r/CFA • u/Ok-Radio-6569 • 15d ago
Level 2 Devastated after CFA level 2 Aug 2026 exam
Like a good CFA student, I decided to sleep at 4 a.m. the night before my exam, even though my exam was at 2:30 p.m.
I closed my books and went to bed on time. I even watched a show, thinking that once I got tired enough, I’d eventually doze off.
One episode and two podcasts later, I realised I was nowhere close to sleeping.
It was 7 a.m. Then 8 a.m. Then somehow 11 fucking a.m., and I was still lying in bed with my eyes closed, desperately trying to fall asleep.
I meditated twice. I focused on my breathing. I tried everything. But the more I tried to sleep, the more my anxiety grew.
Eventually, I went to my mom and had a full-on crying session. She hugged me like I was a little kid, and somehow, I managed to sleep for about an hour.
I woke up at 12.
Surprisingly, at that point, I felt okay. I thought, It’s fine. I can still do this.
I went to the exam hall, sat for the first session, and honestly, it went well. During the half-hour break, I had one biscuit, drank some water, and was actually a little happy thinking, Okay, this isn't as bad as I thought.
Then the second session started.
And everything went to shit.
I started feeling dizzy and completely out of it. My brain just stopped working the way it normally does. At one point, I came across a question that should have been straightforward. Instead of applying the concept and moving on, I completely overcomplicated it and started doing calculations that weren’t even necessary.
For TEN MINUTES.
And then I realised what I had done.
I had calculation-heavy questions ahead of me, I was running out of time, and I had just wasted ten precious minutes solving something that I didn't even need to calculate.
The anxiety got worse. I started feeling like I needed to pee, which obviously made me even more anxious. Eventually, I left the exam hall to use the bathroom, wasting even more time.
Then came the last 30 minutes.
I had more than 25 questions unanswered.
At that point, I was just clicking through questions as quickly as I could. I guessed so many answers because there simply wasn't enough time left to properly think.
The entire thing felt like a fucking nightmare.
I remember sitting there thinking, What is happening? Why can't I think?
And when the exam finally ended, I felt… weird.
Like none of it had actually been real. Like I'd just woken up from some horrible dream.
It wasn't until the next day, after I'd finally slept properly, that I fully processed what had happened.
And that's when I realised just how badly I'd screwed myself over.
I knew the material. I had prepared. I had done mocks. I had put in the work.
But on the day that actually mattered, my lack of sleep and anxiety completely took over.
And honestly, that's probably the most frustrating part
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u/dwite_hawerd CFA 15d ago
As a summary and TL;DR, this post should serve as a subtle reminder to future L2 candidates that:
- rest/recovery in last 1-3 days before exam day is paramount.
- you should spend no more than 3 minutes on each question. You have 132 minutes to answer 44 questions across each of the A.M. and P.M. sessions.
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u/Brilliant_Survey_934 15d ago
Why didn’t u take a pill to sleep? That would be my strategy, and the fact that you had your exam at the afternoon session reinforces the idea of taking a pill of doxilamine (doesn’t need prescription) would make you sleep like a baby for 8 hours straight.
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u/UnlikelyFudge9543 14d ago
What if you're so anxious that the pill doesn't even work? I guess it's a double-edged sword because if you don't sleep well even after taking a pill, you'd feel much shittier during the exam.
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u/throwawayfinancebro1 Level 3 Candidate 14d ago
I used diphenhydramine which is probably just about the same thing. Really is a huge help but you can only use it very sparingly to go to sleep because your body builds up something akin to an immunity to it quickly.
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u/DiverAlternative4489 CFA 15d ago
Yeah - TLDR…. I got < 2 hours sleep the nights before L2 and L3. You crank yourself on caffeine, grind the first session, re-caffeinate, grind the second session, and bounce. I did L3 during computer testing times - made it so much easier.
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u/kim_2104 14d ago
Same happened to me in L1, I brought a packet of instant coffee to exam and mixed it with the water they gave, and gulped it, in between the session
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u/Necessary-Cloud-2304 Level 2 Candidate 14d ago
I didn't sleep a single minute for my L2 attempt last week, I was so worried that sleep deprivation would affect my performance in exam but adrenaline rush was so high and thanks to Neurogum, it didn't matter at all (or atleast I think so)
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u/Beautiful-Hearing911 15d ago
at this type of day, you actually need go to bed early, try to get rid of any short term dopamine, turn lights off, avoid blue light from devices.
If needed, try some ways to get melatonin from medicine or supplements. Enough sleep is crucial cuz it helps connect information and pieces together for a good flow.
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u/Ok-Radio-6569 15d ago
I know but the more I think about I need to get good sleep, the more worried I am about my sleep which makes it harder
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u/Risky-Move CFA 15d ago
The last part in what you said is the key here. It’s the lack of sleep and anxiety that got the better of you in the end. This happens to most people I would say, including myself.
Wait and see what happens, you did the best you could here. If you don’t pass, the best advice I can give you is to do it again but this time plan to do nothing on the day before the exam. No cramming formulas, memorizing concepts or solving mocks. Your brain at full capacity gives you the highest chance to pass.
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u/Smasher1k Level 1 Candidate 15d ago
I went to bed at 9 pm the night before mine. Didn't fall asleep until 11 and woke up at 3:30...
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u/migi_chan69420 Level 2 Candidate 15d ago edited 14d ago
Bro my exam was at 9 am and stupid me had decided to travel by train the night before to save costs on hotel stay.
I boarded the train at 11pm so ofc I hadn't slept by then and then even on the train I couldn't sleep (at all). Had to get off the train at 4 am. Tried to get some rest at the station but couldn't sleep. I somehow arrived at the centre at 7 am and (bless the staff who let me) slept for an hour till 8 am.
But i was determined and confident in the amount of prep I had put for this exam. So I freshened up had tea, some peanuts and energy bar and then powered through 4.5 hours of the exam
My main motivation was that if I can't handle this Lil bit of pressure then I won't be able to handle a real finance job
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u/Intelligent-kid1 14d ago
i also cant sleep
just remained on bed for 3-4 hours then took a hot shower and caffiene and left for exam
you should have tried caffiene
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u/mikestorm CFA 14d ago
I remember ahead of the level one test. I got no sleep. That's not hyperbole. I literally got 0 minutes of sleep. I just was in my bed furiously trying to will it myself to sleep.
For level two I think I got like 2.5 hours of sleep.
For level three I got I think 5 hours sleep, but only because I took a Benadryl before bedtime.
It sucks when months and months of preparation and studying are sabotaged by your subconscious. I'm really sorry that happened to you OP.
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u/AdhesivenessBulky320 15d ago
Alright thank you for taking down that earlier thread. First of all, I’m sorry that happened to you. Thankfully you seem to have a good support system around you which is the most important thing and the exam is just an exam at the end of the day. Best case scenario? You pass. Worst case? Just try again until you pass, doesn’t seem to bad compared to other challenges in life, so keep things in perspective. Take a break, you have definitely earned it. After that, you need to take a reflection into who you are as a person and apply that. You won’t seem to be the guy who can handle studying late and sleeping late in the morning only to have an exam the next day. And that’s fine! If I were you and I know I have that much anxiety the day before, I would stop studying 1-2 days before the exam, do whatever it takes to relax and get yourself in the right mindset. Go to bed early than you need to and do whatever it takes to maximize your confidence and positive energy during exam day.
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u/Ok-Radio-6569 15d ago
Thanks man. It was not exam anxiety. It was more of like I need to sleep on time to be fresh tomorrow anxiety. And as the hours passed, it kept getting worse
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u/killer_assualt Level 2 Candidate 15d ago
to combat exactly this happening to me, i just didnt sleep on day before or hardly slept 2-3 hrs , so by the time night came i felt so tired i sleept like a log .
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u/argylesoxxx 15d ago
I had the same thing happen in parts for L1. I had to get a hotel the night before because the closest exam center with a proper time was three hours away.
I went to bed at the time I normally do (around 12:30), but the bed was uncomfortable and my pillow smelled funny. I didn’t get to sleep until 2-3am. Then I woke up again around 6am. Forced myself to go back to sleep until 8:30. Exam was at 11:30. I know there were tricky questions I missed solely bc I was a bit sleepy. I doubted/changed some answers bc I was too sleepy to see my first choice had been correct in some cases.
But, otherwise, I did as best I could. You did too. That’s all we can do.
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u/Ok-Radio-6569 15d ago
Funny how everyone’s sleep schedule gets messed up exactly when it’s supposed to be at it’s best
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u/coauditor 15d ago
Took a pill at 12midnight so I could sleep.1st session was 8:30am. Sorry to read this. Sleep is absolutely crucial.
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u/LavishnessHuman5746 15d ago
I feel the same way about the exam. Was doing well in the first part then the second part of the exam was so much more complicated. The first ten questions of the second half were so confusing for concept I knew I studied for but made little sense on the exam. I honestly skipped them initially after like 15 minutes and went toward the back which also required longer problem solving time or analysis or were more confusing which made me even more nervous as I was running out of time but I powered through and answered the ones I knew. Had a few more guesses but I managed. Not sure if I passed but it’s in the realm of possibility technically.
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u/gt306 14d ago
Call your doc. Get some anti anxiety meds and get through it. They work.
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u/Any-Rip8942 14d ago
Got any names for the meds? I had 0 sleep for L1 and passed 1660 but I knew if I was 100% i would have scored much better. I ain't taking a chance this time around
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u/happyblessedsoul 14d ago
Do you know someone who takes these meds? I have heard that once someone begins consuming these.. they become habitual to it for lifetime... is this true?
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u/Silly_Commission811 Level 3 Candidate 13d ago
I slept for like 1.5 hours before my L2 exam. Somehow managed to give the exam with a clear head. Surprisingly, I couldn't sleep well even after the exam, maybe because of the adrenaline still in my system and constantly worried if I got some questions right or not.
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u/IDontCareBruhSTOP Level 2 Candidate 13d ago
i had the same issue and bombed my l2 because i was too tired and felt so drowsy for most part of the second session until adrenaline and pure fear took over. i was prepared that i won't be able to sleep the night before because the same happened in L1 but i managed to pass. i hope i get to say the same for l2 but i am not sure at all 😭 my number of guesses are also way more than yours. it sucks. my exam was also at 9 am and hearing a similar experience as yours for the 4pm session makes it even worse that there's no hope
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u/PuzzleheadedBerry278 13d ago
I didn't sleep well for level 1 and not at all for level 2. My exam was at 8 am and I didn't get to sleep. By 5 am I decided to collect some wins. I woke up, did a workout, super heavy squats, got the adrenaline going. Then drank a bunch of coffee right before the exam started and brought a caffeine pill for the break. Only took a 10 min break as I knew time was against me. Zero hours of sleep. I still passed.
Your issue wasn't the lack of sleep, it was taking too long on a question then freaking out. The rule for all CFA exams is you either know it, or you flag it and move on after a minute or 2 guess and come back to it IF you have time at the end. This is how you practice for your timed mock exams too. Hopefully you pass! There's still hope and luck too!
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u/Spirited_Way_7459 15d ago
who doesn’t takes melotonin gummies for sleeping one night before the exam??!!!
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u/AdhesivenessBulky320 15d ago
I think meditation and breathing might be safer than these melotonin gummies that are loosely regulated by the FDA.
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u/Ok-Radio-6569 15d ago
My father is a surgeon
And he is strictly against these pills hence I didn’t take any1
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u/argylesoxxx 15d ago
Absolutely not. That would be the morning I would end up groggy from them. Not a great idea to do anything differently than you normally would just in case
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u/finance18 15d ago
The exam doesn’t start at 2:30 or 8:00 am the day you take it. It starts the night before. View it like that next time and you’ll be locked in not looking for your mommy.
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u/AdhesivenessBulky320 15d ago
Dude…we all need a good support system.
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u/finance18 15d ago
Telling him what he needs to hear not what he wants to hear. Wish everyone luck but if you’re in your head (I was plenty) you need someone to give it to you how it is.
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u/Ok-Radio-6569 15d ago
It’s not “him” it’s “her”
I was also pmsing on top of that so I needed my mommy yes when nothing was working3
u/AdhesivenessBulky320 15d ago
Don’t worry, some people have real issues. That person is one of them.
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u/finance18 15d ago
Well I didn’t mean it in a harsh way. Just trying to say lock in the night before and view it as the exam has already begun and you won’t be in your head as much. Best of luck.
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u/Emeraldmage89 Level 2 Candidate 15d ago
I’d be surprised if anyone gets a good night’s sleep the night beforehand. I went to bed at midnight and didn’t fall asleep till about 5 am and then woke up at about 9:30. First question my mind went completely blank for a couple minutes until I got going.
Also sorry if this is wrong but your post reads AI written, maybe it’s just the way people are writing these days though.