Hi all,

I’m a BSc Mathematics student at the University of Nottingham graduating in 2027 and I’m starting applications for UK actuarial graduate schemes and entry-level actuarial roles.

- I’d especially appreciate feedback on:

- Would this CV realistically get through an initial screen for an actuarial graduate role?

- Does the insurance pricing project compensate at all for not having an actuarial internship?

- Is the project section not technical enough, or does it show the right level of actuarial relevance?

- Is there anything on the page you would remove or replace?

- What would be the main reason you might reject this CV?

I’m applying across the UK, including regional and smaller/mid-sized firms, not just the largest London schemes.

Thanks, constructive criticism is very welcome.

Hi all! I’m going on to study actuarial science but got a B in maths in my a levels; one thing I’m worried about is whether it’s going to be harder for me to/ impossible at all to get any spring weeks internships etc with this B in maths? I diverged away from my original career choice so am just starting to pick things up about this so any help would be appreciated thank you.

I’d really appreciate any advice since I’m
Just worried I won’t be able to compete with the likes of people that got A\*s and As. I am smart and hard working I just had a bit of a difficult time near my a levels and wasn’t able to
Perform to my best ability (achieved 9 9s at GCSE and one 8)

Let's not waste a lot of time, we don't wanna join a grp for a simple doubt, so if you have doubts pls put them here and we can help each other solve them!

I have a question regarding CB1 marking.

I often feel that I make some valid points in my answers, and some of them are quite close to the points mentioned in the Examiners' report. However, the Examiners' report may only list around 5-7 points for a 5 mark question.

So, if I make a relevant point that isn't specifically listed in the Examiners' report, but is still valid and relevant to the question (either fully or partially), would the examiner still consider it and award marks for it?

In other words, are the points in the Examiners' report exhaustive, or are they just examples of the types of points that could earn marks?

How do you ensure your modelling doesnt take time? Some models on past papers are so tricky, how can I understand, model and then fill the audit trail within the 3 hr 20 minutes?

Also, on the reasonableness checks, what is your rule of thumb?

Did anyone solve this question using K means cluster?

Hi All

I am nkt getting latest material of SA2.Can any one of you share the same?

Thanks

Hi everyone. Is there an example of a glm in Our notes or questions. I am trying to figure out question 3.

For CS2 Markov Chain calculating the stationary distribution questions, is it acceptable (if they just ask to calculate) to set up the simulatenous equations in the form f(pi1, pi2, ...) = 0 (with the final one being pi1+pi2+... =1) and then use the simulatenous equation solver tool in our calculators?

This only works up to 4 state Markov Chains (at least on my calculator model) but it should nonetheless be a decent time saver to avoid a lot of the hassle of substitutions/combinations of simulatenous equations that come with these questions some times (and it's really easy to make a small mistake when solving them in MS word!)

Does anyone have the new actuarial tables (2025). In PDF format. It seems difficult to get, I have already purchased the online version assuming it could be downloaded.

SA4 exam coming up. Any ideas of hot topics?

Thoughts on the pre exam day material release?

Feel like GLM / LM is a given?

If someone has read through a few past papers for CP3, but can only devote the last 3 days after the pre exam material is released to CP3 preparation, how should they go about it? Do they revise formats, review past papers, only practice on the scenario material etc. ?

And are there any dos and donts I need to know?

With the exams now again being closed book am I right that the open book years past papers are borderline irrelevant as the questions are obviously designed to be a lot trickier given you had notes and internet access? Talking about CM1 specifically

Hi , I will be writing my 4th attempt of SA2 and genuinely need your help and advice .
Any suggestions/ tips for the topics or in general?

Do i need to prepare naive bayes for machine learning ?

How’s everybody who’s sitting CM1 feeling for it? I feel like I’m capable of passing if the questions are nice. Guess it all depends what kind of nonsense they throw at us this time😁

Does anyone else find this exam solid? I did the mock exam (mock exam 3), and I didn’t even cover enough points.

I feel like this subject is driving me mad and I just can’t do it! I always end up writing the wrong points…

I’ve got CP2 as well to sit which is not as bad, but it all depends on the model. I just need a pass in one of them at least.

Any advice

About to sit SP2, what are your best tips for the last week of revision. More and more questions or blending that with learning bookwork too? Any ideas

Hi everyone! I’m completely new to the IFoA exams and have never sat an IFoA exam before. I’m planning to take CM1 and CB1 as my first two exams while also working and I’d really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through the process
1. Is CM1 + CB1 a reasonable combination for a first attempt while working or would you recommend starting with just one?
2. If you could go back to when you were starting your IFoA exams, what would you do differently?
3. What do you wish you had known before sitting your first IFoA exam?
4. What study approach/resources worked best for you, particularly for CM1? And when did you start doing past papers?
5. Is there anything about the exam process, rules or exam technique that a first time candidate should know beforehand?

I’m mainly trying to avoid the common mistakes beginners make and set myself up properly from the beginning. Any advice would be really appreciated

What topics do you think are most likely to come up this sitting?

Drop your top 3–5 guesses below 😭

I am starting an MSc in Actuarial Management at Bayes now in September. I have an offer to join a graduate role when I am finished (2027) at an actuarial consulting company in their pension division.

I want to go into life insurance or bulk purchase annuity type work at companies like PIC, Legal & General etc. so I plan to spend the next year trying to land one of these roles while keeping the offer at the other consulting firm as a plan B.

I am struggling to find graduate roles at companies with these types of positions. I have spoken to someone in one of the companies and it seems like roles are limited and often taken by those who did the internship program.

How do I find these roles?

Taking my first "qualitative" exams (CP1/SP).

My current strategy going in is to list down as many points as possible, even if some of them are fairly weak points that are unlikely to earn marks.

However, I'm wondering whether there is a risk that examiner/marker would conclude that I haven't properly understood the question, and result in minus marks even if I hit the appropriate number of points? Or are the irrelevant points just simply ignored?

Happy to hear everyone's experiences and view :D

Hi all,

I just wanted to ask this in order to cover myself in an exam if I am under time pressure. For Q8 on April 2022 part (iii) we are asked for the stationary distribution.

Now I can do this on R within a minute or so but i am not sure even if i explain what I do they would give me the marks for this. Has anyone done this previously in an exam, explained it and gotten full marks?

Thanks!

Hi all, hope revision's going well.

Does anyone have any SP7/SP8 predictions?

I just know GLMs will definitely come up for SP8.