RATIONALES | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST EXAM UPDATE
CORE DOMAINS*
• Ethical and Professional Standards*
• Quantitative Methods*
• Economics*
• Financial Statement Analysis*
• Corporate Issuers*
• Equity Investments*
• Fixed Income*
• Derivatives*
• Alternative Investments*
, • Portfolio Management*
INTRODUCTION*
The CFA Level 1 examination evaluates a candidate’s understanding of foun
SECTION ONE (QUESTIONS 1–50)
1. An analyst calculates the future value of an investment using annual compounding. Which factor will
increase the future value most significantly?
A. Lower interest rate
B. Shorter investment horizon
C. Higher compounding frequency
D. Lower principal amount
🟢 Correct Answer: C. Higher compounding frequency
🔴 Explanation: More frequent compounding increases the effective annual return, resulting in a higher
future value.
2. Which statement best describes the primary purpose of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics?
A. To maximize corporate profits
B. To promote integrity and professionalism in investment markets
C. To regulate accounting standards globally
D. To establish tax regulations for investment firms
🟢 Correct Answer: B. To promote integrity and professionalism in investment markets
,🔴 Explanation: The CFA Institute Code of Ethics promotes ethical conduct and integrity among investment
professionals.
3. A company reports revenue before cash is received from customers. This accounting method is known
as:
A. Accrual accounting
B. Cash accounting
C. Liquidation accounting
D. Tax accounting
🟢 Correct Answer: A. Accrual accounting
🔴 Explanation: Accrual accounting recognizes revenue when earned rather than when cash is received.
4. Which economic indicator is generally considered a lagging indicator?
A. Stock market returns
B. Building permits
C. Unemployment rate
D. Manufacturing orders
🟢 Correct Answer: C. Unemployment rate
🔴 Explanation: Unemployment typically changes after economic conditions have already shifted, making it
a lagging indicator.
5. An investor buys a bond at a premium. Which statement is most accurate?
A. Coupon rate is lower than market rate
B. Coupon rate equals market rate
C. Coupon rate is higher than market rate
D. Bond has no maturity date
, 🟢 Correct Answer: C. Coupon rate is higher than market rate
🔴 Explanation: Premium bonds pay coupon rates above prevailing market yields.
6. Which portfolio risk can be eliminated through diversification?
A. Market risk
B. Interest rate risk
C. Systematic risk
D. Unsystematic risk
🟢 Correct Answer: D. Unsystematic risk
🔴 Explanation: Diversification reduces company-specific or unsystematic risk but not market-wide
systematic risk.
7. If the present value of expected cash inflows exceeds the initial investment, the net present value (NPV)
is:
A. Negative
B. Zero
C. Positive
D. Undefined
🟢 Correct Answer: C. Positive
🔴 Explanation: Positive NPV indicates expected returns exceed the project’s required return.
8. Which financial statement reports a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity?
A. Income statement
B. Balance sheet