CFA Level 1 study courses & material

Hi All,

Am looking to sign up for the June 2014 exams in London for CFA Level 1.

Have looked through the main providers (Kaplan, BPP, Fitch Learning and ELAN). I find deciding on a training provider can be just as fickle as deciding whether to undertake the CFA in the first place.

Couple of qu I hope you guys can help me with:

1) Which study materials would everyone recommend aside from the main CFA textbooks and mock exams? I have cited Kaplan below but appreciate recommendations on alternatives.

2) Are Kaplan Schweser and Kaplan the same? It looks like Kaplan Schweser notes can be sold separately on the US site. But the Kaplan London course also uses Schweser notes.

Kaplan Schweser
http://www.schweser.com/cfa/level-1/study-packages/

Kaplan London
http://financial.kaplan.co.uk/TrainingandQuals/Financialservices/CFA/our-study-packages/Pages/default.aspx


3) I have heard many just use Kaplan Schweser notes and the CFA material. If so, does anyone find the online video courses useful at all?

Am highly likely to go for just the Essential Study Package, but wondering if the Premium Study Package would be worth it?




Thanks all in advance.