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Cmt2 Questions New One PDF
Cmt2 Questions New One PDF
Questions
for CMT
Level II
CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
These sample questions are used to provide the candidate with examples of how the
questions may appear on the CMT exam. The actual CMT exam does not have any true/false
questions. These sample questions cover much of the material listed in the Body of Knowledge,
while the actual exam questions may be more difficult. In addition, these sample questions
cover a variety of topics; however, the actual exam weighting may vary. The actual exam
consists of 160 questions of which 150 are scored items.
Please note that this sample question booklet was prepared entirely separately from the
actual exam to ensure the security of the actual exam questions. In some aspects, these sample
questions are designed differently from the actual exam so as to better serve as a review for
candidates. For example, many questions and/or answers may be longer than in the actual exam
so that the questions and answers serve as a review of the material.
The MTA maintains a discussion group forum for CMT candidates on its web site.
Candidates are encouraged to utilize this resource and to discuss any areas of the Body of
Knowledge with which they are not familiar.
This book of practice exams is produced by:
Market Technicians Association, Inc.,
61 Broadway, Suite 514
New York, NY 10006
All material is believed to be reliable at time of publication, but not guaranteed. The
Market Technicians Association, Inc., and its officers, assumes no responsibility for errors or
omissions.
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Page 3
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
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Page 5
2. An MTA Member or Affiliate using the MTA mailing list to send _____________ would not be in
violation of the Code of Ethics:
a. Research reports
b. A free membership to a club
c. Charting discount coupons
d. CMT Newsletter
3. Which of the following would not be a violation of the Code of Ethics in a published research report or
statement?
a. Estimates which are subject to change
b. Inaccurate information
c. Statements inconsistent with the accumulated knowledge of technical analysis
d. Statements which disparage the work of other analysts
4. What is the position of the MTA Code of Ethics as it pertains to trading on inside information?
a. Under no circumstances is insider trading allowed
b. The Code of Ethics takes no position on insider trading
c. Insider trading which violates the laws/regulations of any governmental or regulatory agency is
prohibited
d. Inside information may be disseminated but not acted upon
5. What is the MTA’s position with respect to knowledge of client and employer information:
a. Only knowledge of current clients and employers must be kept in confidence
b. The MTA Code of Ethics does not apply to confidentiality of unlawful client or employer activity
c. The MTA Code of Ethics is silent on client and employer confidentiality so members must refer
to laws/rules promulgated by regulatory authorities
d. All information pertaining to any lawful activity of past or present clients or employers must be
kept in confidence
6. According to the MTA Code of Ethics, what prohibitions MUST be adhered to after making a buy or sell
recommendation?
a. Allow adequate time for clients to act on recommendations before the analyst acts on the
recommendation
b. Analysts must give clients and their employer adequate time to trade, but the analyst’s family
members are under no such restriction
c. Analysts may effect trades for their own account even if their employer has not had time to act
on their recommendation
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
d. Insider trading activity is the subject of SEC regulations, therefore the MTA Code of Ethics is
silent on this issue
8. What steps must analysts take in introducing new methods of technical analysis under the MTA Code
of Ethics?
a. All new techniques must be fully documented even if proprietary methods must be disclosed to
do so
b. New procedures must be documented as to procedure and rationale
c. New procedures must be supported by adequate back testing confirmed by at least technician
d. New methods need not be consistent with the accumulated knowledge of the field of technical
analysis
9. Which of the following must every MTA Member and Affiliate comply with?
a. Rules promulgated by the MTA Board of Governors
b. MTA Constitution
c. MTA By-laws
d. All of the above
10. Which of the following MUST be adhered to in published or written analytical reports?
a. Statements must be consistent with available evidence
b. Statements must be consistent with the accumulated knowledge of technical analysis
c. Statements may not indefensibly disparage the work of other analysts
d. All of the above
11. Which of the following would BEST improve the profitability of a trend-based trading system?
a. Use of additional trend periods
b. Increase the delay in taking action after a trade signal is given
c. Utilize support and resistance lines
d. Utilize candlestick charts instead of bar charts
12. Which of the following would NOT be true in designing a trading system utilizing bands?
a. Buy when prices penetrate the upper band
b. Close out longs when prices reverse and go below the center of the band
c. Close out shorts when prices reverse and go below the center of the band
d. Sell when price breaks below the lower band
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Page 7
13. In trend-based trading systems, what is the major determinant of trading activity (i.e., how often buy
or sell signals are generated)?
a. Smoothing technique used
b. Distance between bands
c. Selection of trend speed
d. Use of a scaling factor
14. A trend-based trading system where the trend is the average of a pre-determined number of previous
days’ (n) closing prices is:
a. Point and figure
b. Simple moving average
c. Linear regression slope
d. N-day breakout
15. A trend-based trading system where the trend is the weighting of the recent closing prices by a
smoothing constant:
a. Point and figure
b. Simple moving average
c. Exponential smoothing
d. N-day break
16. A trend based trading system where the trend is the slope of a straight line found using a least squares
regression:
a. Point and figure
b. Simple moving average
c. Linear regression slope
d. N-day breakout
17. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current price reaches a new high or low:
a. Point and figure
b. Simple moving average
c. Swing breakout
d. N-day breakout
18. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current high or low price exceeds the
previous swing high or low price:
a. Point and figure
b. Simple moving average
c. Swing breakout
d. N-day breakout
19. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current high or low price exceeds the
previous high or low price:
a. Simple moving average
b. Point and figure
c. Swing breakout
d. N-day breakout
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
23. Which of the following is NOT true of the Relative Strength Index
a. It is scaled from 0 to 100
b. It is more volatile than simple measures of momentum
c. It uses all the price values in a time period
d. It is frequently used to determine overbought and oversold levels
24. Which of the following is the MOST likely use of an oscillator in a trading system:
a. To forecast future price levels
b. As a timing tool
c. To hedge other positions
d. To determine position sizes
25. What two characteristics MUST a cycle possess in order for it to be traded rationally:
a. There must be a reason for its existence and it must have regular intervals between peaks
b. There must be confidence that the cycle will continue and it must be synchronized with another
cycle
c. There must be a reason for its existence and confidence that it will continue
d. There must be a way to forecast it and it must be synchronized with another cycle
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Page 9
32. How would a technician utilize a support line which has been broken?
a. A broken support line no longer has a valid technical interpretation
b. The break in the support line would be a buy signal
c. The support line now becomes a resistance line
d. The break in the support line is of no technical importance
33. How would one improve a trading system utilizing band penetrations as trading signals which is giving
too many unprofitable trade signals?
a. Narrow the bands
b. Widen the bands
c. Utilize a shorter time horizon
d. Utilize stop loss orders
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
35. Which of the following would be a valid trading interpretation of top chart patterns?
a. Find a market with a long consolidating base and high volatility
b. Liquidate positions at prior major resistance points, top formations or the break of a major
support line
c. Sell whenever a major support level is tested but not breached
d. Sell when there is a major price retrenchment in a bull market
36. Which of the following would be a valid trading interpretation of head and shoulder chart patterns?
a. Sell when the right shoulder penetrates the neckline
b. Buy when the head forms a higher high
c. Buy on the first rally after the neckline is penetrated
d. Buy when the right part of the head is forming
37. Which of the following is NOT a valid technical method for determining price targets?
a. Discounted value of expected future cash flows
b. Height of the head in a head and shoulders pattern
c. Channel width
d. Measure of triangle base from breakout
38. Which of the following is the BEST volume indicator for analysis of futures trading?
a. Open interest
b. Contract volume
c. Total volume
d. Breadth
39. Which of the following is NOT a proper interpretation of volume and trend in the futures markets?
a. Volume rising and open interest rising = trend reversal
b. Volume rising and open interest falling = position liquidation
c. Volume falling and open interest rising = slow accumulation
d. Volume falling and open interest falling = congestion phase
40. Which of the following are true of futures volume and open interest?
a. Open interest increases during a trending period
b. Volume may decline but open interest builds during an accumulation phase
c. Rising prices and declining volume/open interest indicate a pending change of direction
d. All of the above
42. Which of the following is most likely to occur when the overall market is deeply oversold and on the
verge of reversing?
a. Lagging groups fail to confirm new lows
b. Leading groups fail to confirm new lows
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P a g e 11
43. Speculative stocks put on their best performance in which of the following markets?
a. During the whole bull market
b. At the early stages of a bull market.
c. Near the final stages of a bull market.
d. Both in the beginning and at the end of a bull market
46. Protective stops that are placed too far away can result in which of the following factors?
a. Small frequent elections
b. Large losses
c. Too many trades
d. Unwanted liquidation
47. Which of the following applies to the interpretation of point and figure charts in analyzing futures
prices?
a. Pattern analysis is more complex than for stocks
b. Futures prices offer a greater variety of chart formations than stocks
c. Only the most basic techniques are generally used such as a one box breakout
d. Incorporating open interest data into a point and figure chart makes this type of chart more
useful for futures
48. Which of the following is the short-term trading cycle that tends to influence most commodity
markets?
a. 10-day
b. 12-day
c. 19-day
d. 28-day
49. Which of the following point and figure trading techniques limits risk compared to more basic trading
rules?
a. Buy or sell as soon as a new column is created on the chart
b. Close out your trade on the second reversal back in the direction of the original signal
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
c. Take small consistent profits, but allow large, windfall profitable positions to run
d. Buy or sell on pullbacks after initial trade signal
50. Which of the following is the calculation for price objective using the horizontal count method?
(Note: X is the multiplication symbol in this question)
a. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) + (number of boxes in the reversal columns X
reversal size)
b. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) X number of boxes in the reversal columns X reversal
size
c. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) of the base X number of columns of the base X
reversal size
d. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) of the base + (number of columns of the base X
reversal size)
51. Which of the following is the calculation for price objective using the vertical count method? (Note: X
is the multiplication symbol in this question)
a. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) + (number of boxes in the reversal columns X
reversal size)
b. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) X number of boxes in the reversal columns X reversal
size
c. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) of the base X number of columns of the base X
reversal size
d. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) of the base + (number of columns of the base X
reversal size)
52. Which of the following BEST describes equity market performance during the presidential election
cycle:
a. Market has its strongest year during first year of president’s term, posts its worst returns during
the pre-election year and slightly negative returns in election years
b. Market has an above average year during first year of president’s term, posts negative returns
during the pre-election year and its strongest returns in election years
c. Market has a below average year during first year of president’s term, posts its strongest returns
during the pre-election year or in the election year
d. Market has a below average year during first year of president’s term, posts its strongest returns
in the second year and reasonably strong returns during the pre-election and election years
53. Which of the following pieces of information is NOT contained in the CFTC’s Commitment of Traders
report?
a. Positions of hedgers and speculators
b. Historical open interest of each contract
c. Current open interest of each contract
d. Reportable and non-reportable positions
54. Which of the following is true of contrary opinion as a technical analysis technique?
a. Contrary opinion can be used as the sole decision source in entering into new trading positions
b. Contrarians trade against the consensus even when it is within a normal range
c. Contrary opinion is more useful in deciding when to exit positions than as a timing tool
d. Once all long positions have been set, there is diminishing influence by the bulls
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P a g e 13
55. Which of the following are valid interpretations of the put-call ratio?
a. It is the major sentiment index used for options trading
b. It is used as a contrary indicator
c. Extreme levels are trading signals
d. All of the above
56. When a market exceeds the high of the previous 4 weeks, cycle logic indicates that which of the
following cycles has bottomed and turned up?
a. Seasonal
b. Long-term
c. Short-term
d. Intermediate-term
57. Which of the following is NOT a valid trading rule using Elliott Wave Theory?
a. Identify a main trend
b. Determine the current status of the main trend by locating the major peaks and bottoms
c. Look for five wave corrections and three wave sub-trends or extensions
d. Draw trendlines to determine direction
60. Which of the following is true of the Efficient Frontier concept in modern portfolio theory?
a. It centers on the premise that systemic risks in the financial markets can be diversified away.
b. It is a 45 degree line plotting possible risk versus return
c. It is a plot of the highest possible returns obtainable over a series of risk levels
d. It is unrelated to the risk free rate
62. Which of the following is true for the use of the chi square test?
a. Used as the main confirmation test in Dow Theory
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
64. What would be the price objective for a head and shoulders pattern with a neckline at 63, top of the
first shoulder at 72, top of the head at 96 and top of the second shoulder at 78?
a. 10
b. 96
c. 48
d. 30
65. What is the measuring objective for double top chart pattern?
a. The distance between the two chart tops
b. The distance between the price level at the first top and the second top
c. The price change of the move prior to entering the double top pattern
d. The height of the pattern from the breakdown point
66. What is the importance of time in interpreting the saucer and peak patterns?
a. Longer time periods increase the signaling importance of saucers but not of peaks
b. Saucer bottoms are more valid when they form over a short time period
c. Long time periods between market peaks and troughs reduce the potential for a market reversal
d. Longer formation time periods increase the signaling importance of both saucers and peaks
70. Which of the following are true of the concepts of divergence and confirmation in technical analysis
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P a g e 15
71. According to Kirkpatrick and Dahlquist, during emotional times, flow of funds signals:
a. Appear to work poorly because price seems to divorce itself from economics.
b. Appear to work exceptionally well because of the market’s flight to safety.
c. Function no differently than at any other time in the market cycle because of shortcomings in the
measurement procedures.
d. Suggests the duration of the next downleg in the market cycle.
77. What is the proper use of long-term charts versus daily price charts?
a. Long-term charts are more useful for making trading decisions
b. Daily price charts allow for a thorough trend analysis
c. Long-term charts allow for a better assessment of the price trend
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
d. Daily price charts allow for a better assessment of the price trend
78. What method could one utilize to analyze the long-term trends of futures prices, despite the fact that
each contract is ONLY traded for several months?
a. Candlestick charts
b. Point and figure charts
c. Equivolume charts
d. Continuation charts
84. Which of the following is a CORRECT usage of an oscillator constructed using two moving averages?
a. To help identify long-term variations from the short-term trend
b. To spot confirmations between technical indicators
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P a g e 17
86. The stochastic oscillator was created utilizing which basic observation?
a. As prices decline, the trading range tends to narrow
b. Changes in volume precedes price movements
c. Existing oscillators were limited to a range of 0 to 100
d. As prices increase, prices tend to be closer to the upper end of the trading range
88. Which of the following is a CORRECT point and figure chart pattern interpretation?
a. Upside breakout above an ascending triple top signals sell
b. Upside breakout above a bullish resistance line signals sell
c. Downside breakout of a bearish triangle signals sell
d. Downside breakout below a bearish support line signals buy
89. Which of the following are valid point and figure chart trading tactics?
a. Simple trade signals can be used for new commitments whereas complex signals are needed for
liquidation purposes
b. Long positions are closed when they fall below the trend line and short positions are closed when
they rise above the trend line
c. Stop losses should be placed below the last column of Os in an uptrend
d. All of the above
90. A breakout:
a. Is a minor pattern which is rarely seen and has no real significance on either the near or long
term
b. Occurs when price passes through specific levels
c. Has no significance to a trader of investor
d. Needs to be confirmed by other indicators
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
91. Which of the following are the three basic tenets of Elliott Wave Theory, in the CORRECT order of
importance?
a. Price, momentum and volume
b. Price, pattern and volume
c. Waves, alternation and reversals
d. Pattern, ratio and time
93. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
a. A complete bull market cycle is made up of eight waves, three waves up followed by five waves
down
b. A trend divides into three waves in the direction of the next longer trend
c. Corrections always take place in five wave patterns
d. The two types of simple corrections are zigzags and flats
94. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
a. Triangles are usually second waves preceding a longer third wave
b. Waves can be expanded into longer waves and subdivided into shorter waves
c. In the stock market, wave 5 is the most common to extend
d. The Pythagorean theorem is the mathematical basis for Elliott Wave Theory
95. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
a. The number of waves follows the Pythagorean theorem
b. Ratios are used to define price objectives
c. The rule of alternation states that up waves follow down waves
d. Bear markets do not fall below the top of the prior fourth wave
96. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
a. Wave four should not overlap wave one
b. The theory is composed of time, ratios and wave forms, in that order of importance
c. The theory was originally applied to individual stocks and does not work as well for indices
d. The theory works best in commodity markets traded primarily by professional traders such
agricultural futures
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P a g e 19
98. Which of the following places the cycles in time length order?
a. Lunar, presidential, seasonal, alpha/beta and Kondratieff
b. Kondratieff, presidential, alpha/beta, seasonal and lunar
c. Alpha/beta, presidential, seasonal, lunar, and Kondratieff
d. Alpha/beta, lunar, seasonal, presidential and Kondratieff
99. Which is historically the strongest three-month period for the U.S. equity markets?
a. January, February and March
b. March, April and May
c. June, July and August
d. October, November and December
101. What of the following could be utilized in a computerized trading system to improve the
performance of Wilder’s Parabolic System?
a. Trend lines
b. Stops
c. Directional movement index
d. Average divergence index
102. Which of the following is one of the advantages of computerized trading systems?
a. Computerized trend following systems are profitable in all types of markets
b. Computerized systems improve the interpretation of complex trading patterns
c. Computerized trading systems remove the human emotion element
d. All of the above
103. Which of the following is one of the disadvantages of computerized trading systems?
a. Trading decisions are less consistent
b. Most computerized systems are unprofitable in non-trending markets
c. Profit trades are exited too early
d. Computerized systems miss many market trends
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
108. Which intermarket relationship may NOT hold when commodity prices decline (i.e., during periods
of deflation)?
a. The link between the dollar and commodities
b. The link between commodities and bonds
c. Intermarket analysis is unaffected by deflation
d. The link between the equity and bond markets
109. Which of the following is a valid guideline in using technical analysis to make investment decisions
among stock market sectors?
a. Relative strength analysis allows for identification of the strongest and weakest sectors
b. Charting tools such as trendlines and moving averages should not be employed with relative
strength lines
c. Sectors whose relative strength lines are just turning up after a downtrend should be sold
d. This analysis does not hold for options or mutual funds due to the unique characteristics of these
securities
112. In point and figure theory, triple-tops and triple-bottoms, when breached:
a. Lead to smaller continuation patterns
b. Frequently leads to a consolidation phase
c. Will lead to a stronger directional move
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P a g e 21
116. Which is the CORRECT interpretation of the candlestick hanging man pattern?
a. A hanging man always has a black real body
b. A hanging man comes after a market rally
c. A hanging man has no lower shadow
d. A hanging man need not be confirmed by other indicators
117. Which of the following factors would increase the predictive power of an engulfing pattern?
a. The first day has a very long real body and the second day has a very short real body
b. The pattern appears after a consolidation pattern
c. There is heavy volume on the first day of the engulfing pattern
d. None of the above
118. Which of the following factors would NOT increase the predictive power of a dark cloud cover
pattern?
a. The dark cloud cover occurs in the middle of a trading range
b. During a downtrend, a white real body with shaven head and bottom followed by a black body
also with a shaven head and bottom
c. If the second day of trading opens above a resistance level and then fails
d. Heavy volume on the second day indicates a buying blow off
119. Which of the following is an INCORRECT interpretation of the candlestick piercing pattern?
a. It is a bullish reversal pattern
b. The greater the penetration into the price levels of the prior day’s real body, the greater
predictive power
c. It is the opposite of the dark cloud cover
d. It is preceded by a market uptrend
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
121. Which of the following factors would be a CORRECT interpretation of the morning star pattern?
a. The pattern contains two candles
b. The real bodies of the first and second candles generally overlap
c. It is considered a bullish reversal pattern
d. It is considered a bearish reversal pattern
122. Which of the following factors would increase the predictive power of the evening star pattern?
a. If there is no overlap among the real bodies of the candles in the pattern
b. If the last candle closes deeply into the body of the first candle
c. If there is light volume on the first candle of the pattern and heavy volume on the last candle of
the pattern
d. All of the above
124. Which of the following is a CORRECT interpretation of the shooting star pattern?
a. It is even more bearish than the gravestone doji candle
b. Shooting stars in charts, as in life, are omens of good fortune
c. The color of the real body is of utmost importance to its significance
d. It is a bearish reversal pattern
125. Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement regarding the inverted hammer pattern?
a. The color of the real body is of utmost importance to its significance
b. It has the same form as the shooting star pattern
c. It comes at the end of a market downtrend
d. It is a bottom reversal signal
127. In tweezers tops patterns, which aspects of the two candles MUST match?
a. Both candles must have shaven tops
b. Both candles must have the same high price
c. Both candles must have the same color real bodies
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P a g e 23
128. Which of the following is NOT true of the belt hold candle?
a. The pattern consists of a single candle
b. The bearish belt-hold is a long black candle that opens on the high and moves lower through the
trading session
c. A short belt-hold line has more significance than a long belt-hold line
d. The term belt-hold refers to a sumo wrestling maneuver where a wrestler pushes his opponent
while holding onto his belt
129. Which of the following is true of the three black crows’ pattern?
a. The color of the real bodies is of utmost importance to its significance
b. It is continuation pattern
c. The three candles do not have to be on consecutive trading periods
d. When successive candles open inside the real body of the prior day the pattern has greater
significance
130. Which is NOT true of the three advancing white soldiers’ pattern?
a. It is a gradual and steady rise
b. Each real body opens within or near the prior session’s real body
c. It is composed of three white candles with successively higher closes
d. Each candle should have a long upper shadow
131. Which of the following is NOT true of the three mountains and three rivers chart patterns?
a. They are longer-term tops and bottom patterns, respectively
b. The three mountains pattern is also known as a triple top or Buddha top
c. The three rivers patterns is also known as a triple bottom or inverted Buddha bottom
d. The color of the real bodies is of utmost importance to its significance
133. Which of the following is NOT true of the rising and falling three methods patterns?
a. They are continuation patterns
b. It starts with a long candle is followed by three short candles of the opposite color
c. The final day is another long candle of the opposite color of the three preceding small candles
d. The pattern consists of a single candle
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
138. Which of the following is the MOST important thing to keep in mind in attempting to find a perfect
indicator?
a. Indicators do not take into account trading costs
b. Indicators optimized for the past often do not work in the present
c. Indicators are frequently so complex to create as to be of little use in making trading decision
d. Indicators usually give conflicting trading advice
141. What are three common ways that a greed-driven investor can suffer losses, even when his longer-
term market forecast is CORRECT?
a. Options, indexes and pyramiding
b. Options, indexes and currencies
c. Options, leveraging and pyramiding
d. Options, leveraging and currencies
142. Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the Industrial Life Cycle?
a. Innovation, Maturity, Consolidation and Decay
b. Innovation, Consolidation, Decay and Maturity
c. Innovation, Consolidation, Maturity and Decay
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P a g e 25
143. Why is it important to ignore opinions and focus on facts in market analysis?
a. Opinions are not generally discounted by the market
b. Stock market news is more important than general news in determining the future direction of
the markets
c. Unexpected news does not get factored into the market
d. General news reflects slowly unfolding economic and financial trends not yet discounted by the
markets
144. Which of the following is GENERALLY true of financial media explanations for market moves?
a. These stories uncover the true underlying drivers of the market
b. Such stories are essentially gossip
c. Price movements are not news
d. These stories are generally the authoritative explanation of market moves
145. According to Charles Dow, what has been the main downfall of Wall Street investors?
a. Independent thinking
b. Failure to stay the course
c. Pride of opinion
d. Failure to abide by classic trading rules
148. Which of the following BEST characterizes the Theory of Contrary Opinion?
a. When virtually everyone takes the position that the market is headed in a certain direction, there
is no one left to push the trend any further
b. Always trade against the prevailing trend
c. The future can be extrapolated based on present trends
d. Fundamental analysis is always wrong
149. From a contrarian’s perspective, which of the following would be considered a bullish indicator?
a. A Business Week cover with a story on “The Death of Equities”
b. The vast majority of professional financial letter writers are bullish
c. CNBC is on the television at the local bar, and everyone is paying attention
d. Sales of investment books are increasingly dramatically
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
150. Which of the following is one of the key rules for traders?
a. Take profits but be patient with losing positions and give them time to rebound
b. Buy low, sell high
c. Be a contrarian and trade against the trend
d. Always meet margin calls promptly
156. In a point and figure chart, what are the typical box sizes for a stock trading between 20 and 100,
between 100 and 200, and then above 200?
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 1, 2, 4
c. ½, 1, 2
d. 1, 3, 5
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P a g e 27
157. What is the bearish counterpart to the Piercing Line candlestick pattern?
a. 3 Black Crows
b. Dark Cloud Cover
c. Hanging Man
d. Shooting Star followed by an Inverted Hammer
158. Prior to a market top, what would one expect to see in a VIX reading?
a. Increasing VIX levels, as more investors are adding protective measures
b. An overbought VIX level, given an increase in long term S&P futures contracts.
c. Generally low VIX levels, as there is often complacency among traders prior to tops
d. An oversold VIX level, given a decrease in long term S&P futures contracts.
159. Which of the following would provide the least help to a trader who is trying to determine where to
place a stop order?
a. ATR
b. Parabolic SAR
c. TRIN
d. Pivot Point Technique
161. When small cap stocks have abnormal strength, this can be attributed to the:
a. The January Barometer
b. The January Effect
c. Kondratieff K-Wave
d. Hindenburg Omen
162. If a peak occurs prior to the halfway point of a cycle, this would be considered:
a. Left translation
b. Right translation
c. Inversion
d. Entropy
163. All of the following most directly measure internal market strength, EXCEPT:
a. New Net Highs & New Net Lows
b. Net Ticks
c. Arms Index
d. Consumer Confidence Index
164. Which of the following are FALSE statements when describing the Chaikin Money Flow Index?
a. Gaps will not be recorded, as the index only uses the day high, day low, and closing price.
b. It suffers from the “drop off” effect, as it uses a simple moving average.
c. It measures deviations of price within two standard deviations of the range.
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
165. A system in which the investor must be able to withstand a long series of losses.
a. Martingale Betting System
b. Parabolic System
c. Directional Move System
d. Pyramiding
168. A technical analyst was at a convention in which a long-term point and figure stock chart was being
discussed. He noticed that low-price action did not appear as active as high-price action on the
chart. One suggestion the technical analyst could provide, to clear up this apparent distortion,
would be to:
a. Change the charting scale to logarithmic
b. Increase the time frame on the chart
c. Change the scale to arithmetic
d. Add the daily opening prices to provide a more visual benchmark of price changes
169. Over a period of 4 weeks, a swing trader notices that for a particular security the ADX reading has
declined from a high of 45 to a current low of 15. What tool may best help the trader isolate a
trading opportunity over the next few days?
a. A Simple Moving Average
b. An Oscillator
c. An Exponential Moving Average
d. A Linear Regression Line
170. Which of the following best helps quantify the risk of a trading system?
a. Maximum Cumulative Drawdown
b. Maximum Favorable Excursions
c. Longest Flat Time
d. Length of Average Winning Trade
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P a g e 29
171. This indicator measures the distance between two exponential moving averages of advances minus
declines.
a. TRIN
b. McClellan Oscillator
c. Ayres-Hughes Breadth Indicator
d. The SENTIX Index
172. Most of these indicators measure what uninformed investors are doing.
a. Sentiment indicators
b. Breadth indicators
c. Flow of Funds indicators
d. Cycle indicators
174. A security has just broken out of its trading range to the upside. Over the course of the next 2 days,
it rises an additional 5% from the point of the breakout. It then returns to its prior resistance line,
before continuing the uptrend. What term best describes this phenomenon?
a. Failure
b. Shortfall
c. Throwback
d. Premature Breakout
176. Which of the following is a TRUE statement about the Stochastic Oscillator?
a. It examines the most recent closing price as a percentage of the price range over a window of
time
b. It is not as sensitive to recent price action as other indicators like Rate of Change
c. It moves in the same direction as the Williams %R indicator
d. It works best in a trending market, when it confirms the direction of the primary trend.
177. This chart type integrates volume directly into the price bar:
a. Equivolume
b. VWOP
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
c. Renko
d. Ichimoku Cloud
178. ALL of the following are standard patterns used with 3-Box reversal point and figure charts, EXCEPT:
a. Bullish or Bearish Triangle
b. Triple Top or Triple Bottom
c. Double Top or Double Bottom
d. Bullish or Bearish Fulcrum
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P a g e 31
2. An MTA Member or Affiliate using the MTA mailing list to send ____________would not be in
violation of the Code of Ethics:
d. CMT Newsletter
3. Which of the following would NOT be a violation of the code of ethics in a published research report or
statement?
a. Estimates which are subject to change
4. What is the position of the MTA Code of Ethics as it pertains to trading on inside information?
c. Insider trading which violates the laws/regulations of any governmental or regulatory agency is
prohibited
5. What is the MTA’s position with respect to knowledge of client and employer information:
d. All information pertaining to any lawful activity of past or present clients or employers must be kept in
confidence
6. According to the MTA Code of Ethics, what prohibitions MUST be adhered to after making a buy or sell
recommendation?
a. Allow adequate time for clients to act on recommendations before the analyst acts on the
recommendation
8. What steps MUST analysts take in introducing new methods of technical analysis under the MTA Code of
Ethics?
b. New procedures must be documented as to procedure and rationale
9. Which of the following MUST every MTA Member and Affiliate comply with?
d. All of the above
10. Which of the following MUST be adhered to in published or written analytical reports?
d. All of the above
11. Which of the following would BEST improve the profitability of a trend-based trading system?
b. Increase the delay in taking action after a trade signal is given
12. Which of the following would NOT be true in designing a trading system utilizing bands?
c. Close out shorts when prices reverse and go below the center of the band
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
13. In trend-based trading systems, what is the major determinant of trading activity (i.e., how often buy or
sell signals are generated)?
c. Selection of trend speed
14. A trend-based trading system where the trend is the average of a pre-determined number of previous
days’ (n) closing prices is:
b. Simple moving average
15. A trend-based trading system where the trend is the weighting of the recent closing prices by a
smoothing constant:
c. Exponential smoothing
16. A trend based trading system where the trend is the slope of a straight line found using a least squares
regression:
c. Linear regression slope
17. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current price reaches a new high or low:
c. An N-day breakout
18. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current high or low price exceeds the
previous swing high or low price:
c. Swing breakout
19. A trend based trading system where signals occur when the current high or low price exceeds the
previous high or low price:
b. Point and figure
23. Which of the following is NOT true of the Relative Strength Index
b. It is more volatile than simple measures of momentum
24. Which of the following is the MOST likely use of an oscillator in a trading system:
b. As a timing tool
25. What two characteristics MUST a cycle possess in order for it to be traded rationally:
c. There must be a reason for its existence and confidence that it will continue
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P a g e 33
32. How would a technician utilize a support line which has been broken?
c. The support line now becomes a resistance line
33. How would one improve a trading system utilizing band penetrations as trading signals which is giving
too many unprofitable trade signals?
b. Widen the bands
35. Which of the following would be a valid trading interpretation of top chart patterns?
b. Liquidate positions at prior major resistance points, top formations or the break of a major support line
36. Which of the following would be a valid trading interpretation of head and shoulder chart patterns?
a. Sell when the right shoulder penetrates the neckline
37. Which of the following is NOT a valid technical method for determining price targets?
a. Discounted value of expected future cash flows
38. Which of the following is the BEST volume indicator for analysis of futures trading?
c. Total volume
39. Which of the following is NOT a proper interpretation of volume and trend in the futures markets?
a. Volume rising and open interest rising = trend reversal
40. Which of the following are true of futures volume and open interest?
d. All of the above
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
42. Which of the following is most likely to occur when the overall market is deeply oversold and on the
verge of reversing?
b. Leading groups fail to confirm new lows
43. Speculative stocks put on their best performance in which of the following markets?
c. Near the final stages of a bull market
46. Protective stops that are placed too far away can result in which of the following factors?
b. Large losses
47. Which of the following applies to the interpretation of point and figure charts in analyzing futures prices?
c. Only the most basic techniques are generally used such as a one box breakout
48. Which of the following is the short-term trading cycle that tends to influence most commodity markets?
d. 28-day
49. Which of the following point and figure trading techniques limits risk compared to more basic trading
rules?
d. Buy or sell on pullbacks after initial trade signal
50. Which of the following is the calculation for price objective using the horizontal count method? (Note: X
is the multiplication symbol in this question)
d. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) of the base + (number of columns of the base X reversal size)
51. Which of the following is the calculation for price objective using the vertical count method? (Note: X is
the multiplication symbol in this question)
a. Price level of the lowest box (for up counts) + (number of boxes in the reversal columns X reversal size)
52. Which of the following BEST describes equity market performance during the presidential election cycle:
c. Market has a below average year during first year of president’s term, posts its strongest returns during
the pre-election year or in the election year
53. Which of the following pieces of information is NOT contained in the CFTC’s Commitment of Traders
report?
b. Historical open interest of each contract
54. Which of the following is true of contrary opinion as a technical analysis technique?
d. Once all long positions have been set, there is diminishing influence by the bulls
55. Which of the following are valid interpretations of the put-call ratio?
d. All of the above
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P a g e 35
56. When a market exceeds the high of the previous 4 weeks, cycle logic indicates that which of the
following cycles has bottomed and turned up?
b. Long-term
57. Which of the following is NOT a valid trading rule using Elliott Wave Theory?
c. Look for five wave corrections and three wave sub-trends or extensions
60. Which of the following is true of the Efficient Frontier concept in modern portfolio theory?
c. It is a plot of the highest possible returns obtainable over a series of risk levels
62. Which of the following is true for the use of the chi square test?
c. Compares actual returns to expected returns
64. What would be the price objective for a head and shoulders pattern with a neckline at 63, top of the first
shoulder at 72, top of the head at 96 and top of the second shoulder at 78?
d. 30
65. What is the measuring objective for double top chart pattern?
d. The height of the pattern from the breakdown point
66. What is the importance of time in interpreting the saucer and peak patterns?
d. Longer formation time periods increase the signaling importance of both saucers and peaks
70. Which of the following are true of the concepts of divergence and confirmation in technical analysis
a. They are opposite concepts
71. According to Kirkpatrick and Dahlquist, during emotional times, flow of funds signals:
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
a. Appear to work poorly because price seems to divorce itself from economics
77. What is the proper use of long-term charts versus daily price charts?
c. Long-term charts allow for a better assessment of the price trend
78. What method could one utilize to analyze the long-term trends of futures prices, despite the fact that
each contract is only traded for several months?
d. Continuation charts
84. Which of the following is a CORRECT usage of an oscillator constructed using two moving averages?
c. To pinpoint the crossing of two moving averages
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P a g e 37
86. The stochastic oscillator was created utilizing which basic observation?
d. As prices increase, prices tend to be closer to the upper end of the trading range
88. Which of the following is a CORRECT point and figure chart pattern interpretation?
c. Downside breakout of a bearish triangle signals sell
89. Which of the following are valid point and figure chart trading tactics?
c. Stop losses should be placed below the last column of Os in an uptrend
90. A breakout:
b. Occurs when price passes through specific levels.
91. Which of the following are the three basic tenets of Elliott Wave Theory, in the CORRECT order of
importance?
d. Pattern, ratio and time
93. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
d. The two types of simple corrections are zig-zags and flats
94. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
b. Waves can be expanded into longer waves and subdivided into shorter waves
95. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
b. Ratios are used to define price objectives
96. Which of the following is a true statement according to Elliott Wave Theory?
a. Wave four should not overlap wave one
98. Which of the following places the cycles in time length order?
d. Alpha/beta, lunar, seasonal, presidential and Kondratieff
99. Which is historically the strongest three-month period for the U.S. equity markets?
d. October, November and December
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
101. What of the following could be utilized in a computerized trading system to improve the performance of
Well’s Parabolic System?
c. Directional movement index
102. Which of the following is one of the advantages of computerized trading systems?
c. Computerized trading systems remove the human emotion element
103. Which of the following is one of the disadvantages of computerized trading systems?
b. Most computerized systems are unprofitable in non-trending markets
108. Which intermarket relationship may NOT hold when commodity prices decline (i.e., during periods of
deflation)?
d. The link between the equity and bond markets
109. Which of the following is a valid guideline in using technical analysis to make investment decisions
among stock market sectors?
a. Relative strength analysis allows for identification of the strongest and weakest sectors
112. In point and figure theory, triple-tops and triple-bottoms, when breached:
c. Will lead to a stronger directional move.
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P a g e 39
116. Which is the CORRECT interpretation of the candlestick hanging man pattern?
b. A hanging man comes after a market rally
117. Which of the following factors would increase the predictive power of an engulfing pattern?
d. None of the above
118. Which of the following factors would NOT increase the predictive power of a dark cloud cover pattern?
a. The dark could cover occurs in the middle of a trading range
119. Which of the following is an INCORRECT interpretation of the candlestick piercing pattern?
d. It is preceded by a market uptrend
121. Which of the following factors would be a CORRECT interpretation of the morning star pattern?
c. It is considered a bullish reversal pattern
122. Which of the following factors would increase the predictive power of the evening star pattern?
d. All of the above
124. Which of the following is a CORRECT interpretation of the shooting star pattern?
d. It is a bearish reversal pattern
125. Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement regarding the inverted hammer pattern?
a. The color of the real body is of utmost importance to its significance
127. In tweezers tops patterns, which aspects of the two candles must match?
b. Both candles must have the same high price
128. Which of the following is NOT true of the belt hold candle?
c. A short belt-hold line has more significance than a long belt-hold line
129. Which of the following is true of the three black crows pattern?
a. The color of the real bodies is of utmost importance to its significance
130. Which is NOT true of the three advancing white soldiers pattern?
d. Each candle should have a long upper shadow
131. Which of the following is NOT true of the three mountains and three rivers chart patterns?
d. The color of the real bodies is of utmost importance to its significance
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
133. Which of the following is NOT true of the rising and falling three methods patterns?
d. The pattern consists of a single candle
138. Which of the following is the MOST important thing to keep in mind in attempting to find a perfect
indicator?
b. Indicators optimized for the past often do not work in the present
141. What are three common ways that a greed-driven investor can suffer losses, even when his longer-term
market forecast is CORRECT?
c. Options, leveraging and pyramiding
142. Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the Industrial Life Cycle?
c. Innovation, Consolidation, Maturity and Decay
143. Why is it important to ignore opinions and focus on facts in market analysis?
d. General news reflects slowly unfolding economic and financial trends not yet discounted by the markets
144. Which of the following is GENERALLY true of financial media explanations for market moves?
b. Such stories are essentially gossip
145. According to Charles Dow, what has been the main downfall of Wall Street investors?
c. Pride of opinion
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P a g e 41
148. Which of the following BEST characterizes the Theory of Contrary Opinion?
a. When virtually everyone takes the position that the market is headed in a certain direction, there is no
one left to push the trend any further
149. From a contrarian’s perspective, which of the following would be considered a bullish indicator?
a. A Business Week cover with a story on “The Death of Equities”
150. Which of the following is one of the key rules for traders?
b. Buy low, sell high
156. In a point and figure chart, what are the typical box sizes for a stock trading between 20 and 100,
between 100 and 200, and then above 200?
b. 1, 2, 4
157. What is the bearish counterpart to the Piercing Line candlestick pattern?
b. Dark Cloud Cover
158. Prior to a market top, what would one expect to see in a VIX reading?
c. Generally low VIX levels, as there is often complacency among traders prior to tops
159. Which of the following would provide the least help to a trader who is trying to determine where to
place a stop order?
c. TRIN
161. When small cap stocks have abnormal strength, this can be attributed to the:
b. The January Effect
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CMT Level 2 Sample Questions
162. If a peak occurs prior to the halfway point of a cycle, this would be considered:
a. Left translation
163. All of the following most directly measure internal market strength, EXCEPT:
d. Consumer Confidence Index
164. Which of the following are FALSE statements when describing the Chaikin Money Flow Index?
c. It measures deviations of price within two standard deviations of the range.
165. A system in which the investor must be able to withstand a long series of losses.
a. Martingale Betting System
168. A technical analyst was at a convention in which a long-term point and figure stock chart was being
discussed. He noticed that low-price action did not appear as active as high-price action on the chart.
One suggestion the technical analyst could provide, to clear up this apparent distortion, would be to:
a. Change the charting scale to logarithmic
169. Over a period of 4 weeks, a swing trader notices that for a particular security the ADX reading has
declined from a high of 45 to a current low of 15. What tool may best help the trader isolate a trading
opportunity over the next few days?
b. An Oscillator
170. Which of the following best helps quantify the risk of a trading system?
a. Maximum Cumulative Drawdown
171. This indicator measures the distance between two exponential moving averages of advances minus
declines.
b. McClellan Oscillator
172. Most of these indicators measure what uninformed investors are doing.
a. Sentiment indicators
174. A security has just broken out of its trading range to the upside. Over the course of the next 2 days, it
rises an additional 5% from the point of the breakout. It then returns to its prior resistance line, before
continuing the uptrend. What term best describes this phenomenon?
c. Throwback
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P a g e 43
176. Which of the following is a TRUE statement about the Stochastic Oscillator?
a. It examines the most recent closing price as a percentage of the price range over a window of time
177. This chart type integrates volume directly into the price bar:
a. Equivolume
178. ALL of the following are standard patterns used with 3-Box reversal point and figure charts, EXCEPT:
d. Bullish or Bearish Fulcrum
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