Study Progress

[Willie Mosconi]

I thought I'd start one of these threads for our exam.

I'm right over the half-way point with my first read-through. I had spent more time going through the chapter and PDF readings earlier on, but have decided to spend more time just going through the detailed GRASP outline and filling in from the readings where needed. I should be done by the end of February with the readings.

[F-9]

I'm only about 1/4 of the way through the readings, and I haven't touched the GRASP study materials at all, except to take them out of the box.

Long slog ahead.

[Black Mage]

I'm about 1/4 way through the book and flashcards, both GRASP. I read all the non-* flashcards and I'm rereading them because apparently I forgot them already. Plan is to be able to pass by my seminar (3/6) peak there, and take a week break, then incorporate seminar material then re-memorize, peak there and pass exam. I got a 5 last time. :l

[Badger484]

I'm with you Willie. I started the readings with good intentions, but half way through I got more and more inpatient with them. I ended up just reading the detailed GRASP outlines for the last 1/3 of the readings while referencing the books for certain topics that were unclear. Now I find myself staring at this huge box of cards knowing my life is about to get ugly.

[Reflection]

I'm aiming to have the readings done by early next week, so I can have plenty of time to memorize. I read GRASP/readings similar to Willie - if it's stuff I'm more familiar with I don't worry about the readings too much, but for the stuff I haven't seen before (like DFCA) I spend some time with the books. I'm kind of dreading the memorizing part, but I started a few at lunch yesterday and it wasn't too bad yet... we'll see how long that lasts. ;)

[Bühlmann]

I'm kind of dreading the memorizing part, but I started a few at lunch yesterday and it wasn't too bad yet... we'll see how long that lasts. ;)

I see you didn't start off with the ASOP lists then :).

[That Goblin]

I’m almost half way done reading though the detailed GRASP outline. I’m also going through the TIA online seminar. I’m going to the TIA Chicago seminar in March and I’d like to be done with the GRASP outline and at least halfway done with the TIA online material by then. I would like to devote about 2 months to memorizing lists and working on sample problems.

[carzymathematician]

I’m almost half way done reading though the detailed GRASP outline. I’m also going through the TIA online seminar. I’m going to the TIA Chicago seminar in March and I’d like to be done with the GRASP outline and at least halfway done with the TIA online material by then. I would like to devote about 2 months to memorizing lists and working on sample problems.

My only advice is to be careful you don't peak before the right time. It's easy to get burnt out before you've actually reached the finish line! :toth:

[That Goblin]

My only advice is to be careful you don't peak before the right time. It's easy to get burnt out before you've actually reached the finish line! :toth:

That's crazy!

[Bühlmann]

My only advice is to be careful you don't peak before the right time. It's easy to get burnt out before you've actually reached the finish line! :toth:

Think about taking CSP all over again if "burn out" starts to set in. That should cure it!

[thing]

A bit over 1/3 through first pass reading/outlining. At current pace, I should finish mid-March with that.

I've got the GRASP flashcards and the source material, and I'm not buying GAAP for Life Insurers. So there.

[saahu5]

I'm about 1/3 of the way thru the GRASP detailed outline. Once I finish that, it's on to the condensed outline and flashcards to start memorizing early. I got a 5 on this exam last time and I'm determined to pass this sitting!

[MarsLasar]

I'm using the TIA schedule and doing the GRASP condensed outline as I go. So basically I'm currently working on TIA section C (Reinsurance) doing the practice problems, while going through the GRASP condensed outline on reinsurance. Sections A and B were real doozies.

[That Goblin]

A bit over 1/3 through first pass reading/outlining. At current pace, I should finish mid-March with that.

I've got the GRASP flashcards and the source material, and I'm not buying GAAP for Life Insurers. So there.

If you come down to the wire and you need a copy of the big monster, I offer rush shipping.

[Reflection]

Just finished the readings. Now I will just be a memorizing fool for the next several months...

[Bühlmann]

If you come down to the wire and you need a copy of the big monster, I offer rush shipping.

I find it pretty irritating that this book is on the syllabus. Very little of it is covered and a lot of it is overlaps other sources. Another book that doesn't do much is the Higgins text. A five page study note spouting off all of the financial ratios (which I was already tested on in Course 2 and are probably covered in the finance VEE now so is it really even necessary?) would suffice.

[Willie Mosconi]

I've got a few more ERM papers to read, then I'm on to the Capital Needs section. Hopefully I'll be done with all the readings in a few weeks. That retiree section looks to be a lot though!

[That Goblin]

I find it pretty irritating that this book is on the syllabus. Very little of it is covered and a lot of it is overlaps other sources. Another book that doesn't do much is the Higgins text. A five page study note spouting off all of the financial ratios (which I was already tested on in Course 2 and are probably covered in the finance VEE now so is it really even necessary?) would suffice.

Yeah what’s the deal with all those financial ratios anyway? Memorizing a long list of simple mathematical formulas? Smells like course 4 all over again.

[thing]

I find it pretty irritating that this book is on the syllabus. Very little of it is covered and a lot of it is overlaps other sources.
That's why I'm skipping it. I can't believe they include 4 chapters from one book as a study note, but they couldn't photocopy the 20 pages from this book and send it. If it ain't on a GRASP flash-card from this source, to heck with it.

Higgins had at least the benefit of being tangentially about motorcycles.

[MarsLasar]

60 days to go. I am shifting into full memorization mode today. My plan is to memorize 4 pages of the GRASP condensed outline per day. I also plan to solve 10-15 problems per day from TIA or GRASP.

For today, I memorized pages 643-646. It took about six hours. :tfh:
But I can now whip out answers to the following:

1.Why is quality of care important and why is quality often not factored into health care purchasing decisions?
2.What are three components to quality health care?
3.What might you consider in assessing physician quality of care?
4.What resources are available for evaluating a physician’s credentials?
5.What might you ask a hospital when evaluating quality?
6.What are the major accrediting organizations for MCO’s and what are their levels of accreditation?
7.What would you review when evaluating the quality of a MCO?
8.What resources are available for evaluating the quality of a MCO?
9.How can MCO quality be improved?
10.How can Continuous Quality Improvement be promoted in MCO’s?
11.What are general considerations in health plan performance measurement reports?
12.What are some considerations for evaluating health plan performance?
13.What does the statistical credibility of a random sample depend upon?

:joe:

[Bühlmann]

Damn Mars.

[F-9]

I should finish reading the source material this week and then shift into full-time memorization mode. I'm not going to bother with problems for a few more weeks yet.

Hopefully, my extra brain will arrive soon so I can store all that information.

[Julietn528]

I am over way through my first round of memorization for the notecards. I am also doing a detailed reading of the outline and going through it in terms of the study objectives. I already did a first pass of the reading, so the outline is my second time through, I am re-reading the sections I have questions on. I already am half way through my second pass of the syllabus.

[thing]

Finished reading on Monday, should finish outlining by Friday. Then I'll organize all the outlines, read them over, go to flashcards, and the GRASP problem sets ought to arrive next week.

[saahu5]

Just finished 2nd read-through of the condensed outline and have watched all TIA videos that have been posted. I'm starting to work on writing out flashcards and doing practice problems.

[Black Mage]

It's so lame/crazy that we're all noting how far we are 2 months in advance but statistically we all are probably not all going to pass. :viola:

[That Goblin]

Ok I finally started memorizing cards today. I’m only doing Tammy’s stared cards this time. I went though a bunch of math problems last week and I feel very good about that part of the exam.

[That Goblin]

It's so lame/crazy that we're all noting how far we are 2 months in advance but statistically we all are probably not all going to pass. :viola:

Statistically, you have a better chance of passing if you post on the AO in the exam section than if you don’t.

[kuklan]

Statistically, you have a better chance of passing if you post on the AO in the exam section than if you don’t.

I just raised my odds by posting this,lol. :toast:

I am on section 4 of tammy's cards memorizing just the starred cards for now.

[regan842967]

I've only been on flash cards for less than two weeks and there are 7+ weeks to go.

:exams:

How depressing is it that I look forward to doing problems so that I can escape flash card hell for only a little while?

[bfore13]

How depressing is it that I look forward to doing problems so that I can escape flash card hell for only a little while?LOL, I saved that hell for the last 6 weeks. I hope I don't regret it!

[That Goblin]

I had a dream last night where I took the morning session and kicked butt. That’s a good sign, right? Better than dreaming about showing up naked and unprepared.

[HeppeBunnie]

I had a dream a month ago that I slept all the way from the night that I finished my first read-through until exam day and I was cramming on the train to the exam centre... that shook me up for a week

[thing]

My anxiety dream was that my spouse and kids came along to the exam center, but then my oldest needed to go home half-way through the morning session so I had to leave early.

[Energy]

I'm just posting so I can increase my odds. FYI, I've been memorizing for about 1 week.

[Reflection]

I've been memorizing since the start of February. I'm not done yet. I hate memorizing. On the plus side, I started doing numerical problems today, and it feels like a treat!

[F-9]

:bump:

So, how's everyone doing? Personally, I'm trying my hardest to achieve an honorable failing grade (like a 4). I've given up hope on passing this time.

No worries though, my boss is very understanding.

[Badger484]

:bump:

So, how's everyone doing? Personally, I'm trying my hardest to achieve an honorable failing grade (like a 4). I've given up hope on passing this time.

No worries though, my boss is very understanding.

I'm trying to get over a huge wall I hit about a week ago. Not that I've ever really enjoyed studying, but the last week has been torture trying to go over this material.

[MarsLasar]

I'm trying to get over a huge wall I hit about a week ago. Not that I've ever really enjoyed studying, but the last week has been torture trying to go over this material.

I thought you had all the GRASP cards memorized a few weeks ago?

I had a good week of studying the last week, but nowhere near that level of memorization.

[Bamafan]

I am on day 4 of memorizing flash cards. Just finished the readings last week. I am planning to finish memorizing the *'d cards this weekend and start problems.

I may be in a deep, deep hole, but I'm going to keep on digging.

[BuckyBadger]

I had a dream that the moderator of the exam didn't give us any read-through time. So I started the exam and then realized the only pencil I brought was like 2 inches long. I was really struggling to answer the first question (contract provisions)... I knew them, but it took me 10 minutes to write out the list. :shake2:

[IMA Robot]

MEMORIZATION FUNCTION NOT OPERATING AT ONE HUNDRED PERCENT EFFICIENCY

[Badger484]

I thought you had all the GRASP cards memorized a few weeks ago?

I had a good week of studying the last week, but nowhere near that level of memorization.

It's all about retention these days...I'm trying to learn the numerical problems (which I've completely ignored thus far) while trying not to forget the flashcards.

[The Head Detective]

It's all about retention these days...I'm trying to learn the numerical problems (which I've completely ignored thus far) while trying not to forget the flashcards.

That's actually exactly where I am at the moment. Last night, while reviewing some stuff I "learned" in early March I was frightened by how little I could actually remember. Some stuff is sticking better than others, but I've got a lot of gaps to fill over the next 2.5 weeks.

[Julietn528]

That's actually exactly where I am at the moment. Last night, while reviewing some stuff I "learned" in early March I was frightened by how little I could actually remember. Some stuff is sticking better than others, but I've got a lot of gaps to fill over the next 2.5 weeks.


I'm having the same problem. I'm just going to keep drilling and hopefully most of it will stick.

[thing]

I checked out a book on memory from the library, and one section mentioned that "overlearning" was a key to later recall. That is, people who practiced a list to one perfect recall did really poorly a week later. People who, after achieving the first perfect recall, practiced the list an addition 50% of the times it took them to get it perfectly had pretty good recall a week later. The author referred to this as "50% overlearning". Apparently 100% overlearning is even better, but with a diminishing gains.

Of my 200 identified critical cards, I've got perhaps 20-30 "learned". I'm pretty close on another 60-70. I am having a really boring time with this all, let me tell you...

[Reflection]

Since I started that part early, I'm pretty much done memorizing - now about half of my study time is spent going over the flash cards to ensure I don't forget them (and fill in the items here and there that I keep forgetting - those stupid CF and AAA ASOP lists kill me!). I've memorized most of the GRASP cards, and have gone through both GRASP problem sets several times, and now I'm working on writing out lists that have a lot of details, so that when it asks (for example) what vehicles are used to fund retiree benefits I can actually say a few sentences about them, rather than just knowing the names. I'm trying to be positive, but it's hard - I looked through the detailed GRASP outline the other day and it always feels like there's a lot I don't know. I'm just hoping I'll know enough. Oh well - at least no matter what, in 2.5 weeks I can get my life back.

[Julietn528]

What are people doing to memorize Group Insurance Chapter 15 &16? Any tips?

[bfore13]

I am on day 4 of memorizing flash cards. Just finished the readings last week. I am planning to finish memorizing the *'d cards this weekend and start problems.Wow, BF, are you memorizing 60 cards a day? If so, I'm jealous!

[Bamafan]

Wow, BF, are you memorizing 60 cards a day?

I should've been memorizing 60 cards a day, but I probably got about 80 memorized all week. Too busy, wasting time.

I'll get a lot done this weekend. I can memorize fairly quickly. Hopefully by Monday morning I won't have much memorization left to do.

[BuckyBadger]

I checked out a book on memory from the library, and one section mentioned that "overlearning" was a key to later recall. That is, people who practiced a list to one perfect recall did really poorly a week later. People who, after achieving the first perfect recall, practiced the list an addition 50% of the times it took them to get it perfectly had pretty good recall a week later. The author referred to this as "50% overlearning". Apparently 100% overlearning is even better, but with a diminishing gains.



Sounds like they just took the latin proverb "Repetitio est mater studiorum" and made an elaborate "scientific" theory out of it.

But it is true nonetheless.