CFA© Exam Results Coming Soon, What if...?

This page contains two clearly separated parts: FinQuiz Editorial Additions (strategy + Level I resources) and the Original Guest Post below.

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On this page FinQuiz Editorial Additions What to do next (pass or fail) Recommended Level I resources Original Guest Post (Text Unchanged) FAQ

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FinQuiz Editorial Additions

This section is written by FinQuiz editors to help you translate “results-day anxiety” into an exam-focused plan. The original guest post appears later on this page and remains unchanged.

Mindset: Your task is not to predict the email. Your task is to prepare a decision tree so you can act quickly on results day without wasting another week.

What to do next (pass or fail)

  • If you pass: document what worked (schedule, question volume, weak-topic fixes). These are your “process assets.”
  • If you fail: avoid a full restart without analysis. Identify 2–4 drivers (time allocation, weak topics, low practice volume, exam pacing).
  • In both cases: keep your study system “warm” (light review + short quizzes) until your next plan begins.
Ethics reminder: Do not discuss or share specific exam questions or confidential details from the exam. Keep discussions high-level (topics, approach, study strategy).

Recommended Level I resources (FinQuiz)

Only Level I study resources are promoted in the editorial areas of this page.

Suggested pairing: Learn with Notes/Playlist; consolidate with Summary/Formula Sheet.

Original Guest Post (Text Unchanged)

Disclosure: The guest author does not endorse FinQuiz products. The content below is displayed with no edits, no paraphrasing, no reordering, and no link changes.


CFA exam results are emailed out with the title, “your CFA Exam Results” and many will be too afraid to open the email immediately.

Posts on the results and how to prepare range from the strictly informational to the frantic. I saw one post recently that suggested that the candidate visualize opening the email and seeing bad news!

This was supposed to prepare you for the worst, which would leave anything else as a pleasant surprise. Being a realist is ok, but I think this is going a little too far. Whether you think you passed the exam or not, your results on the 14th are going to affect the rest of your day.

Preparing for disappointment weeks in advance is just going to prolong the pain ahead of schedule and may not necessarily make the ultimate letdown any easier to accept.

I have a fairly relaxed personality and always had something of a zen outlook on exam results. I did what I could and the results will be what they are.

Worrying about the outcome should have been done in the months leading up to the exam instead of slacking off or whatever else was done instead of studying. If nothing else, a failed exam gives you the chance to learn to deal with rejection.

An interesting poll on the LinkedIn candidates group asked what people would do if their results were less than favorable. Of the 52 respondents, 73% reported that they would review all the material in preparation for the next effort while just 14% said they would focus on only the hardest topics or just focus on practice problems. About a tenth of respondents said they would give up and not take the exam again.

Clearly the majority would restudy the entire curriculum in preparation for next year’s test. This would be my vote. Only focusing on the most difficult topics may seem like an acceptable answer if you already have a grasp on the rest of the curriculum, but how frustrating would it be to fail the exam again but this time in the topic areas that were largely ignored?

If it is any solace to those that fail the exam, the majority of candidates I have talked to report that the second attempt at a level is much easier and that they picked up some valuable knowledge missed during their first attempt.

Whatever the results are next month, we’ll be here to help you pass the next exam.

happy studyin’

Joseph Hogue, CFA

Written by Joseph Hogue, CFA

Related Blog Posts

FAQ (Global candidates)

What should I do while waiting for CFA exam results?

Avoid “panic study.” Instead, prepare a plan for both outcomes: a light review routine (to maintain momentum) and a concrete schedule for either moving forward or rebuilding weak areas.

If I fail, should I restudy everything or focus only on weak topics?

Start with analysis: identify where points were lost (topic weakness, low question volume, pacing, fatigue, formula recall). Then decide whether you need broad restudy or targeted rebuilding plus more practice.

Can I discuss exam questions with others on social media or chat groups?

Keep discussion high-level (study strategies and topic areas). Avoid sharing or reconstructing specific exam questions or confidential exam details.

How do I build a better plan for my next attempt?

Convert mistakes into systems: weekly pacing targets, frequent mixed-topic practice, and structured review of incorrect answers. Results improve when you focus on execution quality, not just total hours.

How should I use the last 4–6 weeks before my next exam?

Shift to review and practice: mixed-topic timed sets, formula recall, and targeted revision of weak areas. Prioritize exam endurance and accuracy under time constraints.