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Stalla Passmaster vs Schweser Pro

 

(2 Feb 2003)

All the following comparisons were based on my review of Level 3 2003 versions of testbank softwares from Stalla and Schweser.
Stalla Passmaster
 Schweser Pro

Content:  

  • DA flexible format allowing users to drill on specific topics, work on specific lessons, or develop simulated exams. All questions are supported by explanations of the solution showing the candidate how to arrive at the correct answer.

  • With Access to the Stalla Study Notes in soft.

Content: 

  • Two main sections are included:

    1. Learning Outcome Statement (LOS) Review Section - that allows you to review the explanation on each LOS and then take a short quiz based on individual LOS.
    2. Practice Exam Section - You can build your own exam by choosing your desired topics and the number of questions you wish. Detailed Explanations for each question are included. Questions in this section are different from those of LOS review section.

No. of Questions

"..PassMaster is a database containing several thousand questions developed specifically for the Stalla CFA program." (Stalla's Advs)

In fact, I found L3 Passmaster only include about 700+ questions.

No. of Questions

Over 4,000 questions for Level 1
Over 2,800 questions for Level 2
Over 2,900 questions for Level 3

Price: US$195

Price: US$195

Main Features: 
  • As the users work through the program, they can monitor their progress with detailed reports showing the number of correct versus incorrect answers, time spent on questions, and areas of strength and weakness.

  • Each question includes a direct link to the corresponding LOS in Stalla's comprehensive textbooks (not an excerpt) for further review of the topic from which the question was drawn.

  • The tests are unprintable.

Main Features :

  • Schweser Pro includes 2 sets of questions: One set is comprised of exam-like questions and the other one is comprised of short quiz based on each LOS.
  • You can go through the LOS explanations first bef you take the short quiz. The "LOS review" is actually an excerpt from the Schweser study notes.
  • The tests are printable. But you have to input your ans to the program one by one bef you can get the correct ans from the program.
Strengths:
  • The program interface is simple and user-friendly.
  • Good for revision and reinforce your understanding on the core concepts of different topics.
  • With access to the whole Stalla study notes.
  • You can bookmark those questions that you want to review latter.

Weaknesses: 

  • The tests are unprintable. You have to do the questions on-screen.
  • There may be too few questions assigned on some sections.
  • Many of the questions are not exam-like and seemed to be easier than the real exam.

Strengths:

  • The program interface is simple and user-friendly
  • Good for revision and reinforce your understanding on the core concepts of different topics.
  • The tests are printable. This make the tests portable and you can "write" the test like a real exam.
  • With LOS reviews
  • Number of questions is much more than Stalla.

Weaknesses :

  • Although the test are printable, it is quite troublesome to get the correct ans from the program because you have input all your ans to the software first.
Overall assessment:
  • User-interface:
  • Quality of Questions:
  • Quantity of Questions:

    (Performance with 6 star is the best)

Overall assessment:

  • User-interface:
  • Quality of Questions:
  • Quantity of Questions:

    (Performance with 6 star is the best)

Note:
  • Both softwares are pretty good for your revision on the cfa curriculum. But, they are rather a kind of quiz on what you have learned in their notes than simulated tests of the real exam. (I would consider the difficulty level of Schweser Pro resembles more the real stuff than Stalla)
  • Since both Stalla and Schweser give too few practice questions in their study notes, their testbank softwares can provide the needed exercises on different topics..