All that's standing between you and your CFP® marks is passing the Exam. You're ready to get it done so you can start seeing all the awesome benefits of CFP® certification and avoid the extra time, expense, and headache of retakes. We want that for you, too, so we're sharing our best CFP® Exam tips to help you pass the first time.
How to Pass the CFP® Exam: Know Your Enemy
Before you can take on the CFP® Exam, you need to know what you’re up against. Picture the test as the “final boss” of your CFP® quest—and this boss loves multiple-choice questions.
Format
The exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions. These are mainly stand-alone questions—one or two sentences of context with a single question about it. There are also some longer scenarios and case studies that with several questions related to the information you're given.
Taking the CFP® Exam is a full-day event, with six hours of testing time, split into two 3-hour sessions with a scheduled 40-minute break in between. Each session is divided (think like quarters in a basketball game), and you have to finish section 1a before moving to 1b, and once you finish a quarter, you can't go back. So, you'll have four parts in total.
Read more about it: Don't let case studies stress you out! Check out our tips on acing them in our article, Tackling Case Studies on the CFP® Exam.
Content
The CFP® Exam covers eight Principal Knowledge topics:
- Professional Conduct and Regulation (8%)
- General Principles of Financial Planning (15%)
- Risk Management and Insurance Planning (11%)
- Investment Planning (17%)
- Tax Planning (14%)
- Retirement savings and Income Planning (18%)
- Estate Planning (10%)
- Psychology of Financial Planning (7%)
When you know what to expect, what to study, and what happens on exam day, you're better prepared to pass the CFP® Exam the first time!
Know Your Odds
Is the CFP® Exam hard? Sure. But it’s not impossible. On average, the pass rate hovers between 62% and 67%. What does that mean for you? If you prepare with the right strategy and mindset, you’re likely to join the ranks of those who pass on the first try. (But let’s stack those odds even higher, shall we?)
Study Strategy Tips to Pass the CFP® Exam
You wouldn’t charge into an actual battle without a plan—so don’t head into exam day without one. First, let's look at some tips related to exam prep and studying.
How Long Should You Study?
CFP Board recommends you put in at least 250 hours of study time. But here’s the thing: It’s not about just logging hours. Quality beats quantity every time. Ten hours spent zoning out over the IRS tax code won’t help as much as two laser-focused hours on a tough topic you actually need to master.
Make the most of your study time
- Track your time and tweak as you go.
- Use active study techniques—quiz yourself, explain concepts to a friend who doesn't work in finance (or a pet who doesn't work in finance)
- Take practice tests and prioritize studying your weaker areas
Build a Study Schedule That Works for You
The best CFP® Exam tips are the ones that fit into your real life—not the life you wish you had. Be honest about your obligations (work, family, Netflix binges—hey, balance is part of success).
- Calendar Power-Up: Block specific, non-negotiable study slots each week.
- Backward Planning: Start with your exam date and plan backwards to map out your content coverage.
- When Are You Sharpest?: Morning person? Study then. Night owl? Use those late hours.
- Flexibility: Allow for off days and life surprises—you’re human.
And if you do get off track, it's okay! Just pick up where you left off and dive back in.
Know the Level of Depth Required
It's very easy to get into the weeds on topics when you're studying for the CFP® Exam. This slows you down and takes up valuable brain space. For example, yes you need to understand the benefits and challenges of an LLC. No, you don't need to know that Wyoming was the first state to enact a law authorizing the creation of LLCs in 1977.
Instead, know the level at which you need to know the Principal Knowledge Topics and how to apply them to basic and complex client scenarios and evaluate options to recommend solutions.
Big picture: Focus on “why” and “how,” not just “what.”
Use a Review Course (BIF Has Your Back!)
Look, nobody said you have to go it alone. The best CFP® Exam Review course (like The BIF Review!) offers the following benefits:
- Provides a variety of materials and resources, including live instruction, textbooks, and practice questions to meet a variety of learning needs
- Targets the specific material covered on the exam (and again, keeps you out of the weeds!)
- Offers support and guidance to answer your questions and helps you stay on track
- Helps you stay accountable and progressing forward towards exam day.
Non-study CFP® Exam Tips
There's more to getting ready for the CFP® Exam than cracking books or watching a lecture. Let's look at the non-studying things you can do to pass the CFP® Exam on the first try.
Request Needed Accommodations
If you need testing accommodations due to a documented disability, such as having ADHD or low-vision, you’re entitled to them, but you have to request them early. The process takes time and there’s paperwork involved. Don’t wait until you’re just weeks out.
Use a Mock Exam to Pace Yourself
Remember, there are four sections to the exam, and you have to finish one before you move on—no going back! Make sure you take a mock exam to not only test your knowledge of the material, but also to know what a six-exam feels like and how to pace yourself.
Conquer Test Anxiety
- Use deep breathing, positive visualization, or mindfulness techniques to get a handle on anxiety
- Reframe anxiety as excitement—you’re ready for this and nerves just mean you care
- Speak kindly to yourself
Prioritize Self-Care
- Don't sacrifice too much sleep for studying. Fatigue will burn you out fast. (Seriously, don’t underestimate it.)
- Keep your energy up with nutritious meals and plenty of water
- Take breaks during study sessions so your brain doesn’t short-circuit
Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint so you want to take care of your physical and mental well-being during the process.
Exam Day Tips
You made it! Let’s make sure those last details don’t trip you up.
- Prepare Your Materials: Confirm you have your ID, admission ticket, approved calculator, snacks, and comfy clothes.
- Plan Your Route: Know how you’re getting to the test center and how long it takes. Leave wiggle room for traffic or delays.
- Mindfulness Check: Have a pre-exam ritual (music, deep breaths, stretching)—anything to calm your nerves.
- Trust Your Prep: If you blank on a question, make your best educated guess, flag it, and move on. You can circle back if there’s time.
Listen up: Check out this BIF Bites podcast episode where Adam tells you what to expect when taking the CFP® Exam in The Room Where It Happens.
Try The BIF Review FREE for 30 Days
With The BIF Review, you'll get the resources, materials, and support you need. Try it yourself free for 30 days and see why 90% of our Exam Ready students go on to pass the CFP® Exam on the first try!
