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Principles Candidate Bulletin

 

13 December 2007

 

Congratulations on enrolling in the CIPM study and exam program. As the head of the program, I am pleased to welcome you personally. This candidate bulletin is designed to familiarize you with the resources available as you prepare for the Principles exam. It addresses: 

 

 

Schedule Exam Appointment
Knowing the date of your exam appointment may help you keep your preparation on track. If you have not already scheduled your exam appointment with Pearson VUE, I strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and CIPM fees are nonrefundable, nondeferrable, and nontransferable.

 

Curriculum Development
The 2008 CIPM Principles curriculum has been enriched by the addition of a study session devoted to equity portfolio characteristics analysis. Authors of investment textbooks have written about equity characteristics from the perspective of security analysts and portfolio managers, but Study Session IV in the curriculum released 1 November 2007 distinctively considers this topic from the performance professional's point of view.

 

Study Plans
Recognizing that the curriculum covers a great deal of material, we have developed suggested study plans that break each study session into subtopics, and we have restructured the online courseware accordingly. The suggested study plans, which are presented under the heading "Planning Your Study" in the resources section of the courseware, may help you manage your preparation time.

 

Courseware Features
Upgraded as of 1 November 2007, the online courseware includes several features designed to help you master the curriculum:

 

  • Videos that introduce each study session
  • Print functionality for entire study sessions and individual screens
  • Bookmarking and go-to-section/page functionality
  • Notetaking feature where you type notes directly onto the courseware screen
  • Self-evaluation checklists at the close of each study session

 

Instructions for navigating the courseware and using all its features are located in the Course Introduction that starts on the first page of the courseware.

 

Sample Exam
Your enrollment in the CIPM program includes unlimited access to an online sample exam through 30 April 2008. The sample exam is conveniently accessible through the online courseware.

 

The online sample exam consists of multiple choice questions that previously appeared on actual exams. Taking the sample exam will familiarize you with the format of the CIPM Principles exam, and reviewing the feedback may help you identify topical strengths and weaknesses.

 

Please bear in mind that the CIPM exams do not include questions on each and every concept in the curriculum. Thus a concept that is tested on the sample exam may not appear on the actual exam, and concepts that appear on the actual exam may not be among those tested on the sample exam. The Learning Outcome Statements are the best guide to the concepts that you may be asked about when you sit for the actual exam.

 

Study Tips
It's most important to manage your time effectively, especially if this is your first experience with a self-directed, self-study distance learning program. However, time management is also a tremendous challenge in view of all the demands you meet on the job and the commitments you honor in your personal life. Here are a few practical suggestions for budgeting your time:

 

  • After scheduling your exam, determine how many weeks are available for your preparation. Take into account any vacation plans and upcoming deadlines at work.
  • Use the suggested study plans to develop a week-by-week working calendar. You may find as you proceed through the material that one topic requires less time than anticipated while another calls for more time.
  • Get started! Many candidates are surprised to discover that the Principles curriculum is broader and more difficult than they expected. If you get under way as soon as possible and keep moving ahead, you may find that you have a little extra time to review before exam day.
  • As the date of your exam appointment draws near, refer to the end-of-study-session evaluation checklists to determine which topics or concepts merit further review.

 

Finally, be sure to take a look at the candidate resources section of the CIPM website. It contains useful information on what to expect when you schedule, prepare for, and take the exam.

 

Best wishes in your study!

 

Philip Lawton, CFA, CIPM
Head, CIPM Program