CMT Exam Blog
Study guides, exam strategies, and technical analysis insights for CMT candidates.
The Ultimate Guide to the CMT Exam 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The most comprehensive, data-driven guide to the CMT exam — pass rates, costs, curriculum, study plans, career outcomes, and interactive charts.
Read the guideDow Theory for the CMT Exam: The 6 Tenets Explained
The complete guide to Dow Theory for CMT candidates — six tenets, three phases, and modern applications with charts.
Chart Patterns for the CMT Exam: Complete Visual Guide
Complete guide to chart patterns for CMT candidates — reversal patterns, continuation patterns, volume confirmation, and price targets.
Technical Indicators for the CMT Exam: RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands & More
Complete breakdown of RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, stochastics, and all indicators tested on the CMT exam.
Market Breadth Indicators for the CMT Exam
Master market breadth indicators for the CMT exam — A/D line, McClellan Oscillator, Arms Index, and more.
Statistical Analysis for the CMT Exam: Distributions, Correlation & Regression
Complete guide to statistical analysis for CMT candidates — normal distributions, correlation, regression, and probability.
Ethics & Professional Standards for the CMT Exam
Master the CMT Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct tested on all three CMT levels.
Fibonacci Analysis for the CMT Exam: Retracements, Extensions & Harmonics
Complete Fibonacci guide for CMT candidates — retracement levels, extensions, harmonic patterns, and time cycles.
Behavioral Finance for the CMT Exam: Biases, Prospect Theory & Anomalies
Complete behavioral finance guide for CMT Level 2 — cognitive biases, prospect theory, herd behavior, and market anomalies.
Intermarket Analysis for the CMT Exam: Cross-Asset Relationships
Master intermarket analysis for CMT Level 2 — cross-asset correlations, relative strength, and the four asset classes.
Risk Management for the CMT Exam: Position Sizing, Drawdowns & VaR
Complete risk management guide for CMT candidates — position sizing, drawdown analysis, stop losses, VaR, and portfolio heat.
Volatility Analysis for the CMT Exam: VIX, ATR & Bollinger Bands
Complete volatility guide for CMT candidates — VIX, implied vs. historical volatility, ATR, Bollinger %b, and volatility regimes.
Portfolio Management for the CMT Exam: Asset Allocation & Performance
Master portfolio management for CMT Level 3 — asset allocation, rebalancing strategies, and performance attribution.
Elliott Wave Theory for the CMT Exam: Wave Counting & Rules
Complete Elliott Wave guide for CMT candidates — impulse waves, corrective waves, wave rules, and practical counting.
Candlestick Patterns for the CMT Exam: Complete Visual Guide
Master Japanese candlestick patterns for the CMT exam — reversal signals, continuation patterns, and reliability ratings.
Moving Averages for the CMT Exam: SMA, EMA, Crossovers & Strategies
Complete moving averages guide for CMT candidates — SMA vs EMA, golden cross, death cross, and trading strategies.
CMT Level 1 Complete Study Guide: Topics, Tips & Strategy
The definitive CMT Level 1 study guide for 2026 — topic weights, study timeline, key concepts, and exam strategies.
CMT Level 2 Complete Study Guide: Application & Analysis
The definitive CMT Level 2 study guide — advanced topics, study strategies, and the approach candidates use to pass.
CMT Level 3 Complete Study Guide: Essay Mastery
The definitive CMT Level 3 study guide — essay format, scoring rubrics, integration strategies, and practice approaches.
15 Proven Study Tips to Pass the CMT Exam on Your First Attempt
15 proven study tips for CMT exam success — from active recall to time management, backed by candidate survey data.
CMT vs. CFA: Which Certification Is Right for You?
CMT vs CFA comparison — study hours, pass rates, costs, career outcomes, and which designation fits your career path.
Support & Resistance Levels for the CMT Exam: The Complete Guide
Complete guide to support and resistance for CMT candidates — identification, zone analysis, role reversal, and practical applications.
Trendlines & Trend Analysis for the CMT Exam: Drawing, Validation & Channels
Master trendline construction and trend analysis for the CMT exam — validation rules, channels, fan lines, and internal trendlines.
Volume Analysis for the CMT Exam: OBV, VWAP, Accumulation/Distribution & More
Complete volume analysis guide for CMT candidates — On-Balance Volume, VWAP, Accumulation/Distribution, Chaikin Money Flow, and volume profile.
Point & Figure Charting for the CMT Exam: Construction, Patterns & Price Targets
Complete Point & Figure charting guide — box size, reversal, construction, patterns, horizontal and vertical price counts.
Relative Strength Analysis for the CMT Exam: RS Ratios, Rankings & Sector Rotation
Master comparative relative strength for the CMT exam — RS ratios, performance rankings, sector rotation, and Mansfield RS.
The Wyckoff Method for the CMT Exam: Accumulation, Distribution & Market Phases
Complete Wyckoff Method guide for CMT candidates — accumulation/distribution schematics, composite operator, springs, and upthrusts.
Gann Theory for the CMT Exam: Angles, Square of Nine & Time Cycles
Gann Theory guide for CMT candidates — Gann angles, Square of Nine, time/price squaring, and geometric analysis.
Market Cycles & Seasonality for the CMT Exam: Kitchin, Juglar, Kondratieff & Calendar Effects
Complete market cycles guide — Kitchin, Juglar, Kondratieff waves, presidential cycle, seasonal patterns, and cycle analysis.
Sentiment Indicators for the CMT Exam: Put/Call Ratio, VIX, AAII Survey & More
Complete sentiment indicator guide — put/call ratio, VIX, AAII survey, Investors Intelligence, and contrarian analysis.
Backtesting & Trading System Development for the CMT Exam
Complete backtesting guide — system development, in-sample/out-of-sample testing, overfitting, walk-forward optimization, and key metrics.
Position Sizing & Money Management for the CMT Exam
Complete position sizing guide — fixed fractional, percent risk, Kelly criterion, anti-martingale, and optimal f for CMT.
Sector Rotation Analysis for the CMT Exam: Business Cycle, RS & Portfolio Applications
Complete sector rotation guide — business cycle rotation, relative strength rankings, defensive vs. cyclical sectors, and portfolio integration.
Options & Technical Analysis for the CMT Exam: Greeks, Implied Volatility & Strategies
Guide to options concepts for CMT candidates — Greeks, implied volatility, put/call ratio, options-based sentiment, and technical strategies.
Mean Reversion vs. Momentum Strategies for the CMT Exam
Complete guide to mean reversion and momentum strategies — statistical foundations, indicators, market regimes, and practical applications.
Breakout & Breakdown Trading for the CMT Exam: Identification, Confirmation & Execution
Complete breakout trading guide — types, volume confirmation, false breakout detection, measured moves, and practical execution.
Multi-Timeframe Analysis for the CMT Exam: Top-Down Technical Framework
Complete multi-timeframe guide — top-down analysis, timeframe alignment, "triple screen" method, and practical applications.
Algorithmic Trading & Quantitative Methods for the CMT Exam
Algorithmic trading guide for CMT candidates — systematic strategies, execution algorithms, machine learning, and the role of technical analysis.
Advanced Candlestick Formations for the CMT Exam: Multi-Candle Patterns & Context
Advanced candlestick guide — three-candle patterns, engulfing variations, harami cross, abandoned baby, and contextual analysis.
Market Microstructure for the CMT Exam: Order Flow, Liquidity & Price Discovery
Market microstructure guide — order flow, bid-ask spread, market depth, dark pools, and price discovery processes for CMT Level 2 and 3.
Trading Psychology & Mental Discipline for the CMT Exam
Complete trading psychology guide — emotional biases, discipline frameworks, performance optimization, and exam application.
The Complete CMT Exam Study Guide for 2025
Everything you need to know about the Chartered Market Technician exam — from registration to passing all three levels.
Essential Technical Indicators Every CMT Candidate Must Know
A deep dive into RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, stochastics, and more — the indicators that appear most frequently on the CMT exam.
Chart Patterns: The Complete Guide for CMT Candidates
Head & shoulders, double tops, triangles, flags — master the chart patterns that dominate CMT Level 1 and Level 2.
Dow Theory: The Foundation of Technical Analysis
Understanding Dow Theory is essential for CMT Level 1. Learn the six tenets and their modern applications.
Fibonacci Analysis for CMT Level 2: Retracements, Extensions & Harmonics
Master Fibonacci retracements, extensions, and harmonic patterns for the CMT Level 2 exam.
Behavioral Finance for CMT Level 2: Biases, Heuristics & Market Anomalies
Understand the behavioral finance concepts tested on the CMT Level 2 exam — from prospect theory to herd behavior.