CFA Level 1 study plan generator
Enter your exam date and how many hours you can study each week. The tool divides your available time across the ten Level 1 subjects in proportion to their exam weights, holding back the final three weeks for revision and mock exams. Results appear immediately, with no account required.
Pick a future exam date to see the plan.
The 300-hour figure is self-reported by candidates to CFA Institute rather than an official recommendation. Those with a finance background often need less.
How the allocation works
Each subject receives hours in proportion to its share of the exam. Ethics carries 15 to 20 percent and so receives the most; Derivatives carries 5 to 8 percent and receives less. The tool uses the midpoint of each published range.
The last three weeks are separated from new material. That window is for full-length mocks, reviewing wrong answers, and revisiting Ethics, which often decides the outcome for candidates near the passing threshold.
The background multiplier adjusts the reference target rather than the split. People already working in finance usually need fewer hours on Corporate Issuers and Equity, but still need Ethics from scratch, because that subject tests a specific code rather than experience.
Why the 300-hour figure deserves caution
The 300-hour number appears everywhere, but it is self-reported by candidates after the exam rather than an official recommendation. It is the average of a very wide distribution.
So 300 hours guarantees nothing. Someone spreading study over six months and forgetting the early material needs considerably more than someone working intensively across three. Quality of study hours matters more than the total, and the only reliable check is a full mock under exam conditions.
Getting value from the plan
A plan only helps if you check it against reality every couple of weeks. If you fall short of the target every single week, the weekly hours figure you entered is wrong rather than your willpower. Correct that number to match your actual life and regenerate.
Use the copy button to paste it into a notes app, or print it and stick it where you study. If you want per-subject progress tracked automatically alongside right and wrong answer statistics, the practice side of LeaPrep does that for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
I only have two months. Is that enough?
It depends on your weekly hours and your background. The tool flags when your available total falls below the reference figure. If the gap is large, deferring is usually cheaper than forfeiting the exam fee.
Why does Ethics get so many hours?
It is the largest single subject at 15 to 20 percent of the exam, and CFA Institute applies an additional Ethics adjustment for candidates close to the passing threshold.
Does the plan account for days off?
Indirectly. Enter the hours you can genuinely sustain in an average week, already discounted for busy days, rather than an ideal figure.
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