Best CFA Level 1 Question Banks in 2026: Free and Paid Options Compared

By CFA Master Team · Updated 14 Oct 2026

Short answer: Start with the official practice questions and mock exams that come with your CFA Level 1 registration. They are the closest match to the real exam. If you need more volume, add one commercial question bank (Schweser, UWorld or AnalystPrep) rather than several. Use free tools for targeted, module-by-module revision of your weak areas.

Choosing a CFA Level 1 question bank is less about finding "the biggest" and more about matching the tool to the gap in your preparation. Some candidates need exam-accurate calibration, some need sheer volume, and some need to drill three weak modules before exam day. This guide compares the main options so you can pick the right one, and avoid paying for practice you will never finish.

Facts and prices were checked in October 2026. Providers change their packages often, so confirm the current details on each provider's website before you buy.

CFA Level 1 question banks compared

Question bank	Level I practice	Price (USD)	Best for
CFA Institute (included with registration)	Practice questions in the Learning Ecosystem, plus 2 mock exams released 8 weeks before your exam	Included in your exam registration	Calibrating to real exam style and difficulty
CFA Institute Practice Pack	1,000 extra questions, 5 extra mock exams, plus 1 mock in exam-day software	Paid add-on; check the CFA Institute store for the current price	More official, exam-style practice
SchweserPro QBank (Kaplan)	"Thousands" of questions, according to Kaplan	$199 standalone on schweser.com	Candidates already studying with Schweser notes
UWorld CFA Level 1 QBank	2,000+ questions, according to UWorld	Listed at $389 in UWorld's iOS app; 7-day free trial with around 100 questions	Learning from detailed, visual explanations
AnalystPrep	3,000+ questions, according to AnalystPrep	Practice Package from $349	High question volume on a budget
CFA Master	190 module quiz questions across all 59 modules, plus a 180-question mock exam	Free preview; Premium unlocks the full set (see pricing)	Module-by-module revision alongside your main provider

Disclosure: CFA Master is our own product. We include it so you can see where it fits, not because it replaces the options above.

What makes a good CFA Level 1 question bank?

Before comparing brands, decide what you need the question bank to do. A good one should offer:

Exam-style difficulty. Questions should test application, not just recall of definitions.
An explanation for every answer choice. Knowing why the wrong options are wrong is where most of the learning happens.
Filtering by subject and module. You should be able to drill one weak area at a time.
Performance tracking. Accuracy by topic tells you where your remaining study hours should go.
The current curriculum year. CFA Institute updates the curriculum, so outdated questions can mislead you.
Timed mock exams. Full-length mocks build stamina and pacing for the two-session exam.

The options in more detail

CFA Institute: questions included with registration

Your registration fee already includes practice questions in the CFA Institute Learning Ecosystem and two mock exams that become available about eight weeks before your exam. These come from the organisation that writes the exam, so they are the best benchmark for difficulty and wording. Every candidate should complete these, whatever else they buy.

CFA Institute Practice Pack

The Practice Pack is an optional paid add-on. For Level I it adds 1,000 extra practice questions, five more mock exams, and one mock delivered in the same software you will use on exam day. CFA Institute states the questions are written by its exam authors. It is only available to active Level I candidates, and access ends on your exam date. If you want more official-style practice rather than more volume, this is usually the first upgrade to consider.

SchweserPro QBank (Kaplan Schweser)

Kaplan sells the SchweserPro QBank on its own and as part of its study packages. It is listed at $199 standalone on schweser.com. Kaplan describes it as containing thousands of questions. It suits candidates who already use Schweser notes, because the questions follow the same structure.

UWorld CFA Level 1 QBank

UWorld says its Level 1 QBank has more than 2,000 questions, with an emphasis on detailed explanations and performance analytics. Its 7-day free trial includes around 100 QBank questions, which is a useful way to test the explanation style before paying. UWorld's iOS app lists the Level 1 QBank at $389; pricing on its website may differ.

AnalystPrep

AnalystPrep positions itself as the budget, high-volume option. It states 3,000+ Level I questions, and some independent reviews report even more. Its Practice Package (question bank and mock exams) starts at $349. Many candidates use it as a second source of fresh questions after finishing their main provider's bank.

CFA Master

CFA Master is a revision companion, not a full prep course. It has 190 quiz questions mapped to all 59 Level I learning modules, each with an explanation, and a full 180-question mock exam. Its strength is targeted revision: you study a module from your main material, then use CFA Master's module notes, cheat sheets, formula sheet and module quiz to lock it in. You can preview the question bank free without signing up.

If you need thousands of questions, use one of the larger banks above for volume. CFA Master works best alongside them.

How many questions do you actually need?

There is no official number. Many candidates who pass work through somewhere in the low thousands of questions across all their sources, plus several full mock exams. What matters more than the count is reviewing every question you got wrong, or got right by guessing, until you can explain the correct answer. Our CFA Level 1 practice questions guide covers this in more detail.

Which question bank should you choose?

On a tight budget: use the official questions and mocks included with registration, the free previews, and UWorld's free trial. Spend money only once you know where you are weak.
Already using Schweser notes: the SchweserPro QBank fits naturally. Add the CFA Institute Practice Pack if you want more official-style mocks.
You need more volume: AnalystPrep offers a large bank at a lower price.
You learn best from explanations: try UWorld's free trial first.
You are strong overall but weak in a few modules: drill those modules one at a time with a module-mapped bank such as CFA Master's question bank.

Whichever you pick, one main question bank finished properly beats three half-used ones.

How to use a question bank effectively

Drill by module while you learn. Answer questions on the same day you finish a module, not weeks later.
Flag uncertain answers. Mark questions you got right but were unsure about, and review them like mistakes.
Track accuracy by subject. Put extra hours into high-weight subjects where your accuracy is lowest.
Switch to mixed, timed sets in the final month. This builds the topic-switching and pacing the real exam demands.
Finish with full mocks. Use the official CFA Institute mocks last, as your most realistic benchmark. Our mock exam and study plan pages show how to schedule them.

Frequently asked questions

Are the official CFA Institute questions enough to pass Level 1?

They are the most exam-accurate practice available, but many candidates want more volume than registration includes. That is why the Practice Pack and third-party question banks exist. Complete the official questions first, then add more only if your accuracy shows you need it.

Are third-party question banks harder than the real exam?

It varies by provider and topic. Some candidates find certain third-party questions harder or easier than the exam. Use CFA Institute's own mock exams to calibrate, and treat third-party banks as practice volume and topic coverage.

Do I need more than one question bank?

Usually not. One main bank, completed and reviewed thoroughly, plus the official mocks is enough for most candidates. A second source helps mainly if you have finished your first one or need fresh questions on weak topics.

Is there a free CFA Level 1 question bank?

Fully free, complete banks are rare. Your registration includes official practice questions and mocks. UWorld offers a free trial, and CFA Master offers a free question preview without sign-up.

Start revising your weak modules today

Open any CFA Level 1 module, review the cheat sheet, and test yourself with the module quiz. It's free to start and needs no card.

Preview the CFA Level 1 question bank · Start with a free module

Sources (checked October 2026)

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. CFA Master is not affiliated with or endorsed by CFA Institute.