Unlike other test prep providers that force you to buy a $1,000 all-or-nothing bundle, Mark Meldrum allows Level 1 candidates to buy individual curriculum sections (e.g., just Ethics, Fixed Income, or Derivatives). If you are on a tight budget, you can buy only the sections you struggle with for a fraction of the full price. Each purchased section includes his official PDF review notes.
The CFA Institute recommends at least 300 hours of study. For a 6-month plan, this means about 12-13 hours of study per week. Your first step is to block out this time on your calendar and commit to a consistent schedule.
Before you click that Google Drive link or torrent file, consider these real risks:
Here’s a realistic 4-month plan for a candidate on a tight budget:
Your exam registration fee includes the complete, official CFA curriculum eBook. It also grants you access to the CFA Institute Learning Ecosystem, which features a massive question bank and official mock exams. This is the most accurate material available, and it is completely free with your registration. Explore Mark Meldrum’s Affordable Options mark meldrum cfa level 1 notes pdf free
Candidates turn to Meldrum for a combination of technical mastery, conceptual depth, and a modern learning environment.
The CFA Institute enforces a strict .
These contain copies of everything written on the screen during the video lectures. You can download them to a tablet for digital annotation or print them out to write notes in the margins.
His typically includes:
Pay-Per-Section: One of the best features of the Mark Meldrum platform is the ability to buy individual sections. Instead of paying for the full suite, you can purchase notes and videos for just the topics you find most difficult, such as Fixed Income or Derivatives. Structuring Your Study with Meldrum Notes
: Sharing or downloading unauthorized "free" PDFs of prep provider materials can be considered a violation of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct , specifically Standard I(C) regarding Misrepresentation and Plagiarism.
This is your most important decision. You have three primary paths:
Here’s the smarter path:
The "secret" isn't finding a bootleg PDF; it's utilizing the free resources he intentionally gives away.
YouTube Content: Mark Meldrum has an extensive library of free videos on YouTube. While these may be from older curriculum years, the core concepts of finance (like Time Value of Money or NPV) remain constant.
The CFA Level 1 curriculum changes every year. A “free PDF” from 2021 or 2023 may lack 2025 updates to:
