GARP 2014 Practice Exam Part 1

[Thierry S]

Hi David,

I miserably failed when taking the Practice Exam 2014 (25 questions, download from GARP library) 12/25..... altough I scored above 70% when doing all BT Mock exams. Do the BT Mock exam need an update or do they really reflect the exam level?

I might just had a bad day, but I am a bit scared now as the exam is in a week.

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Hi @Thierry S

That's "only" a difference of ~5 correct questions and represents only one data point on the GARP Practice exam side; i.e., would pass statistical significance (a good idea for a test question!)?

Re: Do the BT Mock exam need an update? No, current Part 1 do not need an update, the knowledge points are essentially unchanged. (Although we will be updating them in second semester). I don't see any glaring, material domain/concept differences. But they do "want" an update, it's true.

70% on each of our P1 Mocks means you are in good shape.

The larger factor, IMO, is that the GARP practice exams are frankly quite variable in quality and coverage (It looks to me like this 2014 is a notch or two more difficult than their prior practice exams, it looks a degree tougher than before), I don't *think* they've been widely accused of being highly predictive . Nevertheless and more importantly, any 25 question exam of P1, by definition, can only query a fraction of the P1 material. So "sampling variation" is really significant. Our Mocks tend to run at least as difficult, and often more difficult, so above 70% on the BT exams is a strong, positive indicator. I hope that helps, good luck! Thanks,

 

[Wolf]

I too have preformed ok on my mocks, but like Thierry S struggled with GARP (2013 &) 2014.
I would like to hear others on the forum how they have done?

To date:
BT Mocks:
A = 18/25
B = 18/25
C = 20 /25
D = 13/25 (this I found pretty hard but it resembles feedback from others on this forum).
E = 18/25
I am relieved to hear that David belives that above 70% on BT exams is a strong, positve indicator.

The 3 Kaplan 2013 papers I did pretty well in.
1st Practise exam : 69
2nd Practise exam: 79
Final review: 76

The GARP practise exam:
2011: 21/25
2012: 19/25
However
2013: 15/25
2014: 13/25
Did others find GARP 2013 & 2014 difficult?

I have left Kaplan 2014 Final Review for this weekend.

Wolf

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Thanks @Wolf that is helpful feedback data (+1 for community contribution). And it's very interesting, to me:

1. Arguably that's strong central tendency (i.e., 18 to 20). Given the exam's sampling variation, I would normally expect a higher average dispersion, but this may reflect your apparently above-average preparation ...
2. Except notably for the two lowest, which are GARP's 2014 and our Mock D (then GARP's 2013). Very helpful, thank you!

 

[plulutes]

Agree with both Wolf and Thierry in the apparent anomaly regarding GARP 2014 and Mock D. My scores have been:
Mock A: 15/25=60%
Mock B: 20/25=80%
Mock C: 18/25=72%
Mock D: 16/25=64%
Mock E: 20/25=80%
GARP 2011; Exam #1: 21/25 =84%, and Exam #2: 22/25= 88%
GARP 2013; 20/25=80%
GARP 2014; 16/25=64%. That's my summary. Most challenging to me so far is when the question is asking for some mental gymnastics between subjects within the question, and/or deciphering what exactly the question is, or how best to approach the solution. Some minor differences in terminology is sometimes confusing after studying only BT material vs. some GARP questions' terms used. My big challenge, in all, is the time it's taking me to settle in my mind what the correct approach is towards answering a question; aka, figuring out how/what I'm supposed to be solving. So, I'm grinding out my answers. Anyway, Dave, I hope this adds a bit to your analysis of BT material and additonal confirmation about updates for GARP 2014 practice exam (I think they got tired of hearing your exams were much harder!, they still get me enough of the time.)

Thanks Dave. And good luck Thierry and Wolf.

 

[Wolf]

Plulutes, good luck to you too.

Thank you for your post and scores.

I thought I would quickly mention that Kaplan Review exam for both 2013 and 2014 were exactly the same. (I saved Kaplan 2014 for the last weekend).
I am pretty dissapointed and let down with Kaplan. It confirms my thoughts that it is just a money making machine.

Oh well, at least I saved some BT daily and weekly questions which should see me through this week.

Regards
Wolf.

 

[EO]

Mock A: 21/25=84%
Mock B: 19/25=76%
Mock C: 23/25 = 92%
Mock D: 16/25=64%
Mock E: 20/25=80%
GARP 2011; Exam #1: 21/25 =84%, and Exam #2: 24/25= 96%
GARP 2012: 25/25 = 100%
GARP 2013; 24/25=96%
GARP 2014: 16/25 = 64%
PASS / FAIL: PASS
Notes: 1/1/1/1
- Garp 2014 was the first i did, about 3 weeks ago. I dont really think it is that hard, i just hadn't worked much yet;
- Mock D difficult indeed!
- BT's mock are much more difficult than Garp's practice exams
- I wish i had started using BT much earlier. Instead, I wasted most of my time on Schweser...
I hope this is helpful for other candidates. Good luck!

 

[Pflik]

i'm doing part 2 but garps practice exam for 2014 is really difficult compared to bt. which is strange because for part1 i remember bt to be far beyond the difficulty of the practice exams to the point i was hopeless... (i did manage to score very very well on the actual exam though)

 

[Jo_]

To confirm the sample variance and harder 2014 test:

GARP 2011: 21/25
GARP 2012: 17/25
GARP 2013; 23/25
GARP 2014: 16/25

BT B: 19/25
BT C: 22/24

Makes and overall average of ~80%, hope that puts me in good shape. Main lesson learnt: i have plenty of time left, should work slower with more care to little stupid errors.

 

[Pflik]

To confirm the sample variance and harder 2014 test:

GARP 2011: 21/25
GARP 2012: 17/25
GARP 2013; 23/25
GARP 2014: 16/25

BT B: 19/25
BT C: 22/24

Makes and overall average of ~80%, hope that puts me in good shape. Main lesson learnt: i have plenty of time left, should work slower with more care to little stupid errors.

Just be sure to finish all the questions though, A question answered in doubt is worth more than an unanswered question.

First part I just skipped over everything i didn't know right away... left me with quite some time to revisit all the skipped questions and the score was much better than i anticipated.

 

[Jo_]

First part I just skipped over everything i didn't know right away... left me with quite some time to revisit all the skipped questions and the score was much better than i anticipated.

Thanks you for sharing your experience. I will definitely keep track of time and pace and indeed adopt your method if i see i would get short in time.

 

[alinafrmmaster]

Hi guys,

I just want some advice! I am aiming for the November FRM exam, but so far my scores are pretty disappointing, I keep getting around 50-60%, I did the GARP 2010 but without restricting time and using the formulas and managed to get 70%, today I did MOck A with no time restriction and formulas and got 60%, MOck B so far seems to be easier I am on 70%. However I am wondering what is the best approach to study, to first do all the Mocks and then move to regular exercises. Or should I first do regular exercises?? I don't have much time left and I was wondering how much on average time would I need to pass the November exam?? How quickly can you see improvement? I can delay the exam before 15 October. I am considering that possibility. What would you advice??

 

[Em]

I got 14/25 a week before the May Part 1 exam and managed to get the first quartile for all part 1 topics. So, don't be discouraged by the score you got.

My best advise is to keep practicing and learn from the mistakes you commit in the PQs.

 

[frmexam]

Garp practice tests only have 20 practice questions not sure why everyone posted their scores for 25 questions?

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

@frmexam recently, GARP's Part 1 has 25 questions and Part 2 has 20 questions, where both are 25% of the actual exam (100 and 80). From the 2014:
"The 2014 FRM Practice Exam for Part I contains 25 multiple-choice questions and the 2014 FRM Practice Exam for Part II contains 20 multiple-choice questions. Note that the 2014 FRM Exam Part I will contain 100 multiple-choice questions and the 2014 FRM Exam Part II will contain 80 multiple-choice questions. The Practice Exams were designed to be shorter to allow candidates to calibrate their preparedness without being overwhelming."

 

[tosuhn]

Hi @David Harper CFA FRM CIPM just wondering for the passing mark for FRM part I exam, is it 70% or 75%?
Regards,
Sun

 

[ShaktiRathore]

Hi @David Harper CFA FRM CIPM just wondering for the passing mark for FRM part I exam, is it 70% or 75%?
Regards,
Sun

Hi,
Visit for passing sscore visit: https://forum.bionicturtle.com/threads/percentage-of-correct-answers-to-pass.7028/#post-24587
Thanks

 

[S666]

I thought with the run up to the real exam on Saturday I would post my mock scores for comparison - I know there must be some out there like me that try to compare their performance to other to gauge how well prepared they are...

Mock A: 16/25=64%
Mock B: 19/25=76%
Mock C: 23/25 = 92%
Mock D: 16/25 = 64%
Mock E: 19/25 = 76%
GARP 2010: 21/25 = 84%
GARP 2011; Exam #1: 20/25 =80%, and Exam #2: 19/25= 76%
GARP 2012: 24/25 = 96%
GARP 2013; 24/25=96%
GARP 2014: 21/25 = 84%
GARP 2014: 22/25 = 88%
Schweser 2015 1st Practise exam : 85/100 = 85%
Schweser 2015 2nd Practise exam: 82/100 = 82%

I feel relatively confident for Saturday but trying not to get complacent!!!

EDIT: Just to update for completeness and posterity...I managed to pass the exam with 1-1-1-1 score matrix.