Quant: timing is the whole question
Most Level I quantitative misses are not “forgot the formula.” They are a wrong clock: end-of-period versus beginning, nominal versus effective, sample versus population. CFA Drill items are original. They reuse standard identities so you can rebuild the number after you pick A/B/C.
Ordinary annuity present value
Cash flows at the end of each period, first payment one period from now: PV = C × [1 − (1+r)−n] / r. If the first payment is today, you have an annuity due: multiply that PV by (1+r), or treat it as one cash flow now plus an ordinary annuity of n−1 payments.
Sample (original): $1,000 at the end of each of the next five years, r = 8%. PV ≈ $3,993. $5,000 is the undiscounted sum. A nearby distractor usually uses beginning-of-period timing or the wrong n.
Hypothesis testing without theater
State H0, pick a statistic, compare to a critical value or a p-value. “Fail to reject” is not “prove true.” If a stem gives you a t-stat and a two-sided 5% critical value, do not invent a one-sided story to save a favorite conclusion.
Regression basics
Slope is the typical change in Y for a one-unit change in X, holding the model as written. R² is fit in-sample, not a license to forecast. If an item asks what happens when you omit a variable that belongs in the model, think bias, not a prettier R².
Practice
Attempt first (method), then open the reverse panel for the identity that was actually used. Open the app.