If you are currently preparing for the CFA Level 1 exam, you have likely heard the name Mark Meldrum whispered in online forums (like AnalystForum and Reddit’s r/CFA) with a mix of reverence and relief. For many candidates, Mark Meldrum (MM) is the gold standard for conceptual clarity, especially for tough topics like Fixed Income, Derivatives, and Quant.
One of the most common searches for candidates on a budget or tight timeline is:
But what exactly are these notes? Are there legitimate free versions? Should you pay for them? And most importantly—will a PDF of slides alone help you pass?
However, do not fall for shady "free download" links. Pay for the subscription. You are not just paying for the PDF; you are paying for the course ecosystem (videos, Q-bank, mocks, and updates). The cost of the subscription is negligible compared to the $1,000+ CFA exam fee and the 300 hours of your life you risk losing if you fail.
| Feature | | Kaplan Schweser (Notes) | Wiley (11th Hour) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Format | Slide decks (2000+ slides total) | Textbook-style spiral bound | Cram booklet (approx 200 pages) | | Best For | Understanding why an answer is correct | Memorizing what the answer is | Last-minute panic review | | Visuals | Excellent graphs & color coding | Minimalist, lots of text | High-level bullet points | | Depth | Very high (follows LOS exactly) | Medium (cuts about 30% of CFA text) | Low (only core concepts) | | Price (approx) | ~$350 (videos + PDF) | ~$600 (full package) | ~$40 (book only) |