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Mark Meldrum vs Kaplan Schweser CFA
Head-to-head comparison of the CFA prep courses from Kaplan and Mark Meldrum
The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams are no joke, and selecting the right prep course could be what makes the difference in whether you pass. Two popular CFA prep providers are Mark Meldrum and Kaplan Schweser. How do you know which one fits your unique learning style? In this article, we’ll break down their unique teaching styles, course structures, and features to help you figure out which one will actually get you results.
Quick Comparison: Mark Meldrum vs Kaplan Schweser
If you want the short version, here it is:
Choose Kaplan if you want a more structured study plan, polished SchweserNotes, and more full-length mock exams built into your package.
Choose Mark Meldrum if you prefer lecture-style teaching, optional tutoring support, and the ability to download lessons for offline study.
Kaplan vs Mark Meldrum for CFA Level 1
For Level 1 candidates, the biggest difference is structure versus teaching style. Kaplan is typically the safer choice if you want a guided study schedule, more mock exam volume, and a clearly mapped review system. Mark Meldrum is often a better fit if you learn best from instructor-led video explanations and want the flexibility to add tutoring when needed.
Why Should You Choose Kaplan Schweser for CFA Prep?
To kick this comparison off, let’s discuss the major reasons you should consider going with Kaplan to help you prepare for the CFA exam (Level 1, 2 or 3).
Who Is Kaplan for?
Here’s who we recommend Kaplan for:
People who learn by reading and taking notes
Anyone who wants to go through the material multiple times
Learners who need a structured review schedule to keep them on track
Those who want to take lots of full-length mock exams
Candidates who struggle with test anxiety
Clear Study Plan
The Kaplan Schweser CFA prep course is designed with a user-friendly dashboard that helps students stay organized and on track. The dashboard features an assignment section that details exactly what needs to be studied and when, with two viewing options: the Activity Feed and the calendar view.
The Kaplan Schweser dashboard
The Activity Feed provides a weekly breakdown of tasks, making it easy to follow and manage. Additionally, Kaplan offers flexibility in scheduling by allowing students to reorder topics according to their preferences.
This setup is beneficial for CFA students, as it provides a clear and structured study plan, reducing the guesswork and stress of managing the extensive exam material. The progress tracker and performance data help students monitor their advancement, ensuring they stay motivated and on schedule.
The ability to customize the order of topics adds an element of personalization, accommodating different learning styles and preferences.
SchweserNotes
The Kaplan Schweser CFA prep course revolves around “study” modules, which are really assigned readings from the highly regarded SchweserNotes. Known as the gold standard in CFA preparation, these detailed notes comprehensively cover each Learning Outcome Statement (LOS) in an organized manner, with plenty of helpful examples to make sense of the information.
The SchweserNotes from Kaplan are amazing
Students can access the SchweserNotes in digital form, as a full eBook, or in print, allowing you to choose your preferred reading method.
The SchweserNotes are particularly helpful for CFA students because they provide thorough and structured coverage of the exam material, ensuring that you deeply understand all topics.
I found their detailed explanations and examples really helpful for understanding complex concepts. Personally, I went back and forth between using the eBook when I was already logged in and the physical review notes when I wanted to fit in some extra study time at the breakfast table, and the change in format helped me stay engaged.
They’re also great for saving time. One charterholder explained that their straightforward explanations made them easy to skim, which helped with quickly re-learning the most critical information, rather than having to comb through every single detail when you’re pressed for time.
MasterClass Videos
The “Masterclass” series in the Kaplan Schweser CFA prep course offers live online classes and on-demand sessions, which are integrated into your activity feed schedule. These classes reinforce each unit’s high-yield content plus helpful exam strategies, with an emphasis on application so you know how to put your knowledge into practice.
Example class from Kaplan Schweser
The series includes 80+ hours of content, which is a ton of coverage.
The Masterclass videos are particularly beneficial for CFA students because they provide practical strategies for applying theoretical knowledge, which is crucial for exam success. By working through sample problems and focusing on high-yield topics, you learn to how to approach the actual exam questions.
For me, following along with the instructors and learning from their insights was a big confidence booster in preparing for the exam.
Realistic Practice Tests
The Kaplan Schweser CFA prep course includes six mock exams (more than Mark Meldrum), which are strategically timed to be taken closer to the actual exam date.
These full-length, 180-question exams are designed to simulate real exam conditions using the Prometric interface. Kaplan encourages students to take these exams seriously and spend significant time reviewing their answers.
Example CFA practice question from Kaplan
These mock exams are highly realistic, so you’re preparing for the real thing. Studying my results was the best way for me to see how I was actually doing and which areas I needed to improve in.
Here’s what’s unique about Kaplan’s mock exams: unlike Mark Meldrum, you have the option to take your final practice exam in person at a Prometric test center. If you’re someone who struggles with test anxiety, this is huge for simulating exam day so you’re not stepping into an unfamiliar place. Nothing beats the feeling of walking through the entire experience and already knowing what the exam format and conditions will be like.
Final Review Workshop Series
The Kaplan Schweser CFA prep course concludes with a final review workshop series, offering live and on-demand classes. These workshops review all the material covered, recap the most frequently tested topics, and provide test-taking strategies. They serve as a capstone to ensure students are fully prepared for test day.
The review workshops are extremely helpful
I found these review workshops extremely helpful for recapping information I’d forgotten by the end and tying everything together. After finishing the series, I knew there were no loose ends; I’d revisited all the most important material and brushed up on my test-taking strategies, so everything was fresh for the exam.
Great for CFA Levels 1 and 2
One of Kaplan’s key strengths is saving time, as the SchweserNotes are easy to skim over quickly. This makes Kaplan the best option for Levels 1 and 2, where the more straightforward content means you’re less likely to need additional clarification from Mark Meldrum.
At these levels, the real game changer is having a structured study plan to follow, which Kaplan provides.
Plus, one charterholder who used nothing but Kaplan to score about the 90th percentile in both Levels 1 and 2 explains that Kaplan makes it possible to review the content multiple times. That’s because the SchweserNotes make everything brief and to-the-point. You can go through the content once for nailing down the basics, then work through everything again when you’re ready to work out the details that you’ve missed so far.
Now that you have a clear picture of what Kaplan has to offer, let’s turn the tables and discuss the advantages of going with Mark Meldrum to help you study for the CFA exam.
Who Is Mark Meldrum for?
Here’s who should choose Mark Meldrum:
People who learn best by watching videos
Anyone who wants to start with the CFAI curriculum and get some extra reinforcement
Learners who find certain topics confusing and need a more clear-cut explanation that sticks
Candidates who want one-on-one tutoring
Busy people who need to study while out and about
Seminar Videos for Complex Topics
This is the core of Mark Meldrum’s entire program: his seminar videos break down difficult concepts in a way that makes everything finally click for a lot of people. If you tend to get thrown off by information in the official curriculum, many candidates swear by Mark Meldrum’s unique communication style and way of explaining all the core ideas you truly need to know.
These high-quality, engaging videos provide in-depth explanations and detailed walkthroughs of complex topics, so you walk away feeling like everything finally makes sense.
Video lesson from Mark Meldrum
The seminar videos break down challenging material into manageable segments, and the way they explains everything made the content easy for me to not only understand but also remember. If you find CFA topics hard to grasp, these videos are great for providing extra clarification so you aren’t confused.
The key is to start by reading the CFAI curriculum before you jump into the videos. Reddit users generally agree that Mark Meldrum’s lectures are best after you’ve already read through the main content and you simply need to clarify any points where you were confused or still need extra explanation.
One candidate who passed Level 1 spelled out exactly why the videos don’t work as your core curriculum: it’s because the videos are so fast-paced that it’s hard to take notes. This isn’t a flaw in the program. Mark Meldrum’s lectures simply weren’t intended to be used as a primary curriculum. The idea is that you should already come in with an understanding of the basics and simply able to sit back and soak in further clarification that makes everything click.
Charterholders generally agree that the best approach to using Mark Meldrum is to first read the curriculum while taking notes, then go back and watch the videos for reinforcement or clarification whenever you’re confused.
Affordable Tutoring
Mark Meldrum offers optional tutoring services at very affordable rates, providing personalized assistance for students who need extra help. At $75 per hour, tutoring from Mark Meldrum is considerably cheaper than most competitors.
These tutoring sessions can be invaluable for those struggling with specific concepts or requiring additional support to stay on track with their study plan. By making one-on-one tutoring more accessible, Mark Meldrum ensures that all students have access to the guidance they need to succeed.
A look inside the Mark Meldrum CFA course
Now, keep in mind that while the tutoring rate is lower than you’ll find elsewhere, that cost will still add up quickly. I view tutoring as more of an add-on than the core reason you should go with one program versus another, since you’ll spend most of your time working through the material either independently or in live group sessions, with only a few hours of tutoring added on for those concepts where you’re truly stuck.
Still, if the chance for a little one-on-one review will make a significant difference in your prep, Mark Meldrum makes tutoring more realistic for the average person.
Direct Support from Instructors
With Mark Meldrum, you get all the support you need. The basic package lets you submit up to 10 questions straight to the instructor team and get a detailed answer in response, while the higher-end packages give you unlimited opportunities to request instructor comments whenever you’re confused.
Then no matter which tier you choose, you can also jump into the office hours anytime, without needing to register in advance. This is a chance for you to ask any question and get a live breakdown that clears everything up.
If you learn best by asking lots of questions, Mark Meldrum connects you with the instructors, so you’re never on your own.
App for Offline Studying
No matter which package you go with, Mark Meldrum offers app access for offline video viewing. I could download and watch instructional videos without an internet connection, which made it easy to study anywhere, even on a flight.
If you have a busy schedule or you’re constantly on the go, the app is a real benefit. The offline access is helpful for maintaining consistent progress, as you can review crucial content anytime and anywhere. Anyone who needs really flexible studying should go with Mark Meldrum, whereas Kaplan Schweser offers the more structured and sequential review system.
Great for CFA Level 3
Preparing for the Level 3 exam is a completely different experience than preparing for the first two levels. Mark Meldrum is particularly useful here, as candidates who found concepts at the first two levels easy enough to understand may struggle more at Level 3 and need the additional breakdown that Mark Meldrum provides.
Charterholders on Reddit tend to agree that Mark Meldrum’s main strength is how well he explains complex information. Level 1, however, is more straightforward information, so most candidates don’t need extra explanations to make sense of it.
Remember that Mark Meldrum is just a supplement intended to shed light on any concept that threw you off. One strategy that works: go with Kaplan for your primary Level 3 review, then add Mark Meldrum as a bonus resource for topics where you find yourself needing to spend extra time.
How Much Do Kaplan Schweser and Mark Meldrum Cost in 2026?
Looking at pricing, most of Kaplan Schweser’s packages are just a little more affordable than Mark Meldrum, although the pricing is generally pretty close.
Mark Meldrum offers four different packages for CFA Level 1. The basic Self-Study package costs about $440, which is $10 more than Kaplan’s, and comes with the Qbank, lecture videos, mock exams, lecture PDF notes, and office hours where you can pop in and get live answers to your questions. The Self-Study + Applied Analysis package also includes real-world sector deep dives and modern financial analysis for about $750.
Mark Meldrum’s higher tiers both give you 32 hours of live online instruction, extra seminar videos, and six one-on-one mentor hours with CFA Charterholder mentors. The Instructor-Led Online course costs about $1,310, or you can get the Instructor-Led Online + Applied Analysis package for about $1,630.
Looking at Kaplan Schweser, their basic study package costs about $430, which is $10 less than Mark Meldrum. This package gets you 80+ hours of On Demand Masterclasses, the Qbank, a private CFA community, performance tracking, and 2 full-length mock exams.
From there, Kaplan Schweser’s Essential Package costs about $800, which is $50 more than Mark Meldrum’s comparable package, and comes with the SchweserNotes, four mock exams, and an AI tutor.
The highest tiers, however, cost a little less than Mark Meldrum. For about $1,100, the Premium Package includes six mock exams and 55+ hours of On Demand review workshops, or you can spend about $1,500 for the Ultimate Package if you also want live online classes.
One more thing to note: Kaplan Schweser and Mark Meldrum both give nice pass guarantees at the higher tiers. Kaplan’s PassProtection guarantee lets you repeat the course if you don’t pass, and Mark Meldrum’s One-Fee-to-Pass means you retain course access until you’ve passed. Plus, both Kaplan and Mark Meldrum offer frequent sales and discounts. You shouldn’t pay full price for either CFA prep program, so make sure you’re getting the best discount before you buy.
Can You Use Both Mark Meldrum and Kaplan Schweser Together?
Yes, it’s a common strategy to combine Mark Meldrum and Kaplan Schweser for the most comprehensive review plan. Mark Meldrum gets you engaging videos that cover absolutely everything, plus personalized support whenever you want to check into the office hours, request an instructor comment, or get some mentoring from a charterholder.
Kaplan fills in the gaps with more mock exams, the SchweserNotes, and a step-by-step study plan that makes sure you’re hitting every base.
Together, both courses give you some of the most in-depth content coverage, detailed resources, and personal support you can find.
Verdict: Which CFA Prep Course Is Best?
So, which CFA prep course is better, Kaplan Schweser or Mark Meldrum? In our team’s opinion, Kaplan Schweser has the more complete and effective CFA review course, especially for anyone wanting a structured study plan and comprehensive SchweserNotes.
Mark Meldrum is still a strong CFA prep course that works well for many people. If you learn best through on demand video instruction, you need offline access for on-the-go studying, or you could use a few hours of tutoring whenever you get stuck, Mark Meldrum could be a good fit.
Still, Kaplan has put together the better overall program with more realistic mock exams and a final review workshop series that takes the stress out of the final week before your exam. If you’re looking for the most well-rounded prep for CFA Level 1, 2, or 3, Kaplan Schweser will get you there.
Which is better for CFA exam prep, Mark Meldrum or Kaplan Schweser?
Kaplan Schweser is better for CFA exam prep due to its in-depth study materials, structured curriculum, realistic mock exams, and final review workshops. That said, Mark Meldrum is the right fit for some learners, especially anyone who wants one-on-one tutoring.
Is Mark Meldrum worth it for CFA prep?
Mark Meldrum’s CFA prep course is worth it for some learners, like anyone who needs personalized tutoring or who benefits from engaging seminar videos. Still, our team believes Kaplan Schweser provides superior study materials overall, including structured study plans, comprehensive SchweserNotes, and realistic mock exams, making it a more effective choice for CFA exam preparation.
Is Mark Meldrum good for CFA level 1?
Mark Meldrum is a strong option for CFA level 1 if you prefer lecture-style explanations and want a video-focused program. It may feel less structured than Kaplan, but many candidates like the depth of explanation and optional tutoring support.
Is Kaplan Schweser worth it for CFA prep?
Yes, Kaplan Schweser is worth it for CFA prep, as they offer a structured study plan, polished notes, and six full-length mock exams. It’s designed to guide you step-by-step rather than leaving you to manage your own prep independently.
Which course has harder practice questions, Kaplan or Mark Meldrum?
While both courses offer appropriately challenging material, the perceived difficulty often comes down to teaching style. Kaplan focuses on structured exam-style practice, while Mark Meldrum leans heavily into concept explanation and reinforcement through video.
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