Released exams

[wrongsaidfred]

Hi David,

I was just wondering if you knew exactly which FRM exams have been released and how we I could get my hands on them.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Hend Abuenein]

Hi
I'd like to know about any released FRM exams too.
About a month ago I posted the same question on GARP's FB page, but got no answers. I suppose that means that the exams are never released.
But the Schweser study notes have 40 past exam questions from various years at the end of every book. So if they could get their hands on them, why can't the other recognized FRM trainers?

I would appreciate any leads.
Thanks

Hend

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Hi Mike and Hend,

I checked with my contact and GARP today, just to confirm since I wasn't clear how "past exam" language could be employed by any provider. She confirmed to me that GARP has never released actual exams: "we do not share the 'actual' FRM exams with anyone." She suggested that Schweser must be referring to the "sample" PRACTICE EXAMS.

Of course, I would love to see actual recent exams, but we've never seen a single one ...

I hope that helps, thanks, David

 

[[email protected]]

I think they have past paper questions in the FRM handbook and they look quite similar to the ones at the back of the schweser. I could be wrong

 

[Hend Abuenein]

Hello David,
Sorry to be bringing this up again, but I was just watching one of your videos here, and you say that historically many FRM questions are derived from Hull (read it in your newsletters too), and that whichever subjects you skip in the book it's because they haven't historically been known to be tested.

How is all this historical information made known if GARP don't share any of the exam questions, and the so called actual questions (practice exams) are only representative of the real exam questions and much less in number?

 

[David Harper CFA FRM]

Hi Hend,

I do skip (many) topics, I think i like to use the phrase "low testability." But that is a judgement based on my current view; I know the exam (to be immodest) better than anyone, including any person at GARP or on any of their committees, but it is still only a probabilistic judgement. Plus, it's impossible to cover all the AIMs, so sometimes i am just being practical (many of the AIMs are flawed, asking for calculations that will never be sought. In some cases, I have lobbied to get AIMs deleted that are unrealistic--eg., portfolio UL & EL derivations; I currently have about 15 AIMs that I want deleted b/c they will never be tested).

But to answer your question, there are two sources:

• Less important: the FRM handbook publishes actual test questions (just not wholesale exams!), so we've collected those for years
• More important: for the last three years (roughly since we become the leading FRM trainer), we've gotten detailed copious feedback immediately after the exam. You can see much of it here in the about forum. For example, for the last exam, we were lucky to have a few customers who, cumulatively, basically posted up all the questions (not perfectly, but enough to get a sense). Bottom line, we've got a pretty accurate picture of the last three years. Since i've been carefully collecting and monitoring these, I can look at any of the AIMs and say which have or have not been tested. (this is why i continually lobby GARP to improve/prune the AIMs, I am keenly aware of their deficiencies as a roadmap; e.g., I have requested GARP share a "preview" version of the 2012 AIMs so that I can help them pre-identify errors)

But, don't get me wrong, the FRM is not very predictable, so I make no warranties, it is merely my attempt to save time and be strategic ... at the end of the day, there are too many AIMs and it doesn't make sense to cover every single one. In fact, i am probably going to a "concept-based" coverage in 2012 since i think AIM-by-AIM is inferior....thanks, David

 

[Hend Abuenein]

Thank you David
I guess all I can say is that I'm lucky to have subscribed and studied with you.
And please, do keep lobbying for a more coherent curriculum.