Earning the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing can be a transformative step for finance professionals looking to align their careers with the future of sustainable investing. However, passing the exam requires careful planning, focused study, and, most of all, strategic preparation. Here are our top tips to help you succeed and make the most of your certification journey.
1. Understand the Curriculum Inside and Out
The first step in your preparation is to familiarise yourself with the official CFA Institute ESG curriculum. The exam covers a broad range of topics. By thoroughly understanding the structure and content of the syllabus, you can prioritise key topics and allocate your study time effectively.
2. Focus on Key Topics
While covering the entire syllabus is important, certain areas carry more weight in the exam. As inferred from the official website (https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/esg-certification#overview-to-esg-investing-and-the-esg-market), up to 50% of the questions might refer to topics touched in the following sections:
- ESG analysis, valuation and integration (weight 20-30%)
- ESG integrated portfolio construction and management (weight 10-20%)
Hence, we strongly suggest you to focus on understand properly the topics covered in these sections
3. Understand the exam methodology
The exam is based on the material provided. Therefore, it is paramount to focus the study on the Curriculum and to ensure that it is quick enough to answer the questions (100 questions for 140 minutes → 43 seconds per question).
An insight: during the exam, it will be possible to flag the questions for review before submitting
4. Create a Comprehensive Study Plan
With a clear understanding of the curriculum and the key topics, create a study plan that breaks down the material into manageable sections. Also, take into account the length of the chapters - “Environment”, "ESG analysis, valuation and integration", and “ESG integrated portfolio construction and management” are particularly long and dense of information - take some more time to review them adequately.
Plus, as previously said, be sure to save some time to practice for the exam.
5. Practise with Mock Exams
Mock exams are an essential component of your preparation. They replicate the structure, methodology and timing of the actual exam, allowing you to:
- Familiarise yourself with question types and format.
- Build confidence in managing time during the exam.
- Identify weak areas that require additional focus.
What we do:
We help you exactly on the last point, offering high-quality mock exams tailored to the CFA ESG Certificate. These mock exams mirror the official exam’s format and complexity, providing an invaluable tool for preparation. By practising with these tests, you can fine-tune your skills and approach the actual exam with confidence.
