BA II Plus Settings for CFA Practice
These are the settings most CFA candidates settle on for practice speed. Exam policy changes over time — always confirm with the current CFA Program candidate rules before your exam date.
Step by step
- 1
Decimal display
FORMAT 2 is fast for money; flip to 6 when a question asks for precision or you are debugging a mismatch.
[2ND][FORMAT]2[ENTER][2ND][QUIT]
- 2
P/Y to match the problem
Most CFA TVM questions are monthly (12) or annual (1). Set it, verify C/Y, and clear TVM between problems.
[2ND][P/Y]12[ENTER][2ND][QUIT]
- 3
Leave it in END
Annuities-due appear rarely; the default END covers mortgages, bonds, ordinary annuities. Toggle BGN only per-question and switch back.
- 4
Reset when chaos strikes
If answers look crazy, reset the calculator’s defaults and re-enter the settings above. On this site, “Reset all” on the simulator does the same.
Sanity check with a verified problem (T1)
With P/Y = C/Y = 12, END, DEC = 2: the 360-period 6% loan of 100,000 returns PMT = −599.55. If your machine shows something else, a setting (not the math) is off.
[2ND][CLR TVM]360[N]6[I/Y]100000[PV]0[FV][CPT][PMT]
Web practice cannot replace the physical calculator in a proctored exam — only calculators on the exam organizer’s current list are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Is this official exam policy?
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No. It is a practice setup that most candidates find fast. Policies — including which calculator models are permitted — are set by CFA Institute and change; verify the current candidate handbook. Exam-use note updated November 2026.
Two calculators — one as backup?
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The CFA Program allows specific models (check current rules); carrying an identical backup is a common recommendation. Neither may be a website: this tool is for practice only.