSACFA L1Q6 of 6

Which of the following is classified as a financing activity on the cash flow statement?

A. Purchase of equipment
B. Payment of dividends
C. Collection of trade receivables
D. Sale of inventory
ANSWER: B — Explanation

Financing activities include transactions with capital providers — dividends paid to shareholders is a financing outflow under US GAAP.

Formula reference sheets

Download-ready condensed formula sheets for every major topic.

Fixed Income Formulas

Duration, Convexity, YTM, Spot rates, Forward rates

4 pages · PDFGet free

Equity Valuation Toolkit

DDM, FCFE/FCFF, Multiples, Residual Income

3 pages · PDFGet free

Derivatives Quick Sheet

Options P&L, Put-Call Parity, Futures pricing, Swaps

3 pages · PDFGet free

Quant & Statistics

Hypothesis testing, Regression, Time series, Probability

5 pages · PDFGet free

Free study guides

In-depth guides written by Prof. Rahul Malkan's team for every stage of prep.

CFA Level I — Complete Curriculum Roadmap

Reading-by-reading study plan with time estimates, difficulty ratings, and key formulas.

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Ethics & Professional Standards Deep Dive

The most important topic for CFA success. Complete scenario analysis and common pitfalls.

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How to Study for CFA: 300-Hour Framework

Proven schedule broken down by week and domain — covers all three levels.

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Mock Exam Strategy Guide

Time management, question prioritisation, and avoiding common exam-day traps.

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CFA Level II Vignette Mastery

Step-by-step approach to reading and answering item-set questions efficiently.

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Expert tips

Exam-day tips from toppers

1

Spend the first 60 seconds scanning all questions before answering any.

2

Ethics questions often have two plausible answers — the difference is always in the detail of the Code.

3

For fixed income and derivatives, draw timelines before calculating.

4

Eliminate obvious wrong answers first; then reason between the remaining two.

5

If unsure, guess — there is no negative marking on the CFA exam.

6

Don't spend more than 90 seconds on any single question during the exam.

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