: A 5-day pass to the Schweser Premium Study Package, which typically includes access to the SchweserNotes™, adaptive study planner, and sample video lessons.

The CFA Level 1 exam serves as the gateway to the CFA charter, testing candidates on a vast array of topics ranging from ethical standards to quantitative methods and portfolio management. While the CFA Institute provides a comprehensive curriculum, many candidates turn to third-party providers like Kaplan Schweser for condensed notes and practice exams. However, the high cost of these materials drives a subset of candidates to search for "free" versions online. This paper aims to categorize the available sources, distinguishing between legitimate free resources and copyright infringement, and evaluates the risks associated with the latter.

designed primarily to introduce candidates to their teaching style and core curriculum summaries. While these resources are not meant to replace a full prep course, they provide significant value for early-stage planning and baseline assessment. Free Resource Highlights These materials are available on the Kaplan Schweser Free Study Materials 7-Day Free Trial

Kaplan Schweser provides a variety of free resources for CFA Level I candidates, ranging from short-term full-access trials to evergreen study tools. These are designed to help candidates evaluate their readiness and sample the "Schweser method" before committing to a paid package.

You cannot get the complete Kaplan Schweser CFA Level 1 package for free legally. But you can access high-quality free samples and low-cost used materials. For zero-cost, rely on the CFA Institute’s own learning ecosystem—it’s underrated and sufficient for many candidates.

Here is why it is a terrible strategy:

Short assessments following each reading to check understanding. Resource Library: A collection of introductory and instructional videos. Kaplan Schweser 2. Assessment and Practice Tools

The free videos provide the instruction , but they do not provide the text . In the paid package, you get the SchweserNotes—condensed, 5-book sets that summarize the CFA Institute curriculum. Trying to study using only YouTube videos without the accompanying notes is incredibly difficult. You need something to read during your commute or lunch break; you can’t always watch a video.