When candidates search for the "Kaplan Schweser CFA Level 1 book," they are usually referring to the SchweserNotes – a five-volume set (plus a sixth for Quicksheet) that condenses the official curriculum into roughly 1,500 pages of digestible content.
However, the "book" is actually an ecosystem. A standard purchase of the SchweserNotes includes:
When candidates refer to the "Kaplan Schweser book," they are usually talking about the SchweserNotes™ for Level 1. This is not a single book but a curated set of study guides. The standard package typically includes: kaplan schweser cfa level 1 book
Unlike the official CFA curriculum (which runs roughly 3,400 pages), the SchweserNotes condense the essential information into roughly 1,500 pages. They do this by stripping out academic fluff, redundant explanations, and complex mathematical proofs that the CFA Institute includes for theoretical completeness.
Yes, unequivocally.
If you are a working professional with 200-300 hours to dedicate before the exam, skipping the Kaplan Schweser CFA Level 1 book is a strategic mistake. The official curriculum is a reference manual; Schweser is a study guide. One is for librarians; the other is for test-takers.
Buy Schweser if:
Don't buy Schweser if:
The Winning Formula: 70% SchweserNotes + 20% CFA Institute Ethics + 10% Official Mock Exams = CFA Level 1 success. When candidates search for the "Kaplan Schweser CFA
Kaplan maps every single Learning Outcome Statement (LOS) from the CFA Institute to a specific section in their notes. However, they do something the CFA Institute doesn't: they rank the LOS by difficulty and test frequency.