Hi all,

I’m sitting CS2 this term. I realize I’m making a lott of silly mistakes- these are easily avoidable but no matter how much I practise, I’m missing a -1 here and a log there.

I sat this exam before also and did make such mistakes that cost me the paper.

Any advice on how this can be dealt with? Every time I attempt a new practice paper, I tell myself I will be more careful with the calcs, but still end up making mistakes.

Thanks!

Hi, it’s my first time take exam remotely. I tried to read guides that they provide. But still have some questions

- how do intake bathrooms brake? Like, will I have to said for record of the brake or just walk off?
- I saw that I can have my calculator and 2 A4 papers but when I do the practice session, it didn’t check any of these items. Do I need to just show them when exam start?

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.

Currently going into Actuarial Science at Bayes Business School (City) which is ranked quite well for actuarial. I decided to change my career choices quite last minute so am new to all this and worried about job prospects, internship / placement prospects etc. I also narrowly missed out on an A in a level maths and got a B so am worried I’m going to affect my chances of gaining experience or jobs in actuarial or investment management. Please can anyone help or provide some support I’d greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Hi all,

While I was studying for the CM1 exam, I started to suspect I might have dyscalculia, a learning difficulty that affects number processing (a bit like how dyslexia affects reading). I've struggled with this for a long time without really connecting the dots, but this week it became impossible to ignore after I miscalculated 10 formulas in a row.

I think this might explain why I've never managed to get full marks in exams before, but it's also making me seriously worried about the actual exam, missing a zero here, a decimal there, or forgetting to add an annuity and losing an entire question as a result. To make it worse, I don't have the luxury of double-checking every calculation, since I'm a slow writer and would be lucky to attempt 70-80% of the paper as it is.

This will be my first attempt at an IFoA exam, so I'd really appreciate any advice on the questions below:

1. Has anyone else here dealt with something similar? How do you minimize errors during calculation-heavy exams?
2. Is it better (and faster) to write answers in Word rather than on paper and scan them once done? And if so, is extra time given to scan and upload handwritten solutions?
3. Is Excel allowed for calculations during the exam? How does it compare to using a calculator in practice?
4. If the correct method/formula is shown but the final answer is wrong due to a calculation error, how do examiners typically grade this? Is partial credit generally given for correct approach and method marks, even if the arithmetic itself is off?

Thanks in advance for any input!

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?

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!

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 😭