What After CFA Results?
Chartered Financial Analyst Exam 2025 ( CFA Exam )
Registration - 12 Aug '25 - 12 Feb '26
Deciding what to do after the CFA result declaration is an important decision. Read the article below to know what to do after the CFA results have been announced.
What After CFA Result: CFA exam result will be declared by the CFA Institute. The August Level 3 CFA exam was conducted from August 15, 2025, to August 19, 2025. The result is usually released in 5-7 weeks and hence, the result is expected in October 2025 for the August exams. CFA Level 1 result 2025 was released on October 7, 2025, for the August session. The Level 2 and 3 CFA results will also be announced soon.
Whether a candidate has successfully cleared the CFA exam or they are planning to retake it, the next step is crucial in one’s CFA journey. Knowing what to do after the CFA results are announced is important to set the next course of action and the efforts required to make and achieve long term professional goals. Read the article below to know the opportunities and options available after the CFA exam results are announced and what to do after the CFA results.
- Interpreting CFA Results
- What After CFA Result?
- Passed the CFA Exam
- Didn’t Pass the CFA Exam
Interpreting CFA Results
The CFA results are emailed to the students after release. The CFA Institute does not make the CFA results public. The CFA result has some elements which help students understand their performance and results. These are
- Minimum Passing Score: MPS is the thin grey line which represents the minimum score that a student can get in the CFA exam. CFA Institute uses a rigorous method called the Angoff Method to determine the MPS.
- Bold Grey Line: The thicker grey line represents the scores of the students in the CFA exam. If the thick grey line lies above the MPS line, it means they have passed the exam but if it lies below the MPS then it means they have faltered.
- Confidence Interval: The light blue box around the candidate's score represents a 90% confidence interval.
- Purple Dashed Line: It is for the 90th percentile score which means 10% of students who appeared for the exam scored higher than this in the CFA exam.
- Black Dotted Line: This represents the 10th percentile score which means 10% of students who appeared for the exam scored less than this on the exam.
Interpreting CFA Results
What After CFA Result?
There are two cases, i.e. if a student has passed or if he or she has failed.
Passed the CFA Exam
If the student has passed the CFA exam, here is what to do now:
-
Plan for the Next CFA Level
- Level 1 graduates should start preparing for the Level 2 CFA exam which dives deeper into asset valuation, economics and corporate finance. Students should dedicate enough time to topics such as derivatives, equity valuations, etc.
- Level 2 graduates should gear up for the CFA Level 3 exam. This level of the CFA exam focuses on portfolio management and wealth planning. It also integrates concepts from previous levels into practical, real world applications.
- Level 3 graduates should apply for the CFA charter as soon as they receive their results. They must ensure that they meet the work experience, 4,000 work hours over three years in investment related roles.
Also Read:
| CFA: Cost, Curriculum, Difficulty | When is the CFA exam 2025? |
For the Level 1 exam candidates, the CFA Institute will only release a pass or fail result. There will be no detailed result breakdown in any specific section or cores. They will only receive a performance band, if they pass the exam.
On the other hand, CFA level 2 and 3 candidates will receive a pass or fail result along with the detailed breakdown of the CFA result and scorecard. Along with the performance band, they can check how they did in the sections and core areas.
-
Add Latest Information to the LinkedIn Profile and Work Resume
After clearing the CFA exam, students should focus on updating their professional resume, which highlights their CFA accomplishments. They should also update their LinkedIn profiles to attract recruiters and companies looking for CFAs. They can emphasize on the skills they gained, including ethical decision-making, financial analysis and portfolio management.
-
Explore Career Opportunities
CFA Charterholders are equipped with the skills required to work at senior-level positions in risk management, portfolio management, investment management, etc. The CFA charter can boost an individual’s career exponentially. CFA charterholders have many career opportunities including:
| Job Profile |
Average Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Portfolio Manager |
INR 13.10 LPA |
| Risk Analyst/ Risk Manager |
INR 12.79 LPA |
| Investment Banker |
INR 22 LPA |
| Research Analyst |
INR 4.9 LPA |
| Private Wealth Manager |
INR 12 LPA |
Such individuals are hired by some of the top firms and MNCs in India including JP Morgan and Co., Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Credit Suisse, Crisil, TATA Sons, Deloitte, KPMG, Ernst & Yong, PwC, Bajaj Finance, etc.
Also Read: Career After CFA
-
Building The Network
It is important for CFA graduates to strengthen their network and connect with the members of the CFA society. Networking after completing the CFA journey is important because the world of finance is highly competitive, and networking not only acts as a tool but a necessity for career advancement.
Students can contact alumni, members of the CFA Institute and other CFA charterholders at events, online groups and forums. This will also help the students enhance their knowledge, boost career opportunities
Also Read:
Didn’t Pass the CFA Exam
Failing the CFA exam can be disheartening but it is not the end of the road. Many successful CFA charterholders also have faced similar challenges but have not given up. Here is how one can handle this situation:
-
Analyze the CFA Results
After the CFA result declaration, students should focus on analyzing their results. They can review their performance and identify what needs improvement. They should focus on topics which they find difficult and try to understand what brought their score down. CFA Institute now releases a better summary of the performance of the students in CFA exam. Thus, students can interpret the CFA results and analyse which topic area needs more focus and how to alter their preparation accordingly.
-
Developing a Preparation Plan
Students should create a CFA preparation plan to give enough time to all the topics on the CFA curriculum, and give a little more time to the topics they find more challenging, including it is Fixed Income, Derivatives, and Financial Reporting and Analysis. To practice better, students must use CFA mock tests and CFA Institute’s resources to practice. Solving the mock tests will increase speed. Students can also join study groups and use YouTube videos to prepare better.
-
Re-register for the CFA Exam
CFA exam is the most challenging finance certification. Even if a student has failed an exam, they can use this experience as motivation to take their next attempt with better dedication and determination. They should register again for the exam in next exam window. They should analyze the previous performance and learn how to score better in the next.
Also Read: CFA exam application form 2025
-
Alternatives
Students have the option of choosing other certifications as an alternative to the CFA certification. Students can choose certifications such as Financial Risk Management, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, etc.
Also Read: Best CFA Alternative Courses
5. Long Term Career Planning
Whether you pass or fail, irrespective of CFA results, students should focus on their future career goals. They can start by setting clear goals and objectives. They should know whether they want to specialize in investment analysis, risk management or portfolio management. They can pursue internships and roles that align with their long term goals. At the same time, they should also focus on enhancing soft skills such as leadership, communication, time management, etc., which are important for the finance and investment industry.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?
CFA exam results are released according to the following timelines
CFA results are released online only. Candidates who appeared for the CFA exam will get an email regarding their CFA results and can check through candidate portal.