CFA® Program — Entry Level CFA Level I:
CFA Level I:
Foundations of Finance
Level I focuses on investment tools, ethical standards, and foundational asset classes. It is the rigorous gateway to the Charter, testing your speed, precision, and breadth of knowledge.
180 MCQ Questions
4.5 Hours Total Testing Time
4 Exam Windows / Year
300+ Study Hours Rec.
Curriculum Structure
Topic Area Weightages
The 2025/2026 CFA Level I curriculum is divided into 10 topic areas. Your strategy should be built around these weightages.
Level I 10 Topics
| Subject | Weightage | Curriculum Focus & Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical and Professional Standards | 15–20% | The bedrock of the Charter. Focuses on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Covers GIPS (Global Investment Performance Standards) and professional integrity in various scenarios. |
| Financial Statement Analysis (FSA) | 11–14% | Learning to read between the lines of financial reports. Focuses on income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and inventory/long-lived asset accounting. Crucial for any analyst role. |
| Equity Investments | 11–14% | Understanding market structures, indices, and the characteristics of common and preferred stocks. Introduces basic valuation models like Gordon Growth and P/E multiples. |
| Fixed Income | 11–14% | The world of bonds and debt instruments. Covers yield measures, duration, convexity, and credit analysis. Focuses on risk-return characteristics of debt vs. equity. |
| Portfolio Management | 8–12% | The final synthesis. Introduces modern portfolio theory, risk management, and the Investment Policy Statement (IPS). Lays the groundwork for Levels II and III. |
| Alternative Investments | 7–10% | Explores hedge funds, private equity, real estate, and commodities. Understand why institutions allocate to these assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds. |
| Quantitative Methods | 6–9% | The mathematical language of finance. Includes time value of money, statistical concepts, probability distributions, sampling, and hypothesis testing. Essential for understanding risk and return. |
| Economics | 6–9% | Covers microeconomic principles of demand and supply, market structures, and macroeconomic indicators. Includes international trade, exchange rates, and the impact of government policy on markets. |
| Corporate Issuers | 6–9% | Explores how companies make financial decisions. Includes corporate governance, capital budgeting, cost of capital, and working capital management. Bridges the gap between company operations and investor valuation. |
| Derivatives | 5–8% | Introduction to forwards, futures, options, and swaps. Focuses on how these instruments are structured and used for hedging and speculation. |
The CapTech Advantage Why the Serious Start
Why the Serious Start
Level I with Us
CFA Level I is not just about passing an exam; it's about building the vocabulary of finance. At CapTech Academy, we don't just teach you formulas. We teach you how a CFA Charterholder uses them in the real world.
- 300+ Live Hours: Exhaustive coverage of every LOS (Learning Outcome Statement).
- HYN Cycle: Concept → Formula → Example → Trap.
- Weekly Mocks: 10+ full-length mocks before the final day.
- Direct Mentorship: Personal doubt clearing with H.K. Dwivedi.
Level I Strategy
Breadth over Depth
"Level I tests your ability to navigate the entire ocean of finance. You don't need to dive 1000 feet deep yet, but you must know where every reef is. Our curriculum is designed for speed and retention."