{"id":4560,"date":"2025-03-04T10:27:09","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T04:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/blog\/?p=4560"},"modified":"2025-03-04T10:27:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T04:57:09","slug":"frm-exam-difficult-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/frm-exam-difficult-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Is the FRM exam Difficult? A Student\u2019s Perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM Exam Difficult<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? A Student\u2019s Perspective<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Financial Risk Manager (FRM) exam is widely regarded as a challenging certification in the finance industry. It assesses a candidate&#8217;s ability to understand and apply risk management concepts to real-world scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some candidates find the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whereas, for some, it is easy with the right strategy. The exam demands strong analytical skills, deep understanding, and rigorous preparation. In this blog, let us look into the difficulty level of this exam from a student\u2019s perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exam structure and content<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The FRM exam is divided into two parts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part I focuses on the tools for evaluating financial risk, including fundamental risk management concepts, quantitative valuation and risk models, and financial markets and products. This section consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed in 4 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part II covers market risk, operational risk, credit risk, and treasury risk management. It also lasts four hours and includes 80 multiple-choice questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The time needed for FRM preparation:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On average, students spend 200 to 300 hours per part to prepare. The intensity of preparation is what makes the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/how-difficult-is-the-frm-exam-by-garp\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Study method<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Recommended hours<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-study<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">250 &#8211; 300 hours per part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coaching classes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">200 &#8211; 250 hours per part<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mock exams and practice<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">50 &#8211; 80 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passing rates:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Historically, the FRM exam has maintained moderate pass rates, reflecting its rigorous standards:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/frm-part-1-coaching\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part I<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pass rates have ranged from 39% to 56%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">47% on average of 14-year time<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/frm-level-ii-prep-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Part II<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pass rates have ranged from 50% to 63%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">56% on average of 14-year time<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These statistics show why most students find the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in many parts. The FRM exam&#8217;s difficulty has been benchmarked under the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) at Level 7, which is comparable to a master&#8217;s degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notably, passing FRM Part II has been equated in difficulty to passing all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A student\u2019s perspective on what makes the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The syllabus for FRM is vast and the passing rates are almost half. If you do not manage your time well, you may struggle. Here are some challenges students face:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Wide syllabus:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/frm-coaching-program\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM curriculum<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covers deep and technical risk management concepts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some students find the quantitative analysis section very tough.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Application-based questions:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Questions are not straightforward.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to understand and apply concepts rather than just recall formulas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Time pressure:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each exam lasts 4 hours, and students must answer one question in around 2.4 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are slow in calculations, you may struggle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>High competition:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many candidates are working professionals with strong financial backgrounds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competing with experienced candidates makes it even harder.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4562\" src=\"https:\/\/thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/visual-selection-6.png\" alt=\"frm exam difficult\" width=\"1518\" height=\"1023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/visual-selection-6.png 1518w, https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/visual-selection-6-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/visual-selection-6-1024x690.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/visual-selection-6-768x518.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1518px) 100vw, 1518px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to prepare effectively for FRM?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To crack the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/what-is-frm\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in one chance, having a structured study plan is needed. You need to start with:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the exam pattern, knowing the question types, and learning the difficulty level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the official GARP books. However, since they are comprehensive but dense, you also have to supplement them with third-party guides.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take at least 5 to 7 full-length mock tests before the exam.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a weekly study schedule and track progress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you struggle with quantitative topics, dedicate extra time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from this, follow a constructive study timeline. The recommended timetable is:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Study phase<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Duration<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Activities<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initial learning<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-3 months<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read study materials, take notes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practice and review<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1-2 months<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solve past papers, take mocks<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final revision<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2-3 weeks<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on weak areas and formula revision<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The role of professional experience in FRM:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there are no prerequisites to register for the FRM exam, having professional experience in financial risk management can provide practical insights that are advantageous during preparation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-world exposure to risk assessment and management practices can enhance understanding and retention of complex concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, the FRM exam is difficult. It requires strong quantitative skills, practical application, and disciplined study. If you prepare with a proper strategy, passing is achievable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, once done, it is worth it on so many levels. Those who pass often secure high-paying jobs in banks, hedge funds, and investment firms. You can work in countries like the UK, Canada, the US, Singapore, the UAE, and more, and be a part of over 90,000 members of this elite professional group worldwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you still find the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FRM exam difficult<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but want to appear, now is the time. Prepare well and crack it!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>How long do I have to complete both parts of the FRM Exam?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Candidates must pass<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/frm-part-2-coaching\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Part II <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">within four years of passing Part I to maintain their exam status.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>How quantitative is the FRM Exam?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exam&#8217;s mathematical difficulty aligns with advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate-level finance courses.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>How can I improve my speed during the exam?<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Time yourself while solving questions. Skip difficult ones initially and return later. Use elimination techniques to narrow down choices quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is the FRM Exam Difficult? A Student\u2019s Perspective The Financial Risk Manager (FRM) exam is widely regarded as a challenging certification in the finance industry. It assesses a candidate&#8217;s ability to understand and apply risk management concepts to real-world scenarios. Some candidates find the FRM exam difficult, whereas, for some, it is easy with the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":4561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[690],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-frm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4560"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4560\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thewallstreetschool.com\/stg-new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}