How to study CMFAS Exam with minimum time and remember more

Studying hard vs. studying smart

Studying NOW can be down in either of the two methods: you can study hard now or you can study smart now. Which would you choose?

Everyone would agree that when it comes to studying, it may put a lot of stress on you. However, that would depend on how much stress you allow yourself to be soaked into while you study. If you study hard, it can be stressful and time consuming. But if you study smart, it can reduce stress and produce efficient and optimum results.

If you are one of those who intend to take the CMFAS Exam but you feel like your study habits aren’t working well enough for you, maybe it’s about time that you change how you study. Get rid of everything you ever thought of how studying should work. Traditionally, studying works best in a quiet environment or when you are free from “mind-noise”. But this doesn’t work for everybody.

In order to really know how to “study smart”, it is important to recognize that the goal here is to be able to study in a minimum time while being able to learn sufficiently enough as if you have studied for a long period of time. This works best when taking the CMFAS Exam because taking it isn’t the same as taking your usual exams in school where students are given enough days or weeks just to prep and study.

The following important facts will help you learn how to study smart based on your own terms:

• Reading is not a form of studying.

This is why some people think that studying can be time-consuming because they simply read the entire text without ever understanding. So, after doing so, they go through all over it again once a certain topic hits and they realize they never really understood what they read previously.

To study smart, you don’t need to read your reference materials 2-3 times because it would definitely be time consuming. Instead of merely reading, one should actively engage in the reference materials. This means one should absorb himself in the process of really constructing comprehension and meaning from the text and connect it with your previous or subsequent reading when you are studying a particular module. One must understand the whole examination module in one cohesive thought, and not divided according to chapters because when you take the exam, that is now it works. Multiple choice format exams will grill you on questions that involve principles and concepts all across the chapters in the syllabus. So it is important that you connect them all.

• It’s okay to “space out”.

Some people may think of studying as a continuous and a non-stop activity. The recommended number of hours of studying each of the modules in the CMFAS Exam as previously stated doesn’t mean that one has to study for an entire period of 40-hours non-stop! That would definitely drain you. And perhaps, that could be the reason why you think studying is really stressful- because you study “hard”.

Now when you study “smart”, there are periods during your study time that you can take a break. Yes, it is good for your brain to take a breather too. Allow yourself to enjoy some intermittent rest for a couple of minutes or so. So, yes, it’s okay to “space out” and not think of our studying. It’s your mind’s way of relaxing.

• It’s okay to cram.

Common sense dictates that when you study, you have to prepare ahead of time. It may mean allocating a period of 2 weeks just to study for a big exam. CMFAS Exams are a serious deal and this shouldn’t be taken lightly. So, some may think of preparing for weeks to study for the licensing exam.

Again, not all studying are made equal. As mentioned, what works for you may not work for them. So cramming may work for you. When you cram, you study intensely. And when you study intensely, you get more work done with less effort and less time. This keeps you from procrastinating so you will be able to learn everything that you need to in a short span of time. Yes, this is studying smart.

• Noises can be good and silence can be distracting.

Some people think that studying means going in a quiet place, free from distractions, so you can focus on your studying. But then again, what are the chances that you’ll just end up sleepy instead of really focusing on your studies. This kind of studying hard may end up allowing you to sleep hard. And may I remind, sleeping can a distraction to studying.

But when you study smart, you welcome noises. It keeps your adrenaline pumping to really push forward to study. In fact, most people may be able to concentrate better if there are some background noises.

Studying smart means studying based on how your mind works. We are all built differently and sometimes, what works for us when it comes to studying may not work for others. But either way, this form of studying shouldn’t be as time consuming while at the same time, allows you to absorb everything that you need to learn during your studying. That is also what you call efficient studying.

How to study efficiently

• Study in milestones.

You don’t have to study everything in one sitting. Allow your brain to rest. This will help you absorb more what you read.

• Create an environment conducive for studying.

You can have your own small nook where you can study while you listen to your favorite instrumental music.

• Rest

Your brain works best when it is well rested. Give yourself enough time to sleep and take time to exercise as well.

• Establish mini goals

Give yourself a time limit to finish a particular topic. This will keep you from dillydallying that may cause further delays when you study.

CMFAS Exam Strategies to help you out

Knowing everything that you need to know about CMFAS Examinations and their modules might not just be enough for some. And we try to help you out as much as we can. The following are some of the most helpful studying strategies that work best when taking the CMFAS Examination. All these would help you study efficiently and well enough for you to pass the exam.

• You can rely on the CMFAS Study Guides

Even MAS and the CMFAS promote efficient studying. Instead of taking too much time trying to find the books and reference materials for your readings, you will be granted with their Study Guides, each unique per module. This will allow you to focus on the topics that would come up in the exam. You can rely on these Study Guides as your study references so you’d know which external readings you’d like to focus on. Once you have successfully registered for a particular relevant exam, you are authorized to use the Study Guides. And yes, you may still be able to use it until the day of your exam. After which, your access for these materials will be subsequently revoked.

• Choose self-study or an external training

Again, one should choose what works best for you. You can self-study that is if your mind works best if you do it on your own. Or you can also choose review centers from other external institutions that are not affiliated with the Institute of Banking and Finance if you feel like you can do well with it. If you choose an external training, training costs may have to vary depending on the institution.

• Read carefully the test questions.

It couldn’t be stressed enough. It is always important to read thoroughly and carefully all the questions. Sometimes the questions can be tricky because they can be designed in such as way that a single word or phrases alone can change the entire concept in the question. Read. Every. Word.

• Be ready to deal with the multiple-choice questions.

Just because the exam format is in multiple choice doesn’t mean it’s easy. There are certain multiple choice questions that require one answer while there are some that may require multiple correct answers. What is required here is your comprehension what you have learned during your study.

There are also case study questions. Usually, they are being asked in Modules 6 and 6A. These are scenario type questions that will test your knowledge in real life situational problems.

If you wish to pursue a career in the field of financial advice in Singapore or you’d like to expand your financial services, this should be your next step and that is taking the CMFAS Exam. Yes, the exam can be tricky and challenging. But with a little help of smart studying, you can study in a minimum time but with maximum results.